INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Whether you use a brush, roller or paint sprayer to paint your house is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Each method has its benefits - using a brush gives you greater control over the painting, using a roller makes the job more efficient, and using a paint sprayer provide heavier coverage. Using a brush: Many people who are painting their homes for the first time prefer to use a brush, as it forces you to be very thorough and gives you control over every square inch of the house. To use: dip your brush into the paint until the bristles are halfway covered. Touch the brush against the wall at several points across a horizontal line. Go back and paint back and forth to fill in the empty spots and provide even coverage. Using a Roller: To use a roller, roll it in the paint until all sides are evenly covered, then apply the paint to the wall using criss-cross strokes. Then, go back and paint over the same section using up and down strokes to fill in the gaps. Using a paint sprayer: To use a paint sprayer, load your chosen paint into the sprayer. Hold the sprayer upright, about 1 foot (0.3m) away from the wall. Move the sprayer smoothly back and forth, beginning the motion prior to pulling the trigger to avoid areas of heavy deposits of paint. Make sure each new stroke overlaps the previous one by about 8 inches (20.3cm). Using the spray and back-roll technique: The spray and back-rolling technique is a particular method recommended for both its speed and evenness of coverage, but it requires two people. It involves one person using a sprayer to quickly coat the wall in paint, and the other person following behind with a roller to spread and even it. Paint all of the sidings on your house before you work on the trim. This gets the bulk of the work out of the way, and also speeds up the process as you won't need to switch between colors. When painting your sidings (or whatever material covers the main exterior of your home) there are several rules you should adhere to: Work from top to bottom. Always work from top to bottom and from left to right when painting. Working from top to bottom allows you to cover up any drips of paint that fall as you work your way down, while going from left to right helps you to quickly identify any spots you might have missed (this is related to the fact that you read from left to right, so your brain is programmed to process information better this way). Follow the sun. Try to plan your paint job so you are following the sun throughout the day, waiting until the morning sun has dried any night-time moisture from the walls. You want to work in the shade throughout the day, away from direct sunlight, as this can affect the quality of the final result. Be careful using a ladder. It is important to be very careful when using ladders, especially extendable ones. You should never reach more than an arm's length away when standing on a ladder. Instead, you should paint in a horizontal strip as far as you can reach, then move the ladder across to continue painting along the same line. Make sure that your ladder doesn't tilt from side to side, and that it's resting on even ground about 1/4 of its total length away from the foundation of the house. Once you have waited the recommended amount of time for the paint to dry, you should consider applying a second coat - if time and budget allows. A second coat will even out the paint and provide more protective coverage for your home. It will help the finished product to look better and last longer. If you have chosen a more vibrant color for your home, a second coat will often be necessary to really bring life to the color. Once the sidings are complete it's time to go back and paint the trim, whether it's the same color as the rest of the house or not. This is can be quite time-consuming, but will really give your paint job a professional-looking finish. A brush is normally recommended for painting the sidings, as it allows you to be precise however a small 6-inch roller can help to speed up the process, especially on fascia and window sills. As with painting the sidings, you should work on painting the trim from top to bottom - start with any gables and dormers, then do eaves and gutters, then do second-story windows, first-story windows, doors and finally the foundations. When painting the windows, you should protect the glass from paint splatters by covering with masking tape or using a paint shield. Pay special attention to window sills when painting, as these bear the brunt of bad weather and can look more worn than other areas. If necessary give them 2 or 3 coats of paint and don't forget to paint the undersides. It is easier to paint doors if you remove any knobs, knockers and numbers first. Ideally, you should also remove the door from its hinges and lay it flat on the ground before painting, working first on one side, then the other. This will also make it easier to paint he frame and door jambs.

SUMMARY: Decide which paint application method to use. Paint the sidings. Apply a second coat. Paint the trim.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You don't want any dirt or other impurities in your ritual bath water, so always shower first. Use soap or body wash to wash your skin and prepare for your ritual bath. During this time, focus your thoughts on your intentions to cleanse your spirit. For instance, you could repeat a mantra in your head as you bathe. You might think, "I release negativity so my spirit will be lifted," or "I'm washing away my worries and cares." Fill your tub with slightly hot water that doesn't burn your skin. Before you get in, test your water with the back of your hand to make sure it's not too hot. If it feels too hot, wait a few minutes for the water to cool down. If your water is too cold for comfort, drain a little water out of the tub, then add more hot water to warm it up. Salt is commonly used as a purifier, so it's perfect for a ritual bath. You can use plain salt or a bath salt blend that's made for a spiritual bath. Pour your salt into the water, then use your hand to slosh the water to help it dissolve. Here are some options for salt: Himalayan sea salt Unrefined sea salt Epsom salt If you're using plain salt, adding herbs or essential oil is a great idea. The aroma can help you cleanse your spirit. Additionally, some herbs have cleansing properties. You can use 1 oil or herb or you can create a blend. To use an oil, add 3-5 drops of essential oil directly to your bath. If you're using herbs, sprinkle them over your bath water. Lavender essential oil or dried herbs Rosemary essential oil or dried herbs (not appropriate for pregnant women) Vetiver essential oil Cedar wood essential oil Rose essential oil Rose petals Dried sage Get into your bath water and relax. Submerge as much of your body under the water as possible. Then, close your eyes and focus on your intention to cleanse your spirit. Focus on your breath to gently bring your awareness to your body and what you're doing. This will help you reflect on your intention. Take slow, deep breaths as you reflect on your intention. Think about the reasons why you feel like your spirit needs to be cleansed. Then, imagine your worries, negativity, or spiritual blocks dissolving into the water. If you like, pray or ask for spiritual support to help you cleanse yourself. When you feel ready, get out of your spiritual bath to end the ritual. Instead of drying off with a towel, let the water naturally air dry so that it evaporates off of your skin. This helps complete the cleansing process. It's okay to put on your robe, but don't towel off first. Don't take cleansing baths too often. If you feel like you need a regular cleansing, take a spiritual bath once a month or as often as once a week. Otherwise, you might deplete your spirit from over-cleansing. Try different cleansing schedules for yourself to find what works for you.

SUMMARY:
Shower before you take your ritual bath so you're clean. Run a bath that's comfortably hot. Add 1 cup (273 g) of bath salts to the water to help purify your energy. Include cleansing herbs or essential oils for added benefits. Soak in the water for 20-30 minutes. Meditate on the energies you want to cleanse. Let your body air dry after your spiritual bath. Take your cleansing bath as often as once a week.