Archive for the ‘Household Help/Tips’ Category

The sky was still dark when I was awakened by the persistent alarm of my clock. It seemed like just a while ago when I closed my eyes to sleep. I have been pulling myself out of the bed, together with others who have to prepare their children for early school. We have been coping without a stay-in domestic helper for the last three weeks and it has been really tough especially for a working mother. *Haiz*

We discovered that my domestic helper had been stealing (surprising not only my stuff and money but also my kids’ clothes, shoes and photo), and as if that is not enough…………she was also not taking good care of my kids! After all the hassles and stressful moments, we had since sent her home! Usually looks and actions can be deceiving especially when we thought that we should place trust on someone who has been living with us for a long while. Usually, when we are busy at work and do not wish to tire our elderly parents, we thought that relying on a domestic helper could relieve our load on housework, have someone take care of our children’s meals and as we get busy over our other work and activities, the “sudden unpleasant discoveries” might just be uncovered one day……………*Sigh* One lesson I learn is no matter how busy I am at work or with the children, I should also spend efforts paying more attention on domestic matters.

I thought it is tiring enough to engage myself mentally at work and manage the office operations and staff matters as a full-time working lady and take care of two energetic boys at night. What I never imagine is ,it is even more tiring to do all of these and still do housework! I am really grateful to Papa Ed (for doing his parts of housework) and my parents (for filling our tummies with a full dinner everyday) during this period. Hmm…I truly appreciate the importance of family support in the parenthood process.

Without domestic helper is putting a strain on everyone physically. However, I also start to appreciate these days when everyone in the family finally puts in efforts to help with household chores no matter how small these tasks are. The males in our family, who are usually waiting to be served, are now doing their parts.

Hurray! Shirts, which used to lie around the floor (waiting to be picked), are now neatly in baskets and toys ,which used to be thrown in every corner of the house, are at least half kept to their respective places after use.  My boys, who used to be so lazy to even lift a finger to bring their plates and cups,to the kitchen basins, are now gladly doing so:) I feel so strongly that it is good as the children start learning to be responsible for their own personal belongings and also independent. Although, they still have to be instructed before they will help, it is still a good start. So tiring as it might be, till we get our next domestic helper………………, I am seeing the merits of not having one now as everyone at home does their part.

Looking at it positively, we do have our fun moments too especially those moments when we go on our ant hunting and cockroach elimination at HOME:) I am sure my three amigoes at home will not hesitate to agree with me *wink*. I guess this is called “finding fun in hardship” *LOL*. Good Job to My Guys at Home!

Money-saving tips to keep your house in order without breaking the bank

Just take a spin down the cleaning aisle at the supermarket, and you’ll realize the cruel reality of housekeeping: Getting your home clean and organized can cost a lot of money. There has to be a better way. So we asked housekeeping experts for their best money-saving tips to help you maintain your standards without breaking the bank.

Pare Down the Potions

Buy strategically, thinking double and even triple duty, says Julie Edelman, author of The Ultimate Accidental Housewife: Your Guide to a Clean-Enough House. “Regular glass cleaner is my favorite; you can use it instead of separate products for windows, counters and other surfaces.” If you can, buy in bulk and decant into smaller reusable containers to store in your kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

Concentrate!
Check out concentrated cleaners, which you dilute with water, says Sloan Barnett, author of Green Goes with Everything: Simple Steps to a Healthier Life and a Cleaner Planet. “They use less packaging, which saves resources, and because they’re concentrated, one bottle lasts longer, so it’s less expensive.”

Take Stock
Before you hit the cleaning aisle, get reacquainted with what’s under your sinks. Pull out everything: Do you have two opened bottles of wood floor cleaner? Three kinds of carpet spot remover? It’s easy to buy new stuff when you’re not sure what you already have, says Edelman.

Don’t Treat the Cleaning Aisle Like Baskin-Robbins
There may be more than 31 ways to clean a toilet, but don’t waste your money on every one. “What gets expensive is trying all those disposable wipes, mops and toilet brush thingies,” says Carolyn Erickson, a former housecleaner and contributing writer to The Housekeeping Channel. Stick to a few basics like your toilet brush and some cleanser.

Maintain What You Own
Instead of relegating your old vacuum cleaner to the junk heap, get it cleaned and serviced once a year to keep it humming, says Erickson.

Avoid Throwaways
Use microfiber cloths rather than paper towels; dust rags (old T-shirts, for example) instead of disposable dust cloths; and an old-fashioned mop (with a removable, machine-washable head) rather than a mopping “system.”

Clean as You Go
The tidier you keep things, the less often you’ll have to do a big scrub, says Edelman, so you’ll use cleansers less frequently. When soaping up kids in the tub, use a non-oily bubble bath or shampoo, and swish out the tub afterward. Rinse well, and keep a microfiber cloth on hand to shine the faucets and quickly wipe down the edges (where soap spills collect).

Pause Before Washing
Often, “dirty” clothes just need airing (or a spritz with a fabric freshener), says Alicia Rockmore, organization expert and coauthor of Everything (Almost) in Its Place. No need to fill a washer with once-worn jeans.

Fold Like the Gap
Seriously! Folding shirts and sweaters neatly keeps clothes in good shape and wrinkle-free, so they’ll last longer without needing to be replaced. Tops thrown all over are more likely to be tossed in the wash because you’re not sure what’s clean, says Rockmore.

Share the Big Stuff
You want to keep your carpets shampooed, wood floors polished and a tall ladder in the garage, but do you really need to buy all these heavy-duty items? Instead of shelling out a lot of cash, get together with neighbors and share them.

Wash Smart
Using your dishwasher? Forgo the rinse-hold cycle (it uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water!) and the heated drying cycle—both use a ton of energy. And dishes will still sparkle if you use half the recommended amount of detergent.

Schedule Tasks to Save
If you have several loads of laundry to do, tackle as many as you can in one day; your dryer uses less energy when it runs consecutive loads. Same goes for ironing: Better to iron a week’s worth of shirts in one go.

Encountered crayon artwork by the children on the wall? Found scratches caused by the children on the CDs/DVDs? Disturbed by the dirty stains on the rubber soles of the shoes?

A simple toothpaste at home can do wonders to solve the problems!

 

 

Useful household tips with toothpaste

1)      Remove crayon marks

Squirt a small dab of non-gel toothpaste on the wall where the mark is. Rub gently with a soft cloth, then rinse with warm water.

2)      Deodorize hands

Can’t get garlic or onion odor off your hands? Wash them with a blob of toothpaste.

3)      Whiten sneakers

Clean rubber soles by rubbing scuff marks with an old toothbrush and non-gel  toothpaste

4)      Buff a DVD

Get rid of light scratches by squeezing a little non-gel toothpaste onto a cotton ball. Wipe over the DVD from the center out the edge. Rinse with water and dry with a non-abrasive, lint-free cloth — all gone.

5)      Defog goggles

Coat the inside of swimming goggles with toothpaste, then wipe off — they’ll be crystal clear.

            Source: WomansDay.com

Denesa