Keeping Your Kitchen Sparkling Clean
July 23, 2006
A squeaky clean kitchen is not always easy to achieve, but the results can help give you a refreshed perspective on your home and family. Plus maintaining a clean kitchen doesn’t have to keep you trapped inside a pit of despair every moment of the day. Here are a few steps that can help you keep a brighter, more sparkling kitchen in the shortest amount of time possible.
1. The first step in a clean, organized kitchen is to have a place for everything, and then to have everything in its place. If you have items that just lie out on your counters, make it a point to find a specific home for them (besides right out on the counter - that is). You should be able to look at your counter and KNOW that every item has a specific home.
2. The next step in keeping up with your clean kitchen is to reduce the amount of excess mess and clutter. Make a note of any clutter “problem” spots, and then take a quick minute (every day) to clear away those specific areas.
Another tip for keeping a cleaner kitchen is to create an organized “to do” center in one corner of the kitchen. In this area you want to place your mail, your keys, and any immediate to do lists you need to accomplish within the next 48-72 hours. You want to design this area so that it is attractive and doesn’t look like it’s full of clutter. You might even design it so that you can move it, or cover it quickly, in case company drops in unannounced.
3. The kitchen sink is undoubtedly one of the hardest spots to keep maintained. A great goal is to keep the sink clean and free of dishes everyday. Try and throw as many dishes in the dishwasher at the end of the night, as you can. Then run the washer. After you empty the sink, take thirty seconds to scrub the sink. If you clean the sink until it sparkles, it tends to inspire you to keep the rest of the kitchen cleaner.
4. The refrigerator is another pesky trouble spot that many of us hate to clean. A great plan is to try and go through the fridge one time every week and get rid of anything that is out-of-date. Another quick option for keeping the fridge clean is to use liners for your refrigerator shelves. You can remove them quickly and this will cut your wiping time down.
5. Finally, a great idea is to take two minutes every day to sweep the kitchen floor. Getting those nasty, crunchy crumbs and other messes out from under your feet will go a long way in keeping your motivated to do a thorough mop every once in a while.
So these are just a couple of quick steps you can use to keep your kitchen clean and enjoyable on a daily basis. Of course you need a detailed battle plan to really maintain your kitchen the way you want. But don’t give up on your goal of a clean kitchen, if you can make the decision to spend just a couple of minutes every day doing these, you will have more satisfaction and enjoyment in one of the most used rooms in your home.
Procrastinator No More
July 19, 2006
Procrastination is when ever we postpone a task or duty intentionally without a valuable explanation. It is a natural tendency in people. Let’s face it, sometimes we are tired or a specific task is unpleasant to perform and we respond by putting it off until later. If it happens only once or on something of not much importance it is okay. But, what happens when a student keeps putting off the school work. At the last minute he may want to make up for the lost time but fails the class. So, can you see how procrastination can get in the way of your success and objectives? Therefore, it is crucial for people to learn how to avoid this negative tendency and manage it effectively. Below I have added some tips that can convert anyone in to a procrastinator no more!
• On a daily basis make a “to do listâ€. Check each completed item as you go.
• Prioritize, do first what is most important. This way if you do not have a chance to do the other ones (for any reason) at least, you have completed the most important duties.
• When there are tasks that you rather avoid classify them between the most tedious and the lighter ones. Do the ones that you find less amusing first. Once you are done with the ones you dislike your day will flow extra smoothly.
• Motivate yourself by keeping in mind why you need to complete this task, of what problem you would get rid off? Or what will be accomplished?
• Find out what will motivate you to complete a certain task. For example some people rather complete a project with a group.
• Manage your time effectively, like that you can schedule relax or fun time also. Extracurricular activities will not get on the way of your duties.
• Set effective goals, do not only define your goal but, also add a time frame in which you would like to accomplish it.
• Take one step at a time. For example: I do not have enough time to clean the entire house but, I will fix a room or two today and continue tomorrow.
• Always keep in mind a special procrastination quote. Here is one I particularly like:
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.†By Napoleon Hill
About the Author:
Kenia Morales is the publisher of online magazine http://kpatra.com “For Every Aspect of Today’s Woman. Visit her site to find a variety of women related issues and topics” click here http://www.kpatra.com/keniascolumn.htm to find Kenia’s little piece of heaven her inspirational column
How to Keep Your Carpet Looking Like New
July 15, 2006
The best way to make sure that your carpet is properly maintained is by following a stringent strict vacuuming schedule. Once a week is the minimum. If you get a lot of traffic, daily or every other day would be better.
Vacuuming removes the dry soils from carpet that can damage the carpet fibers. A good vacuum cleaner is mandatory if you want to keep your carpets in good condition.
Keep the floors bordering your carpeting clean. If you have a
carpet off the kitchen floor, or near a slate entry way, make sure you keep those areas clean. If your kitchen floor has an oily film on it from cooking, you can be sure that the oily film will be on your carpet too.
Take your shoes off when you walk on your carpet, especially if you’re coming in from outside. Asphalt driveways can wreak havoc on a carpet. The oil from the asphalt gets into your carpet pile and attracts dirt. This type of “attached” dirt is more difficult to remove and will shorten the life of your carpet.
Remove spots as soon as you notice them. The longer they remain on the carpet, the more difficult they will be to remove.
Purchase a quality carpet shampoo and work it into those spots and use a wet vacuum to remove the excess. A professional quality shampoo will brighten the yarns as well as remove the dirt. All you have to do is mix it with hot water as directed and apply a small amount with a brush and get the yarns foamy. Work it in as you need to. Then take your wet vacuum and get it all out. If extra rinsing is required, spread some cool water over the shampooed area and then rinse it out.
Strange Cleaning Tips
July 12, 2006
Many household products can function well in areas quite different from their initial intended uses. Here are a few examples:
Icy Steps?
If you live in an area that freezes during the winter, here’s a tip for keeping your front steps from getting icy. Just take a bowl of hot water, add a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid to it. Once you’ve poured that mixture over the steps, they won’t freeze again. (Of course, this trick may work with other dishwashing liquids, as well. You’ll need to do some experimenting to find that out for yourself.)
Is your roof growing?
Sprinkling powdered laundry detergent on your roof can kill moss, but it won’t kill other things, even when the next rain leeches it down the downspout during the next summer shower. If you happen to see bubbling at the bottom of your downspouts, don’t panic. It’s just the detergent being washed off the roof, and it’s generally harmless to the environment.
Budding Artists?
If your children have decided to use the bedroom walls to create their latest crayon masterpieces, you’ll get excellent results by dipping a damp rag into baking soda and then using that mixture to scrub it off. It won’t be easy, but you can do it–assuming you’re willing to work at it–and it’s cheaper than repainting the room.
Along those same lines, if your kids should use appliances or kitchen countertops as canvases for artwork instead of their bedroom walls, and their medium of choice is permanent marker, you’ll find that dipping a paper towel in rubbing alcohol will take it off. Like the walls, this mixture needs to be combined with a liberal dose of elbow grease.
Sticky Price Tags?
Another commercial product that’s found in most people’s homes, WD-40, can serve double duty as a cleaner, as well. It can be used it to remove the pesky glue that’s so hard to get off when you peel labels or price tags off of plastic items. Just spray it on and rub it back off. It works like a charm, without harming the plastic itself.
Streaky Windows?
Here’s a tip for washing windows: if you’re washing both the inside and outside, try using vertical strokes for one side of the window and horizontal ones for the other. That way, you’ll instantly be able to tell which side a streak is one. Instead of expensive window cleaners, you can use vinegar for outside windows. Using old sheets of newspaper also can minimize streaking. When you decide to tackle the window washing chore, do it on a cloudy day. You’ll experience less streaking and less frustration, because the windows won’t dry as quickly when the sun isn’t blazing down.
Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher
About the Author:
Achieve that interior designer’s high-end look for less. Jeanette Joy Fisher teaches five ways to makeover your home for happiness. Free interior design info: http://www.designpsych.com