Home Management

Archive for January, 2011

This may also double as a mini laundry room, where underwear and the occasional shirt may be hand washed, or where nappies may be put to soak. Although the room may appear to be clean, regular attention is necessary to destroy germs. Standard equipment varies, but normally there will be a bath, wash basin, W.C. and some kind of cupboard. More luxurious additions may be a hand-shower attachment or separate shower, with cubicle, a bidet, a wash basin installed in a vanitory unit, a heated towel rail. W.C.s may have a high or low level water storage tank and may be installed in a separate room together with a small hand basin. All bathrooms should have a waste bin preferably of plastic or some wipeable surface, with a plastic bin liner. This deals safely with the problem of what to do with soap wrappers, old razor blades, ends of soap, empty shampoo bottles and lavatory rolls and the like. It is also quite useful to keep the linen bin in the bathroom. Encourage the family to throw their discarded clothes into this before bathing instead of on the floor of the bathroom.

Bathroom Routine

Clean mirrors, glass shelves and windows regularly to remove soap splashes, hair spray and toothpaste. Hair spray can be removed with surgical spirit.

The bath – this may be vitreous enameled cast iron, fiber glass or acrylic. If you are considering buying a new bath, remember that acrylic baths are cheaper than cast iron but damage more easily. Avoid harsh cleaners on baths as these will scratch. Cream cleansers are more effective and cause less damage than abrasive powder, and can be used on chrome taps, grab rails and other fittings as well as the bath. If a bath has been badly neglected, fill it with hand hot water, add a biological detergent, and leave this to soak for several hours; when this solution is rinsed away it will remove all the tide marks and other surface grime very satisfactorily.

When choosing equipment for washing clothes from the very wide range available, there are a number of points to consider:
Space: What is available? Will the machine fit under a working surface? Will one appliance stack on top of another?

Cost: How much can you afford to pay? Do you want to pay outright or by a hire purchase arrangement?

Size: How many members in your family? Do you have a large wash every week or several times a week?

Time: How much can you give to the job? Here, the choice between single, twin tub and automatic would be important.

Before buying Inspect various models in each type and compare prices, finishes, etc. Many shops offer good discounts on electrical goods. Enquire about after sales servicing and owners club schemes they will save you money

Washing Machines
There are three main types which include single tubs, twin tubs and automatic machines.

Single tubs washing machines are semi automatic and they are e the cheapest. These compact machines remove the bulk of the water, but do not get clothes dry. Twin tubs are also semi automatic. Combine wash tub and spin drier. They can be quite expensive and do not take large loads or very bulky items. Automatic machines come in two types like top loading with central paddle and horizontal drum automatic which can be front or top loading. Both types carry out all the washing processes.

Drying Equipment

Wringers – Hand operated or electrical. Do not get clothes dry enough for ironing.
Spin driers – can extract 80 percent of water from clothes. Their loads must be distributed evenly.
Tumble driers – Before use, consider the time and the heat required for drying and the movement of clothes – do not overload. Wipe them out and remove fluff from filter after use.

Laundry is not usually the most popular of household tasks. It can be made much more bearable by using any of a whole range of appliances and sophisticated detergents that are available and which make the task easier, and by investing in clothes, etc. made from the wide choice of easy care fabrics. However, in spite of all these aids, people often achieve poor results, which can be discouraging and expensive. There are several reasons for this. People are often confused by the wide range of detergents – why isn’t there just one for everything? In addition, every time you look, there seems to be a new fabric on the market, often needing special treatment, which can mean that it shouldn’t be washed in your normal load of laundry. And with so many washing machines, tumble driers and irons and sale, it is often difficult to decide which the best is for your purposes. Frequently the reason for poor results lies in not bothering to read instructions on detergent packs, care labels and manuals that come with washing machines or driers. The task then is to achieve satisfactory results with the weekly wash, and to attempt to reduce to minimum disasters such as baggy, faded acrylic sweaters and graying nylon underwear.

How much powder to use

Don’t ignore the quantity recommendations on packs. They are there as guide and not to encourage you to use more powder than in necessary. Everyone’s circumstances differ, and you need to adjust amounts accordingly. for soaking and hand washing use ½ cup of powder of 4.5 liters (1 gallon) water, 1 ½ cups per sink, ½ – ¾ cup per bucket.

Dusters and Cloths
Invest in the best you can afford. Non-woven dusters are not as effective as fluffy cotton yellow dusters. Old flannelette sheets make a good substitute. There is a wide range of useful cloths and sponges for washing up, bathroom and window cleaning. These should be washed regularly. Keep synthetic chamois leather cloths moist by storing them in polythene bags.

Brushes

Most household brushes have synthetic rather than animal bristles and wear very well. A long-handled soft bristle broom is useful for the edges where a vacuum or band cleaner cannot reach, particularly for stairs and corners. Scrubbing brushes are often replaced by squeezy or cotton mops but occasionally a hard bristle hand brush I useful for dirty marks. Pot brushes are useful for vegetable preparation as well as for cleaning pots and pans. Nylon or metal pot scourers are an alternative. W.C. brushes are shaped for cleaning under rims and into the W.C bend. They should be regularly disinfected.

Mops

Squeezy sponge mops are invaluable for lino or tiled floors. The heads can be replaced when worn. They should be stored hung up, after rinsing, cotton mops, too, are useful and durable.

Buckets and Bowls

A washing-up bowl, one for laundry and a couple of buckets should answer most people’s requirements. Rinse them out and remove tide marks after use. Wash mops, brushes and cloths regularly and dry before restoring. Brushes cotton mop-heads, etc. can be put in an old pillow case to wash in the machine.