15 TIPS TO MANAGE SPACE AND MAKE YOUR HOME LOOK LARGER

As more people are moving to cities for jobs and education, space is becoming a major concern. Larger spaces are being converted into residential complexes and smaller homes. Apartments and hostel accommodation has become very common. Even after spending a huge money for home investment, you end up with a small space for lifetime. Proper management of the available space is a biggest need of the hour.

Space is one of the most important elements of domestic architecture. After you move into your new home you often feel that space is not sufficient and that you are feeling congested with all the added furniture. It is a well known fact that the more organized and clean the place you live in, the better atmosphere you create for yourself and your family.

When you move into your new home you plan to discard some furniture or articles such that you can accommodate the new ones. You may be attached to a particular item even if it is broken. Discard items you have not used for long. This will minimize dust accumulation and will provide space for essential articles.

Rearrange your articles in a planned manner to accommodate the existing articles. Maintain a particular design and style that makes things more visible and make you feel there is more space in the room.

When you go out shopping you may like a new electronic gadget or show piece that will occupy your floor space. You need to rethink about where you will place this new gadget. Few people are crazy about buying new decorative pieces in various patterns. On priority-plan to donate or discard the current one. Putting just about everything together will highlight the beauty of none of those. So the idea is to make space for each item in your house by carefully weighing what you are bringing home, and what all needs to be discarded.

Here are a few tips you can reapply to manage space and make your home look larger:

1. T.V can be mounted on the wall. This will save a lot of space. The bulky music system can be replaced by making suitable adjustments like DVD player and woofers etc in your desktop computer or laptop.

2. Use a divan for seating arrangement, provided with inbuilt storage space . You can use this space for storage of spare pillows and bed sheets. This can be used as a bed at night too.

3. Use shoe rack system which is a compact storage with provision of airing too. This can be fixed in the wall itself.

4. Use double deck beds in children room. You can save space and make room for another essential kids accessories.

5. For regular beds, rack system underneath is very popular. You can store clothes, extra pillows, blankets in that space.

6. Use the space under the staircase wisely. Make book shelves under the stairs, you can use that space for office table, computers , placing decorative material to beautify your home, etc.

7. Wood work can be done on blank walls in all rooms. This will give floor clearance and you can store books / show pieces/ dining cutlery / kitchen accessories / sports accessories / toys / clothes etc and keep your home orderly.

8. The inner side of bedroom doors can be used to store small items such as stationary or essential items such as mosquito repellent, candles, torches etc.

9. You can avoid a dressing table and arrange one cabin of your cupboards with a provision for mirror and dressing accessories- creams, powders, perfumes, etc . There will no dust accumulation and everything is concealed.

10. Mirrors of different designs and sizes can be hanged in the rooms which give an illusion of space, and also serve as a decorative piece.

11. You can use hangars to store your scarves. Use small pegs to hang your junk jewelry. Use separator boxes for storage of small accessories like hairpins and ear rings.

12. The bottom of the tea or coffee table can be used for placing magazines and news papers. You can place a stand for holding all chargers- mobile, torches, laptops. Use Folding dining tables, that will hold the essential articles always and can be stretched as per requirement.

13. Use sliding system for gates such that the gate can be slided close to the wall. This can be applied for study room door. It is in fashion these days and saves a lot of space.

14. If you are fond of having indoor greenery, preferably use potted plants. This will save floor space. Some homes have the brass lamp hanging in the entrance of home or in the prayer room. This will take care of child safety.

15. Select sofa cum bed furniture, such that the sofa in the hall can be used as a bed during the night. I’ve seen nice study tables and writing tables that can be latched to the wall after use. You save space and also all material associated to the requirement is kept untouched by latching the door.

There are plenty of designs for space management in the market. Based on peoples needs designers are coming up with unique ideas. Modular kitchen, inbuilt furniture in home is the trend these days.

To keep your home free of pests, keep your home tidy and clean the rooms by shifting all static material to avoid accumulation of dust and cobwebs etc. Conduct regular cleaning and pest control to keep away cockroach, ants and silverfish.

By applying these tips you can manage space and make your home a livelier one. You will not feel the pressure when you have a gathering with your friend and loved ones at home.

Read this article on Tips For Organizing your Home.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR KITCHEN FREE OF GREASE

Cleaning the kitchen and working platform is vital to ensure that your family is protected from contaminated food. A dirty kitchen and platform could lead to contamination of food that is to be consumed, further leading to an illness or ailment of the digestive system.

Indian cooking involves usage of oil in almost every dish be it a curry, a chutney or a fry item. The chances of oil spread is very high. The oil and smoke circulates along with the air and settles down on all open surfaces.

Cleaning the oil spots from your kitchen cabinets is a quick and easy task if you know how to clean it. How does the oil settle on the kitchen surfaces which includes tiles, exhaust, cabinets etc. You will observe that oil splashes and spread all over the counter when we do seasoning for curries, deep fry eatables.

The oil vapors settles on the cupboards and cabinets. Dust in the air is attracted to this oil droplets and this becomes a layer. The vulnerable areas in the kitchen is the area behind the stove, the stove top exhaust , exhaust fan fixed on the wall. All tile surfaces get affected if not cleaned for some time.

The product you use should be capable of removing the stubborn grease on surfaces. You can clean kitchen cabinets made of wood with warm water diluted with liquid soap cleaner in a 1:2 ratio. Use a good scrubbing pad to dip in the solution and clean the surfaces.

Oil spread or spilled on clothes is another mis. Read this article HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM CLOTHES to understand the solutions

The inner surfaces of cabinet door handles will be very sticky and you need to use a small tool to dig the grimy oil collection. If the cabinet surfaces are colored wood, do a spot test and confirm prior to proceeding further.

However, if the oil stains, grease build-up high then opt for the natural way of cleaning, use vinegar. It is a natural cleaner and removes oil stains pretty easily.

• If you use vinegar then use a solution of half part vinegar and half part water if the stains are light.
• If the oil stains are stubborn, then you can use vinegar without using water. Pour undiluted vinegar into spray bottle and spray onto surface. Let it remain for 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe clean with dishcloth or non-abrasive scrubber.
• Lime and club soda can also be used to clean the oil spots and grease build-up from the kitchen cabinets.
• You can clean stove top exhaust hoods with baking soda. On a damp sponge add some baking soda and wipe the surface down. Immediately follow wiping of the surface with a clean cloth to remove any powder residue.
• Clean the kitchen platform by wiping with a cloth dipped in vinegar. The acidic content of the vinegar cleans and removes all grime that accumulates on the platform.
• Similarly, cleaning your stove with a cloth dipped in vinegar removes all spill stains and leaves your stove shining.
• Do not allow water to stagnate on the platform. Clean dry the stove and platform.
• Clean your stove and kitchen platform after cooking. This will remove all dirt, oil and will keep insects in the kitchen. If the platform is left uncleaned, lizards, ants and cockroaches will crawl all over the area.
• Watch out for the cupboards that are fixed on the wall. Check if the plaster on the wall facing the kitchen platform is intact. I’ve observed cracks in our neighbors home where thin layer of plaster keeps breaking and falling on the platform. This mainly occurs when the cabinets are opened to take out kitchen groceries.

To keep your kitchen neat and orderly spend 15 to 20 mins daily to organize and segregate. This will keep insects and chaos at bay.

PRESERVE CLOTHES FROM PESTS USING NEEM LEAVES

Your favorite silk saree gifted on your 1^st wedding anniversary is smelling foul as it is seldom used. You are also seeing signs of damage at the folds of the sari. This is a common observation for clothes packed in boxes or covers and kept in cupboards. The problem is severe for clothes lying in open cupboards as it is exposed to dust and infestation of silverfish and mites. In the rainy season clothes attract fungus due to dampness in the air and they cannot be worn due to bad odor.

Maintenance of clothes and books is an essential factor for home management.  Naphthalene balls are commonly used in homes. The naphthalene balls evaporates in the air and will keep away mites and insects. Main disadvantage of using naphthalene balls is the strong odor on the clothes and discoloration to the metallic work done on clothes .You need to be careful with clothes that have zardosi work ,silver and gold threads used in embroidery work becomes pale.

The clothes that require delicate handling are silk saris, sari with zari work, Woolen clothes, Chiffon and other delicate materials. The mites and silverfish attack clothes stored in metallic cupboards too.

You can preserve your clothes and make them smell good. Nature has provided mankind with a natural ingredient to protect clothes from deterioration and lasts longer. Neem leaves are having anti-pest and anti-fungal properties. Use Neem leaves and preserve your favorite clothes so that you can wear them with pride.

Follow this procedure for protecting clothes from pests by using Neem leaves:

• Pluck 10 to 15 bunches of fresh green Neem leaves.
• Dry the Neem leaves under the shade.
• Take a cloth large enough to wrap your silk sari or favorite dress.
• Spread the cloth on a flat surface.
• Spread a handful of dry neem leaves on it. Place the sari or dress on the leaves.
• Spread another handful of dry neem leaves on top of the sari /dress.
• Wrap the dress with the cloth and store.

You can be assured that the clothes remain fresh even if you do not use the sari / dress for 2 to 3 years also. There will be no signs of pest infestation especially silver fish or mites and there will not be any odor or discoloration.

An important observation is that dry Neem leaves do not leave any color on the clothes.

Tips:

• It is important to dry the Neem leaves in shade . If the leaves are dried in the sun, the essential oil of the leaves will evaporate reducing the potency of Neem leaves.
• To avoid dry Neem leaves falling on the floor when the sari / dress is taken out from the wrapped cloth, place dry neem leaves in small cloth pouches. Place one pouch each on top and bottom of the dress.
• It will be convenient to place the pouches containing dry Neem leaves in the pockets of Coats, jackets and trousers. This will preserve the clothes.
• Pouches containing dry Neem leaves can be kept in the Books and clothes Almirah. This will keep away the musty smell which develops in the Almirah during rainy season.

You can preserve your costly and favorite clothes in an inexpensive and guaranteed method. Your clothes will remain fresh , smell fresh and will not develop and mite/silver fish . You can follow the same method and extend the life of books and clothes.

There are several benefits of neem leaves  at home.  Best Insect free Storing tips for Rice and Dhals

BEST INSECT FREE STORING TIPS FOR RICE AND DHALS

Rice and dhals when kept for long time get infested with pests and thus get spoilt. In the current situations one month itself is a big time for pests infestation in dhals. To preserve them for a long time it is advisable to use natural products instead of the chemical preservatives available in market. Mother Nature has gifted us the Neem tree which is like a ‘Kalpavriksh’. Neem leaves is the best naturally available pesticide, insecticide and germicide. Neem preserves the cereals and pulses (Rice ,wheat, any type of whole or broken pulses) without any side effects.

General guideline is to avoid usage of artificial preservatives for your grains when nature has provided mankind a natural preservative.

It is annoying to see flying insects inside the dhal and lentil containers. The insects will bore the dhals and peas and they will leave a residue in the bottom of the container. In the rainy season the rain the problem becomes intense.

Material Required for Preserving  1 kg Grains, Rice or pulses:

• 30-40 Neem Leaves

• Thin cotton cloth (muslin or lining cloth) 

Direction for Preserving Grains:

• Pluck fresh green Neem leaves and shade dry them. (It will take 2-3 days during summers to shade dry Neem leaves and 5-6 days during winters )

• Keep approximately 10 dried leaves aside.

• Crush rest of the leaves to coarse powder.

• Make 4cm x 4cm pouch of the cloth.

• Fill the cloth with coarse powder of dried Neem leaves.

• Stitch the open end of the pouch to seal it nicely.

If you are storing larger quantity i.e app 10 kg of rice or dhals , make 5-6 pouches of the same size. Follow below mentioned procedure:

• Spread the dried Neem leaves kept aside on the bottom of the container and cover with cotton cloth or dry paper.

• Fill 1/4 grain in the container.

• Place two pouches at two corners of container on the grain and then fill half of the remaining grain in the container.

• Keep the remaining two pouches at the other two corners of the container and fill rest of the grain.

• Place the remaining two pouches on the top of the last layer of grain.

• Close the lid of the container, the grains will remain pest free for almost a year.

Tips:

• Do not use synthetic cloth or plastic sheet to make the pouches because the essential oils of Neem which has anti pesticide effect will not be able to permeate in the grain.

• Do not dry Neem leaves under the sun because it will cause most of the essential oil to evaporate and the effectiveness of Neem will decrease.

• It is advisable to buy commodities in smaller quantities. Store them in air tight containers to prevent pest infestation due to improper sealing. In current time most people are moving into apartments and there will be space constraint. In nuclear families the consumption is less and therefore 250 gms purchase also will take over a month’s time to complete.
• It is a good practice to place dhal in air tight containers, place them in the sunlight week once a fortnight . Removes smell and dhal remains fresh. For smaller quantities place bay leaves. It will keep away insects.

Watch outs:

• If you mix the shade dried leaves directly with the grains for storage, it will become a tedious task during usage of rice or pulses. This will cause hassle in cleaning before use. The dried leaves will break coarsely while dispensing. It is advised to use cotton cloth pouches to avoid the hassle.

10 CHECKS TO BE DONE PRIOR TO BUYING A HOUSE

Owning a house is a big dream for every individual. You can opt for buying a new house or can cut short the budget by selecting an occupied house which is for sale. You need to make sure the deal is worth the price by conducting a proper inspection and verification of all legal documentation before taking the final decision.

The inspection should include checks for termite infestation, leakages, ill fitted doors and windows, broken flooring. These are major flaws and any maintenance towards this is going to be a costly affair for the buyer. There will always be minor repair works eg. filling cracks and painting in addition to design changes as per the usage of room planned.

The jobs are done together by several workmen and the jobs are delegated to different contractors and groups as per their specialty. The major watch outs prior to buying a house will be:

• Check doors and windows:

Check for proper fitting in door and window frames. You should watch out for any damage in the wood when you buy a house. The fitting of latches into frames should be verified. Open all windows and then close them.

• Check for termite infestation:

When you plan to buy a home the major check will be for termite infestation. You need to check for fresh paint on wall or wood. This will be applicable for buying a house that had been occupied or left idle for a long time without letting out. You need to check for patches or remnants of mud tubes basically on walls and wood.

• Check for dampness in walls:

Look for signs of dampness on walls. Check if there is any patch painting done on any walls facing the exterior. Watch out for walls below the bathrooms. You may also get a foul smell of dampness. Check if they have placed any items on heights that will grab moisture from the air. This is a costly issue and also will affect health of the house inmates.

• Check the drains:

You can empty a bucket to check if the drain in the kitchen and wash areas are fine and there is no leaking pipe connections. It is not easy to identify if the drains are clogged because it requires lot of water. Either way you need to observe leakages and flow of water when you intend to buying a house.

• Flush the toilets:

Check if the flushes of all toilets are functioning. You need to observe if the water force is good enough to ensure it flushes well. If unsatisfactory you need to make a note of it and demand if getting fixed.

• Check the electrical Panel:

A clean and labeled panel is free of any issues. Watch out and check to observe for any loose wiring or jointed connections. These are indications of trouble signaling that there are live wires somewhere in the house. If the house has fans, exhaust, AC installed check if they are working fine and functioning as per design and purpose to avoid surprises afterwards.

• Check for wood work completion:

These days homes are furnished and if there are cupboards being fixed in all rooms. You need to inspect for the finishing when buying a house. At times the workmen affix tapes on wooden plywood and may miss out application of the adhesive. You need to just tap or knock on wooden cupboards and frames randomly to observe if there is difference in sound. Focus on the corners or the area near the floor.

• Check with local people / neighbors

You need to talk to the neighbors if there is anyone good enough when you approach. Be sure they are not biased or trying to settle terms with the owner by giving negative feedback.

• Check for Registration related documents

After you have made up your mind to buy a house, you need to confirm few critical points like availability of link documents, clearance for further construction and if there is no issue with the current seller. The documents are clear and will not pose to have legal issues. You should be able to get a housing loan (if required). Make sure you hire the services of a legal advisor to have clarity in the documents.

• Check for pending payments

Check online data for completion of all payments including taxes towards property etc. You need to verbally communicate and if possible make a clause in the document for any arrears that will develop for eg: electricity bills , taxes etc.

Make a list of all observations. Include good points too such that you can share with your family too. Consult the elders and people in that line of work to understand if it is right pricing and your decision is wise. Buying a house adds financial load on the buyer and additional expenses due to improper maintenance by the seller could mean new burdens. You do not get satisfaction too.

HOW IMPORTANT IS CURTAINS FOR YOUR HOME

Curtains are a mandatory accessory in our homes and offices. Curtains have become a style statement and an essential part of home decoration. Interior designers take lot of time to go thru’ color schemes and designs before making the final choice. Curtains is a reflection of our tastes and adds meaning to the room.

Importance of curtains

Curtains are window coverings that keep away direct sunlight from entering the rooms. It is an energy saver as curtains provide cooling for the room. Curtains provide an ambience in the room. After a long tiring day out and you walk in home, you need to feel the warmth and comfort. You room color scheme aligned with curtains play a major role to provide a soothing effect. The other advantages of curtains are:

Privacy: Privacy is a major reason for people to fix curtains. What with complexes and apartments being constructed with minimum foot area and corridors, it has become essential to safeguard our security and privacy. Curtains prevent invaders to peep in and also provides comfort and a feeling of not being disturbed with the extra glare of lightings and vehicle movement.

Prevents direct sunlight and keeping home cool: Direct sunlight causes discomfort due to heat in the room and at times damages wood furniture and accessories inside the room.

Dual benefits : You can opt for two layered curtains. One is thick and opaque and the other one is semi-transparent, sheer material. In the day time you can keep the sheer curtain open and draw the thick curtain together on both sides. You can enjoy sunlight and enjoy nature thru’ the filmy curtain. In the night to avoid glare and lights you can spread the thick curtain and enjoy quietness and privacy too.

Security: Curtains prevent people to peep into personal lives for information to their advantage. Professional Curtain companies now do provide electric curtains and these have become very popular it comes to security as it gives an illusion someone’s inside when no one actually is.

Tips for choosing curtains

Curtains can make a room look lively and provides soothing effect based on the color, prints and material chosen .

• You can hang curtains on rods or fit them into rods. These days there is a variety of curtain rods, color and designs to choose from.
• Be careful while selecting the rod as it needs to hold the weight round the clock and it should gel with the wall colors.
• You can opt for full length curtains for half height windows. This will provide uniformity and looks appealing. Provide 6 inches clearance from the bottom to avoid floor contact and the bottom of curtain becoming dirty due to movement with air .
• If the room is small then use window size curtains. Do not use multi-colored curtains in the same room. It makes room look crowded and small. At a minimum use 2 colors only in the same room.
• Fabric colors must go along with the upholstery or be in contrast with it.
• Selection of dark colors like red , maroon and deep brown for curtains make the room look smaller as light will not penetrate.
• Make sure your wall, flooring and furniture are in perfect co-ordination with your curtains to simplify this you can use neutral colors to make it easy to match if you already have fanciful colors in the room.
• Use dual benefit curtain – opaque and semi-transparent curtains to provide sufficient lighting during the day and privacy at night.
• Use dark colors for draperies in the bedroom as it gives better sleep.
• If the windows attract a lot of sunlight select neutral colors as they will fade less.
• Cotton fabric is ideal for curtains. You can give a royal look to the room by selecting velvet or silk.
• Select suitable accessories to keep curtain tied and in place. Use lining for curtains if you feel the thickness is not adequate. Lining will also seal the back work of embroidered prints and zardosi work.

People avoid vertical blinds in place of curtains as it is difficult to clean and an attractive place for dust to settle.

Tips for Measurement of curtains

• Be precise while taking measurement for the room curtains. Decide how high above the window you’d like the curtains to begin. Usually curtains hang about six inches above the window frame.
• Curtains should have good width such that the folds form well and add style to the room. Be sure to add four to eight inches on both sides and double the total number to ensure curtain fullness.
• The extra width of curtain rod around the perimeter of your window frame will also help block out any creeping light.

There are lots of designs, embroidered patterns, color schemes, patterns for the curtain rods, hooks, accessories for tying the curtains, drawing the ends together. The latest trends in the market for curtains and the readily available models to fit your room measurements can be accessed with ease.

Spend your time wisely while making the choice for curtains at your home. Curtains add feelings to the room. They not only smarten but also make the house more comfortable and friendly with enhanced privacy. The prime factors for decision making while selecting  curtains are – Durability and comfort…as well as your budget . Choosing the right curtains for the room is a tricky business. Make sure you study your room and do some research before going for them.

TIPS TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN YOUR BATHROOM

Bathroom is the area that is prone to bacteria, germs, mildew, dirt and fungi. To keep your bathroom clean and maintain it well, the bathroom has to be cleaned regularly to remove all the dirt built up and ensure it is safe and hygienic for the health of your family.

With all the money spent to make a bathroom look spectacular , installation of latest fittings ,  bathtub, shower room, inbuilt change areas it has transformed to become the heart of the house. Special attention should be given to all the assembled accessories to prevent deterioration. Any negligence in the cleaning and maintenance of bathroom will lead to pests infestation and frequent sickness for the members of the family.

Constant monitoring is required to ensure your bathroom is spic and span. Leaking pipelines and taps will lead to stains and the room will become humid. You need not face embarrassment when there is an unplanned guest at home.

Do not wait for the scheduled day or a monthly schedule to clean the bathroom. Light cleaning on a daily basis will ensure your bathroom will be appealing and hygienic too.

Here are few tips to clean and maintain your bathroom to avoid dirt built up.

Follow precautionary measures prior to cleaning. Wear gloves to avoid burning of hands while using disinfectants.  To avoid the smells and feeling suffocated with the smell of disinfectants wear nose masks. You can tie a cotton handkerchief over the nose too.

• Empty all racks and clean all cupboards. Replace lining papers. Fill in stock after the surfaces are dry.
• Place towels and bathroom screens for wash.
• Apply disinfectant on the tiles and scrub them with a brush. Use small brushes for hard to reach areas. Ensure the corner areas where 2 walls meet are addressed thoroughly. The nylon brush should be rubbed thoroughly to remove all oil and dirt.
• Similarly spray disinfectant on the bath tub and retain for 10 minutes.
• Clean the exteriors of the water heater . Remove cob webs on the wall, if any.
• Wash away all tile surfaces. Now you can brush the bath tub and clean all grime. The job will demand bending and reaching the areas in and out. Be extremely careful.
• Apply the disinfectant onto toilet bowls. Let it remain for 10 minutes. Use a long brush for toilet and a curved brush to reach the inner side of the toilet.
• Remove all hair from the drains.
• Manually clean the shower head using an old toothbrush to ensure there are no clogged holes.
• Wipe the mirror with detergent and remove all soap stains. Finally clean dry with old newspapers.
• When all surfaces are dry in the bathroom ,replace towels , bathroom screens, tissue rolls, bathroom rugs, door mats, etc.
• Spray room freshener  and you will be amazed to see your bathroom sparkling clean.

Instruct your kids to flush toilets after use. Children often forget to flush. They are always in a hurry to complete the task and rush out. Inform them not to mess the wash sinks with excess tooth paste.

Basic necessities is to allow sunshine come into bathroom such that the room is dry. Usage of exhaust fan such that foul smells are pulled out. The room freshener will be effective in spreading pleasant smell in the bathroom.

You can place a small bowl with plants at the window sill to bring in color in the room.

You can use vinegar or baking soda for cleaning the bathroom. They are natural products to keep away bacteria, remove foul smells and also ensure your bathroom is clean and maintained well.

Irrespective of who does the cleaning in the bathroom i.e self or outsourced you need to procure toilet cleaning tools for having a clean bathroom.

TIPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR HOME

A home is in chaos in the early mornings when each member in the family is searching for one item or the other.  Lots of time is lost each morning in search of items eg: school going kid will search for a belt / tie. Papa is turning everything upside down in search of vehicle keys or / and an utility bill or insurance papers which is due for payment, today being the last date to avoid late fees. Mom is upset for the missing scissors or shouting at the children for messing articles kept in the cupboard. This is a common scene in many homes where each member in the house has a deadline to leave home for work or study.

We also had gone through these phases for quite some time. When we search for a particular article most chances are that we would find the item that was missing for a long time. Nail cutter was a popular item missing very often . In spite of having 2 spare nail cutters at home ( each purchased in emergency when the previous one was missing) we used to be on our toes if the need came up.

Similar concern is with the scissors in the kitchen. This scissor is placed on a hook close to the working platform, very ideal for opening milk packets and grocery bags. Whenever the kids are unable to find the regular scissors placed for paperwork , they rush to the kitchen and conveniently pick the one on the hook.

Unaware the next morning when the time comes to boil the milk. Lo…there is no scissor in the kitchen. I go mad as I’m running out of time, I’ll miss the office vehicle. I manage with a knife and take a pledge to give a piece of my mind to the kids in the evening when I’m back home.

When I’m back home in the evening, there is a call from my hubby enquiring about  a particular receipt or a critical document that is missing from the set he carried to work. My hubby carries paper work home as he is into private business. He does not have a working table at home. He leaves critical, essential documents in each room as per convenience. It was a major pain in the neck when he enquired. The evening would go away in this search. (morning episode forgotten)

This was the time my aunt planned to visit our city to complete formalities for traveling abroad. She was with us for a week’s time. She was a self made person, independent and has great passion for cooking and a wonderful multi-tasker. She quietly observed all the chaos and running about in our house . She did not intervene when we were looking around for things. I fell sick in the middle of her stay and was in bed, further chaos in the house on that day. She helped the family in cooking etc. A day prior to leaving our home she prepared hot tea for both of us, insisted that I sit down and have a talk, as the kids and my hubby had gone out for shopping.

She then slowly informed me about the ways I can better plan time for the family. How I can keep myself and the home organized etc. She conveyed to me that a mother can be a good role model for the kids. Therefore the task of organizing the home rests upon the mother , the kids and hubby will be forced to follow through . She quoted that , “ Rome was not built in a day”. You need to be patient and never give up was the strong message. On the day she was leaving she assured that she will be in touch for any help or support I required. With tears in my eyes I bid her farewell and thanked her for all the support and timely advice.

That was a turning point in our lives and my home. I slowly started to put in my efforts in bringing changes to the house. Gradually I found a place for each item in the house. I segregated the not so useful and essential items and started to label each rack. I bought small racking systems, files for placement of documents. Disposed off the unnecessary items, books, clothes, utensils to people as per their requirements. Things started looking organized. The children started to place their belongings in the allocated places. They remove lunch box and water bottles from their bags and place them for wash. My hubby was initially reluctant but later gave in. He started to segregate incoming mails, utility bills and file them in corresponding files once a week. We are able to locate the items with ease…all thanks to my aunt who initiated this change in our home.

Following are few tips for busy working moms to keep your home organized. Summarized the ones that quickly came to my mind.

Laundry:

• While folding laundry clothes – maintain separate slots / covers for under garments, socks, handkerchiefs.
• Provide a hook for placing belts. Place ties in cupboard to avoid accumulation of dust.
• While stacking clothes in cupboard, place matching blouse in between the sari.
• In case of salwar kameez, fold the entire set including dupatta / shawl along with kurta and pyjama.
• Place pillow covers inside bedsheet only. Similarly with divan sheets and covers. You can apply this technique for sofa covers too as it will save time when you want to replace the next time. This gives an organized look too in the cupboard.
• Keep seasonal garments separately. Keep scarves in one slot of the storage rack, gloves and muffins in another, mufflers and head caps together. This will save time when you require it for the first time in winter.
• Wash white clothes separately. This will avoid staining with different colors and a brighter wash.
• While drying clothes in the sun, reverse all garments in-out to avoid fading. Follow this for the under garments too. This will retain the colors and ensure hygiene.

Cleaning:

• You can reuse old T-shirts / banians for cleaning kitchen counters and platform as it will absorb all dampness and leave table tops dry.
• Never allow water to go under dining table covers as it will leave a bad stink which needs to be cleaned with detergent and lime
• Keep your shoe rack covered to prevent dust collection of the remaining shoes and slippers. Do not discard the shoe box. Retain them for the seldom used shoe wear. This will save time in dusting and an aged appearance.

Stationary

• Place essential stationary together in the cupboard for eg: scissors, tape, paper clips, all pins, jump clips, staler, paper glue, pencil, paper punch . Use the tray system rack with appropriate cut outs such that any item that is missing can be identified and it will force the users to keep things in allocated places.

Tools

• Keep all tools together such that upon requirement for an electrician activity or plumber activity you have the right tools at your call. This saves time. We need not go asking our neighbor for help.

Kitchen tips

• Label grocery containers with expiry date , date of filling. This is highly beneficial for ingredients that are seldom used and will enable you to decide usage of the ingredient.

• To save time use a dispenser i.e tadka box for tempering. This saves time and avoid opening several containers.
• Place a paper and pen on the cupboard to keep track of things getting exhausted in the kitchen. An easy grocery procurement list. No fear of forgetting items.

Let me tell you the solution for the missing nail cutter:

Now we have placed a hook on the inner side of the cupboard with a message overhead, “Replace after use. Beware losing 15 minutes of your time”. I’ve placed color codes to distinguish nail cutter provided in each bedroom. Now I’ll be able to identify the person who messes things around.

Make it a practice to empty the contents in each cupboard and then rearrange them at least once in 2 months. You will find things that were missing in between the papers or clothes.

Include your family into organizing your home. You can delegate small tasks to kids and make them feel responsible for the activities at home. My family members have transformed with time, they are willing to lend help when required.

I’ll further update on tips in the forthcoming article.

HOW TO REMOVE WHITE MARKS OR HARD WATER STAINS FROM BATHROOM BUCKETS

Plastic containers are ideal for storage in kitchen and in the refrigerator. The only issue is they leave an unpleasant smell and color too. The latest edition of storage plastic containers are a must have accessory in your kitchen.

If you have supply of hard water for cleaning purposes and in your bathrooms you will observe white patches or stains on plastic buckets and mugs . With water evaporation being high in summer the scales are formed in circular rings as per water level in the storage containers. You can determine the amount of water evaporation in a day.

It is annoying to see your new buckets having white rings inside. The soap and dish washing liquid is not removing the patches completely. You may observe stains on plastic containers in which you had stored chicken dishes, oily curries.  You want to use the plastic container for storing another juice or chutney. All your efforts are in vain.

Here are a few tips to ease your tension away.

• Mix ¼ cup of baking soda in little hot water to form a paste. Apply baking soda paste with an old toothbrush brush to the hard water stains and patches on the bucket and mug. Leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse the bucket and mug with water until all bubbles are washed away and you will be surprised to see your bucket looking new and clean.
• You can clean tough stains in plastic storage containers by filling warm water and add 1 spoon of baking soda to it. Leave it for an hour and later drain off water. Rinse the container with water and the plastic container is free of stains and odor too.

• White and opaque plastic containers used for storing drinking water looks dull and smells different after a few months of usage. You can refresh the look of containers by mixing lemon juice with baking soda and applying liberally to the stained surface. The two ingredients when combined acts as a natural bleaching agent, whitening the plastic and removing unpleasant odors.

• Plastic containers used for storage of pickles, oils leaves a strong smell even after washing and drying in the sun. Here is a wonderful remedy to get rid of the stain and aged smells. Mix vinegar and baking soda and you will observe foaming action. Nothing to worry, after the foaming stops scrub the solution all over the inner surface of the container and then rinse the container. You will observe the plastic container is looking fresh and smelling good too.
• Tea stains on plastic containers are tough to get away. Immerse the container in water with ¼ tsp of baking soda. Leave the container for 1 hour and after an hour you will be amazed to see a bright new storage container in your home.
• You can remove foul smell, oil smell from plastic ware by mixing equal quantities of baking soda and salt. Use a damp nylon scrub to clean the surface. Apply the paste thoroughly over the plastic container. Leave for an hour or two and then wash the plastic container thoroughly. The tough stains are cleaned and you will also get rid of the pungent odors.

You will observe the hard water deposits settling on the surfaces due to water evaporation.  You can clean wash basins, toilet sinks also with baking soda.

Note: Recycle your old toothbrushes for cleaning hard to reach areas. The crevices of utensils, tiles ends mesh type surfaces. The bristles of the brush will be able to pick out the waste and clean thoroughly.

There are numerous benefits of Baking soda. Grab it when you are out purchasing items for your home.

YOUR KEYS ARE MISPLACED…TIPS ON HOW TO FIND YOUR KEYS

Keys are precious articles. Be it a home, a car, cupboards, drawers and cabinets. If the key(s) are missing there will be madness in the house. Tempers are high and the blame is put on one another when the key bunch is missing.

It is a common issue for most people to place the keys and actually forget where they had deposited the last time. Things will be lifted from position and the entire house will become messy. Some people are always restless and drop things in a jiffy when they enter home. Only when the key is required again, they desperately keep looking out for it. The time taken for searching keys could be in days for a year if totaled.

There is a lot of stress when the key is missing. You are probably getting late to work or dropping your child at school. There is an outburst of anger and frustrated discussions. You can skip all the wasted time and keep the home organized.

The new arrangement will bring an organized approach, a habit for the other family members. They will try to collectively work to keep items in the designated places. It will take time for things to set in place. Be patient and see the gradual change in outlook.

Tips to ensure you find your keys.

• Identify a location preferably near the door to hold your key ring at home. You get pretty models in the market.
• You can place a basket or hanging bowl with separators for putting in the keys near the entry of your home as it will be convenient and easy to find the next time you require it.
• Arrange your key bunch. Separate the keys commonly and regularly used from the lesser used ones. This will make the key bunch light too.
• Keep a separate set for inner cupboards and a set for external keys eg: main gate, mail box, garage door, etc.
• Color code the key chain for individual rooms such that tracing is easy when you look out for it in the key ring.
• Keep the keys that require more safety in the inner cupboards in a key ring such that it is not easily accessible. The storage place info can be shared only to the inmates.
• When you get several keys while cleaning the house, keep them in a box and in your leisure time check if it suits any of the locks available at home. If not dispose them off. Keeping these keys at home only add to the confusion.
• Keep an extra car key in your purse / wallet as a backup in case of accidental lockouts.
• Important keys eg: safe deposit box key can be stored in the cupboard wall. Conceal the key with a tape in the centre such that it will be safe and handy too in need.
• If there are several drawers in a cupboard you can identify them as Top right, Top middle, Top Bottom as convenience be for the users. Label the drawer and the key bunch with small tags.
• If the key has a number eg: 142, 118. Then you can place a small sticker with the corresponding number on the drawer such that identification is easy.
• Keep your family members informed of the changes you make such that they are prepared when you are not at home.
• You can give an extra key to your trusted neighbor such that in an emergency situation you can get access to your home. It is sensible when you are out and expecting the kids to come in early home. You can call your neighbor and inform the situation such that keys can be handed over to the family member coming in first home.

There are times when people wish that the keys had a remote such that it can be traced when misplaced or lost. We can catch up with technology while making arrangements  and organizing homes to better lives in the current situation.

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