THL SECTION: C2O WITH KAREN HENKE: ARTICLES:
Prevention Maintenance
Prevention Maintenance
by Karen Henke
Often in life, if you take the few minutes it requires to be proactive, you save yourself a lot of time and effort. If your children drew on the walls, you’d put away the permanent markers. Remember the old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
1) Eliminate clutter. “Getting rid of clutter in your home cuts housework by an average of 40%.” NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers)
2) Eliminate clutter magnets. Bulletin boards, refrigerator magnets, too many desk top organizers can actually attract clutter.
3) Put doormats at the door, both inside and out. If you have an attached garage, sweep it out.
4) Implement a no-shoe policy in your home.
5) Designate eating zones. To preserve the furniture and carpets establish a rule that you will only eat in the kitchen or dining room.
6) Wipe up spills before they get caked on. Clean grease and food from the stove top before it bakes on and hardens.
7) Put a cookie sheet under a casserole dish that’s likely to bubble over. Thus catching spills and keeping them off the oven floor.
8) Clean out the fridge before you go grocery shopping. It’ll be easier to put your new purchases away.
9) Wipe down the walls of the shower daily and you won’t have to fight with mildew later.
10) Use impermeable mattress and pillow covers to keep dust mites out of pillows and mattresses. This helps keep your bedroom allergen-free and makes pillows and mattresses last longer
11) Keep a vacuum’s width between furniture or between a chair and the wall. That simple trick will insure that you won’t have to move the furniture each week thereby making vacuuming a little easier.
12) If you’re always losing your keys, mount a hook for them or keep them in a dish on the kitchen counter.
13) Prepare laundry. Sort clothing by color, turn the socks, pull the Kleenexes out of the pockets and keep your eye on that new red shirt.
14) If you spill on clothing, attend to the stain right away. Dabbing the spot in ice-cold water is the quick fix for blood and red wine. Carry a product like Tide-to-go when you are away from home.
15) Pull your clothing out of the dryer before the cycle ends. Shrinkage usually occurs in the last few minutes. You may avoid pressing and you‘ll use less energy
Copyright 2007 Come2Order
Karen Henke is the owner of Come2Order in Minneapolis, MN. Visit www.come2order2day.com and request a free Time-Savers Kit which is loaded with time-saving tips and services. And sign up for a subscription to the free monthly newsletter.