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Save Money As We Talk Dirty
Who would have thought that an entire TV series - 'How Clean Is Your House?' could have been built around dirty houses that needed some TLC? Some were neglected due to pressure of work, others just sadly neglected probably through a lack of motivation and laziness.
Many people make hard work of house cleaning. They overwhelm themselves, detest the job and then try to avoid it. Then the situation gets worse and maybe really bad. It is useless closing your eyes – it won’t go away. This is a vicious circle to be avoided at all costs! To make life easy on yourself and to save money, here’s what to do. Get a small plastic carrying crate/trug – sold in most horse Saddlers and similar stores. The girls use them for carrying their horsey gear from stable to stable. The plastic crate is handy because it will cope with any spillage that may occur plus the damp cloths you will be using. When you have got your crate stock it with home made remedies that will save money, such as you will find on our Household Tips page. Add a roll of kitchen towel, an old toothbrush – handy for cleaning tile grout and other awkward places, a couple of pieces of old sweat shirt, (Tip No 9. on the Household Tips page) to use as polishers and a few cotton buds handy for cleaning tight little corners. An old face flannel/cloth and maybe a sponge are a boon for wiping around. You have all your gear assembled to save you time. Now you are ready to go. If you don’t want to make your own remedies as suggested on the Household Tips page, shop around. There are so many cleaning products available that you need to take care not to waste money. All you will need is a toilet cleaner, bath/shower cleaner - either will do, a hard surface cleaner (for the kitchen) a bottle of disinfectant, some window cleaning spray and for very occasional use, some furniture polish. Having a cupboard in the kitchen that is full of half-used cleaning items is no way to save money. Use them up before you buy any more. If you carry this crate with you, you will not need to go up and downstairs or from room to room seeking the materials and tools you need for the job.
**Extra Money Saving Tip** Don't buy any cleaning materials or the ingredients to make them until you have consulted this excellent site. Top marks to mysupermarket.com
For instance, dust from light fittings will fall, and if you have cleaned the lower levels first, you will feel pretty sick to see dust on your clean surfaces again. Simple pimple! The same point also arises – dust or vacuum first. Dust first, of course, for the very same reason. Do one room at a time, or even a section of a large room, and you will not feel overwhelmed and defeated. Try to finish in the kitchen, then you will know the rest of your house/flat is in good order, and you can concentrate on the room that is most probably most deserving of your attention. Another reason, is that often when cleaning other rooms you may well find items that should be in the kitchen. So, to avoid cluttering a clean kitchen – leave it until last. Have a cup or tea/coffee and a five minute break, then blast the kitchen. Think how well you are doing as you save time and money! Give yourself a pat-on-the-back. A good tip, if all your floors are clean, this adds to the general good appearance of your home. If you want some more unusual household tips, take a look at our Unusual Tips page. These feature products you may well have in the house but have never thought of using for the particular jobs mentioned. These tips will also save money as well as time.
If this fails to work, when you are next on your cleaning spree, collect all their belongings that have been left on the floor and put them in the bath.
When the children come home from school and ask where their favourite computer game has gone, pretend to think for a moment then just calmly say 'Oh, I remember, I put it in the bath.' Wait for the screams and then the relief. This is where you say your punch line - 'Next time I will turn the tap on!' Make sure you follow this through and when this incident repeats itself, be selective and just put 'cheap' items in the bath that will not spoil, then turn the cold tap on until everything is submerged. This is your second warning. You may need to gradually raise the pressure if your first 'bath' treatment does not work. i.e., decide which of the items they have left on the floor is the next in line (i.e., slightly dearer in value) for a bath treatment. After that, it is up to the children and you. But you must win! Otherwise you will have lost face and they will never let you forget it. When you win they will know you are a fair and friendly force to be reckoned with. They had their warnings and failed to heed them. The other alternative is not to clean their rooms at all. Just present them with clean bed linen and insist they strip and change the beds themselves. This does not prevent you making periodic visits to their rooms and 'liberating' any mugs, dishes etc., that belong in the kitchen. If you just happen to pick up some unused objects and dispose of them in the dustbin/trash can at the same time, well, so be it. Just play your particular situation to your advantage the best you can, but do not lose control. Remember, this phase will pass and they will grow up. Well, that's the script!
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If you have children who are particularly untidy, try putting a large notice in their rooms - Don't put it down, put it away.
