Housekeeping

HouseKeeping Tips


A housekeeper's job is often a never-ending one. For some, work in the house seems to be never-ending. Here are a few tips to help you tackle the job and put your home and consequently your life in order.

•Get everyone involved

Women often prefer to do everything themselves. This is because they feel that a certain job is to be done in a certain way and only they can do it perfectly. They don't pass on responsibility to other family members. In reality when all the members of the family work together, household tasks can be done in a fraction of the time and everyone can have the satisfaction of having contributed something towards the maintenance of their homes.

•Match the job to the person

Each member of the family should be asked to take up a particular task. The important thing is to make sure that the task is suitable for their age and their interests.

•Ask for Help

Whether it is your spouse, your kids or your in-laws, asking for help always fetches the desired result rather. Avoid bossing around. It is a good idea to sit with family members and prepare a list of jobs to be done. Most of the times people don't understand the volume of work involved and hence may not come forward to do things. But once you have it in black and white, everyone can pitch in. Try to swap places for a day.

•Make it fun

On holidays when you expect your kids to clean their rooms or their cupboards, switch on their favorite music. Don't forget to shower praises. Even if the job is not done perfectly, don't make them redo it as by doing so you would be killing their enthusiasm. Later when they are in a listening mood you can gently point out the mistakes, so the next time around they can correct themselves. It is better to give the instructions in a friendly tone before they start the job, or to help them do it the first few times until they get the hang of it.


Basic Housekeeping - Simple Tips for Big Time Savings

1.First, set a timer.

How many times have you started a small cleaning task, only to notice another area that needs attention, and then another? Setting a timer when cleaning or doing other chores helps you stay focused on the task at hand and lets you know when it’s time to stop.

2.Plan your attack.

Walking back and forth might make you look busy, but it also uses up valuable time. Generally, you should begin cleaning at one end of the room, from top to bottom, and work your way around the perimeter to the other side. Finish off by cleaning the middle area and voila! One room is done.

3.Wear the proper attire.

Well-fitting, comfortable clothes are important to cleaning efficiently. Pockets – either in an apron or in your clothing – allow you to keep a cleaning cloth handy and provide a place for small objects or bits of trash you come across when vacuuming.

4.Streamline your process.

Maintaining a well-stocked and orderly cleaning caddy and keeping it nearby will save both time and frustration. What goes in the caddy is important too: Use a rinse-free multi-surface cleaner whenever possible, saving specialty products for deep cleaning. A uniform stack of laundered cleaning cloths makes it easy to grab one and get to work.

BEAUTY CARE

Body care
• Mix six-teaspoon petroleum jelly, two-teaspoon glycerin and two-teaspoon lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week if you have dry and flaky, arms and legs
• Peel and grate a cucumber. Squeeze the juice to this, mix half-a-teaspoon glycerin and half-a-teaspoon rose water. Apply this on sunburns, leave it for some time.
• If you have cracked heels, melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your heels will become smooth.
• Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and any of your favourite scented oils like lavender or rosemary.
• For rough palms, use a mixture of glycerin and limejuice in equal proportion.
• For cracked heals, massage the foot with coconut oil and keep the foot in warm water for some time. Wipe the water off the feet and apply a mixture of hibiscus flower(10), Henna (1 handful) and juice of half a lemon. when dry wash it off.
• Remove scars on your hands and feet by rubbing them with lemon peel.


Eye care
• Dip wads of cotton in a chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off. Apply a little baby oil.
• For long eyelashes.., apply a thin coat of castor oil every night. It strengthens lashes and cools your eyes.
• Massage a few drops of coconut oil around the eyes to get rid off dark circles.
• To reduce puffiness of your eyes, grate a potato; tie in a cloth and place the cloth over your eyes for about 15 minutes.
• Add a small pinch of salt in water and wash for bright and sparkling eyes.
• Mix tomato juice and lemon juice in equal quantity and apply around the eyes. After 30 minutes wash it off with cold and hot water alternatively.
• Make a paste of sandal wood and nutmeg. Apply the paste around the eyes before sleeping and wash it off in the morning.
• Crush a cucumber and take the juice. Add a little rose water and apply around the eyes and wash it after 30 minutes.
• Place cotton wool swabs dipped in cold milk on closed eyes for removing dark circles.


Lip Care
• You can mix one-tablespoon cranberry sauce juice with two tablespoons Vaseline for a delicious home made lip balm.
• Apply the juice of lemon skin for avoiding black colour of lips
• Massage your lips with coriander leaf juice for soft and rosy lips.

Skin care

We all want to be beautiful. Here is a simple truth, if you are healthy you are or can be beautiful. An important part of being healthy (beautiful) is having a good skin. There are several products in the market for skin care but the basics of skin care are very simple. If you follow the guidelines below, you will be doing 90% of what is required for a healthy and beautiful skin.

Remember a basic truth, the normal skin has a natural capability to clean and protect itself. We know that animals don’t take any special care of their skin!

Bathing regularly will clear the skin of dust, dirt and any harmful substances. Hot water cleans more efficiently.

Using a soap helps clean the skin even better. All you need is a normal soap; apply it well all over the body to ensure that all the greasy substances covering the skin are removed. Antiseptic or medicated soaps are only required if the person is suffering from a skin problem.

Oils can be used after bathing especially if the skin tends to be dry. Some oils also contain additional anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents.

Massaging the scalp and body with oil enhances skin softness, improves blood circulation and induces relaxation in the body.

A great variety of Moisturizers, Vaseline, Creams, Powders, Face Packs, Sun Screen Lotions, are available in the market. The correct one for you depends upon your skin type.

COOKERY

SUMMER SPECIAL
1. Cucumber and Yogurt Dip

Ingredients:
Makes about 1 1/2 cups (serves 6)
1/2 pound cucumber (roughly 1 medium)
1 cup plain yogurt
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves
Salt to taste

Method
1.Peel and seed the cucumbers.
2.Using the large holes on a box grater, grate the cucumber into a small bowl.
3.A handful at a time (kids like doing this), gently squeeze the water out of the grated cucumber. (More than half a cucumber's weight is water.)
4. Return the cucumber to the bowl and stir in the yogurt, garlic, mint, and salt.


2.Green Peas With Paneer Masala


Ingredients:
Garden peas 2 cups
Paneer Pieces (1 inch cubes) 2 cups
Water 11/2 cup
Half-n-Half 1/4 cup
Tomatoes 2 medium
Sugar 1 teaspoon
Garlic Paste 1 teaspoon
Ginger Paste 1 teaspoon
Turmeric (Haldi powder) 1/4 teaspoon
Chili Powder (Red Chili Powder) 1/2 teaspoon
Onions 1 large
Vegetable Oil 1/4 cup
Coriander Leaves (dhaniya) fistful
Salt to taste
Cloves (Whole)
Cumin Seeds (Cumin, Jeera) 1 teaspoon
Black pepper corns (pepper corns)
Cardamom 1
Coriander seeds 1 teaspoon

Method:
1.Cut paneer into one inch cubes. Grate onion, finely chop tomato. Keep aside.
2.Heat the following ingredients in a skillet for five minutes on medium heat: clove, cumin, pepper corns, cardamom and coriander seeds. Remove from heat, let cool and make into a fine powder. Keep aside.
3.Heat oil in a skillet and when oil is hot add crushed onion, ginger, garlic, turmeric, salt, chili powder, above powder and sugar. Fry on medium heat until onion turns deep brown.
4.To the skillet now add peas and chopped tomato and fry for three minutes on high heat. Reduce heat to medium, add water, stir and cover.
5.Cook until the water content has reduced by half and now add paneer pieces, cream and stir well. Cook further for five minutes.

3.Homemade Fresh Tomato Juice


Ingredients:
12 medium fresh tomatoes, cored and cut into quarters
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup coarsely chopped onions
2 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar

Methods:
1. Combine first 6 ingredients into Dutch oven, bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat.
3. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
4. Remove from heat.
5. Put vegetable mixture through a food mill or sieve.
6. Stir in salt, paprika and sugar.
7. Chill thoroughly.
8. Serve over ice if desired.