Next we will deal with how often you change the sheets on the bed.
(You may want to see what someone else says: "The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide" at http://boomersurvive-thriveguide.typepad.com/the_survive_and_thrive_bo/2009/06/how-often-should-you-change-your-bed-sheets.html)
We have always changed them at least once a week, and if there were any problems (bed-wetting of any sort, bloody noses, etc.) they got changed immediately.
Assuming you bathe or shower every night before getting into bed, you may be allowed to go longer between changing sheets.
But if you read, are flatulent, count money, eat, or wrestle in bed, think about changing the sheets more often!
It helps if your mattress and pillows are covered with hypo-allergenic, allergen barrier protectors. Invest in these, and you will only need to change the sheets and pillowcases, and not the mattress pad and pillows! There are those who save time by sleeping on top of their bedding so they do not have to make the bed. But the purpose of sheets is to protect your mattress, pillows, and bedspread from your body and its oils, flaking skin, dandruff, drool, snot, bacteria, viruses, dirt, scabs, cosmetics, ear wax, loose hairs, semen, yeast, toe jam, blood, sweat and tears. When you sleep, you should only be touching your sheets and pillowcases. The blanket should have a sheet between it and you. Pulling the blanket up to keep warm? Make sure you fold the sheet over the edge of the blanket to pull it up! Otherwise you will have to wash the blanket weekly!
In summary, the cleaner you are when you go to bed, the longer you can wait to change the sheets. And if the only things you touch when sleeping are the sheets and pillowcases, then those are the only things you need to wash frequently.
Of course, there is spring and fall cleaning which requires you to thoroughly wash everything!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Housework: Making the Bed Part I
If you were paying attention, you have learned to make the bed using the military method (which is detailed in an article at "The Art of Manliness": http://artofmanliness.com/2009/11/19/how-to-make-a-bed-you-can-bounce-a-quarter-off-of/), because I learned from my father, rather than from my mother who was used to rolling up a futon from the floor and sticking it in a closet.
I am in favor of letting the bed air out a bit before making it (and in a related matter, I do not like to sleep in a room that is shut up tight. Either leave a door or a window open. Otherwise, the room will smell raunchy.)
But why make the bed at all? Now that you are adults, I suppose it is a personal preference or just laziness that will dictate what you do. I just need some order in my personal life, as opposed to the disorder out there in the world.
And although you may not care what your friends think, I swear the pest control guy does a more thorough job when he sees a nice neat home.
But perhaps the greatest reason to make the bed is to keep the dust and other creatures out of the bed. So at least pull up the bedspread!
I am in favor of letting the bed air out a bit before making it (and in a related matter, I do not like to sleep in a room that is shut up tight. Either leave a door or a window open. Otherwise, the room will smell raunchy.)
But why make the bed at all? Now that you are adults, I suppose it is a personal preference or just laziness that will dictate what you do. I just need some order in my personal life, as opposed to the disorder out there in the world.
And although you may not care what your friends think, I swear the pest control guy does a more thorough job when he sees a nice neat home.
But perhaps the greatest reason to make the bed is to keep the dust and other creatures out of the bed. So at least pull up the bedspread!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Laundry Tip - Vinegar
Sunday is laundry day at our house. So laundry tips are likely to come on Sundays!
I use vinegar (white distilled vinegar) because:
a) it is environmentally-friendly,
b) it is wallet-friendly (purchase a gallon or more container, and pour some into a smaller bottle for use in the laundry room),
c) it is versatile.
As I begin to load the washing machine, I will put vinegar directly on:
1) underarms of clothing that have yellowed or have deodorant build-up, or on underarms of sweaty clothing to prevent yellowing and deodorant build-up,
2) on the traditionally stinky parts of underpants (i.e. where men have flatulence and where women have discharge).
I routinely add a tablespoon in the fabric softener dispenser of my washing machine in addition to the usual detergent. (A quarter cup is recommended, but since I have a front-loader, I use half that amount, or less depending on how much vinegar I used to "pre-treat"!)
I NEVER use liquid bleach or fabric softener.
There are at least "1,001 Uses for Vinegar" which you can check out at:
http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/
and specifically for laundry:
http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=8
So why do I use vinegar specifically in regards to laundry? Because
a) I usually use only cold water to do the laundry, I need something to handle the germs, mold and mildew.
b) If your water is hard, vinegar will act as a water softener and boost the power of your detergent and decrease soap scum.
c) Most of our clothes are made from natural fibers like cotton, so they need milder treatment.
I use vinegar (white distilled vinegar) because:
a) it is environmentally-friendly,
b) it is wallet-friendly (purchase a gallon or more container, and pour some into a smaller bottle for use in the laundry room),
c) it is versatile.
As I begin to load the washing machine, I will put vinegar directly on:
1) underarms of clothing that have yellowed or have deodorant build-up, or on underarms of sweaty clothing to prevent yellowing and deodorant build-up,
2) on the traditionally stinky parts of underpants (i.e. where men have flatulence and where women have discharge).
I routinely add a tablespoon in the fabric softener dispenser of my washing machine in addition to the usual detergent. (A quarter cup is recommended, but since I have a front-loader, I use half that amount, or less depending on how much vinegar I used to "pre-treat"!)
I NEVER use liquid bleach or fabric softener.
There are at least "1,001 Uses for Vinegar" which you can check out at:
http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/
and specifically for laundry:
http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=8
So why do I use vinegar specifically in regards to laundry? Because
a) I usually use only cold water to do the laundry, I need something to handle the germs, mold and mildew.
b) If your water is hard, vinegar will act as a water softener and boost the power of your detergent and decrease soap scum.
c) Most of our clothes are made from natural fibers like cotton, so they need milder treatment.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Bathroom Tip - Toilet Paper
The Great Over or Under Debate...
You know, when you replace the toilet paper roll on the toilet paper roll holder, should the end of the roll come forward over the top of the roll, or should it drop down behind?
Others have already thoroughly studied this problem, and I refer you to Current Configuration (http://currentconfig.com/2005/02/22/essential-life-lesson-1-over-is-right-under-is-wrong/).
My preference, is of course, over the top, mostly because of the location of the toilet paper roll in relation to my hand when I am sitting on the toilet. When I reach for the toilet paper, my hand is more often above the roll, thus it is easier to grab the end if it is on top. I do not like searching for the end under the roll, when I'd rather be done and doing something else.
Now, if a man were to ever use toilet paper after doing #1, he would also be above the toilet paper roll, and you know you want to make things as easy as possible for him.
However, my main advice for replacing the toilet paper roll is - JUST DO IT! Please don't leave an empty roll!
Thank you!
P. S. Also, please don't leave just one square of toilet paper on the roll for someone else. If you can't find a use for it, then leave it on top of the new roll you have just installed. Thanks!
You know, when you replace the toilet paper roll on the toilet paper roll holder, should the end of the roll come forward over the top of the roll, or should it drop down behind?
Others have already thoroughly studied this problem, and I refer you to Current Configuration (http://currentconfig.com/2005/02/22/essential-life-lesson-1-over-is-right-under-is-wrong/).
My preference, is of course, over the top, mostly because of the location of the toilet paper roll in relation to my hand when I am sitting on the toilet. When I reach for the toilet paper, my hand is more often above the roll, thus it is easier to grab the end if it is on top. I do not like searching for the end under the roll, when I'd rather be done and doing something else.
Now, if a man were to ever use toilet paper after doing #1, he would also be above the toilet paper roll, and you know you want to make things as easy as possible for him.
However, my main advice for replacing the toilet paper roll is - JUST DO IT! Please don't leave an empty roll!
Thank you!
P. S. Also, please don't leave just one square of toilet paper on the roll for someone else. If you can't find a use for it, then leave it on top of the new roll you have just installed. Thanks!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Children and Automobiles
My advice on leaving children alone in cars:
DON'T!
Never mind that a child can suffocate in the heat, freeze in the cold, slip down in the carseat and choke on a strap, escape the carseat and start the car, or be abducted!
No, what you don't want is to be in the shoes of the two young women in line at the post office - when the cop came in and asked the owner of the car with the kids to step forward...
What I can't understand is, if there are two adults and unknown number of children, why would both adults need to come in to the post office? If they couldn't handle bringing the kids in with them, certainly one could have stayed in the car. If they needed to talk, they had cell phones. If they needed to talk privately, well, we could all hear their conversation while in the post office...
The lines at the post office are notoriously long, but there is no good reason to leave a child alone in a car.
P. S. OMG! I just remembered I left my own daughter in the car when I went into the post office the other week, AND I gave her the car keys!
(She is 20 years old... She could have driven off to a colder climate, become frozen, slid down and choked on the seat belt, and been arrested for neglect of an elderly person. How dangerous is that?! Like I said, DON'T leave kids alone in the car!)
DON'T!
Never mind that a child can suffocate in the heat, freeze in the cold, slip down in the carseat and choke on a strap, escape the carseat and start the car, or be abducted!
No, what you don't want is to be in the shoes of the two young women in line at the post office - when the cop came in and asked the owner of the car with the kids to step forward...
What I can't understand is, if there are two adults and unknown number of children, why would both adults need to come in to the post office? If they couldn't handle bringing the kids in with them, certainly one could have stayed in the car. If they needed to talk, they had cell phones. If they needed to talk privately, well, we could all hear their conversation while in the post office...
The lines at the post office are notoriously long, but there is no good reason to leave a child alone in a car.
P. S. OMG! I just remembered I left my own daughter in the car when I went into the post office the other week, AND I gave her the car keys!
(She is 20 years old... She could have driven off to a colder climate, become frozen, slid down and choked on the seat belt, and been arrested for neglect of an elderly person. How dangerous is that?! Like I said, DON'T leave kids alone in the car!)
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