Vol. 2, No.2, May 15th, 2011
TITLE: “Spring clean up : I give you cleaning tricks and tips*”
INTRODUCTION
It’s that time of the year again. When spring arrives on my calendar, it signals the start of my cleaning season. This covers such rooms as kitchen, laundry-bathroom, bedrooms, living room/family room, etc. ; more specifically, floors, windows, walls, cupboards, closets, appliances, electronics, furnititure, etc. It also includes the yard. To mark this auspicious occasion, my book of the week is: “Natural Stain Removal Secrets: Powerful, Safe Techniques for Removing Stubborn Stains from Anything” [Paperback] by Deborah L Martin (Author).
MY LIFE & TIMES*
Spring cleaning at my house is an annual ritual. I expect that I am not the only one, who does it. I learned a great deal from my mother. She was a fanatic about her house. She scrubbed it up and down until it sparkled. I take after her. I decided to share with you some of my cleaning program and strategies.
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #1: : Guncotton
“Though strictly forbidden by his wife from conducting experiments in their home, the German chemist Christian F. Schonbein sometimes disobeyed her when she wasn’t around. While experimenting in the kitchen one day in 1845, Schonbein accidentally spilled a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids. In a panic, he grabbed his wife’s cotton apron and mopped up the mess. He then hung it over the stove to dry before its unsuspecting owner came home. Schonbein’s deception went unnoticed – until the apron spontaneously ignited and burned so quickly that virtually disappeared in a flash. Fortunately, his wife wasn’t wearing it at the time.”
(Source: www.anecdotage.com) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=4466
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #2: Martha Stewart: Paper Money
“Martha Stewart earned $43 million today,” Conan O’Brien announced one day in November 2004, after Kmart merged with Sears to form America’s third-largest retailer. “And on top of that, Martha made two packs of cigarettes for cleaning another inmate’s toilet.”
(Source: www.anecdotage.com) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=20625
S & R* CHOICE ANECDOTAGE #3:Young Madonna: Cleaning Lady
“Madonna was once asked to describe her worst high-school job. “I had to clean houses – it was gross,” she recalled. “I had to clean the toilet bowls of boys I went to school with. No, there’s nothing more degrading than being someone’s housekeeper. I mean, God bless my housekeeper and… well… all my housekeepers!”
(Source: www.anecdotage.com) – http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=7172
S & R* QUOTE(S) OF THE WEEK*: Erma Bombeck
“My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint. ”
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://www.quotegarden.com/housework.html
S & R* QUOTE(S) OF THE WEEK*: Joan Rivers
“Don’t cook. Don’t clean. No man will ever make love to a woman because she waxed the linoleum – “My God, the floor’s immaculate. Lie down, you hot bitch.”
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://www.quotegarden.com/housework.html
S & R* QUOTE(S) OF THE WEEK*: Nancie J. Carmody
“I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home…. I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.”
(Source: Wisdom Quotes) – http://www.quotegarden.com/housework.html
THE AUTHOR: Deborah L. Martin
In Indiana, where she is from, I understand that they have lots and lots of stains. She got down and dirty on her grandparents’ farm. She has lots of cleaning work with a husband and two sons. Deborah Martin is a graduate from Purdue University. She was an editor for Rodale’s Home and Garden Books. She is knowledgeable about keeping house. She is pro-clean. She wrote this book to help all of us on the front lines fighting dirt.
SERIES/COLLECTION
She has many books to her credit.
Books
Here are a few :
2008 – The Complete Compost Gardening Guide: Banner batches, grow heaps, comforter compost, and other amazing techniques for saving time and money, and … most flavorful, nutritous vegetables ever. [Paperback]
1995 – Rodale’s Low-Maintenance Gardening Techniques: Shortcuts and Time-Saving Hints for Your Greatest Garden Ever [Hardcover]
1992 – The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener [Paperback]
THE BOOK: Natural Stain Removal Secrets: Powerful, Safe Techniques for Removing Stubborn Stains from Anything [Paperback] by Deborah L Martin (Author)
A stain is an unwanted substance on an item. There is a great variety of offending substances. Some heavyweights are red wine and spaghetti sauce, ink and grease. It doesn’t have to be liquid – it could be a wad of chewing gum, It could be human like blood and perspiration. It could be pet materials like urine or vomit …uggh… The anecdote is usually something also found in the home. Some examples are: lemon juice, vinegar, club soda, baking soda, salt, etc. There are some How-To application suggestions. The book is easy to use as there is a topical index. The book will prove invaluable. It will save time and pay for itself. Buy it, keep it handy and come clean!
CONCLUSION
Cleaning is a worthwhile practice. Living in clean quarters makes a person feel good about oneself and about life itself. Spring is a good time to do it. I encourage people to spring clean.
My personal comments
Cleanliness is next to godliness. That is my motto. I aspire to keep my house spotless. I have received some good -natured ribbing for this over the years. The cleanliness of a person’s home indicates certain characteristics about him or her. Howver, I caution that you don’t go too far in this direction – it might become a compulsion.
The point
At the end of the spring clean-up, the house looks brighter. A spring fresh and clean house feels good. The weekly cleaning becomes much easier and quicker. This also fits in with my annual house maintenance activities – please note that upkeep is essential in keeping a house in a good state of repair.
ANTOINETTE’S TIP SHEET*
Every spring cleaner should:
1. Make spring cleaning an annual event at your house; in this way, the unwanted build-up doesn’t go too far;
2. Plan it out well; as for example,
2.1 Make early May the start date; do it as early in the season as you can rather than later when it gets too hot;
2.2 Set aside a certain length of time for spring cleaning; it takes the time it takes!
2.3 Try to have some the big work fall into your annual vacation period;
2.4 Start with the jobs, disliked the most.
2.5 Make a“To Do List” (and a schedule) covering such rooms as:
(a) Kitchen:floors, windows, walls, drawers, cupboards, closets, appliances, furnititure, etc.;
Also clean the cutlery.
(b) Laundry-bathroom:floors, windows, walls, drawers, cupboards, closets, appliances, furnititure, etc.
(c) Bedrooms: floors, windows, walls, drawers, cupboards, closets, electronics, furnititure, etc.; do the annual closet switcheroo: winter clothes change places with summer garments.
(d) Living room/family room: floors, windows, walls, drawers, cupboards, closets, electronics, furnititure, etc.; don’t forget to pull out furniture and dust under beds, sofas, etc. – dust bunnies beware”
3. Attack stains; to this end,
3.1 Smell it especially if it is stubborn to figure out what it is; if you don’t sniff it, it sometimes will be difficult to clean it.
4. Engage men to:
4.1 Clean the windows inside and out;.
4.3 Clean/redo the ceramic grout;
5. Carry out some house repairs every year: I concentrate on some basic maintenance that needs to be done … be it painting, redoing something that’s deteriorating, etc.
6. Leave the yard work until the end. (With the sunshine and warmer weather, one can get outside.) In this regard,
6.1 Wash down the garden furniture;
6.2 Trim the rose bushes, shrubs and the like;
6.3 Cut the grass.
6.4 Prepare the garden soil, de-wead, plant seds and vegetable plants as wanted;
7. Do a big car wash in addition – this is a perfect time to get this done too; to this end,
7.1 Do a good interior vacuum;
7.2 Do a good external wash, not forgetting the running boards, tire covers, grills, etc.;
7.3 Wash the car inside: do an extra -special job on the windows, dash, trunk, etc.;
7.4 Wash the floor mats; etc.
I want you and me to get to the point of being all washed up in a good way. Let’s clean up and make the world cleaner one house at a time. If you’re with me, please pass the mop and bucket!
Take it out for a spin and tell me if you agree.
And that’s my thought of the week on books, what’s yours? *
ALP
“Books are life; and they make life better!*”
CREDITS
-Web Tech: richmediasound.com
The above is a new media production of Valente under its “United Author*”
program.
*TM/© 2011 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.
——————————————————
Schedule 1
IT WORDS FOR ME!*
For today, my word/phrase(s) are: “Spring cleaning”.
“Spring cleaning is the period in spring time set aside for cleaning a house, normally applied in climates with a cold winter.The most common usage of spring cleaning refers to the yearly act of cleaning a house from top to bottom which would take place in the first warm days of the year typically in spring, hence the name. However it has also come to be synonymous with any kind of heavy duty cleaning or organizing enterprise. A person who gets their affairs in order before an audit or inspection could be said to be doing some.”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_cleaning
Bonus fact #1: Origin of spring cleaning
“It has been suggested that the origins of spring cleaning date back to the Iranian Norouz, the Persian new year, which falls on the first day of spring [citation needed]. Iranians continue the practice of “khooneh tekouni” which literally means “shaking the house” just before the new year. Everything in the house is thoroughly cleaned, from the drapes to the furniture. A similar tradition is the Scottish “New Year’s cleaning” on Hogmanay (December 31), a practice now also widespread in Ireland, New Zealand, and to some extent North America.”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_cleaning
Another possibility of the origin of spring cleaning can be traced to the ancient Jewish practice of thoroughly cleansing the home in anticipation of the spring-time memorial feast of Passover (Hebrew: פסח pesach‎). In remembrance of the Jews’ hasty flight from Egypt following their captivity there, during the seven-day observance of the Passover memorial or remembrance see in Wikipedia PASSOVER there is a strict prohibition against eating or drinking anything which may have been leavened or fermented with yeast (Exoduas 12:15, 19). Jews are not only supposed to refrain from leavened foodstuffs (known in Hebrew as חמץ chametz), they are expressly commanded to rid their homes of even small remnants of chametz for the length of the holiday (Exodus 12:15). Therefore, observant Jews conducted a thorough “spring cleaning” of the house, followed by a traditional hunt for chametz crumbs by candlelight (called bedikat chametz [Hebrew: בדיקת חמץ])
on the evening before the holiday begins. The word for “leaven: has Hebrew origin H7603 שׂאר śe’ôr seh-ore’From H7604; barm or yeast cake (as swelling by fermentation): – leaven.(STRONGS HEBREW GREEK DICTIONARY on leaven)NOTE: The Jewish Passover Feast of remembrance was superseded by the instituting of the Lord’s Supper memorial feast that was first introduced by Jesus Christ <Mark 14:14-23> and then observed on the first day of every week (Sunday <Acts 20:7> by the church after its establishment ( 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; Acts 20:7).”
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_cleaningBonusIn North America and northern Europe, the custom found an especial practical value due to those regions’ continental and wet climates. During the 19th century in America, prior to the advent of the vacuum cleaner, March was often the best time for dusting because it was getting warm enough to open windows and doors (but not warm enough for insects to be a problem), and the high winds could carry the dust out of the house. For the same reason, modern rural households often use the month of March for cleaning projects involving the use of chemical products which generate fumes.
(Source: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_cleaning
Schedule 2
STUDY/STATISTICS: 2011 Schedule B – Chapter 34
“Section VI – Chapter 34
Soap, Organic Surface-active Agents, Washing Preparations, Lubricating Preparations, Artificial Waxes, Prepared Waxes, Polishing or Scouring Preparations, Candles and Similar Articles, Modeling Pastes, “Dental Waxes” and Dental Preparations with a Basis of Plaster
Notes
1. This chapter does not cover:
(a). Edible mixtures or preparations of animal or vegetable fats or oils of a kind used as mold release preparations (heading 1517);
(b). Separate chemically defined compounds; or
(c). Shampoos, dentifrices, shaving creams and foams, or bath preparations, containing soap or other organic surface-active agents (heading 3305, 3306 or 3307).
2. For the purposes of heading 3401, the expression “soap” applies only to soap soluble in water. Soap and the other products of heading 3401 may contain added substances (for
example, disinfectants, abrasive powders, fillers or medicaments). Products containing abrasive powders remain classified in heading 3401 only if in the form of bars, cakes or
molded pieces or shapes. In other forms they are to be classified in heading 3405 as “scouring powders and similar preparations”.
3. For the purposes of heading 3402, “organic surface-active agents” are products which when mixed with water at a concentration of 0.5 percent at 20 degrees C and left to stand for one hour at the same temperature:
(a). Give a transparent or translucent liquid or stable emulsion without separation of insoluble matter; and
(b). Reduce the surface tension of water to 4.5 x 10-2 N/m (45 dyne/cm) or less.
4. In heading 3403 the expression “petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous mineral applies to the products defined in note 2 to chapter 27.
5. In heading 3404, subject to the exclusions provided below, the expression “artificial waxes and prepared waxes” applies only to:
(a). Chemically produced organic products of a waxy character, whether or not water-soluble;
(b). Products obtained by mixing different waxes,
(c). Products of a waxy character with a basis of one or more waxes and containing fats, resins, mineral substances or other materials.
The heading does not apply to:
(a). Goods of headings 1516, 3402 or 3823, even if having a waxy character;
(b). Unmixed animal waxes and unmixed vegetable waxes, whether or not colored, of heading 1521;
(c). Mineral waxes or similar products of heading 2712, whether or not intermixed or merely colored; or
(d). Waxes mixed with, dispersed in or dissolved in a liquid medium (headings 3405, 3809, etc.).
3401 Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, molded pieces or shapes whether or not containing soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent: Soap and organic surface-active products and preparations, in the form of bars, cakes, molded pieces or shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent:
3401110000 For toilet use (including medicated products) kg
3401190000 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….kg
3401200000 Soap in other forms . . . . . . . . . . . . .kg
3401300000 Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap . . . .kg
3402 Organic surface-active agents (other than soap); surface-active preparations, washing preparations (including auxiliary washing preparations) and cleaning preparations, whether or not containing soap, other than those of heading 3401:Organic surface-active agents, whether or not put up for retail sale:
3402110000 Anionic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….kg
3402120000 Cationic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….kg
3402130000 Nonionic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……kg
340219 Other:
3402191000 Aromatic or modified aromatic . . kg
3402195000 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……. .kg
340220 Preparations put up for retail sale:
3402201100 Containing any aromatic or modified aromatic surface-active agent kg
3402205100 Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….kg
340290 Other:
3402901000 Synthetic detergents . . . . . . . . . . kg
Other:
3402903000 Containing any aromatic or modified aromatic surface-active agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . ………..kg
Other:
3402905010 Washing preparations . . . . . . . kg
3402905030 Cleaning preparations . . . . . . . .kg
3402905050 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……..kg
3403 Lubricating preparations (including cutting-oil preparations, bolt or nut release preparations, antirust or anticorrosion preparations and mold release preparations, based on lubricants) and preparations of a kind used for the oil or grease treatment of textile materials, leather, furskins or other materials, but excluding preparations containing, as basic constituents, 70 percent or more by weight of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals: Containing petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous
minerals:
340311 Preparations for the treatment of textile materials, leather, furskins or other materials:
3403111000 Preparations for the treatment of textile materials kg
3403115000 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……..kg
3403190000 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……..kg
Other:
3403910000 Preparations for the treatment of textile materials,
leather, furskins or other materials …….kg
3403990000 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….. .kg
3404 Artificial waxes and prepared waxes:
3404200000 Of poly(oxyethylene) (polyethylene glycol) .kg
340490 Other:
3404905110 Of chemically modified lignite . . . . kg
3404905160 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …….kg
3405 Polishes and creams, for footwear, furniture, floors, coachwork, glass or metal, scouring pastes and powders and similar preparations (whether or not in the form of paper, wadding, felt, nonwovens, cellular plastics or cellular rubber, impregnated, coated or covered with such preparations), excluding waxes of heading 3404:
3405100000 Polishes, creams and similar preparations, for footwear or leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X
3405200000 Polishes, creams and similar preparations, for the maintenance of wooden furniture, floors or other woodworkX
3405300000 Polishes and similar preparations for coachwork, other than metal polishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X
3405400000 Scouring pastes and powders and other scouring preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kg
3405900000 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . X
3406000000 Candles, tapers and the like . . . . . . . . .kg
3407 Modeling pastes, including those put up for children’s amusement; preparations known as “dental wax” or as “dental impression compounds”, put up in sets, in packings for retail sale or in plates, horseshoe shapes, sticks or similar forms; other preparations for use in dentistry, with a basis of plaster (of calcined gypsum or calcium sulfate):
3407002000 Modeling pastes, including those put up for children’s amusement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kg
3407004000 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .kg”
(Souce: U.S. Census Bureau) – http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/2011/c34.html
Schedule 3
S & R* NEWS ALERT* #1: What to do with all your spring cleaning items
“(NC)—”With the end of winter right around the corner, now is the time to start your spring cleaning. For months your closets and drawers have been accumulating junk. The time has come to purge those drawers of anything that has not been used or worn in the past year. So what can you do with all the items you no longer need? As the popular saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Why not use those treasures to do good for those in need? Try some of these simple ideas:
• Donate clothing – There are a number of different charities and organizations with drop boxes in parking lots or others that pick clothing up from your doorstep to sell or give to people in need.
• Host a garage sale – Collect all your new or gently used items cluttering your home and sell them with the purpose of donating all the funds raised to a charity. Organizations such as Christian Children’s Fund of Canada have environmentally–friendly items like fuel–efficient stoves and rainwater harvesting tanks, which you can purchase with your earnings. By picking a specific item or setting a goal for the amount of money you would like to raise, you will increase people’s enthusiasm to help you reach your goal. Not only will this sale create more room in your home, but by advertising that the money will go to charity, your sales will also set an example for others in your community.
• Recycle – Be sure that any items that cannot be donated or given away are disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way. Take left over items to your local dump where they will help you sort your items into recyclables and other waste.”
www.newscanada.com
S
& R* NEWS ALERT* #2: Gardening – make it a family adventure!
“(NC)—”Summer is all about spending time outdoors and enjoying the warm weather. Gardening is a great way for families to spend time together away from television and video games, while learning about nature and getting in some great exercise. The President’s Choice brand’s garden guru Peter Cantley, vice–president, Floral and Garden at Loblaw Companies Limited, has more than 45 years of experience. Want to help get kids excited about gardening? Follow Peter’s simple tips for parents and soon your kids will have green thumbs of their own!
Kids love getting dirty – so let them! Weeding and planting is an easy activity to get kids started. Kids can join parents in the garden by digging in the soil with a small spade and finding roots and worms.
Engage little ones in the responsibility. If your child is old enough, ask them to help water the lawn or plants.
If your child is really taking an interest in helping out, why not give them their own section of the garden? Watching plants grow from seeds into flowers or vegetables is not only fun for kids, but a great learning opportunity. To mark their special spot, have them make signs identifying each type of produce in their garden.
Share your love of gardening with others! If the family is headed over to visit friends for Sunday night barbecue, pick some fresh tomatoes from your garden and bring them over as a thoughtful hostess gift the kids can be proud to give.
Remember to have fun. Canadians only have the summer heat for a short time so make the most of it and start planting!
For more tips on planning a garden and President’s Choice garden products visit pc.ca.”
www.newscanada.com
S & R* NEWS ALERT* #3: Keeping your spring cleanup crew well fed and refreshed this Victoria Day weekend
(NC)—”Victoria Day weekend signals the (unofficial) start of summer and for those Canadians with cottages or cabins it time to open your summer sanctuary. There’s no reason the work has to take over the long weekend – this isn’t Labour Day. Molson M has some time saving tips so you can enjoy the weekend:
• Invite friends: the same crew that enjoys your dock all summer will be happy to pitch in
• Plan ahead: get everything you need for three days – remember, most stores will be closed Monday
• Cook in advance: one pot meals like chicken pot pie or lasagna can cut your clean up time
• It’s easy to be healthy: baskets of apples and oranges are a quick snack and require no preparation
• Keep the workers cheerful: are you asking friends to wade into the frigid lake to put in the dock? Make sure you have great drinks on hand to say thank you. New Molson M is an award winning lager and will be a hit with refined palates. Rickards taster pack features Rickards White, Red and Dark so everyone will have their favourite
• Double duty: Fill your cooler with ice, juice, pop and beer to manage overflow from the refrigerator.”
www.newscanada.com
*TM/© 2011 Practitioners’ Press Inc. – All Rights Reserved.
