Of Bits and Bobs, Bacteria and Bugs

The weather will do it to us all...make us forget things, cause us to feel like we are moving through jelly.  Some of us lose our appetite or drink more.  When the weather and the time change the environment seems to work together

Soon it will be far too hot to leave the blinds and windows open; for now it will be good to reread this blog article:

WINTER CHALLENGES

Whether it is a pair of socks you've thrown under your bed or a favourite pair of shoes, now is the time to keep things off the floor and things from leaning against walls.  If you notice paint peeling from the wall (such as near the stairway) or discolouration of a wall (usually the lower part) please let me know.

Now I want to begin by praising and thanking everyone for keeping the dishes washed up.  You have no idea how thoughtful this is.  I do not remember the last time I came downstairs to make my breakfast to find dishes all over the place.  So perhaps I can push the envelope a bit more, because I am still having to do a lot of follow-up behind you guys that you likely don't even notice.   These are easy things and small actions.

Sponges and Dish Cloths

One thing I have noticed is sponges and dishcloths being left soaking wet in or on the sink.  The one on the handle is typically left with the head down in the little basket on the small side sink.  Recently someone thoughtfully put some dish washing soap in this wonderful tool we all use, which was great. 

However, it needs to stay upright so the soap doesn't just seep out through the sponge and down the drain.  This sponge and the other sponge that is used needs to be able to dry out.  So many times the sponges smell so bad that they just have to be thrown out when they are still quite new. 

So the sponge on the handle must be upright, so it can dry out and conserve dish washing liquid and that the other sponge is washed out well, squeezed well so as much moisture as is practical to get out of it is squeezed out.

Why is this, you ask?  Sponges and dish cloths can become easy breeding places for bacteria (that's what makes them smell) when:

·        they are not well washed out (leftover food bits are food for bacteria to grow on)

·        they are left soggy in the sink

·        for dishcloths - when they are bunched up and left soggy on the side of the sink

·        even when they are soaked with soap, bacterial will begin to grow in the sponge (and the dishcloth)

NOTE:  (A dish cloth is typically more free from bacterial growth, because bacteria must have moisture to grow and the cloth dries out faster than a sponge if we remember to drape it over the just washed dishes, for instance)

Some information on sponges to watch:

She is a bit wacky, but her message is helpful.

This is why I prop the sponge up in the window each day and set the one on the handle up in the little indentation in the basket in the sink.  It really will help when the sun hits it and helps dry it out.

The sponge itself needs to be cared for.  The scraping side is made of plastic and if you have a hot pan you want to rush and wash, please resist this temptation because it melts the scraping material and is why the sponge head has to be so often replaced.  It also lets the sponge hold more food bits. 

Bend and Snap

As the oldest person in the house, I am growing prideful that I am also the one person who seems consistently able to bend down and pick things up off the floor.  Yes, I should not share this as I am the one who benefits, but actually it would be better if you tried this exercise too.

So next time you are in the kitchen and drop something on the floor, please bend down and take a moment to pick it up.  If it is something messy, there are paper towels nearby and spray cleaner or Windex (which is a good all-round cleaner) to clean it up with. 

If you just pick up the item dropped, it may leave grease or other yuk on the floor that someone (probably me) could slip on or worst of all that a cockroach could identify as dinner!

Critter Alert

While it is raining so hard it is an ideal time for little critters (and some that look big because they are so gross) such as cockroaches and spiders, perhaps even a mouse (although they would be wise to go next door with sweet Mandarin the cat to contend with now) to seek shelter inside, especially if meals are so easily sourced. 

This means some attention is appreciated on the bench tops, too and the stove after you are finished cooking (today I had to take the stove apart because so much food was spilled into one of the elements that it would barely light. 

If you would like me to show you how to clean the stove properly, please ask me...I love teaching new processes!

Again, the spray cleaner or Windex is a great way to finish up in the stove and back splash. 

Table Too

Oh and take a moment to wipe down the table cloth where you ate as leaving crumbs or just brushing them off onto the floor is again...an advertisement to critters to come and get it!

All in all these are observations and not criticisms.  It has been so much worse in the past and each of you are a joy to have here.  Whenever possible I will take care of these little items because I know you have time pressures and need a break.  However, when I have a project, I get tired too.

Thanks again!

14 Ways To Save Money This Winter

In a shared house, there are many challenges.  In the winter we may enjoy hot chocolates, lamb roasts and cosy nights at home.  Unfortunately, it’s also the time of the year when power bills surge to their highest as we all battle to keep warm.  Here are 14 practical tips and tricks we can use to help minimise these extra costs:  

1. Heating – Almost 40% of household energy use relates to heating during winter. Buy the most efficient heater you can afford and only heat the rooms you are in when you are in them. Keep the thermostat at 18-20C. Be careful you don’t overheat your room. Every degree above that you program your heater adds about 10 % to the heating costs.

2. Program your heater – Use your heater economically. Set it to switch on 20 minutes before you wake up then turn it off 20 minutes before you leave the house or go to bed. Use an electric blanket to warm your bed and then turn it off before you go to sleep.  (Sleeping with an electric blanket can sap your energy, by the way.)

3. Size matters – Think about the size of the appliances for areas of the home you want to heat up. Small energy-efficient heaters are sufficient for bathrooms to save warming up the whole house instead.

4. Cut down your showers - Hot water accounts for around a third of the average household’s energy use. Resist the temptation for longer showers this winter. The average shower is eight minutes…consider cutting that in half. All our showers have been fitted with water-efficient shower heads.  This cuts the amount of water flowing from the shower head to as little as 7 litres per minute compared to an unrated shower head which can use up to 25 litres of water per minute – a 72% reduction on hot water usage.

5. Cuppa Time - Don’t make your kettle work harder than it needs to – If you are making a cup of tea or boiling water for a hot water bottle, make sure you only put as much water as you need in the kettle each time you boil it, rather than filling it all the way up to the top. It costs more to boil a full kettle than to run a ceiling fan for an hour.

6. Heater Switch - Don’t forget the ‘off’ button - Remember to turn your heating off before you leave the house in the morning.

7. Use the oven! - Leave the oven open after you bake – let the warm air circulate around the room!

8. Put your ceiling fan into winter mode – Many ceiling fans have a switch (above the blades) which will allow you to change between summer and winter mode. If you put the fan into winter mode, it will reverse the movement of the blades and force the warm air that is trapped at the ceiling, down into the room to cycle with the cool air. This will warm up your room in winter. For the best effect, keep your fan on low speed.

9. Don’t block the sunshine – If you have pot plants on your window sill, now is the time to move them elsewhere. Maximise the sunlight coming into your home and remove any blockages that may be in the way.

10. Use your curtains - Let in the sun during the day (particularly on north-facing windows) and close them at night to seal any draughts around windows or doors.

11. Let it vent! – Make sure any heating vents are kept clear and that any rugs or furniture that are in the way are moved, to ensure heat is circulated around the room as efficiently as possible.

12. Get dusting – Make sure you regularly dust or vacuum your radiators and vents to stop dust from accumulating. Dust can keep the heat from getting into the rooms where you need it.

13. Seal up any holes in walls or foundations - Any cracks or holes will allow precious heat to escape. Use weather stripper for doors and windows and gap filler for cracks in the wall.  Let me know if you feel a draft somewhere and we can get it fixed.

14. Smarter laundry - Wash clothes in cold water and wash only full loads. Hot water will inflate your bill further and doesn’t contribute any significant benefits versus cold water washes.