Having babies and small children in your home means life, fun, noise and safety, safety, safety. Normal, everyday items can be dangerous and even life-threatening to them, so you’ll want to make any necessary changes to your living environment to ensure the safety of your little ones. From room-to-room there are different adjustments to be made. Here are a few tips to get you started:

The Nursery / Child’s Room

1. Use a baby monitor to track Baby’s activities while you’re in another room.

2. Wrap curtain cords and Venetian blind cords and put them out of reach as they can pose a strangulation hazard.

3. Use a changing table with high sides and a safety trap. Never leave Baby alone on the table.

4. Cover all unused electrical outlets with clear, plastic covers.

5. Check toys for sharp edges and detachable pieces that could be a choking hazard.

The Kitchen

1. While preparing food, keep babies and toddlers in a playpen within your sight, but far from the oven and hot foods.

2. Keep electrical appliances out-of-reach.

3. Keep sharp knives locked up or out-of-reach.

4. Put childproof latches on kitchen cabinets.

5. Keep plastic bags and plastic wrap out of children’s’ reach.

6. Don’t heat baby bottles or formula in the microwave as the center of the liquid can be scalding while other parts are cool to the touch.

7. Remove tablecloths as children can pull the cloth and get hurt by objects that fall off of the table.

8. Store cleaning products in a locked cabinet or out of children’s’ reach.

9. Keep a tight lid on your trash can to keep little hands from finding sharp objects or other potentially harmful items.

10. Keep your dishwasher latched when not in use.

11. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

12. Make sure your smoke extinguishers are in good working order.

Living Areas

1. Cover all electrical outlets with clear, plastic childproof covers.

2. Use childproof screens around your heaters, fireplaces and woodstoves.

3. Place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

4. Cover trash containers securely.

5. Keep drapes, curtain cords and Venetian blind cords out-of-reach.

6. Don’t use paint that contains mercury or lead as chipped paint could tempt little ones to taste this poisonous material.

7. Keep ash trays with ashes out of children’s’ reach.

8. Keep household plants out-of-reach to avoid babies and children grabbing and eating potentially poisonous leaves.

9. Make sure that carpets and rugs have non-skid backing.

The Bathroom

1. Keep medications, cleansers, toiletries, razor blades and other hazardous items out-of-reach in locked cabinets.

2. Use non-slip mats in tub and shower areas.

3. Bathe young children and babies in water that feels warm, not hot.

4. Always supervise children under six in the bathtub.

5. Keep electrical appliances away from water sources and out-of-reach.

6. Put toilet lid locks on all toilets if you have a child under three.

7. Set your hot water heater below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent scalding.

8. Keep bathroom doors closed.

Jacqueline Courtiol
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/childproofing-your-home-88204.html

Eczema is a skin disease characterized by inflammation, itching, redness, cracking, dryness, and sometime lesions.

In mild flare ups, eczema is irritating at best and during severe flare ups, it can be both extremely itchy and painful. Complications can arise that are potentially life threatening, so care to prevent and lesson flare up is very important to you. The first thing you can do to care for your eczema and reduce flare up is to learn your own triggers.

Every eczema patient is different, so what may trigger one persons flare up will not necessarily cause yours. Through a little detective work, you can learn your particular triggers so that you may avoid them. These eczema triggers come in a variety of forms. Some of the more common triggers include: allergens, irritants, extreme temperatures, humidity levels, and stress.

Food allergens may be the culprits, so keeping a food/symptom diary is a good idea. Although any food can be a culprit, more common food allergens are milk, sugar, and wheat, keep in mind that almost all of the bread you buy if made with wheat flour. White bread is simply bleached wheat flour.

Allergens may also be any airborne allergens that you are sensitive to, since Atopic Dermatitis patients are usually prone to or have family who is prone to hay fever and/or asthma, allergens play a large part in the eczema patient set of triggers as a general rule.

The most common allergen triggers are pollen, dog dander, cat hair, and dust. With cat hair, it is actually usually the saliva of the cat that people are allergic to, but the cat licks the fur, spreading the proteins in the saliva to the fur, making people think that the fur is the culprit.

Like food allergies, a diary can be kept, listing potential suspect contact and symptom manifestation. It may help you to have an allergy test done, but allergy shots may actually worsen the eczema, rather than help your body become accustomed to the allergies (which is how the shots work in patients who do not have atopic dermatitis).

Allergy testing should be done as a way to determine what things you should avoid. If you determine that allergens are triggering your eczema, you may need to begin a prescription antihistamine.

Irritants include all kinds of man made chemicals. The most common eczema triggers are laundry chemicals with fragrance and/or dyes, soaps, and household cleaning chemicals. Switching to fragrance and dye free laundry agents and mild soap may help. When using household cleaning supplies, wear protective gloves and clean for only short periods at a time.

Latex (or rubber) glove may also be an irritant, so a cotton glove worn under the latex glove may help you. Clothing that scratches skin or holds in excess heat can also be an irritant. Cotton clothing is best for eczema sufferers.

Extreme temperatures affect eczema in different ways. The winter cold is drier than warmer months, so between the cold and the lack of normal humidity levels, your eczema usually gives you more trouble. Moisturizing is very important in this time, since you cannot change environmental conditions.

Humidifiers may or may not help, the subject is controversial. Likewise, extreme heat and humidity affects eczema in its own way, usually by making you perspire, which acts as an irritant. Whether perspiring from outside temperatures or from exercise, bathe as soon as you can and apply a good cream or petroleum jelly based moisturizer to wet skin. Keeping the skin clean and moisturized will help keep irritation from heat to a minimum.

Stress levels are often found to be factors. During times of high stress, patients often report eczema flare ups. Learning to recognize and control your stress level can be considerably helpful with both your eczema and your day to day life. Having a good support network is a number one rule in stress reduction, visiting with a psychologist will benefit you as well.

The counselor will be able to teach you to recognize stress triggers and learn relaxation techniques to help you remain closer to a peaceful state during stress. Often people with severe eczema will be depressed, so your counselor may suggest an anti depressant to help through rough times.

Studies have shown definite links between AD patients and the inability to adequately express their inner turmoil, meaning that the stress builds without release. Counselors relaxation techniques and stress management tips can drastically improve this for you. Researchers are still trying to determine the link between stress levels and immune reaction in the skin.

Louise Forrest
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/what-is-triggering-your-eczema-113466.html

Hypoallergenic dog breeds are the most suitable for people who are allergic to dog dander and fur. Some of the more popular hypoallergenic dog breeds include terrier, basenji, bichon frise, poodle, chinese crested, greyhound, havanese, irish water spaniel, and shih tzu.

While they do produce some dander, the dander of hypoallogenic dogs is little enough to create minimal discomfort for those who come in contact with them. There are many breeds of hypoallergenic dog. Many of them are miniatures or toys that have lots of energy and may have difficult temperaments for the more sedate dog owner.

Nonetheless, even the allergic dog owner can follow a few simple steps to limit discomfort and enjoy your life with your furry companion. These tips will also generally apply to any household welcoming a new dog into its family, especially the hypoallergenic dog breeds.

A new dog (no matter how old) may well be frightened during its first hours and days in your house. Hypoallergenic dog breeds tend to be a bit more nervous than others. It may not welcome human contact at first, so you should refrain from handling them too much the first few days. Be attentive, but don’t smother them with affection. Let them acclimate to their new house. Just let your new dog roam around the house, sniff the furniture, and find its way around.

When your new hypoallergenic dog becomes accustomed to its new surroundings, begin a grooming routine to reduce the amount of dander and fur that might otherwise settle on your furniture, carpets, and clothing. In addition to reducing your danger of allergic reactions, regular brushing will reduce matting and knots that make your hypoallergenic dog uncomfortable and unattractive. A steel comb with wide teeth will help untangle knots and trap loose hair. It’s important not to let your hypoallergenic dog’s skin get too dry with all the brushing and grooming. You can find products at the pet store or through your veterinarian that will help reduce skin problems.

Giving your hypoallergenic dog plenty of exercise will also reduce your risk of allergic reaction. First, the fresh air will help keep its fur free of dander. Second, when your dog is tired and sleeps all night, it will be less likely to want your company while you sleep, spending less time on your bed to leave dander and fur on your bedspread and sheets. Regular, frequent cleaning of your sheets and bedspread will also reduce your discomfort.

Make sure your hypoallergenic dog has a special place of its own to sleep, day and night. A soft bed or an old blanket will give them a warm, secure spot for sleeping. Wash their pet bed often so that dander and fur don’t build up to a dangerous level where it can easily transfer to your carpet or clothing.

You can’t avoid some allergens from being present in your home, even with a hypoallergenic dog breed, so it’s important to keep your home well-vacuumed and clean at all times to maintain your good health as well.

Regular grooming is perhaps more important for hypoallergenic dog breeds than for others, especially when you have allergies to your baby. Even dogs with short hair need regular professional grooming. For people with allergies, monthly baths are a must! This will not only protect you from allergies, but it will assure your hypoallergenic dog a long, happy, healthy life.

Remember that even hypoallergenic dog breeds can still cause allergy attacks now and then. Be sure you visit your doctor when you get your dog and continue to follow your personal preventive routine to prevent serious problems with your allergies.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/hypoallergic-dog-breeds-allergic-to-dogs-this-is-for-you-753313.html

If your going to clean your home, why not make the most of it and reap the benefits of aromatherapy while you clean! As many of us have noticed when we tackle our household chores, the smell from the chemicals of many products can be pretty overwhelming, and if we use them without decent ventilation we may end up making ourselves sick.

Would it not be a great change if when we did our household chores that we would end up invigorated instead of feeling tired and drained? Well the truth is we can be by making use of some of natures treasures. Here are some tips we can start using right away.

In reality it is not only easy, but fun and cost-effective to make your own household cleaners, especially if you make them in large quantities.

It is a good idea to properly label any of your homemade cleaning products, the same way that sore bought cleaning products are labeled. As with any household cleaning product remember to store them in a safe and secure location where children and any pets will not be able to get to them. Even though in many cases our homemade products are non-toxic, any ingestion of excessive quantities can still make a person or pet quite sick. Also be careful with any pure essential oils as they to can be harmful and be sure to avoid any contact between your eyes and any oils.

Choosing the right aromatherapy ingredients for your homemade cleaning products.

Lets start with something simple and effective that we could all use. We will begin by creating a basic air freshener for our home. We start by adding our favorite scent into a plain pot of water on our kitchen stove. All we have to do is slowly simmer the mixture for several hours to fully release it’s aromas. As an example take the aromatic smell of simmering citrus rinds, the smell is quite invigorating and refreshing but you can just as easily use any essential oil that has a scent you find appealing.

Next we have a tip for a room of the house that can always use a fresh clean scent, the bathroom. We can make sure that there is always a fresh and clean scent in our bathroom by doing the following. Squeeze a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto the cardboard portion of the toilet paper roll. With each pull of the toilet paper roll the fragrance will re -release it self creating a consistent fresh smell of the essential oil you applied. Just remember to reapply your scent when ever you change your toilet paper roll.

If there is a situation where you need to use a chemical based cleanser product but would rather leave behind a more pleasant fragrance that does not have the smell of a harsh chemical, you can do so by making a simple rinse using just water and your favorite essential oil. Good choices for this purpose would be eucalyptus, pine, lemon, wintergreen, lavender, there are many more you could use as well but the ones i just mentioned are known to work well. Start with about 4 droplets for about every pint of water, spray out a tiny amount and see if the potency is to your liking, if not add another drop or 2 and test again. With the water and oil combination in your plastic spray bottle, just use it as ‘final rinse’ as you do your cleaning. Be sure to keep the filled bottle stored in a dark place since sunlight speeds up the degradation of the essential oils.

Now lets take a look at a great all purpose cleaner. Tee tree and lavender essential oils are fairly well known to have inherent antibacterial properties that we can use as a natural mixture to clean our kitchen counter tops or any location where we want to explicitly kill germs. All we have to do is what we did in our previous example, mix a couple of droplets with some water into a spray bottle and spray the mixture on to the surface we wish to clean. In situations such as killing mold and mildew we will need to add roughly fifty droplets into a bucket of water.

Next we have an easy recipe for making our own homemade carpet freshener. Start with a mixing bowl and add four cups of baking soda or cornstarch combined with twenty five droplets of a rosewood essential oil, then add thirty five droplets of a eucalyptus oil, followed by thirty droplets of a lavender oil. Make sure to break a part any clumps that may have formed and mix well. Now we just pour into a shaker style bottle and sprinkle the mixture onto our carpets. Let the mixture set the carpet for around fifteen minutes before vacuuming. The essential oils listed here are only guidelines, don’t be afraid to mix things up and try your own personal favorites.

To make a good floor cleaner, start by combining fifteen droplets of an orange oil then add eight droplets of a lemon essential oil, combine all of that with one gallon of hot water along with two tablespoons of a liquid detergent soap. This mixture is great on many tough jobs, but not only that, it will leave the room smelling fantastic along with being sparkling clean.

We can also make our own dryer sheets to make our clothing smell fantastic. Start by placing a few droplets of our favorite smelling essential oil onto a small regular cotton towel. All we need to do now is add the towel into our dryer along with our wet clothes and dry as we normally would.

The great thing about all these tips is that they are not only effective and better then many commercial alternatives but they can also save us quite a bit of money with time.

Stacy Richford
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/how-to-use-aromatherapy-to-keep-your-home-clean-and-smelling-fresh-50111.html

There is nothing worse than seeing your prized possesion with a spot or a mark on it and you do not know how it got there or what to do. This article will help you by giving you tips, suggestions and good ideas to take care of this beloved object.

To start with, your hand made Oriental rug or your kilim can survive for decades depending on a number of factors. One determining factor is the quality of the rug you have, if it is a good quality one and you treat it with care, it will surely last a lot more than if your rug or kilim is of an inferior quality. Moreover, there is large number of damages which typically affect rugs, by learning about them and taking the necessary measures to prevent them from happening you will ensure a long lasting life for your treasured rug.

The most common damages are the following ones:
Water damage: It is one of the most frequent. People usually place potted plants over rugs. Once the plant is watered the pot leaks and the rug under the pot remains constantly wet. In a few weeks the foundation of the rug weakens in such a way that it can be easily broken into pieces. So, if you are going to place a potted plant avoid putting it directly over the rug, you can use a stool or some kind of support so as to keep the humidity of the plant away from the rug. Just in case the advice comes too late and you notice that the rug is already wet you should remove it as soon as possible, clean it and allow it to dry completely to avoid damages in the foundation. Another problem related to water is triggered by damp floors (often if the floor is made of cement). Maybe the floor seems to be dry, but just a bit of moisture can produce the proliferation of micro-organisms which can spoil the foundation of the rug.

Moth damage: These insects do not eat rugs, but their larvae consume the fibers and even the knots of the rugs. They prefer to live in areas under furniture, where it is not always vacuumed or in areas with little traffic. In order to avert this, vacuum the surface once a week and several times a year vacuum the back side, the pad and the floor. For areas which are difficult to reach with the vacuum cleaner spray a proper household insecticide for moths. Besides, do not rely on moth crystals, balls or flakes since they are not effective to kill moths, they just repel them.
Dogs and cats damage: Puppies usually chew rugs. To avoid this sprinkle some moth flakes under the rug. Likewise, cats love sharpening their claws on rugs. Though it sounds a bit absurd, the best prevention is to try to control the cats’ activities.
Sun damage: The light of the sun can affect and diminish the colors of the rug. If this is your case, try to avoid direct exposure to sunlight or rotate the rug so as to make the color equal in its entire surface.
Vacuum cleaner damage: Cleaning your rug using a vacuum cleaner is a positive practice but be cautious if your cleaner is equipped with a power brush since a raking effect can be caused on the surface. It is better to use just the plain vacuum nozzle.
Chemical damage: Sometimes rug cleaners bleach the fringe before delivering it. Although the fringe looks nice after that, the process and the substance used weakens the fibers destroying them little by little. If you still want to have white fringes you could dilute the solution used for bleaching.
Storage: If you are about to store your rug, make sure you clean it, spray it with some insecticide and wrap it in plastic before doing it. Most kinds of damages are not difficult to repair, but prevention is better (cheaper and easier) than restoration. If you follow these hints as well as inspecting your rug often and cleaning it only when it is needed your rug will be part of your house for ages.

If you do get a spot or an area that is spilled upon here is what you can do:
Blot, never scrub spots on a rug. Scrubbing can damage the nap on a carpet. Test all spotting products in an inconspicuous area first and look for color change. If the color bleeds or you are unsure how to proceed consult a professional. Remove as much of the spill as possible before adding spotting products. Work from the outer edges of a spot to the center. Never saturate a spotting area with a liquid. Only spot with small amounts of cleaning products. Drying small areas can be accomplished with a hair dryer with the heat setting off.

Spotting Guide
Beer – Use mild detergent followed by rinsing with vinegar solution, rinse with water
Blood – Blot with ammonia solution followed by vinegar solution, rinse with water
Candle wax – scrape excess off, cover are with paper and iron on low setting, then spot with dry solvent.
Chocolate – spot with dry cleaning solvent and let dry, apply mild detergent, rise with water.
Coffee – Blot with mild detergent and rinse with water.
Egg – Spot with mild detergent, rinse with water
Fingernail polish – Blot with dry cleaning solvent

Fruit juices, jam & jelly – Blot with mild detergent, rinse with water
Grease – Spot with dry cleaning solvent, spot with mild detergent, rinse with water
Gum – Scrape off excess and apply dry cleaning solvent, apply mild detergent if needed and rinse with water.
Ink – Spot with dry cleaning solvent, spot with mild detergent, rinse with water
Milk – Spot with mild detergent rinse with vinegar solution, rinse with water, spot with dry cleaning solvent if needed
Paint – Apply dry cleaning solvent followed by mild detergent, rinse with water
Soft drinks – Spot with mild detergent, rinse with water
Soot – Spot with mild detergent, rinse with water, if not removed, spot with dry cleaning fluid
Tea – Spot with mild detergent, rinse with water
Urine – Spot with mild detergent, rinse with vinegar solution, and rinse with water, repeat process if needed
Vomit – Spot with mild detergent, vinegar solution, rinse with water
Wine – Fresh wine spills use white wine to spot followed by mild detergent and rinse with water.

If in doubt,consult your local rug professional.they can clean it for you.

Take care of you rug!

Bill Kernodle
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/kilims-and-rugshow-to-care-for-and-prevent-damage-66636.html

A granite floor is an excellent alternative to other types of flooring such as marble, wood, linoleum or various other tiles. Granite is often used in landscaping and for entrance, floor and other outdoor living areas. But a granite floor is also wonderful option for a kitchen, bathroom or other areas where homeowners are seeking alternatives to carpeted flooring. A granite floor is not only useful, but can be quite beautiful when style, color and design are carefully selected.

In addition to the fact that it is long lasting and aesthetically pleasant, those who choose a granite floor as opposed to the many other options out there can consider themselves environmentally friendly. Unlike other flooring materials, granite does not require destroying trees or use of other natural resources or harmful chemicals in processing.

This type of application can consist of either slab or tiles. Most consider slabs to be more pleasing to the eye than tiles. Like any other type of flooring, a granite floor can become damaged with time. A granite floor in a heavily trafficked living area might become worn over time, and dulling can occur. Another disadvantage is that it can also come off. Care should be taken to avoid putting items like containers holding acidic beverages or certain types of soaps and shampoos on the floor. Regular polishing can correct most deficiency in a granite floor. Polishing also helps with any water rings or spots that might mar its appearance.

The person responsible for cleaning will be pleased to know that it’s a relatively easy job. Granite can be vacuumed or dust mopped, and should also be wet mopped on a regular basis. A neutral detergent should be used when wet mopping. Granite can also be cleaned with a regular household window cleaner. An advantage of granite is that it is much less porous than marble or other types of stone. But while less so than other types of stone, granite is porous and thus some colors can absorb moisture and appear discolored.

If you have little ones running around your home or a furry friend or two this might be a good choice for a floor. A granite floor will generally not crack from the damage of everyday use as might other types of flooring. Any damages to granite generally occur during shipping or installation. Overall, this is an excellent choice for someone seeking a flooring option that offers both natural beauty and minimal maintenance and repair work.

Linda E. Joy
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/granite-floor-advice-information-and-tips-to-help-you-82137.html

Molds are not only disgusting to look at, but they can also carry a lot of diseases. Exposure to mold can lead to colds, respiratory complications, nasal problems, and sinus congestions. It can also cause sore throats and skin problems. If a family member suffers from asthma, molds can also trigger the attacks. Molds are also known to cause allergies.

Identifying Mold
Removing mold can be a tedious tasks and the first step in eliminating mold is to identify if it exists in your household. You would know that your house has mold if you smell a musty odor and see a mass of green or black slimy stuff. Mold is actually fungus that may float in the atmosphere much like pollen. They are usually found in moist and humid areas like the floors of your bathroom and outdoor patios or gardens. If you really want to detect mold in your house you can try reliable sampling. This may be quite expensive since this procedure can require special equipments and needs careful training of staff.

Where Mold Resides
Molds can be found in hays, grass, or leaf piles. Molds also grow in most organic resources like wood and paper. If our house has areas that are wet most of the time, chances are, mold will grow there. Walls can be one place where mold breeds. Painted walls that are washed from rain are also one place where mold can live. Molds can easily creep under cabinets and carpet padding. There are also some instances that molds can even penetrate the kitchen of your homes. When this happens, be alarmed. Since the kitchen is one place where you prepare your foods, it can be quite dangerous to cook foods in an environment with mold.

Removing Mold
When removing molds, remember that your safety should come first. Always use a respirator or mask to act as an air filter and prevent mold spores from getting into your lungs. Use eye protectors and rubber gloves. After using these types of safety equipment, it is best to dispose them immediately after use.

It is important to dampen or sprinkle some water on materials with mold. This can prevent airborne mold pollens from spreading into the air. You can use non-ammonia detergent or soap to clean hard surfaces. Hard surfaces include plastics, glass and metals. You can also use these in cleaning counter tops, kitchen, or bathroom tiles. It is important to note that you should never mix ammonia with bleach because they may give off fumes that can be toxic and harmful to your body.
It is sad to say, though, that it is not possible to remove mold from carpets or paper. Porous materials are usually impossible to clean if they have molds. There is no better way to remove these kind of moldy materials but to throw them away.

In walls or other wood structures, you can remove molds by scrubbing. But do not expect them to be completely gone. You can scrub them or sand them. Make sure that you use protective safety tools when you do this. Clean these stuff in a well-ventilated area, away from other equipments.

Use a commercial disinfectant after you have removed the molds. Bleach and water solution can also be used as disinfectant. The cleaning solution should contain one-fourth bleach for every gallon of water. Apply the solution in the material infected by mold and allow the solution to do its work for fifteen minutes. If there are too much molds in the material, you can use one and a half cup of bleach per one galloon of water. Be sure that you are in a well-ventilated area when cleaning. After several minutes, rinse the area with water and allow the material to dry. You can use fan or dehumidifier if you want them to dry immediately.

Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/tips-in-removing-mold-in-your-home-56045.html

Today, we all have such busy lives, what with the household chores, social activities and work; we hardly get to spend any time with our children. But as you know, spending quality time with your children is one of the most important things in bringing them up. It is through this that the bond between child and parent is strengthened, and the child begins to count on you and trust you. Parents who spend enough time with their children find that their child is doing better in school, hobbies and sports. Though you can schedule the time you spend with your child, spontaneity is always the best option. Therefore, it is best you spend time with your children in a relaxed environment and that you do things that you can both enjoy.

You might be wondering where you will find that kind of time. But you need to prioritize and dig out enough time from your busy schedule.

Here is a list of things you could do with your child to make the most of the time you have available.

Go through the list of household chores and see which you can leave out or spend lesser time on in order to spare some time. You can also keep some chores for after your child’s bedtime so that you can spend that time with your child.

You can even make some of your routines together interesting. You can sing songs together on your way to day care. You can even use the time spent in the car while driving to and from school to discuss things going on in your child’s life.

When you have two or more children, it is important to give each individual attention. It might be difficult for you and you might really have to try very hard, but make sure you are creative and flexible while spending time with each child. And at no cost should you cancel out on time spent with each child. If you do this, the child may feel that he or she is less important than the grocery shopping or the dry cleaning.

Children need routine and stability, so ensure that the quality time you plan takes place regularly. You can use weekend mornings to take the dog for a walk together, or you can choose one day per week to have an eat out. There are many ways of spending time together, just make sure that it counts.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/spending-quality-time-with-your-children-some-tips-to-help-parents-740348.html

Today, we all have such busy lives, what with the household chores, social activities and work; we hardly get to spend any time with our children. But as you know, spending quality time with your children is one of the most important things in bringing them up. It is through this that the bond between child and parent is strengthened, and the child begins to count on you and trust you. Parents who spend enough time with their children find that their child is doing better in school, hobbies and sports. Though you can schedule the time you spend with your child, spontaneity is always the best option. Therefore, it is best you spend time with your children in a relaxed environment and that you do things that you can both enjoy.

You might be wondering where you will find that kind of time. But you need to prioritize and dig out enough time from your busy schedule.

Here is a list of things you could do with your child to make the most of the time you have available.

Go through the list of household chores and see which you can leave out or spend lesser time on in order to spare some time. You can also keep some chores for after your child’s bedtime so that you can spend that time with your child.

You can even make some of your routines together interesting. You can sing songs together on your way to day care. You can even use the time spent in the car while driving to and from school to discuss things going on in your child’s life.

When you have two or more children, it is important to give each individual attention. It might be difficult for you and you might really have to try very hard, but make sure you are creative and flexible while spending time with each child. And at no cost should you cancel out on time spent with each child. If you do this, the child may feel that he or she is less important than the grocery shopping or the dry cleaning.

Children need routine and stability, so ensure that the quality time you plan takes place regularly. You can use weekend mornings to take the dog for a walk together, or you can choose one day per week to have an eat out. There are many ways of spending time together, just make sure that it counts.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/spending-quality-time-with-your-children-some-tips-to-help-parents-740348.html

A housekeeper is an individual responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of a residence. The term is almost exclusively applied to females; males are generally referred to as housecleaners, head of household staff, or, under the old British Imperial system as houseboys (regardless of age).

In the great houses of yesteryear the housekeeper could be a woman of considerable power in the domestic arena. The housekeeper of times past had her room or rooms cleaned by junior staff, her meals prepared and laundry taken care of, and with the butler presided over dinner in the Servants’ Hall. Unlike other servants, she was addressed as Mrs. Last Name.

Today’s head of household staff in a great house lives in much the same manner, although fewer households can afford large retinues of servants with an elaborate hierarchy. A housekeeper also supervises and coordinates activities of household employees in a private residence: Informs new employees of employer’s desires and gives instructions in work methods and routines. She assigns duties, such as cooking and serving meals, cleaning, washing, and ironing, adjusting work activities to accommodate family members. She also orders foodstuffs and cleaning supplies, keeps record of expenditures and may hire and discharge employees. Also works in residence employing a large staff.
The housekeeper is generally hired by and reports to the lady of the house. The extent to which the housekeeper supervises other staff varies from household to household. In general, the staff of a grand dwelling is divided into departments, with the housekeeper in charge of all the female staff with the possible exception of the kitchen staff, who report to the cook, and the between staff, who may report to the butler; in these cases the cook and butler reported directly to the lady of the house.

In other households, particularly those of the very wealthy who maintain several residences, the housekeeper is the ultimate head of household staff and may hire and fire junior staff, subject to the approval of the lady of the house, and make recommendations for senior staff. In this case, the cook and butler report to the lady of the house through the housekeeper.

Housekeepers also work in hotels and resorts. Their job description differs slightly from the traditional housekeeper. A Commercial housekeeper performs housekeeping duties, such as cleaning and stocking supplies in units when assigned. Maintains a high cleanliness standard for all resort rental units and provides top level customer service for guests.

FUNCTIONS:

Cleans guest rooms and stocks with appropriate supplies in the prescribed manner while following safety and security procedures and regulations, including but not limited to: Picks up and removes trash; Changes linen and makes bed(s); cleans entire bathroom; sweeps and dusts each unit; cleans the windows, balconies and porches.

Retrieves, stocks, restocks and stores the supplies according to current procedures.

Receives assigned section, keys, supplies and any priority room requests from the Executive Housekeeper. Turns in keys and unused supplies at the end of each shift. Checks with supervisor prior to clocking out at the end of each day.

May be required to clean carpets using equipment supplied by Lake Lure Golf & Beach Resort to maintain cleanliness standards of all floor coverings within the rental units and amenities.

Responds to guest requests and reports guest concerns in a timely and hospitable manner to ensure guest satisfaction.

Reports any missing articles, damages or mechanical problems to the Executive Housekeeper and turns in any articles left in each unit.

Coordinates with the Executive Housekeeper relating to work priorities and provides assistance when/where needed.

Check amenities buildings (i.e., restaurants, pro shops, recreation and public areas) to insure that they meet cleanliness standards are cleaned and properly stocked.

Performs other related duties as directed by the Executive Housekeeper.

The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:

Sweeps, dusts, mops, scrubs, washes, vacuums, waxes, and polishes building floors, walls, woodwork, windows, furniture, equipment, and hardware.

Cleans and sanitizes laboratories, washrooms, and bedrooms, keeps washrooms supplied with paper, towels, and soap.

Collects and disposes of trash and garbage; moves equipment and furniture such as beds, tables, and chairs.

Performs sanitary inspections in designated areas for purposes of infection control.

Replaces and removes medically contaminated sharps and/or medically soiled and contaminated dressings and supplies.

Orders and distributes custodial supplies; maintains inventory.

Observes and reports safety violations; actively participates in emergency situations.

Assists in training and continued education of lower level workers.

Plans, assigns, and supervises all functions of a housekeeping department.

Inspects quarters for maintenance of proper housekeeping standards.

Supervises and maintains records of the distribution of furnishings.

Maintains necessary records; prepares required reports.

Establishes housekeeping standards; assists with policy planning; prepares departmental budget request.

Knowledge, skills and abilities required at this level include those identified in Level I plus knowledge of various cleaning methods, materials, and equipment used in custodial work; of proper procedures for disposing of waste, including medically contaminated sharps and/or medically soiled and contaminated dressings and supplies; and of chemical product safety. Skill is required to operate custodial equipment.

What should I look for when hiring a maid or housekeeper?
Hiring a maid is a serious responsibility. Allowing someone into your home and to come into contact with your belongings should require a substantial amount of research in finding the right person for the job. The following are few tips to keep in mind during the hiring process.

Insurance: Many maids and housekeepers work through a service company that hires employees to work under the name of that company. Should you use such a service, make sure the company is insured to cover accidents in the workplace-your home.

Ask For References: Before even considering hiring a maid from a company, seek out those who have worked with them before. Was their experience a good one? Always ask the housekeeping service company for references before hiring them.

Employment Screening: Be sure to find out whether or not each of the maids or housekeepers are screened before hired to the company. Does the service company confirm their references and verify they are residents? These are very important items to take into consideration before hiring a maid.

Contract: Who will provide the cleaning supplies, the maid company or you? What happens if you are not satisfied with the job done in your home? What happens if items are damaged in your home while the maid is working? These are questions that need to be answered and answered to the customer’s satisfaction in a written contract signed by both you and the housekeeping company.

How much would it cost to utilize maid or housekeeping services on a regular basis?
Many maid and housekeeping service companies charge by the week and by the size of your living space. Small apartments often cost $40 a week, while a large home could cost $60 a week. These prices fluctuate on the type of home as well as if there are any special problem areas that need to be cleaned.

Josh Stone
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