Housekeeping Tips : Natural Metal Cleaning Solutions

Many household items can be used as natural metal cleaning solutions, including ketchup and boiling water with baking soda. Find out how to use lemon juice with vinegar to clean copper or pennies with help from a professional house cleaner in this free video on metal cleaning and housekeeping tips. Expert: Rachel Yatuzis Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

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Cleaning Mitts Work Wonders - With the Ultimate Cloth

Housecleaning has been the bane of my existence for as long as I can remember. At the ripe old age of 50, I finally came to accept the fact that I would never be named "Housekeeper of the Year." I think that my recalcitrance stemmed from my belief that housekeeping was, to a large extent, pointless. Take the kitchen, for example. I would spend an hour or two scrubbing it to spotless perfection, only to cook a meal and have grease-spattered countertops and smudged cupboards defiantly stare back at me. In my heart, I just knew that all of the dust in the neighborhood chose my house as its final resting place. The stuff accumulated on the blinds, on picture frames, on ceiling fans, on knick-knacks - and of course on coffee tables and the top of the TV.

My shortcomings as a housekeeper were never more obvious than when I went to visit my two closest friends. To say they are tidy is an understatement. A dust mote wouldn't dare cross the thresholds of their homes. I suspect that one of my friends cleans her house with the thought that Martha Stewart will show up any day to give it the white glove test, while the other spends part of each Saturday morning on a stepstool, cleaning the tops of her doorframes. On more than one occasion, I found myself rolling my eyes, wondering if they didn't have more productive ways to spend their time. Deep down, however, I was just a tad bit envious. After all, it's not that I don't enjoy the tranquility of a clean home; housekeeping just never came out at the top of my list of priorities.

About a year ago, my perspective shifted when the three of us were out to lunch and one friend mentioned in passing that she'd misplaced her cleaning mitt. My other friend was empathetic, and I sat back as the two discussed the wonders of an ultimate cloth that made cleaning a breeze. As they waxed poetic about a mirafiber cloth that was washable, bleachable, and guaranteed for five years, I realized that they didn't spend an inordinate amount of time on housecleaning. Rather, they had found a product that made housekeeping a breeze.

Although it went against my nature, I decided to give this ultimate cloth a try. What I discovered was eye-opening. Essentially, I could clean my whole house (and my car) with water and a cloth. I didn't need a whole cabinet full of cleaning supplies, and I didn't have to waste paper towels. Instead, I could wet the cloth, wring it out, wipe down the surface I was cleaning, and then walk away knowing it was all streak free. I could get rid of everything from hair spray and grease to dust and soap scum without using any chemicals at all. I even got a cleaning mitt, which worked great for blinds, ceiling fans, and small items.

I'll still never be named "Housekeeper of the Year," but with my ultimate cloth, I discovered that keeping my house clean doesn't have to be an unpleasant chore. I don't have to choose between having a clean house and doing the things I love. Now, I can "clean as I go" and keep my house spic and span, and still have plenty of time for the things in life that are most important to me.

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How to Clean Artichokes

Learn the secrets to a perfectly cooked artichoke. Good Housekeeping Videos: www.goodhousekeeping.com Good Housekeeping Magazine: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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How to Boil and Shell a Lobster

One of summer's great pleasures is fresh cooked lobster. For more great videos check out: www.goodhousekeeping.com More from the World of Good Housekeeping: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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How to Wash Cloth Diapers

Learn how to wash diapers with these steps.

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How to get rid of bingo wings - Arm toning exercises

vist www.oph-good-housekeeping.com How to get rid of bingo wings. Great arm toning exercises to help you get rid of your bingo wings

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Robot Vacuum Fight, Fire Chinese Maid, Kiss And Make Up

I welcome our robot vacuum overlords [ www.chinavasion.com ] Who thought the coming of the robotic age could be so convenient? With a charging station, a programmable clock an infra red invisible wall and a price that is the exact opposite of oppressive these cleaning robots are a must...

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How to Remove Snow and Ice

Make shoveling easier and safer by using the right shovel for the job. Good Housekeeping Videos: www.goodhousekeeping.com Good Housekeeping Magazine: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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World Trainer Guestroom & Bathroom Cleaning

This best-selling, language-freeTM training program is better than ever with the most efficient, safe and effective procedures for your international housekeeping staff to follow for cleaning guestrooms and bathrooms. This video includes alternative beddings, glassware cleaning, green practices, easy-to-follow visual icons, and wrong-way/right way tips. shop.ahlei.org

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Write What You Know: Yoon's dishwashing gloves

Hey Kitties, Here's an answer to the question: "Where do you get your ideas?" For more answers visit www.helenelliswrites.com Happy reading, Helen

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How to Teach YOUR Cat to Use a Litter Box - Secrets to Litter Tray Success

Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with a cat that doesn't use its litter box. Yet, patience is the key to creating litter box success. A positive introduction when young, and simple housekeeping on your part will solve most problems.

Most cats instinctively use the litter box. However if you see your kitten crouching or sniffing in a corner lift her and place her in a litter tray - this is a sign of oncoming urination. If your kitten is not using the litter box you should place her in the box every morning.

It is important for your cat to be able to easily access the litter box. If you have a large home, put litter boxes in more than one place. If your house has many levels, make sure each floor is equipped with a litter box. As in real estate, location is crucial to your cat successfully using the litter box. The best spot offers your cat a certain amount of privacy, but not so out of the way that you forget to clean it. Some people put the litter box in a seldom-used closet. Be sure, however, to use a hard-rubber stop to keep the door, or install a pet door so your cat can go in and out whenever she wants.

If you need to move a litter tray you should move it by only a few feet at a time. If the cat stops using it you have probably moved it too far.

If your cat doesn't use her litter box study the situation carefully for the reason(s) why.

Some cats will avoid a "dirty" litter box. Scoop out feces and wet litter daily. Completely empty and replace the litter at least once a week. Don't be too generous with the litter; most cats prefer a shallow layer of about two inches.

If you have more than one cat, you need more than one litter box. Cats are very particular and won't eliminate in a "used" litter box. The general rule of thumb is to have one litter box per cat.

Location, location, location; sudden noises, or lack of privacy can scare a cat from using a litter box. Try moving it to a different spot.

Never punish your cat for having an accident. She won't make the connection unless you catch her in the act. Even then, punishment only creates fear of you, not a desire to change behavior. Use an enzyme-based cleaner to remove the smell of the accident. This will help prevent future soiling in that spot as the smell of urine will make the cat think its OK to go there.

If you notice that accidents happen in the same place over and over, try putting a litter box there. Perhaps your cat prefers this spot for reasons you'll never understand. If accidents tend to happen when your cat has free run of the house or while you are away, keep her confined to one room until you can watch her. Be sure to provide food, water, and that all-important litter box in whatever room you place her in. If your cat uses the litter box successfully for several years, then begins to have accidents, have your veterinarian examine her for a possible urinary tract or kidney infection.

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Green Cleaning Ideas For Your Home

When my husband, Dave, and I first started housekeeping together (we are still newlyweds...), he used to shake his head and occasionally comment on my refusal to use artificial chemical cleaning products in the home. Yes, it is a bit unconventional to say the least! But even he will tell you that he likes that our house is free of toxic chemicals.

Only ten years ago, I too believed the only way to really clean was with smelly household cleaners. Here's the story:

Have you heard of the hygiene hypothesis? First proposed in England in 1989 by David Strachan, it was a possible explanation of why kids raised in larger families have a lower incidence of allergies. It has been studied extensively and has now been expanded.

The current thinking is that early exposure to bacteria, viruses, parasites etc. are important for the development of a healthy immune system. This is a radical shift in thinking from the antibacterial paradigm most of us were raised with years ago.

Ten years ago, I had a baby. I was living in England at the time. The medical community there was beginning to discuss and apply this new hygiene paradigm. I was encouraged to breast feed, of course, but also to not worry so much about sterilizing bottles and utensils after the baby was a few months old.

Naturally, as an over tired new parent, when the hygiene hypothesis was explained to me, I happily followed along. It did make a lot of sense. After all, babies have lived for thousands of years with lots and lots of dirt around and have thrived. Besides, sterilizing everything WAS a lot of work....

Well, guess what? At age 10, that same child rarely gets sick and has no allergies so far...even with a genetic predisposition to asthma from both parents!

For me the hygiene hypothesis paradigm shift led to a "re-think" about all the chemicals and insecticides that were being used in and around the house to keep it clean and "pest" free. It's really quite incredible what a young child and parents are exposed to in terms of household chemicals these days. The question is why? If early exposure to microbes is good for baby - why expose a child to pollutants in the name of killing them?

So, the search for healthier alternatives began....

Through trial and error and speaking with other parents who have gone in favor of "green cleaning", I learned that pretty much all household cleaning can be done using a bit of creativity and things you already have in your kitchen. Using greener alternatives is easy, inexpensive, good for your family and good for the earth.

Here are some ideas:

1. Baking soda: Acts as a scrub, polishes metal and deodorizes things. (a must have if you have a baby in diapers).

2. Lemon: Deodorizes, cuts grease, bleaches stains and disinfects. Mixed with baking soda, it removes stains from plastic food storage containers.

4. Salt: Another scrubber (more course than baking soda)-good for cookware and ovens. Combined with citrus juice it removes rust.

5. White vinegar: Deodorizes and disinfects (again acid). Mix with water and a little dish soap and you've got a great all purpose cleaner for windows, floors, bathrooms and all the rest. Used full strength it fights mold and mildew and body odor in clothing.

6. Olive Oil: Mix two parts oil with one part lemon juice and use as a furniture polish. It smells great.

So, if you are thinking of going organic with the food you eat, why not go all the way and get rid of the pollutants in your house. You and your family will benefit with better health and more pocket money. If you have children - you won't have to worry about poisoning. After all, what's the worst thing that can happen from drinking vinegar except a tummy ache?

And, when you say you can eat off the floor in your home, you will really mean it!

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis

Copyright (c) 2008 Ainsley Laing

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Different Types of Hospitality Management Systems

Hospitality management systems are the software that runs your hospitality business. From the food ordering system in your restaurant, to online accommodation booking software, it enables efficient communication and management of your operation, ultimately increasing revenues.

With a range of hospitality management systems to choose from, understanding what is offered is important in order to find the right system that is tailored for your needs and budget. Depending on the type of operation you manage, you should consider the following systems, their advantages and suitability to your company.

Accommodation management software:

Accommodation software packages range from those aimed at B&Bs and small motel owners to ones for running big hotels, clubs and resorts. The basic package offers simple guest and room management, while the more complex ones cover every aspect needed to manage and run a big hotel chain. This includes reservations, service, retail, inventory, staff roster and training, accounting and much more.

Front desk: A front office software package should enable reception staff to keep track of all bookings, state of rooms, guest details and charges, coordinate restaurant reservations for guests, plan housekeeping duties and process guest check-in and check-out. They should also provide a means to communicate effectively with all travel agents and activity operators linked to the system. Features you should look out for include: Reports for arrivals & departures on a specific date. Guest ledger and reservation details, including activities and special requests. Room rates, discounts, package deals, group bookings, etc. Visual schematic of hotel rooms and status. Visual schematic of calendar with room availability. Facility for printing check-in cards for guests. Flexibility in re-assigning guests to different room. Facility to easily add charges to rooms from restaurants, spa, gift shop, etc. Incorporate all payment options upon check-out and print receipt. Print work roster for staff Facilities for storing guest history Communicate efficiently with reservation and travel agents

Housekeeping/maintenance software: Easy-to-use software for the housekeeping and maintenance departments of your accommodation place will increase the efficiency of cleaning and servicing of rooms. Main features of this module will be: Keeping track of room status - dirty, cleaned, inspected, check-ins and check-outs, etc. All information such as number of guests, number of beds, length of stay, special requests (e.g. baby cot, high chair) should be visible to both housekeeping staff and management. Staff can enter maintenance issues as they arise, and those are automatically sent to the maintenance department. Staff can request cleaning materials and toiletries ordered. Staff can keep track of laundry status for uninterrupted linen supply.

Online reservation system: This software package is essential to any accommodation place. It helps you increase direct online bookings instantly. Prospective guests can view hotel rooms (size, choice of beds), availability and prices, plus services and facilities offered. The systems should have instant confirmation of credit card payments or other secure online payment method. After payment of deposit and confirmation by email, guests should be able to login to view or change their reservation details. Cancellation policies should be stated, airport transport options mentioned.

Hospitality management systems for point of sale (POS) operations: This includes restaurants and bars, the hotel gift shop, spa, tour desk and other guest services. It should have the options of direct payment or charge to room. Apart from recording normal vending operations, it should include issuing daily transaction reports to management or the accounting office, and a daily revenue report.

In the POS sector there are many operating hospitality management systems catering for the food vendor sector, namely restaurants, cafés, takeaway shops and delis.

Restaurant (POS) management packages. For POS management packages, you have the choice of an off-the-shelf system for restaurants and cafes, where you can set the options that suit your operation, or a customised one, specifically configured for your business. Most systems are quite easy to use and are cost effective. Their features vary, but most offer the following: Order taking, tallying, and cashier options using a hand-held PDA system. Credit-card processing interface Receipts customized for your business. The more advanced systems also offer: Integrating all transactions with your accounting software. Full inventory/stocktaking facility Translation facilities to selected languages.

Administration software: This module is directed at top management and offers access to all levels of the organization. It provides instant access to the data base of all sectors, ensuring total transparency of operations Overseeing and early intervention by senior staff can prevent mistakes being made by inexperienced employees and save money and the reputation of your business. · Other facilities in this package may include:

Tools for setting different rate systems for rooms and services: daily, seasonal, special promotions, etc. Statistical data - percentage occupancy over set periods, and other data used for policy making and customized reports for board meeting presentations. Organizing promotions and package deals. Inventory for different departments. Employee accounts and employee training programs

Remember: with the high staff turnover common to the hospitality industry, it is important to choose a system that needs minimal training to use, and has 'secure areas', which only authorised personnel (with the proper clearance) may access and use.

Choosing and introducing hospitality management systems for your business is a significant undertaking, both operationally and financially. But once up and running, the system will increase efficiency, cut costs and improve the service in your company. You will have happier staff and happier guests, who will promote your business and ultimately increase your revenue.

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Making Time to Clean House When You Have No Time

No one likes to have a dirty house, but then holidays, kids, cooking, and job all make demands of you, it's easy to see why housekeeping goes to the back of the line - or falls out altogether. So, what do you do when you need to clean house but don't have the time? Change your standards.

Unreasonable standards

When you look back on your life, the things that stay in your mind are some of the things related to homekeeping not how much time you spent at the office. It's home and hearth you remember, you pine for, you need. Too many people think that they have to either be "Martha" or give up on home chores completely. It's not an "either/or" situation. Perfection is not the goal, a reasonably clean house is -- and it needs to involve everyone. Housekeeping is not a "Mom" or "Mad" or "Mom and Dad" job. It's a "whoever lives in the house needs to help" job.

Where can you find the time?

• At Work. You probably put in extra time in your job. Just take out 10-15 minutes for yourself when you spend an extra hour at work and apply at home.

• With the kids. Spend 10 less minutes with the kids and their homework. Do your quickie cleaning while they do their studying.

• Get up 10 minutes earlier. If you find that you don't mind doing early morning cleaning, plan to do it then - or whenever you find it bothers you least.

• Get a digital video recorder (DVR). No kidding. TV sucks away your time. You can do your quickie cleaning while something is recording. A DVR will help you gain more of your life back. Check into them through your cable TV or satellite service.

Don't make housekeeping something to be endured Keeping a reasonably clean house doesn't require all day marathon cleaning week in and week out. Consistent cleaning on a regular basis is enough to get you through to the times when you can spend the time.

Two must-do's

Really, there isn't much you must do to keep a reasonably neat home, but there are two.

1. You must make your bed - and have the kids make their bed. Nothing makes a house feel messier. It takes less than 30 seconds to make a bed.

2. You must do the dishes. Empty the dishwasher and fill it with the dirty dishes every single day. This is five minutes of effort.

Next, you need the right tools to help you "quick clean."

Quickie Cleaning Tools

Think convenience here. Get the disposable mopping and cleaning wipes. You'll use these because they're instantly ready to go to work.

• Cleaning tools in every bathroom (toilet brush, cleaner, disposable cleaning wipes)

• Popup glass or multisurface wipes that can be used on stoves, counters, appliances, windows, and bathrooms

• Swiffer mop and mopping pads. The Swiffer mop with the pretreated mopping pads can help you get up all the stains and sticky stuff quickly and easily and it's quick drying.

• A quick vac. My favorite is the Eureka "Quick Up" for about $30. It has settings for hard floors and carpeting and works great.

• A stack of microfiber towels for dusting

Even the person who says that they have no time can find about ten minutes to do a quick clean each day. Remember, you and your family need a living space where you can de-stress. Dirt and clutter add to stress. Take the ten minutes to give back to your house. It'll repay you and your family in enjoyment, relaxation - and pride.

The 3-Step No-Time-to-Clean Cleaning Plan

1. Do a daily "Clean Sweep."

Set the timer and get everyone in a different room of the house. Or, give someone a mop or a vacuum. Set the timer for five minutes. Everyone go at it - straighten, put things away, give surfaces a quick dust, vacuum and/or mop.

2. Get a quick vac.

I can't tell you how much I love the "Eureka Quick Up" cordless stick vacuum. I can sweep my tile kitchen and hallways and do a quick touch up on carpets in less than 60 seconds. It has settings for both kinds of floors. It's fast and convenient - which means you'll use it.

3. Clean it when you see it.

Give each room a one minute cleaning when you go in there. 60 seconds - you can do that. It doesn't take but about one minute to clean a toilet. Run a brush around the rim and in the bowl. Whip out some all-purpose wipes and go over the exterior surfaces and floor around the commode. There. Done.

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How to Clean a Wood Deck with a Gas Pressure Washer

Host Robert Thomas demonstrates recommended steps for cleaning a wood deck using a Karcher gasoline-powered pressure washer.

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Boil The Perfect Egg - How To

As we all know, boiling the perfect egg can be as difficult as putting toothpaste back in the tube - or is it?

Picture this; you set everything up perfectly for a nice runny yolk, you have everything laid out, the soldiers are nice and straight, you're armed with your favourite egg cup and you've found a spoon small enough to fit inside the egg. So far so good, eh? Wrong! You go give the egg a tap with the spoon and it breaks because the egg is harder than rock. Guess what? There is no need to despair, with my fantastic egg boiling tips; your hopes of the perfect boiled egg needn't evaporate with the boiling water.

The following tips are based on boiling an egg from scratch in a pan of cold water, which is subsequently brought to the boil.

The times listed are the amount of time which the eggs will simmer in the pan for once they have been brought to the boil. With your stop watches at the ready lets get cooking!!

Hard boiled egg:

Normal eggs - 11 min

Large eggs - 14 min

Extra large eggs - 17 min

Medium boiled egg:

Normal eggs - 4 min 30 sec

Large eggs - 5 min 30 sec

Extra large eggs - 6 min 30 sec

Runny yolk:

Normal eggs - 2 min 45 sec

Large eggs - 3 min 45 sec

Extra large eggs - 4 min 30 sec

So how did you do?..........What do you mean, you haven't tried it yet?............Go ahead and give it a go you won't be disappointed.

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Housekeeping - House Cleaning Tips

Here are a few of our favorite housing cleaning tips which we wanted to share with you,

a. Ceramic tile floor - they are well taken care of with sweeping and moping on regular basis. Just pour in some liquid detergent into a pile of clean water will do the work well. Too much soap or detergent will make the floor dull and sticky.

b. Blinds - wipe the blinds with a damp fabric softener sheet. The same works for TV and monitor screens. This eliminates the static which attract the dust.

c. Pet hair removal from carpets and upholstery- you may try a pet rake or a tape roller wrapped around your hand and slowly strokes along the carpet to remove the hair. Or a vacuum with a brush roll can be used for this purpose.

d. Old Stains - old and dry stains are sometimes impossible to be removed. But you may try it with bacteria / enzyme digester where the bacteria may produce enough ammonia that it helps to break down the stain. You will need to neutralize the spot after the digester is there for about 4-5 hours. Mix a solution contain of vinegar and warm water and rinse the area with the solution.

e. Wood floor - any wood floor can be cleaned by using 1/3 cup of vinegar mixing with a gallon of warm water. Never get wood floor to be too wet or to dry naturally. Wood floors are best to be cleaned on your hands and knees.

f. Kitchen cabinets - never use powdered cleansers on cabinets. Keep a spray bottle of all purpose cleaner available and always spot clean after heavy kitchen used. To get rid of stubborn dirt, wash around the handles and greasy areas. Then wash the inner space of the cabinets. If your cabinets are old from wear and tear, spray furniture polish once a year to bring back some life.

g. Windows - The fastest way to clean windows is with a squeegee and a window wand. Just Apply the cleaning solution with the window wand and pull the dirt ff with the wet squeegee

h. Odor removal - let the sun coming into the house sometimes will help to dissipate the smoke and clear any odor from remaining in your house. Increase the air flow in the house by open all the windows, turning on fans and doors whenever you can. You can also get some odor neutralizer and place it in your dining room which will work like magic.

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Housekeeping Tips : How to Use a Wet Dry Vac

Wet Dry Vacs can be used to suck up liquid spills, large piece of debris, snow on the doorstep, ashes from the fireplace and puddles on the floor. Use a Wet Dry Vac for everyday maintenance with a demonstration from a professional home cleaner in this free video on housekeeping. Expert: Rachel Yatuzis Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

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Dallas Texas Vacation Homes

When Texas is considered, the city of Dallas often surfaces in the minds eye. Apart from having a successful soap opera named after it, Dallas has continued to be a preferred holiday destination for years. Apart from Dallas residents, foreigners and citizens of other states may choose to visit Dallas on a holiday or for a business meet. This could be an annual trip or impromptu. Instead of making reservations at resorts and hotels, visitors may reside in Dallas vacation homes. Dallas vacation homes are cataloged as residential real estate, but that is where the labeling ends. In most cases, they do not serve as a primary residing quarter and are similar to investment properties when their income generating potential is considered.

Most owners use their, Dallas vacation homes for small part of the year during holidays and family gatherings. At times, this is not even an annual event and vacation homes could remain unoccupied for long stretches. This does not reduce the need of maintenance, upkeep, and annual property tax payments. Renting vacation homes during vacant periods proves to be profitable for homeowners. This helps realize cash that is sent on housekeeping apart from proving to be a dependable source of additional income.

Vacation homeowners who do not live in Dallas can hire reputed real estate agents to overlook renting activities on their behalf. These real estate brokers work in correspondence with tour operators who can assist in securing profitable overseas tourist reservations on a regular basis. Tourist groups and large families tend to prefer Dallas vacation home rentals as they provide privacy apart from being capable of housing an entire group. At times vacation homeowners may hire house cleaners, porters, and chauffeurs to cater to guest needs. As such, these homes are similar to service apartments, and rentals are equivalent to star-rated vacation properties.

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Safety Housekeeping and Accident Prevention Video and DVD

www.safety-video-bmsh.com Safety Housekeeping and Accident Prevention Video and DVD demonstrates to employees how to prevent workplace accidents by paying attention to safety housekeeping considerations. Good safety housekeeping can significantly reduce accidents and injuries in any type of work environment. By developing good safety habits, and by being aware of their work environment and any hazards associated with it, employees can help to create a much safer workplace.

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Marriage Mission Statement

Look to any successful business and learn how they became successful and you will likely find that before they ever became a business, they had a plan. They began with a business agreement, so that everyone knew their roles, a mission statement that provided guidelines for them to follow, both short and long term goals so they could measure their success and the resources to make it all happen. Why should marriage depend on anything less?

Successful businesses like General Electric or Coca-cola didn't just become successful when two business people got together and decided to become partners, and your marriage won't be successful just because you and your beloved decided to tie the knot. You need a business plan, and every good business plan has a mission statement to lead the way.

Hopefully, if you are reading this, you have already determined who you want to go into business with. You have made sure that you have similar business philosophies (ideas about marriage), and you know with certainty that your business partner is reliable and honest and is someone you can work with to achieve your goals. Assuming you are comfortable with who your business partner is going to be, let's move on to forming your plan for a successful marriage.

Let's consider first of all, that nothing is set in stone. A good business plan must allow for flexibility. Think of a business plan as a road map. It's simply a tool to show you where you are going and how you intend to get there. Maps change over time. Say you are going to go from Austin to San Antonio. A simple trip, right? However, if you looked at a map from the 1950's, you might run into some significant changes. Interstate 35 isn't on the map! The map changed over time, and business plans, or marriage plans, must change as well. So if your business plan ends up being something you are not totally comfortable with today, by all means, voice your concerns, but remember that things do change in time.

So you have chosen your BP (business partner) and you're ready to begin planning. The obvious goal of your business is for the two of you to have happy and fulfilled lives through your marriage to one another. Being that this will always remain a small business, having only two partners to depend on for its success, successful small business partners will tell you that flexibility is of utmost importance. Even though roles should be clearly established, the other partner must be flexible enough to fill in at a moments notice.

In establishing the roles, a successful business will draw upon the expertise of its partners. Know before hand who is better at certain tasks, such as bookkeeping (balancing the checkbook), manufacturing (generating income), building maintenance (lawn care and housekeeping), personnel training (helping the kids with their homework, though that may come later), and so on. Many of these duties will be shared, and certainly all of them should be discussed frequently at board meetings with the other partner so that, should the need arise for them to step into your territory, the transition will be smooth.

With roles established, every good business needs a good mission statement. So how do you create a mission statement for marriage? Simple. Focus on what you want your marriage to do and be, and then focus on the values and principles in which the doing or being are based. Here is an example for you to follow;

"Our mission is to be devoted as a family, to living our lives as a Christian family, focusing on the teachings of Christ. We will work together to strengthen our community through our active involvement in charities and Christian outreach programs. We will set strong examples for our children and will raise them with the proper amounts of nurturing and discipline. We are committed to considering each others feelings always and putting their needs above our own. We will give praise to the Lord each day for bringing us together."

Once you have your mission statement for your marriage, learn it. Recite it together each and every day until you know it by heart. Let others know what your mission statement says. Sharing it with friends and family will only serve to strengthen your resolve to follow it daily.

With the mission statement completed, now it's time to focus on short and long term goals. Remember, especially when you are first starting out, don't set your goals too high. Make your short term goals achievable rather quickly. This will set you, as a couple, into the habit of achieving your goals. Set goals both together and separately. For example, a husband who has never cooked a meal in his life, might have the short term goal of learning how to cook something nice for his wife, or how to launder her sweaters without shrinking them. A wife might have the short term goal of learning the difference between a power forward and a shooting guard. Together, you might have the short term goal of planting a flower bed or painting the bathroom.

Your long term goals should be more involved. Paying off a loan, making a career change or planning the ultimate vacation. Write these things down and go over them often. Adjust your goals as your lives change. This will also help you both keep the lines of communication open and you will find the reward in helping your beloved achieve a personal goal can be just as powerful as achieving one of your own goals in life.

Again, I must stress, keep your business plan flexible. Be prepared to make adjustments when necessary and make sure your partner knows that, when the need arises for you to take on more responsibilities for your business together, you are up for the task.

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Avoid Losing Data In Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is an email client (Mail User Agent to some) which I'm sure you know what it does. If not, let me try to explain it as simply as possible. Email clients are programs or application's which retrieves emails from the web server and downloads it onto your desktop.

Now with that out of the way, did you know that you can lose your mails because of your email client? This is a big deal as email is now a large part of communication both in the corporate world and the private/home user.

How can you lose your emails?

When you use email clients, you risk losing your email just like any other data on your desktop. Here is a list:

- Virus attack
- Corrupted partitions/volumes
- Deletion/Format
- Hard Disk Crash
- Theft/natural disaster

In Microsoft Outlook versions 2003, 2002, 98 and 97, once Outlook's PST file size goes above 2gb, your emails, or rather, the PST file, gets corrupted.

- PST corruption

Installation of anti-virus/anti-spyware

Prevention of viruses, spyware and basically all malware is important as they cause your system and programs to become sluggish, unstable and perform undesirable operations.

And since when you use Microsoft outlook, your emails will get affected as the mails on the server gets downloaded onto your computer.

- Install anti-virus/anti-spyware and update frequently

Anti-virus/anti-spyware is available widely and should often be updated for the latest updates and patches.

Use it to scan you computer, and to scan ALL emails if they contain attachments.

Never download anything directly to your computer unless you are certain of the reliability and credibility of its source.

For a detailed view of how to remove viruses, refer to this article on removing viruses

Backup

The most reliable way to prevent the loss of your Outlook emails is to backup your PST file. To do this, simply copy your PST to another storage media (such as your thumb drive) or another drive on the same computer.

The PST file can be found by simply opening the search function (go to start menu and you can find the search function there) and copy and paste this term into the search box " .pst " without the double quotes.

Wait for the search finish. The default .pst file name is outlook.pst. Then just copy and paste the .pst file onto your backup media. Backup frequently, as you may never know when the outlook files (or any other important files for that matter) gets accidentally deleted, formatted or corrupted.

Computer Maintenance

Although this should already part of your routine, it bears reminding again. You should maintain your system by defragmenting, running scandsk and so on. This is basic maintenance for your computer as it can help prevent file system problems. It also enables your system to run smoothly and prevent system slowdown.

Here is a slew of other maintenance tips for you to look into

Outlook housekeeping

Yes, even in outlook, you need to do some basic maintenance. This is done to prevent your .PST file from getting corrupted.

Before outlook 2003 (and in earlier versions of outlook 2003), the .PST file limit was set at 2GB. If the .PST file size exceeded this limit, it would be very difficult, if at all possible, to retrieve any data from the .PST file as it would get corrupted.

When you are doing housekeeping, you are trying to keep this limit down and at the same time, helps in organising you mails so that they are easier to retrieve when you need to read them again.

How do you do that? Simple.

Delete all the old mails that you do not need, and remember to empty the trash. Categorise all your mails accordingly. For example, all your work folders should be in a separate folder from you personal emails and so on.

Create a NEW pst file

Another way to keep control of your PST file size is to create another .PST file. Of course, don't create a new .PST file for the sake of creating one.

Have separate .PST files for business and personal mails. To create this a new .PST file, simply open outlook and follow these steps:

1.Go to File menu, to New, and then click Outlook Data File

2. In the next window, you should see two options. Simply choose Office Outlook Personal Folders file. In Outlook 2003, there is an option to increase compatibility with older outlook versions, choose the Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File option. Click Ok

3. Then choose an appropriate location to save your new .PST in. Choose a location, and the type in the filename of your new .PST file.

And there you have it. A new .PST file, all ready for use.

In actual fact, prevention of lost Outlook mails is not hard. However, you need to be constantly maintaining your system and backing up your mails which take up precious time. It is a necessary step to take to prevent you from losing all your precious emails.

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Housecleaning Tips : How to Machine Wash Pillows

Pillows often harbor bacteria, mold and mildew, but pillows must be pre-treated with a stain remover before placing them in the washing machine. Machine wash pillows in the hottest water possible withhelp from a professional house cleaner in this free video on machine washing and housecleaning tips. Expert: Rachel Yatuzis Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

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How to Share Responsibilities Within Marriage

When a man and woman enter marriage, they face more responsibilities. These responsibilities may sometimes overwhelm the couple especially after leading independent lives that allowed them to decide on their own for many years before tying the knot. Family and marriage therapists advice that responsibilities be shared by both husband and wife to avoid conflicts.

Household chores need to be divided. The wives should not be burdened all the time by housekeeping work because the husbands can always do their share. Resentment can result if one spouse bears the burden of much of these household chores. Both should have an active role in completing the work around the house. What matters is teamwork in order to accomplish the tasks quicker and to establish a stronger and happier relationship. Talking about the responsibilities is important to avoid overlapping of work. Additionally, one should inform the other if he or she won't be able to perform a certain task or if he or she is starting to feel overburdened.

Financial responsibilities need to be discussed as well. Remember that this is one aspect which can be a source of conflict and stress among couples. A spouse should, therefore, make sure not to let financial concerns get in the way of their marriage. It would be best to sit down and talk about your expected monthly expenses and how to work on a certain budget. In this way, each one of you is aware of what's going on and you are involved in making decisions concerning your finances. If both spouses are working, sharing in the household expenses is an ideal thing to do.

Two-way communication is essential in establishing a successful marriage. Be honest and open about what you feel regarding certain aspects of your life whether positive or negative so that your partner is aware about your emotions and reactions. Learn to listen to what one has to say and do your best to understand each other's thoughts and opinions.

Be able to deal with the negatives in your relationship. Talk things out and settle the issue as soon as possible so that negative emotions don't linger within yourself for long. There's no need to nag and raise voices when discussing problems because this would only aggravate the situation. Calm down and think about what you have to say before talking.

Do take the initiative to say sorry if you know you have done something wrong that hurt your partner's feelings. Doing so won't harm you but it will even show your acceptance of your weaknesses. Be forgiving as well and try not to bring up what wrong actions were done in the past. To forgive is a divine act as they say so practicing it in your marriage will surely lessen the stress.

Keep in mind that it takes the two of you in establishing a well-balanced, happy and enduring relationship. It's not a one-way street. And since there are two of you, the value of sharing should always be present in your everyday life whether it's in your finances, household chores and emotions. The more that sharing should exist when you already have children to raise.

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How To Remove Dust From Anything

Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video. Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from lazydiamond and more videos in the General Housekeeping category. You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at www.howcast.com or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at www.howcast.com Dust is everywhere. Here are some novel ways to remove it. To complete this How-To you will need: A slice of bread Fabric softener A car window ice scraper A vacuum with a soft brush attachment An old shaving brush, flannel sheets, or a chamois cloth Two wet socks (optional) 1 c. warm water (optional) 1 tbsp. boiled linseed oil (optional) 1/2 tsp. dish soap (optional) 1/2 tsp. ammonia (optional) Step 1: Clean paintings Remove dust from water-color and oil paintings by patting them with a slice of bread. Step 2: Clean glass surfaces Use fabric softener sheets to eliminate dust and dirt from eyeglasses, television screens, and monitor screens. Tip: For more efficient general purpose dusting, cover each hand with a wet sock. Step 3: Clean under your refrigerator Remove dust from under your refrigerator with the brush on the ice scraper for your car windows. Step 4: Clean your piano's keyboard Use your vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove dust from your piano's keyboard. Tip: To make an all-purpose duster, mix together the warm water, boiled linseed oil, dish soap, and ammonia and soak a rag in it. Let the rag dry and ...

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How to Clean Window Blinds

Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video. Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from vinzfeller and more videos in the General Housekeeping category. You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at www.howcast.com or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at www.howcast.com Wash your window blinds with a minimum of mess. To complete this How-To you will need: A dust cloth or a vacuum with a brush-head attachment Towels or a drop cloth A sponge or cleaning brush All-purpose cleaner or ammonia Fabric-softener sheets Step 1: Get the dust off Begin by removing loose dirt and dust with either a soft cloth or a vacuum with a brush-head attachment. Clean with the slats tilted upward first, then downward. Tip: Regular fabric-softener sheets absorb dust just as well as cloths made specifically for that purpose. Step 2: Remove from the window If your blinds are plastic, vinyl, or aluminum—not wood—remove them from the window for washing. Tip: Wood blinds should never get wet; just dust them regularly. Only use a wood cleaner if the manufacturer says it's safe. Step 3: Take it outside If you have a yard, take the blinds outside. If you don't, put them in the bathtub. Step 4: Wash them Wash each slat with a sponge or brush. Don't forget to wash the cords! Tip: If you're outdoors, use a water-filled bucket containing a half cup of ammonia. If you're using your tub, a mild detergent works best. Never use ...

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The Good Wife's Guide

This is a video spoof/rendition of "The Good Wife's Guide", that supposedly appeared in a 1955 issue of Housekeeping Monthly magazine. Urban legend, or real? Who cares? The video is still funny...

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Enterprise Inc - BVG India

HR Gaekwad was just a 19 year old college student from Satara, when he set up the Bharat Vikas Group -an industrial housekeeping service that is today India's largest company of its kind! Isha Dalal brings you the rags to riches story of facilities management venture BVG India.

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Safe Floors Programme

In recent years, slip/fall lawsuits have increased in both frequency and in the amount of monetary award. The business owner, the cleaning contractor, the floor finish manufacturer and the floor care supply distributor can all be held liable, and often are. As a consequence, the cost of liability insurance is reducing corporate profitability on many fronts and forcing some smaller companies and municipalities to either close their doors or risk continuing without insurance.

In response to these issues, there has been developed several training aids to support efforts towards accident prevention and implementation of an effective floor safety program. The primary objective of any floor safety program is accident prevention. That accidents can result in lawsuits, sometimes endangering the financial well-being of a business, is also of major concern.

The Health and Safety Commission in the UK identified slips and trips as one of eight priorities. The reason they account for the highest number of major injuries and occur across all industry sectors. In the manufacturing and service sectors, they are the most frequent cause of no fatal major injuries. For further information the best to check the compensation guide.

Slippery floors are a factor in most slip-falls. Spills and debris can be hazardous on any walking surface, so good housekeeping practices are essential. Clean spills immediately, and mop or sweep up any debris.

For floors with a hard mineral surface, such as tiles or polished untreated concrete, a no slip treatment can help reduce falls.

Floors in workplaces where people continually enter from outdoors will often be wet in the winter and when it rains. For example, in shopping malls, hotels, grocery stores and fast food outlets employees and customers can slip and fall where the floor surface is wet. In commercial kitchens and some industrial operations, grease or oils may settle on the floor, increasing the chance of a slip-fall. A no slip mats are needed when wet or greasy floors are inevitable.

A floor covering does not eliminate the need for good housekeeping. The floor must still be properly cleaned to maintain its anti-slip surface. Some suppliers offer regular inspections to ensure continued floor safety.

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Little Tikes House

When you buy your child their first Little Tikes House you are starting them on a road to independence. They can learn to have a place of their own in a very limited and safe way. Some parents enforce strict housekeeping habits in order to make it easier for the child when they are older.

Kids in Little Tikes Houses often get years of use out of them, whether as a place for tea parties or a fort to hide out from girls (or boys!). Sometimes, when the kids outgrow them, people give the Little Tikes House to the dog, who joyously inhabits this large and attractive animal abode.

The most pressing concern of Little Tike House owners in these days of foreclosures are not credit related however. Most kids just want the tea party to come out ok. Much decorating and hand wringing is done in an attempt to please the tea party guests. Often one has an assortment of friends and only so much room so these events tend to be small and exclusive. With the Little Tikes House, color coordinating the decor is a snap. Since they come in all manner of primary colors it's sometimes fun keep the theme by using primary colored cups, saucers and spoons.

If your Little Tikes House is red and blue use some bright green cups with bright yellow saucers and bright red spoons. Mix milk into the tea and add some blue dye so you can have blue tea. Then you have quite a tea party serving blue tea in green cups with red spoons on yellow saucers in a red and blue house. Just make sure the guests know the color scheme in advance, or they might just disappear into the color. Oh, and be sure to say grace before you drink your tea.

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Smart Selection - Easy Steps to a 48-Hour Day

One of my best-kept secrets of housekeeping was discovered one day when I had a friend over, and her son, who was playing on the floor with my kids, looked under my sofa and loudly exclaimed, "Mom! Come quick! You'll never believe all of the junk under here!" Yes, it's true. I'm coming clean for the greater cause of helping all moms out there become all that they can be. One clever trick to making people think you do it all is to NOT do it all. Just be selective and do the things that really matter.

But shortcuts are not always easy for perfectionist women (I used to be one - the hangers in my closet were color coded). My advice is to begin working out your slacker muscles with some training exercises. Iron only the parts of a shirt that are going to show, mop only the parts of the floor that are actually dirty, vacuum without moving the furniture, and practice other household tips of the lazy and unmotivated. I know this sounds like odd advice coming from a professional homemaker, but if you can train yourself to do things imperfectly, you will learn to get things done more effectively.

If you are only satisfied with perfection, then it is often hard to get motivated enough to complete a task. Don't try to do everything, just the things that really matter. Achieving success in life is as much about prioritizing as it is about getting up the gumption to go after your goals. If you're going to get the important things done, you've got to be able to let lesser things go.

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Southern Corn Bread

Good Housekeeping shows you how to prepare delicious corn bread. For more great videos check out: www.goodhousekeeping.com More from the World of Good Housekeeping: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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What You Can Do to Maintain a Safe Environment When Working With Hazardous Chemicals

When working with any kind of hazardous chemicals, acids, corrosives, flammables and combustibles, it is important to maintain equipment and practice good housekeeping. Here are some things anyone working with these materials can do to keep the workplace safer for everyone.

Good Housekeeping Practices

Maintain order and neatness in the workplace at all times.
Clean up spills promptly.
Clean up any chemical residues promptly.
Dispose of contaminated or unlabeled chemicals as hazardous waste, following protocols.
Remove all empty containers from work area promptly.
Empty containers may have chemical residue. Do not re-use them even if they appear totally clean. Treat these containers as hazardous waste.

Check Your Work Area For Safety

Ensure that all chemical containers are completely labeled and lids are tightly closed.
Maintain a MSDS for all chemicals on site. This must be readily available to all personnel.
Check to see that 'Warning' signs are on chemical storage areas and 'Acids/Corrosives', 'No Open Flames', 'Flammable' warnings are properly posted.
Are bulk storage areas properly identified?
Are 'No Smoking' areas well identified?
Is access to hazardous chemicals controlled?
Flammable storage cabinets should NOT be located near exit doorways, stairways, or any areas that would delay exit.
Do not mount any storage cabinet on the wall unless it has been specifically designed for this purpose and has the appropriate mounting accessories.
Do not locate any flammable cabinet near a direct heat source, open flame or in direct sunlight.
Flammable and corrosive/acid cabinets must be anchored seismically to prevent any spillage of contents.
Are safety storage cabinets maintained and containers checked frequently for leaks, etc.?
Are chemicals stored appropriately in regard to their incompatibilities?

Chemical Disposal Methods

Dispose of hazardous chemicals as hazardous waste, according to manufacturer's directions and facility protocol.
Never pour any corrosives or other chemicals down the drain. This can contaminate the storm water system.
Hazardous Waste containers must be clearly identified.

Know How To Handle An Emergency

Know emergency first aid procedures, such as using the eye wash station or full deluge shower.
Is first aid equipment available? What is their location?
Are emergency numbers readily available or posted?
Become familiar with spill cleanup procedures and location of spill kits.
Know location of fire extinguishers and how to use them.
Review the Emergency Evacuation plan in case of a fire or other incident.

Maintaining Your Safety

Use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed.
Do not smoke, drink, eat anywhere near chemicals or work area.
Do not touch your face or body during or after working with chemicals until you have thoroughly washed your hands.
Wash your hands; remove any contaminated clothing before leaving work site.

Maintenance Personnel Safety

Be sure maintenance personnel know the hazards of the chemicals in the worksite.
Be sure the maintenance personnel know any special precautions and procedures that are needed before they begin to work.
Be sure that these personnel know how to use PPE.
Monitor to see that PPE is being used appropriately and when necessary.

A safe work environment is a necessity and it requires that everyone knows the rules for and works together.

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