Dun & Bradstreet Ratings

Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) ratings are like a good housekeeping sign of approval for businesses. D&B is probably the best known business reporting agency in the world and its ratings are coveted by businesses and examined closely by financial institutions and investors who want to know the financial health of any business. The D&B rating is prepared by an exhaustive examination of financial records, statements and dealings of the business with its customers, clients, investors and shareholders.

The D&B rating offers companies an opportunity to build their business credit, mitigate credit risks from other businesses, and ultimately improve their cash flow as well as the ability to enhance profit. D&B offers a number of other tools in addition to the basic D&B rating which allows businesses and financial institutions to make good decisions based on data and not just on guess work.

The D&B Rating measures a company's business credit rating against others in the same field as well as companies operating in different countries and different continents. The rating provides data on the net worth or equity of the business and then sorts these companies by the number of employees to reflect the overall creditworthiness of the business. It also measures both financial stability and the company's payment record, public filings, trade payments, business age, and other factors in order to produce the most comprehensive report on a company's creditworthiness that exists anywhere in the world.

Other subsidiary products that augment the D&B rating are the Paydex Score, the Financial Stress Score and the Commercial Credit Score. The Paydex Score is a report and score that evaluates the payment record of a business to its suppliers and vendors. The Financial Stress Score makes a prediction on the possibility of a company having to file for bankruptcy during the next year. The Commercial Stress Score evaluates the likelihood of a company making a late or delinquent payment during the next twelve months.

All of these additional information products still play second fiddle however to the D&B rating. This one rating can not only assist or prevent a business from receiving a business loan or an extension to a line of credit but can also cause investors to vanish or panic, suppliers to cease shipments & or vendors to refuse to stock products. In other words, keeping a good D&B rating is essential to the successful operation of any business. Many businesses, large and small have risen and fallen based on the D&B rating. Smart companies keep one eye on their balance sheet and the other on maintaining a good D&B rating.

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Men, Women, Sex, and the Differences!

How to have sex more often is a question I get from men? Women also want more sex but they don't feel their lives help. Stress, work, housekeeping, and looking after the kids don't really get them in the right mood, so the chances of them feeling like it are greatly diminished.

Sex is so important to our relationships. Most relationships become distant when sex becomes less and many end. So if you don't have sex, prepare for problems.

For men, sex is the way that they can show their partner how much they love them. This is what men need to be able to respond to a woman emotionally (therefore it's critical for a man) and a woman needs emotion to be able to respond to a man sexually.

When they are both in tune i.e. having fun and enjoying each other, sex is usually great, but then an argument strikes, both are usually hell bent on being right until one backs down and says sorry or they both might just brush it under the carpet. If the man says he is sorry, he will immediately want to show his partner his love for her through sex. A woman's response is "you have got to be kidding me... you think that I'm in the mood for sex after that display from you!" So the goal is to create the right emotions and the chance of sex increasing is very high.

One of the ways I help couples to engage with each other is to create a scenario that they can both feel good about and share. When they first met is usually a great example. I get couples to talk about their first date! When this happens, I watch the spark re-enter two people that entered the room looking depressed about life. I watch them get excited and laugh about that day. The mood in the room changes. It is this change of mood that you are after.

Try it and see what happens.

Step one. Start to think about your first date now! Take yourself back to that day. Remember how you felt before your date and then play the date just like a movie in your mind. Recount all the things that happened, what was said, the place you went to and how you tried to work out if your date liked you.

Step two. As soon as possible text or phone your partner and tell them you have been thinking about the first day you both met. This will immediately focus your partner on that day, and images and feelings will pop into there head throughout the day.

Step three. When you get home and you get a moment together, start to talk about that day. Make sure you keep the focus of the conversation on the positives of that day and keep the conversation away from the negative differences between your relationship back then and today if he or she brings them up!

Step four. Re-create that first date. Take your partner back to the same place (if possible) and do it as a surprise! Try to remember exactly what was said and reminisce together. The chance of you both feeling fantastic are very high and you will notice a shift in your relationship.

The chances of sex are now much higher, but this was not the real goal. The real goal is to get your relationship re-ignited. It works! Go and try it today.

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The Role and Responsibilities of a Supervisor

Introduction

Supervising is like parenting. These are two of the most important jobs any one can do, but few people are adequately prepared or trained to do them. Most people learn by trial and error with varying degrees of success. But both jobs are far too important to be left to chance and the good news is that you can learn with some help and guidance how to be successful in them. This article will help you to be a more effective and efficient supervisor.

Supervisor's Role

In one sentence, write down what you think your main role as a supervisor is.
A role is a main activity or two that you are charged with undertaking

The answers could be:
· Provide leadership and collaborative direction to my staff;

· To be a team leader

· To ensure my staff have the human and physical resources to undertake their work in an efficient manner
Supervisor's Responsibilities

Learning Activity

What are your main supervisory responsibilities in your present job?
List them on a separate piece of paper (you should have 8 to 12). It is sometimes easier to think of these under two main headings: (a) job related and (b) people related.
Once you have a list, then rank them in order of importance.
When you have completed this activity, look at the examples other examples of supervisory responsibilities provided by the author.

Job Related

· Cost Control

· Equipment

· Goals

· Materials

· Plans

· Procedures

· Productivity

· Quality

· Standards

· Training

People Related

· Coaching

· Communicating

· Delegating

· Disciplining

· Leadership

· Managing yourself

· Motivating

· Supervising others

Learning Activity:

Current Obstacles & Challenges
What obstacles do you personally face now that makes it difficult for you to fulfil some of these responsibilities? They may stem (1) from you, (2) from your unit or (3) the organization as a whole. List then and then rank them in order of importance:

New Ways of Supervising

Over the years, the role of a supervisor has changed significantly from being a top down, autocratic order-giver to a team leader, coach and motivator.

· from ordering to asking; and consulting.

· from telling to listening and asking questions.

· from policing to coaching.

· from each person for himself to teamwork.

· from fear to mutual respect.

This change has come about, not because people are becoming "soft-hearted," but because it is now very clear that people are more productive if they are happy, motivated and upbeat. This takes place in an employee-friendly environment. The change is one of enlightened self-interest on the part of managers who decide what training is appropriate for their supervisors. They know that happy employees are productive employees.
Review and discuss about briefly the following chart "Leadership Styles"

Guidelines for Supervisory Behaviour

Without having a clear idea of what is acceptable behaviour for a supervisory, you are likely to model your behaviour after some role model in your life: a parent, a teacher, a boss. This could be good; but it could be disastrous if any of these people is dictatorial and demanding, or weak and indecisive.

A major benefit of this supervisory training program is that it provides you with guidelines about what is acceptable supervisory behaviour, and what is not. It also provides you with the skills to bring about this behavioural change. Once you know this, you will be more confident in what you do, as you won't be wondering whether you are taking the right action. Also, if you train with other people, you will all learn the same skill set and you will be able to help each other in the future when challenges arise.

Supervisor's Self-Assessment Survey

The Self-Assessment of Supervisory Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes survey below may look formidable but it effectively outlines the areas that you need to eventually master in order to become an outstanding supervisor. Don't be dismayed, you don't have to master all these areas in a month or two. It will take time and you will need to systematically work away at one or two areas at a time.

Most supervisors get promoted because they are "good on the job." They are hard working, productive. Hopefully, they are also loyal to the company and a good team player. While this is a good start to being a good supervisor, there are other skills they need to develop in terms of leadership: how to inspire, motivate, coach, delegate, discipline, plan, team-build etc. This is what this program is about.

Self-Assessment Survey Directions

Read through the list below without marking it up, then the second time around, Put a YES, NO or MAYBE to record what you think your skill or knowledge level is. This will give you a good idea where your strengths and weaknesses are

Supervisor's Self-Assessment Survey

Leadership

I have a clear understanding of the Company's goals and objectives

I understand how my role fits into the goals of the Company

I have a clear vision of the objectives of my area

I communicate the Company and area goals to the people under my supervision (my team) on a regular basis

I give frequent feedback to the people in my team to encourage their development and the achievement of their goals and objectives

I recognize and celebrate the successes of those in my team

I feel that the people in the Company are our most important assets

I believe that I treat others as I would like to be treated myself

I consciously work at setting an example of effective leadership

I am actively working on developing a positive self-image

My own enthusiasm is increasing the desire of my team to do better

Goal-setting

I have a written annual plan and personal performance goals which have been agreed upon by me and the person to whom I report

I work with my team regularly to help them set SMART goals that support their workplace development

I break down my annual goals into shorter-term goals

I review the progress of my goals regularly

I have a method for measuring and keeping track of my goal achievement

I ensure that the members of my team know on a regular basis the status of the Company's goal achievement

My goals for myself as a Foreman and for my team tie into the Company's goals

I set goals that stretch and challenge me

I achieve a high proportion of the goals I set

I enjoy challenges, and see them as opportunities for growth

Personal Productivity

I clearly understand my priorities

I spend only a small portion of my time in crisis management

I delegate work to others in an effective manner

My area of responsibility runs smoothly when I am not there

I accept personal responsibility when I make a mistake

I ensure that meetings I run have a clear agenda and start and finish on time

I plan my work in advance and work the plan

I rarely procrastinate or leave things to the last minute

I keep others informed, in advance, when I cannot meet their deadlines

Motivating Others

I give feedback on a timely basis

I know the people on my team well enough to understand what is important to them

I believe in the abilities of people on my team and communicate my confidence in them

I provide (or am instrumental in obtaining) training for the people on my team that they need to develop the skills necessary to do their job well

I ensure clear goals and expectations are set with those people who report to me

Morale in my department (team) is high

I always share credit for success

I ensure that people on my team are clear about what their responsibilities are

I ask questions and encourage people to find out answers to their concerns

I listen to the ideas of others

I am flexible in how things get done, providing the results are satisfactory

When things go wrong, I question what I could have done differently. I share responsibility.

Coaching for Success

I coach my people to help them achieve success in what they do

I provide one-on-one sessions with each person who reports to me

I ensure that during coaching sessions the other person(s) talk more than I do

I really listen to understand the concerns of others

I help others to be self-aware of the areas in which they deed to improve or develop

I support the goals set by individuals on my team

I help members of my team to be accountable for their goals and performance

I deal openly, constructively and promptly with any negative performance issues

I encourage and ask for feedback on my own performance from my team

Communications and Building Relationships

I listen to understand the other person's perspective before I give mine

I always wait until others have finished talking before I speak; I don't interrupt

I spend time planning important communications, written or oral

I develop strong business relationships with the people on my team as well as with suppliers and customers

When people bring to my attention my own negative performance issues, I respond in a non-defensive manner

I speak calmly to people, not raising my voice, regardless of the issue at hand

If I have an issue with someone, I always deal directly with them, I do not talk behind their back

I observe others' non-verbal communication to assess how they are really feeling

I maintain an open mind in most discussions

I seek and consider other people's opinions

Dealing with Performance Issues

I deal with performance issues on a timely basis

I allow others to explain their viewpoint before coming to a conclusion

I see dealing with negative issues as an opportunity to train and develop people

I make sure that clear expectations are set and agreed upon with the individual after a performance issue discussion

I am willing to accept that my perception of an issue may not always be right

I avoid argument, accusation and sarcasm

I encourage others on my team to be open about their mistakes so that we can make corrections and learn

Team Building and Synergy

I see my position as Foreman as being a team leader and that those I supervise are all members of my team

I ensure that my team and it's members have clear goals and expectations

I am willing to delegate responsibility to team members

I give regular feedback to the members of my team; not just about negative issues but I also regularly tell members of my team when them have performed well

Others see me as a team player

I follow through on commitments I make to team members

The results of team efforts are shared with members of the team (e.g. I do not take all the credit for my team's successes)

I actively promote team spirit and positive interpersonal relationships amongst the members of my team

As team leader, I move promptly to discourage behaviour by individual(s) in my team when such behaviour has a negative impact on team-building (e.g. "turf wars," "inner circles," "behind-back gossip" etc.

Managing Stress

I am aware of what causes me stress on the job and I manage those situations

I notice when team members are under stress and help them to deal with the situation

I discuss my concerns and problems with the person to whom I report

I do not take my work problems home, nor do I bring my home problems to work

I use small amounts of stress as a motivator

I enjoy most of the work I do

I strive to maintain a good balance between my workplace life and my home life

I eat a balanced diet

I exercise regularly

Enhancing Future Results

I am continually upgrading my skills

I am aware of areas I need to improve

I ask advice from people with more experience

I admit when I do not know something

I invest time in training or coaching others

I spend time weekly to study or read

I ask others regularly how they think I could improve

That is the conclusion of this article which I hope you have found helpful and informative.

Do check out my website too although it is not directly related to this subject, you may also find it interesting
http://www.ehomebiz.org

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Basement Apartments

A basement apartment is a living space underneath the ground floor of a building. Basement apartments are more familiar in places where the above-ground space for building limited and the rent is high. Each basement apartment is considered a separate housekeeping unit. Usually it contains independent cooking, eating, living, sleeping and sanitary facilities. Even though basement apartments are also called second suites or accessory apartments, law suits attach more significance to the basement location.

A few safety measures are to be considered while constructing basement apartments. Separate entrances are to be maintained for each residential unit. There should be an emergency exit door or window. Security is a major concern in a basement area. A burglar alarm is to be set up. As per the rules for construction of basement apartments, minimum sizes for rooms and ceiling height are to be retained. The floor area of basement apartments should be less than that in the main building.

The apartment is to be fire protected with walls, floors and ceilings covered in fireproof materials. Inter-connected smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are other required peculiarities. Proper installation and insulation of electrical accessories ensure safety. Heaters are used to keep the living area warm in the winter. An adequate supply of water is a primary requirement of basement apartments. The basement area usually has stairs leading up to the main level.

The building must be planned to provide a bright and airy environment. The courtyard or terrace gives the occupants a sense of attachment with the outer world. Ample parking space is another necessity of the basement apartment tenant. Fully furnished bedrooms, access to laundry services, cable TV and Internet, a large kitchen and dining room, bathrooms and fireplaces are some other possible features.

Basement apartments are to be constructed with care, and safety measures must be given top priority. A well-designed basement apartment can be a delight to live in.

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Hoarding - Secret Squalor

No one answered when I tapped on the front door which was slightly ajar. As I stepped inside the home of my very first hoarding client, stifling air and bad smell hit me. Thick dust covered everything.Papers were stacked and piled everywhere. The floor appeared to be made of dirt. On closer inspection, the carpet had turned to dust. Suddenly, from behind a cluttered pile on the kitchen table, a petite, perfectly coiffed elderly lady in a lavender sweater set and pearl necklace stepped out...

What is Hoarding? I am not a mental health professional so I can't make a clinical diagnosis. But I can tell you what I have seen and what it looks like to me. I can also share with you my considered opinion of what causes it from the perspective of a person who sees hoarding on a regular basis, not from a tidy therapist's office but from the real,down and very dirty places where hoarders live.

Hoarding is not the same as being a slob. Hoarding is not dirty dishes in the sink and a pile of unpaid bills or unread newspapers on the kitchen table. Hoarding is a condition where the debris and collected materials of an individual become so large and unmanageable that it affects their relationships with others, their health and their safety. The saddest part about hoarding is that the sufferer is often extremely resistant to any changes and is willing to give up their family, friends and even their own well being for the sake of their "stuff".

Hoarding can be classified in stages and the National Study Group on the Chronically Disorganized has a website that will give you a grading scale from 1-5. You will also find a list of trained professionals who can help you.

The first two stages are really just messy people. The mess is yucky but not life threatening and you can probably still safely visit them and drink out of their cups and use their bathrooms. After stage 2, check their beds. Hoarders, past stage 2, have piled up so much trash on their beds that they are either sleeping on a small part of the bed or actually sleeping elsewhere to avoid moving their precious junk. Stacks, boxes and piles of papers fill every space until there is only a narrow pathway in which to walk. Exits are blocked. The bathtub is full of stuff and sometimes even the oven! You are also talking filth: Rodent droppings, pet feces, fleas,bad smells, spiders and cobwebs hanging like stalactites from the ceiling, carpet so filthy it has rotted and turned to dust, kitchen appliances not working, toilet un-useable, wiring a fire hazard. Windows shut and filthy, air stagnant. This was how Lavender Lady was living. How many Americans live like this? Hundreds of thousands. They are your neighbors that never let you in past the front door. They are professionals, dressed impeccably and living in secret squalor. I'm sure my client's neighbors had no idea how she was living.

What causes hoarding? No one has the exact answer, Mental Health Professionals will tell you that Hoarding is a mental illness caused by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, often combined with Depression. It can be inherited, learned or triggered by loss. I see a disproportionate number of retired teachers (such as my Lavender Lady) and other academics. Many Seniors succumb to hoarding. Lavendar Lady was 93! My work tells me that people who have suffered a devastating loss (job, death of a loved one, health) can succumb to hoarding. Hoarders collect things that they perceive as being abandoned, just like them. They wish to give new meaning and importance to these items, even if it looks like junk to us. Try to separate a hoarder from their stuff and you risk extreme anger directed at you and serious emotional and even physical harm to them. Their stuff makes them feel rich, needed and safe. It gives meaning to their lives.

Here are some more hoarding symptoms:

- Excessive Saving: paper, tissue, bottles, cans, newspapers, magazines, plastic bags, etc.

- Excessive Collecting :boats,cars and broken appliances.

- Excessive Rescue: Cats, dogs, birds, other animals which they often cannot care for properly, even though they have good intentions.

-Grandiose Ideas: 1. Save the Planet. They save recyclables to excess but can't part with any of it. 2. A Museum in their Honor: All this stuff is so valuable and amazing, someone out there will appreciate it. 3.They want to help others. I had one client who was saving plastic bags for a mailman who no longer walked that beat. She really believed he would come back some day and be so thankful that she had saved all those plastic bags just for him. 4. Help a fellow teacher: They just "know" that some teacher out there could use their stuff in their classrooms. Lavender Lady had piles of rocks in her kitchen (for art projects) and over 100 ancient bird nests stored in her garage.

-Compulsive Shopper: Many hoarders will compulsively purchase items on television shopping channels. I had a client in a wheelchair who purchased roller skates. This tendency can put them in real financial jeopardy.

These are individuals who are lost, sad, lonely and feel useless. They think their stuff will make them happy and importamt. They create a job for themselves as caretakers and protectors of this stuff so that their own lives have meaning.

Hoarding, like any other compulsion or addiction, takes over the life of the sufferer and destroys the peace of mind of those that love them. Lavender Lady's daughter had called me. The victim will often resist help when offered. The stuff means more to them than anyone or anything.

What do you do with a hoarder? Even Professional Organizers who are trained by the National Study Group on the Chronically Disorganized have a policy of not working with hoarders beyond class 3 unless the the hoarder is in therapy and on medication. It is just too frustrating and a waste of time and money. Anti anxiety medication is often prescribed. Be extremely careful of exposing yourself to toxins, germs, bugs and disease when trying to "clean out" a hoarder Trained Professionals use masks, gloves and often wear protective clothing.

Relatives and friends of hoarders often call me to "come over while the hoarder is on vacation or in the hospital" and just get rid of the all the junk. I can't do that and neither should you. Removing their stuff without permission can cause them severe psychic harm and/or physical breakdown, stroke or worse. Do not take it away without their knowledge or permission. If they refuse help,the best you can offer is to make sure their living conditions are as clean and safe as possible.

Just know that the stuff will grow again into a filthy mess as quickly as the hoarder can do another "dumpster dive" or visit a garage sale, shop or eat packaged food.

Can hoarders be cured? The jury is still out. It requires first and foremost, a willingness to change coupled with professional therapy and medication. Progress is very slow with many years of therapy needed. It often gets worse with age. Lavender Lady refused help.

What can you do? Have patience and compassion for the hoarder. You can't talk them out of their stuff. The best you can do is help them keep it under control so they are safe from injury, sickness and fire. Seek help from a therapist who specializes in obsessive compulsive disorder. Try to let go of your own worries as ultimately, it has to be their decision to change. Contact Social Services if their safety is at stake.

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Ten Ways to Organize Your Wardrobe For Better Housekeeping Services

Arranging your wardrobe is equally important as it is to get your room cleaned by cleaning company in Edison, You need to arrange the piles of clothes in order to let maids in Edison do the house cleaning service effectively. In your closet and drawers, clothing can quickly build up and become a gigantic mess. Fortunately, here are ten ways to organize your clothes so your house cleaning service company with team of maids in Edison will be able to perform its work without having to step over piles of pants and mountains of shirts.

1. Organize by season. Store clothes you're not using that season in plastic bins in your attic or basement. Keep one or two emergency outfits in your closet, but otherwise, maintain a lean usable wardrobe. Label each bin so you can determine the contents quickly and easily.

2. Sort by color. In your closet, sort by color starting from black and working your way over to white. This will help you locate any item you're searching for by providing a color-coded organization system. If you have multiple items in a single color, store the ones you wear most often nearest the closet door.

3. Fold neatly. Crumpled up shirts and rolled jeans take up more space than neatly folded items. But keeping your creases taut and your folds tight, you'll be able to maximize your storage space-allowing you to keep more outfits and accessories.

4. Place your most used items near the closet door's handle. Always sort by color first, but remember the rule of thumb (or, rather, arm length): the items that are easier to grab from the closet door are the ones you'll wear most often. Store little-used belts and boots in the far corner, leaving your slippers and favorite purse near the closet door.

5. Regularly donate and discard old items. Don't let your wardrobe become stagnant. Once per month (or at least twice per year), sort through your belongings and make a charity pile. If you notice any worn or torn items, throw them out. This pruning will keep the closet fresh and ready for new acquisitions throughout the season. Treat your goodwill with a new outfit from the mall after you've dropped off the donation.

6. Force yourself to wear each item once before you can reuse another item. Do you have more blouses than you can count? Make yourself wear each item once before you can wear a previous item again. This will help you discard old, unwanted outfits that might otherwise sneak through the cracks in your wardrobe.

7. Hang clothes in the same direction. A neat closet is a happy closet, and a happy closet is one that you're proud to keep clean and organized. Orient your hangers in the same direction with your shirts and trousers hung in the same way. Make sure your belongings have enough room; wrinkling can occur if they are confined to a small space.

8. Encourage your entire household to organize in the same way. There is power in numbers, and if your entire family is supporting your organization effort, it'll be easier to keep the routine up. Set up a schedule for donations and reward the family's efforts regularly. After several months, you'll continue organizing without even realizing it.

9. Keep scented refresher products in with your linens. No one likes to smell like mothballs or musty closets. Hang car air fresheners in your closet, or place reed diffusers on a shelf. Your clothes will be kept fresh when you need them, and you won't have to spend a fortune on extra dry cleaning between uses.

10. Set limits for yourself. Don't allow yourself to have more than a certain number of shirts, and don't let your laundry go unsorted for more than a day. By setting limits, you will force yourself to get into a good routine with positive habits. Follow the limits and enjoy the splendor of a clean, neat living space.

By following these simple tips, your overflowing closets and bulging drawers will be tamed in no time. Your housekeeping services provider will thank you, and you'll feel all the cleaner. Plus, you'll get the added bonus of keeping your looks updated and always being fashionable!

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Simple Housekeeping Steps to Keep You on the Road to Success With Dollar Stores

Only those running a dollar store could ever grasp the impact that the huge volume of traffic coming and going all day can have on the appearance of their store. And yet, they also realize success with dollar stores requires having a clean and well-organized store for every customer to see. Fortunately it doesn't take an army of cleaners constantly working to keep up with customers to maintain the just-opened look. It does however require a planned set of actions with the right effort focused on the right parts of the store.

Those who plan to start running a dollar should read on. In this article I provide simple housekeeping tips to keep your store looking in tip-top shape at all times. Put these actions to work and you are on your way to success.

Keep a carpet sweeper/broom handy

If you are running a dollar store it is important to make sure these tools are easy to grab when a certain location inside your store needs a little extra attention. You will soon discover these are among the most used tools in your store.

Complete regular/routine store inspections and clean-ups

Keep things in your store orderly and clean by conducting periodic store inspections and clean-ups. If you are running a dollar store this is one of the easiest ways to always maintain a just-opened appearance.

Conduct daily outside/front clean-ups

Don't ignore the outside of your store; even if this is a landlord duty in your lease. Those seeking success with dollar stores know they must make sure there isn't trash or dirty walkways just in-front of their store. This is where the first-impression of your store starts.

Keep streaks and finger-prints off doors and windows

If you are running a dollar store you will find it only takes a few minutes to keep front doors and windows crystal clear. However these are activities that must be repeated periodically throughout the day. Once again you establish a positive first impression with shoppers for mere minutes of work.

Keep checkout areas clean, organized and litter-free

The checkout area is the last place your shoppers see. Move toward success with your store by leaving a positive impression with customers by always keeping this area looking clean, organized and professional.

Most who start running a dollar store are shocked by the huge number of shoppers coming and going in their business. These shoppers come from all walks of life. Some are dressed as if going to a special event. Others come in when they discover they need something for their latest yard or garden project. Some are careful to wear clear shoes and to never move merchandise. Others look almost as if they deliberately walked through the local swamp before entering your store. Those who seek dollar store success are always prepared for all of their guests by having the right tools. Follow up and make sure your store looks fresh and clean at all times by focusing on cleanliness and organization.

To your success with dollar stores!

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Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe from Good Housekeeping. This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe ever! Chewy, delicate, and buttery!

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Housekeeping (Phục vụ phòng) - Clip 11

Nghiệp vụ phục vụ phòng ở các cơ sở lưu trú du lịch - tổng cục Du lịch Việt Nam phối hợp với ủy ban Châu Âu thực hiện

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Oruchuban Ebichu ep. 13 (eng. subs)

Ep. 13 Ebichu the Housekeeping Hamster. (Mother Comes to Visit, dechu.)

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Home and Respite Care for Elderly People

Home and respite care for elderly people are two different things, but each enables an elderly person to live comfortably in their own home. This article explains the differences between home care and respite care for the elderly and examines the benefits of each.

Home Care for the Elderly

Home care for the elderly is carried out by home care workers in the elderly person's home. Home care workers support elderly people who require more assistance than their family is able to provide personally.

The roles carried out by home care workers for the elderly can include housekeeping duties as well as personal care. Although the actual role of the carer varies from client to client they cover a broad range of services.

Home care workers often help out with housework such as doing their clients laundry and changing bed linens. They can also do food shopping, plan meals and cook. In addition to this, they help with the personal side of care. They help their clients to bath, dress, and brush their hair as well as accompanying them to doctors' appointments and collecting prescriptions and pensions.

As well as providing household and personal care help, home care workers for the elderly also offer instruction and emotional support. They can offer advice about diet and nutrition and talk to elderly people and discuss things that might be worrying them.

Respite Care for the Elderly

Respite care is another key aspect of caring for the elderly. Respite care is when an outside care worker takes over from the primary caregiver for a certain period of time so that they can have a break from their everyday duties.

For example, if a daughter has primary responsibility for looking after her elderly parent and needs a break, she can arrange for a care worker to take over her duties for a specified period of time.

As such, respite care for the elderly is an invaluable source of help and support for primary carers.

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"bear necessities" story

true story about a frequent traveler who loses her stuffed bear on a business trip. told live in venice, ca.

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Steak and Pepper Fajitas Recipe

This recipe for Steak and Pepper Fajitas hails from south of the border. Good Housekeeping Video: www.goodhousekeeping.com Good Housekeeping Magazine: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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Eden Designhotel Maastricht Keeping Up Award Housekeeping 2008

www.edencityhotels.com Our Housekeeping is working their way around the clock to make your stay as comfortable as it can get. Eden Designhotel Maastricht is located in the heart of the trendy Wijck district, at only 250 meters from Maastricht Central Station and near the old city centre. The Maastricht Exhibition and Conference Centre (MECC) is only 1 km away. Eden Designhotel Maastricht offers you a selection of shops and boutiques, including a florist, sandwich bar, caterer, beauty salon, lounge bar, patio garden, fitness centre and brasserie Flo. Its ideal central location guarantees a perfect stay!

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Who can say no to a chocolate chip cookie? Find out the quintessential recipe. Good Housekeeping Video: www.goodhousekeeping.com Good Housekeeping Magazine: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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Introducing The Latest Rage In Cookware Selection - Celebrity Endorsed Pots, Pans And Skillets

The latest rage in cookware selection is celebrity endorsed pots and pans. Everyone from Emeril Legasse to Martha Stewart have their own line of cookware. Whether you want the high end selections of Emeril or Rocco or you prefer the Martha Stewart more budget conscious "Everyday" collection, so you can cook with the stars.

Wolfgang Puck's has his "Bistro Collection". You can only purchase this set through the home shopping channel There is a 4-millimeter aluminum disc in the base of the pots and the handles are hollow, stainless steel.

Of course not all celebrity endorsed cookware makes the cut. For instance Good Housekeeping test kitchen did not give Martha's Everyday collection of cookware a thumbs up. Unfortunately for Martha Stewart, her line of cookware did not fare to well in the consumer report kitchen. The editors at Good Housekeeping have tested nearly every type of pot and pan imaginable. They have tested everything from skillets and saucepans to Dutch ovens and roasters. It should be noted that the Martha Stewart Everyday collection of cookware costs considerably less than the other celebrity choices.

One of the test that is conducted by Good Housekeeping is for heat conduction. Heat conduction is the most important factor in cookware construction (per the testing committee). They test other items but if the cookware fails this test then what is the point?

The Martha cookware did not fare very well . The report concluded that the Martha Stewart cookware 12-inch nonstick skillet retained heat poorly. The skillet got too hot over high heat The skillet heated too slow over a low flame. Editors say it burned onions in their sauté tests.

Legasse endorses Emerilware which performed well in all the categories. The brand name that stands behind him has excellent cookware. Emerilware Cookware is constructed from heavy gauge aluminum with a tough enamel exterior for long-lasting style in the kitchen. The cookware has a durable enamel.

Rocco DiSpirito , star of the Food Network series, introduced Rocco Cookware "for
serious chefs". The collection is the first cast aluminum cookware collection with a porcelain interior and exterior The cookware has his signature fashion colors and bold design. Additionally, Rocco is debuting a collection of pressure cookers and new low-pressure cookware sets that take "cooking under pressure" to the next level.

For non-celebrity cookware, heavy gauge stainless steel is the best high-end cookware. Stainless steel is a good choice for use with gas ranges and the cookware is oven-safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The nonstick version is a very good good choice.

Low cost nonstick cookware made of hard-anodized aluminum with a nonstick coating is lighter in weight than the more expensive brand. This cookware is not dishwasher safe. This cookware is 400-degrees Fahrenheit. Copper pots and pans are among the most expensive kind of cookware,. Gourmet chefs love copper for their superior heat conduction. Copper pots need to be lined with tin or low maintenance stainless steel.

The cookware you choose whether celebrity or non celebrity should fit your budget and your lifestyle. There are so many choices available that when a celebrity endorses a product , it makes our choices easier.

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Medicaid's 'Cash and Counseling' Allows Pay For Family Caregivers

Mary, a 74-year-old Florida woman, suffered a stroke. She needed help with bathing, dressing, food shopping, meal preparation, laundry and housekeeping. Her state Medicaid plan covered the cost of a home-health care worker to provide those services, but the local agencies were short-staffed and couldn't send helpers on the schedule Anna needed.

So her daughter took time off work to care for Mary. Soon after, Mary and her daughter learned about Cash and Counseling, a non-traditional Medicaid program pioneered by New Jersey, Florida and Arkansas with seed grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration on Aging and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

Cash & Counseling participants may use their Medicaid-provided personal assistance budgets to hire their own personal care aides as well as purchase items or services, including home modifications that help them live independently. By redirecting personal assistance funds from agencies to consumers themselves, Cash & Counseling allows people to hire whomever they want to provide their care and decide for themselves if they would rather hire a home health aide to cook for them, or pay a friend or relative to do it. The services paid for by the state are all part of the elder's authorized Medicaid care plan. What's different is that, in many cases, family members and friends chosen by the elder are providing those services instead of an agency worker.

Today, the grants are available in 12 more states - Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.

According to the Cash and Counseling website, the program was created because, "family caregivers are the backbone of the long-term care system, providing millions of hours of care every year for no compensation and frequently at great cost to their own emotional health. They're burned out and exhausted from juggling work, family responsibilities, and caregiving. In addition, many caregivers have to reduce their work hours or even give up their jobs to take care of their loved ones. By supporting caregivers, we're helping them hang in longer, and, hopefully, relieving some of their stress. Keep in mind, that even with Cash & Counseling support, family caregivers are typically paid lower-than-average wages and, in most cases, are paid for only a small fraction of the hours of service they provide."

To apply for the program, elders apply through Medicaid. They are assessed in the same way they would be for traditional agency-provided services. If they choose the Cash and Counseling option, they work with the program's staff to develop an individual budget and care plan.

To learn more about the Cash and Counseling program, visit the website at www.cashandcounseling.org.

Access the Medicaid website at www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp.

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Housecleaning & Home Maintenance : How Do You Keep Copper From Turning Green?

Copper turns green when it oxidizes, but a simple vinegar and salt solution can help dissolve away unsightly discoloration on the surface of the copper. Allow copper items to soak in salt and vinegar withinformation from a professional house 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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Cleaning Kitchens : How to Clean Dog Urine

Clean up dog urine by apllying carpet cleaner, alcohol or hot water. Remove pet urine spots using thisfree video from a professional home organizer about cleaning kitchens. Expert: Ann Myrick Bio: Since 1997, Ann Myrick has been a professional decorator, house cleaner, home organizer and planner. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

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Caesar Salad Dressing

Toss this classic dressing with crisp romaine lettuce and fresh toasted croutons. Good Housekeeping Videos: www.goodhousekeeping.com Good Housekeeping Magazine: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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Pretend Play and Dress Up Encourages Imaginative Play

A child's imagination is something to be encouraged and treasured. Young children learn many skills through imagination, from independent play, interactive play, language and cognitive skills to name a few. Pretend play and dress up are wonderful ways to allow your child to dream and act out all sorts of fun adventures.

There are a wide variety of excellent toys available to enhance their imaginative experiences some of which include; cooking and baking toys, dress-up costumes, gardening toys, housekeeping toys, money and banking sets, spy gadgetry toys, tools and puppets.

Your child probably watches you preparing and cooking meals everyday. There are many cooking and baking toys available that allow your child to have hours of entertainment. Some of the wonderful toys manufactured are; picnic baskets (complete with play bread, cheese, lettuce, hot dog and bun, ketchup, corn on the cob etc.), bakery sets, plastic food sets, a wide variety of tea pot sets, pots and pans, dinnerware sets (complete with plates, utensils, bowls and cups) and coffee sets. It's easy for your child to set up their own little imaginary kitchen with ovens that actually bake cookies, working mini refrigerators, plastic refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, barbecue's and toasters. Little shopping markets complete with plastic store items and cash registers can be purchased, along with gum ball machines and sno-cone machines, the list really is endless.

Dress up play is a favorite among all ages of children, whether it's dressing up in dad's baseball uniform or having fun with mom's closet. There is a great variety of all sorts of different types of costumes, masks and accessories for children to select from. Costumes come in designs such as fireman and police uniforms, doctor and veterinarian uniforms, engineer suits, magic hats with cape and gloves, dresses, waitress outfits, cherubs, devils, witches, ballerina and popular character suits with capes and muscle chests to name a few. Great accessories such as crowns, tiara sets, ninja swords, light sabers, cowboy hats, purses complete with keys and cell phones, doctor and medical kits and magic kits can be found. Dress up play allows your child to use their imagination in a fun way through role play and acting out adventures.

For all the young outdoor landscaping enthusiasts there are wonderful gardening tools and accessories available. Little wheelbarrows are made in plastic and metal designs (tiny metal designs look and work as well as the adult counterparts), both helpful at removing dirt, weeds and gravel around the yard. Metal and plastic gardening pails, watering cans, mini gardening sets (complete with mini rake, shovel and trowels), gardening aprons, gardening totes with seeds (mini rake, shovel, trowel and pail), gardening rakes, shovels and gardening gloves can also be purchased. Other adorable gardening sets include planters, seeds and tiny fairy cottages ready for planting around.

Probably the only time your child will enjoy housekeeping is when they are young. Most children seem to love helping out mom or dad with cleaning and simple household chores. With this said you'll find many housekeeping toys to keep your child busy and entertained for hours on end. Vacuums, cleaning sets (complete with broom, mops, gloves and pails), talking irons and ironing boards, working sewing machines and clothes washers are a few of the items to be found.

An encouraging and fun way to help children understand early on how money works is to have them play with money and banking toys and games. There are a variety of cash registers available complete with play money, fake credit cards, price scanners, price check microphones and readouts offering learning opportunities for several skills from motor skills, mathematical skills and cognitive skills.

Today there are more spy gadgetry toys available than ever before. There are spy listeners (allowing children to listen in on other rooms or to use as stethoscopes), detective sets, mini keyboard transmitters allowing children to send text messages to each other, spy goggles, motion detector sets with infrared sensors, spy cameras available in sunglasses or wristband styles (complete with real film) and walkie talkies. Spy pens come with a variety of options from activated motion alarms, flashlights and magnifying glasses. These toys not only offer hours of entertainment but toys such as the motion detectors and infrared sensors teach children basic electronic skills.

Kids love to do things around the house just like dad or mom, especially anything to do with tools. Complete tool sets for children are available with tool belts, tool chests and tool boxes. Any tool imaginable from saws, levels, planers, wrenches, screw drivers, drills and hammers can be found. Workshops (complete with bins to store tools) with work horses and work benches can provide the base for all your child's building adventures. And for when your child ventures outdoors to do some work there are mini working wheelbarrows, weed trimmers, lawnmowers, rakes, shovels, hoes, chain saws (with sound effects) and leaf blowers to complete the job. Of course you'll want to be sure they always wear their hard hat.

Lastly, another popular part of pretend play is the use of puppets. Puppets can be found in hand puppet, finger puppet, bath puppet, baby puppet, pop-up and marionette designs. Along with puppets there are puppets accessories and wonderful puppet theaters to add to the fun. There is no end to the available puppet designs from cartoon characters, fantasy (fairies, wizards), people and animals (aquatic, birds, bugs, dinosaurs, dogs, farm animals, fish and frogs to name only a few). You and your child can either make a puppet theater or purchase one of the many puppet theaters offered from tabletop theaters, floor standing, doorway and marionette theaters. Pop-up puppets are a fun way to play peek-a-boo with a child or hide and seek. Puppets are a great way to interact and have imaginative play with your child.

Imaginative play is an important part of play. Role playing and dress up allow children to experiment with the different roles of the people they observe. The toys and accessories that surround your child will let them identify with different characters and try out various domestic roles. Imaginary play helps children to adjust more easily to the challenges of our everyday world.

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Sonia Braga - Gabriela

Sonia Braga em "Gabriela", filme adaptado do romance homônimo de Jorge Amado e dirigido por Bruno Barreto em 1983. Música: "Origens", de Antonio Carlos Jobim, cantada por Gal Costa.

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Free Advertising Tips and Ideas for Cleaning Services and Cleaning Businesses!

When advertising, it's important to understand that your advertising efforts work by more than just an immediate result. You are also looking for name recognition so that your advertising works for you for years into the future. You want potential cleaning clients to think of your name when they think of hiring a cleaning service. This is what large corporations do.

I bet when you think of car insurance you think about that lizard or the caveman, or when you think about buying a gift for someone, you might think about Wal-Mart, right? This is because of the constant advertising campaigns that these companies keep on top of. It's a little different for cleaning services because not everyone needs a cleaning service when they see your advertisement, so dollar for dollar, it can cost more to advertise a product or service that not everyone needs or uses at the time you are advertising.

Similar to that lawyer that has the ad that says "Injured?" on their ad in your local phone book. You may not be "Injured" when you see the ad, but if you ever do get injured and think about hiring an attorney, you will know where to look right? This is the type of thinking to keep in mind you when are advertising your cleaning services.

Don't see advertising as a waste of money, ever! Keep your company name out there and visible. It's a good idea to set aside one evening per night and devote a few hours to searching for new ways to advertise or get the most of the advertising you are already doing. There are plenty of places to get advertising, or links to your website.

A few things you can do is post useful articles on forums and blogs, be sure to mention your business name and/or website in the article. This is a great way to get your name out there. Freshen up ads you already have, like your ad on The Cleaning Service Directory. Add a free gift certificate icon, or change the wording of your ad, list the towns and cities you service and get rid of words like "and surrounding areas." Search engines don't know what "Surrounding Areas" are and certainly no one searches for terms like that either.

Put a lot of thought into your ad before you change it. Also, if your ad appears at or near the top of the pages on the CSD, you are much more likely to receive leads. Make your listing stand out, jump off the page when your listing is amongst competitors. This is a proven fact. So the bottom line is: Keep your name out there and in front of as many people as you can by keeping your ad visible.

On The Cleaning Service Directory, we place Premier Members over Basic Member and in each of the two categories; we rank the members by the amount of "Points" in their accounts. Your points can be seen on the far right side of your advertisement in blue text. Many members still have the standard amount of points (1,000). In many cases, just adding $5.00 to your account will put your listing above most (if not all) of your competition in the section where you are listed. Being seen near the top gives potential clients the feel that you are responsive and will actively answer their questions. It will also give your business much more exposure!

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Do Chore Charts For Kids Still Work?

Too many parents often use chore charts in making their kids do the chores assigned to them at home. When they do so, they expect their kids to follow what is on the chore charts. When I was growing up as a kid my parents did not impose these chore charts to me or to my siblings.

I don't have a child yet. But I'm just interested with chore charts because my niece is already two years old and soon enough, she will become an active member of our household. I believe that chore charts still work. Parents and kids can have ready reference with the kinds of chores that have to be done in the house. Without such a guide, it would be easy for a kid to say, "but I forgot!" Even the parents will not forget about the tasks assigned to their kids.

The chart of chores for kids will only be effective, however, if they also see their parents and everybody else in the house do their respective duties. I've seen this in my niece. Although she is just two years old, she often sees her mom and her aunt wipe the table, sweep the house and wash the dishes. Before long, whenever I leave my slippers anywhere in the house, she would call me and tell me to put my slippers at the rack! Nice baby! I was surprised at first but at the same time I was glad that she was already learning how to become responsible.

Kids chore charts are effective means of tracking down the tasks that have to accomplished at home. If parents and adult members of the household display good housekeeping, the children will follow suit. Parents can also enhance the motivation of the kids by using music and games as part of the housekeeping process. This way, chores become enjoyable and fun!

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Boneless Prime Roast Recipe

When it comes to prime rib and there are two basic camps. One side says you must cook it with the bones attached. The idea is that the bones give more flavor to the meat. The other side says that the meat can be just as flavorful without the bones, and easier to carve. If you want to give it a try, here is a boneless prime roast recipe. There's plenty of variations on the basic boneless prime roast recipe so feel free to improvise.

Boneless roasts are sometimes called ribeye roasts or "eye of the rib". A boneless roast serves more people per pound -- you can count on getting two servings per pound rather than about 1 1/2 servings per pound for a standing rib roast. An eight or ten pound roast is perfect for this boneless prime roast recipe.

You can marinate the roast before you cook it for extra flavor, although many think that the beef is tasty enough as is. Marinating can also make the meat more tender. If you decide to marinate the meat, let it soak for an hour or two before making this boneless prime roast recipe.

Before you cook the meat, make sure that it has reached room temperature. This means you should take it out of the refrigerator about two hours before it is put in the oven. A good prime rib roast recipe will tell you to rub of exterior of the meat with horseradish or Worcestershire powder.

Preheat the oven to 500° and place a layer of rock salt in the bottom of the roasting pan. The layer of salt should be about 1 inch deep. Sprinkle the salt with about half a cup of warm water and place the roast on top of the salt. The boneless prime rib recipe tells you to cover the roast completely with rock salt.

The reason this boneless prime rib recipe uses rock salt is to seal the exterior of the meat so that it remains tasty and juicy. The beef will not taste salty -- the salt crust is removed before serving.

Cook the meat for about 15 minutes per pound keeping the door of the oven closed for the entire cooking time. When it is done, let it sit for about 15 minutes before serving. Your guests will love this boneless prime rib recipe!

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Home Organization : How to Organize the Basement

To organize a basement, first determine the main use of the space and prioritize the items and furniture that will be placed in it, making it a more functional space. Lay out a basement to maximize the space with housekeeping tips from a tidy stay-at-home mom in thisfree video on home organization. Expert: Abigail Zehner & Gene Neill Bio: Abigail Zahner is a stay-at-home mom with excellent skills in running and maintaining her home, and Gene Neill is a classic car enthusiast whose projects have appeared in well-known magazines. Filmmaker: Andrew Reynolds

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Do You Want To Have Beauty Legs?

Almost every woman makes 6000-8000 steps a days on average. Even at home we do housekeeping mostly standing. But we must have in mind that our health depends from our feet and legs. All our internals are connected with feet. By the end of the day our legs and feet are often tired or even become swollen.

What can be done?

Variant 1.

Reduce salt in your meal. The less salt the better. For better taste sprinkle your food with lemon juice and add cut green. Parsley is very good cause it reduces excess liquid in your organism.

Variant 2.

Prepare your meal without salt completely and add it later. Consumption of salt is less in this case. Use against edema this simple recipe. Take fresh green (50gr/1.8oz) wash it carefully and eat it without salt before dinner or instead it. If you will do it regularly you will forget about edema soon. It is very good also for lever, kidneys and alimentary canal.

Your legs may become swollen from liquid circulation problems in your organism. It may happen from excess weight, lack of movement or when you must long time stay on legs.

Defend your legs.

Mornings and evenings wash your legs from fingers to thighs with cold water when you take shower. That will not only strengthen your blood vessels but make you steady against cold too.

What we must do to help our legs?

1. Get rid of excess weight.

2. Walk every day. Go out 2-3 stops before your home from transport and have a nice walk.

3. Don't wear clothes that cover tightly your legs and waist.

4. Have comfortable footwear. Don't wear often high-heeled footwear or footwear without heels on plain sole. It is especially important if you must stay a lot during working day.

5. Lay your legs on small pillow that your legs will be a bit up when sleeping.

6. Don't forget about massage. It makes your legs' skin more elastic. Begin from foot to thigh. Knead feet and finish massage with light stroking.

Take care of your legs and feet. That will help you keep them healthy and beautiful.

Be healthy,

Nataly

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Questions To Ask In A Job Interview - 5 Simple Questions To Make Yourself Shine

There's more to job interviews than answering questions about yourself-a good interviewer will pay just as much attention to the questions you ask them. If you have an idea of the right questions to ask in a job interview you can impress the interviewer with how much you have researched the role and show them that you are the right person for the job! Check out these ideas for some great questions to ask in a job interview.

Avoid "housekeeping" questions like "when do I get paid?" and how many day's vacation do I get?" You can quite easily find these out by calling the company before the interview and requesting a copy of the company handbook before the interview. If you do this, be sure be sure to mention it during the interview, EG "Well I called up before and requested a copy of the handbook, that's answered most of my questions but I do have a few more about my role specifically..." This will show the interviewer how well you have prepared, and ensure that you have only the most well thought out questions to ask them in the actual job interview.

Ask them to describe the average day in the position. This is a great question to ask as it will not only show that you are serious about taking the role but it should give you some genuine insight. Have you ever shown up on the first day of a new job and thought "This is NOTHING like they described!"? If so you'll know what a truly horrible feeling that is, but if you have worked out some useful questions to ask in the job interview you can get a real idea of what goes on before the job starts.

"Is there room for advancement in the company?" This may seem like a standard boring, question, but you can show that you know your stuff by delving a little deeper-for example, ask them if there is a clear cut path for progression or is it more of a case that you can advance when someone leaves and creates a vacancy? Most people won't go to such detail, so it's a good thing to ask. Also useful to know, because do you really want to work somewhere where you have to wait for a superior to leave before you can move forward? Knowing the right questions to ask in a job interview can fix problems like this.

"How do you like working here?" This is another great question as it can often take an interviewer by surprise, leading them to give you a far greater insight than they would if they had a few standard lines ready prepared.

"Has this position just been created?" If they say that it was an existing role, ask some questions about what the previous person has gone on to do. This will show excellent attention to detail for yourself, and may also give you some indication of what you can expect if you land the job.

Being smart about the questions you ask in a job interview can not only impress the interviewer but it can also help you gain as much useful knowledge as possible when you decide whether or not you want to take the job, so it's very important to know the right questions to ask at a job interview!

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Housekeeping Tips : How to Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies

Homemade cleaning supplies can easily be made with a mixture of vinegar and water, and a small amount of rubbing alcohol can be added for more strength. Mix baking soda and vinegar to make a cleaning paste with help from a professional house cleaner in this free video on cleaning supplies 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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Microwave Bacon - How to - Tips on Cooking Bacon Without Using a Microwave Bacon Cooker

How can I microwave bacon?

Although there are now microwave bacon cookers on the market, there really is no need to open your purse strings and purchase one. Your microwave is already capable of doing the job without much assistance.

Firstly you'll need to grab some kitchen towel and line the rashers of bacon on it - you can probably fit 4-6 pieces onto it at a time. When you're satisfied put another layer of kitchen paper on top and cook on full power.

If you manage to get six rashers on the paper towel this will take roughly 5 minutes to cook depending on the wattage of your microwave oven. I find it best to cook the bacon for two minutes and then in 1 minute intervals thereafter, until you fell satisfied it has cooked properly.

A nice good housekeeping tip to stop the bacon from curling during the cooking process is to lightly score it before commencing.

How can I microwave bacon which has already been cooked?

Have you ever noticed how bacon can go quite brittle and chewy when re-heating it in the microwave? You have? Well the reason for this phenomenon is down to water molecules - which are naturally contained the bacon - evaporating. Therefore in order to stop this from happening you need to fight fire with fire, or even water with water in this occasion.

What you need to do here is get yourself a small plate, put your bacon onto it, add two tablespoons of water, cover with plastic wrapping film and microwave until you're satisfied it is hot enough. Finally, remove from microwave oven place the bacon on a clean plate (when doing so you'll notice the bacon has kept its form) and serve.

This good housekeeping trick with work for sausages too.

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