Keeping an Organized Toolbox

Keeping a tool box at home can just be a life saver. You will never know when you will need an item in that tool box for something you need to get fixed or installed. While most households have their respective tool boxes, some have a hard time keeping them organized. All the tools inside or whatever machine or abrasives should be placed back as soon as you are done using them.

Household Tip: Benefits of Security Cameras at home

As much as we want to be there for our kids 24/7, we will have to leave them with a nanny when we go to work. There are a few things that some people learn the hard way. As we risk having to leave our kids to nannies, no matter how confident we are about them, we really cannot be very sure at all.

This is why households have installed security cameras to protect their children from getting victimized. This is especially true for babies and kids who are not able to talk and let their parents know what happens when they are away from the house. This also allows for household owners to evaluate helpers around the house of the quality of their work. Some use spy gear for this purpose. Because truth to tell, even if the nannies or house help many not be abusive towards the children, it can also be that they are negligent in doing their jobs when their bosses are not around.

Now the question here is should you let your househelp or nanny know that there are hidden cameras installed in your house for the nanny to behave or just leave it as a secret surveillance camera, so you will know how they really are when you are not around. Some prefer the former, some the latter. It really is your prerogative.

Household Tips: A Low Cost Home Makeover

How do you prettify a home without having to replace every single furniture and fixture? Here is good news to those who cannot afford an expensive makeover. You can actually change the theme of your home by shifting your furnishings around and even incorporate chair slipcover to set the theme environment. You will be amazed at how little you need to spend on such a “makeover.”

Fabric Care Tips: Ariel Experts vs. 100 Challenge

One of the things that we do on a regular basis around the house but often take for granted is the laundry. We are guilty of using just about any detergent to get the job done. How important is it to use the right detergent for our fabrics?

This was emphasized during the Ariel Experts vs. 100 Challenge held last Wednesday at Teatrino, Promenade in Greenhills. As soon we got in to register, we were asked to spot which one of the two models was wearing a new shirt. It was really so hard to tell that even as I have been the sole person taking care of our laundry in the last nine years, I answered wrong.

Expert #1 President of Metropole Laundry and Dry Cleaners, Inc.

Expert #2 Patrick Tan, Senior Store Operations Manager of Bench.

“With Ariel, our focus has always been to provide the latest detergent technology to moms to give them the perfect clean that they’ve always wanted,” said Ariel Country Marketing Manager, Danish Rahman.

“Ariel actually has a unique oxybleach system that consists of a bleach activator which decolorizes and removes the stain in the wash, plus photo-bleach, which is activated by sunlight during drying to provide additional bleaching effects and even enzymes that care for your clothes as it prevents ‘himulmol’. Through this advanced technology that removes stains really well, Ariel is able to keep your clothes looking like new.”

What got me really interested as the event came to a close was Ariel’s newest product that Danish Rahman mentioned. A stain remover that you just dab on the stained part, throw the stained piece of clothing in the washer and stain is to come off. I won’t have to do a second stain removing effort after the washing. Sweet!

As for Ariel’s over all performance, I can personally vouch that it is good. I started using it in 2004. It is not the cheapest brand, true. But the thing about it is, I only need a few scoops every 7kg load of laundry (that’s the total capacity of my automatic washer). Ariel certainly does its job and I really end up happy with how fresh and "himulmol" free our newly washed clothes turn out.

House cleaning tips: Once a week general cleaning

Housekeeping does not necessarily have to be time consuming. The best way to manage household chores is set a day in the week when you will do the general cleaning. Bathrooms and toilets especially need special attention every so often. Dusting of modern furniture and sweeping can also be done once a week. But dishwashing should always be done every day. Leaving them unwashed in your sink will attract bugs and bacteria.

Tips for Homeowner on a budget

A homeowner always wants the best look for his place. But the thing about keeping ones own place is the budget. After having acquired either by cash or still on mortgage, the house must have cost a great deal and a homeowner is not always in financial liberty to splurge on things to get the house accessorized.

If you are on a budget but would love to make your house appealing, there are options that you can look at? Like for instance, you would love to have wood flooring for your house but cannot yet afford it. You might want to look into using pergo accolade instead. This will practically give your house a makeover, at the very least.

Household Tips: Reasons for Choosing Dream Home Linens

Dream Home is the exclusive brand of Canadian Manufacturing for SM Hypermarket’s wise and practical buyers that want to get more than their money’s worth. Adhering to the market’s call for quality, Dream Home has all the features that any buyer/customer should look for in a good quality linen:

a) Processed with anti-pilling: We often think that pilling (or himulmul in Filipino) comes with age of a fiber and cannot be prevented. Dream Home made an extra effort by making their sheets undergo an additional process of anti-pilling so their linens won’t pill with proper care and washing.

b) Cotton Rich: Did you know that cotton shrinks over time that’s why you might encounter fitted sheets that won’t fit your bed over a period of time. Dream Home has a solution to that by blending the right amount of cotton with another compound thus reducing the shrinkage considerably.

c) Easy Care: With the right blend of cotton, Dream Home bedsheets are low maintenance. Easy to wash, dry and has less creasings.

d) Fully Garterized: The top and bottom of Dream Home fitted sheets are fully garterized for a snug fit.

e)Trendy and Stylish Designs: The designs are not done overnight. They are carefully studied and researched based on the current year’s color and fashion forecast.

f) Dream Home bedsheets are free from carcinogenic and environmental hazardous substances such as azo dyes and lead. It has the OEKOTEX label, a trusted benchmark for quality and safety.

So when you’re out looking shopping for bedsheets, always look for quality --- look for Dream Home, a brand that will give you more than your money’s worth.

Here are personal favorites from the Dream Home Collection:

Paulina

A combination of red, white, black and grey --- Paulina befits that of a modern linen. If you choose this design you’re bold, sophisticated and hard working.

Mimi

Subtle shades of pink and yellow Mimi is for the sweet, playful and intellectual.

Giselle

Vibrant shades of blue, green, pink and orange – a design for the sweet, jolly, sociable, bold and outgoing.

Miranda

Shades of red, yellow and blue against brown background. A design of stability, boldness, loyalty and intellect.

Dream Home Take Me Home

Dream Home Take Me Home is an ongoing raffle promotion in all SM Hypermarket branches from August 1-31, 2010. They’re giving away a bedroom showcase which comprises of a 32” Sany LCD TV with TV Rack, Wardrobe Cabinet, Side Tables, Queen Size Casie Bed, Uratex Perfect Serenity Mattress and Dream Home’s Jr. Bed in a Bag. Joining is easy --- for every purchase of Dream Home products get a raffle ticket. Draw date will be on September 10, 5:00 pm at the Community Area of SM Hypermarket-Sucat branch.

Handy Tip and Hints on the Downy Passion Challenge

When this nifty package from Downy arrived at my doorstep yesterday, I had no idea that I was in for a very exciting challenge that got my nose buried on two hand towels for most of the day - The Downy Passion Challenge.

Inside this lovely basket are two labeled hand towels: Towel 1 and Towel 2.

Challenge 1: Perfume or Fabcon Challenge

How sensitive is your nose? Can you tell the difference between perfume and new Passion by Downy? Take the Downy “Perfume or Fabcon” Challenge and find out!

1. One of these towels has been sprinkled with perfume; the other has been

washed with new Passion by Downy. Can you guess which is which?

My Answer: Towel 1 is the one washed with the new Passion by Downy and Towel 2 is the one sprinkled with real perfume.

Challenge 2: Guess the Perfume oils Challenge

How sensitive is your nose? Can you guess what other perfume notes were used in Passion by Downy? Choose from one of the perfume notes below and post your guess on your site. Aside from Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang and soft musk, Passion by Downy also contains…

a. Cinnamon
b. Rose
c. Lavender

My Answer: Lavender.

Of the two challenges, Challenge 2 really got me second guessing my self-professed expertise on scents. Obviously my having a decent collection of perfumes was not much of an advantage. But here's still hoping that I have my chance of grabbing a hold of one year’s supply of Downy Passion and Attraction. If there is one fabric conditioner I can in all honesty vouch for, that would be hands down, Downy. :-)

Household Tip: Keep clothes smelling good all day with Downy Perfume Series

After having tested a handful of other different fabric conditioners in the market, I have in all honesty settled to using Downy, particularly the Anti-Bac variant. But soon I'm hoping to try yet another promising variant, Downy Perfume Series.

From one of the world’s best perfumers comes a new line of Downy fabric conditioner that gives women the chance to enjoy the luxurious scent of perfume everyday – Downy’s Perfume series, Passion and Attraction by Downy,

The trained noses of Procter & Gamble (P&G) traveled to Grasse, France, the perfume capital of the world, to create two exciting new scents for Filipinas to enjoy. Passion by Downy excite the senses with a floral blend and a hint of the Oriental, with Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang and soft musk notes. Meanwhile, Attraction by Downy delights the senses with the fruity, sweet fragrance of apple blossom, freesia and vanilla. Meanwhile,

Downy’s Perfume Series also has an advanced, touch-activated Perfume Microcapsule (PMC) Technology. The blend of perfume oils are placed in microcapsules within the Downy formula. When rubbed or touched, these capsules slowly release more fragrance into the air – so you get fresh bursts of fragrance with every embrace, all day!

Inspired by French perfumery and crafted with new technology from P&G. Passion and Attraction by Downy allows you to indulge in the scent of perfume everyday. Available now in supermarkets nationwide.

Maintenance of outdoor furniture

If you happen to have a patio at your home, then you will know how relaxing it is to just have that spot to spend time in, whether by your lonesome or bonding time with your family. This is why it is important to take care of the furnishings therein, outdoor cushions are more susceptible to wear and tear because of its direct exposure to heat and dirt. Make sure to do regular maintenance to prolong the life of your outdoor furniture.

Safety Tips: Spotlights outside the house

Do you live in a less than safe neighborhood? What are the safety measures that you have done in your household? While transferring to another house might be the best thing to do, it is not always an easy option when other factors are to be considered. Getting hold of emergency number beside your household phone or even installing spotlights outside your house could be a good form of reinforcement.

Tips on how to make your mattress last

mattresses should be turned over on a regular basis to balance the wear and tear of the whole unit. Ideally, it should be turned over the second week of use and then every couple of months thereafter. This, of course, not counting mattresses that are specially designed like some memory foam beds. Some memory foam beds are made with a special layer on top of the mattress. So what should be done to beds like such is to not turn it over. Rather to turn it in such a way that the headside will be on the footside. This will allow the fibers of the mattress to breathe and will actually make the beds last longer.

Quality issue

Very often we have to settle for less before we ever learn that we should always look for quality in the products and services that we choose. Take household maintenance, for instance. While it is a given that things will have to deteriorate one time or another, we should still always look for the more durable choice. Replacing things in the house every so often will not just break your budget but will also consume time. This issue pertains to anything in general, from the clothes that we wear to the fixtures, like Moen faucets that we use.

Furniture Care Tip: Importance of taking care of your furniture

Outdoor furniture needs the same amount of care as indoor ones do. The kind of care might vary though, depending on the kind of material your furniture is made of. Furniture is an investment that we have to take care of. If we want them to last for a long time, that is.

Always ask tips from the store where you buy furniture. Regardless if it’s indoor or outdoor cushions, furniture skeleton or what not. The makers of the furniture knows how best to take care of their creations and we should make sure to take note of their instruction.

Finance Tip: Benefits of Making a Checklist

Making a checklist is important for a household. It keeps everything in order and organized. Why does organization be such big a deal? It teaches not just the head of the family to keep track of things. But also for the kids to be able to pick up valuable characteristics that the parents may or may not be consciously passing along, which will benefit them in the long run. This can then be considered as life skills.

From keeping track of the bills to be paid on a monthly basis to the annual fees and premiums of different obligations, even filing of insurance quotes that can be considered for the following year. All these if given their proper places, neatly filed, will prove to be a beneficial habit that will keep things in order.