Smart Housekeeping

Rupa Chatterjee

Description

A housewife is very often judged by the way she keeps her house.For her it`s like a temple- a key through which she can ensure the highest level of physical and emotional comfort for her family. The book is written by a seasoned housewife who is also a professional interior designer, is one such handy help that deals with the subject in a critical and comprehensive manner. Never before so many tips and suggestions, covering every aspect of the subject, have been put together in a single volume. #v&spublishers

Informations

• Publié par: V & S Publishers
• Date de parution: 15 novembre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 5
• EAN13: 9789350573013
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Published by:

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© Copyright: ISBN 978-935-05730-1-3
DISCLAIMER
While every attempt has been made to provide accurate and timely information in this book, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, unintended omissions or commissions detected therein. The author and publisher make no representation or warranty with respect to the comprehensiveness or completeness of the contents provided.
All matters included have been simplified under professional guidance for general information only without any warranty for applicability on an individual. Any mention of an organization or a website in the book by way of citation or as a source of additional information doesn't imply the endorsement of the content either by the author or the publisher. It is possible that websites cited may have changed or removed between the time of editing and publishing the book.
Results from using the expert opinion in this book will be totally dependent on individual circumstances and factors beyond the control of the author and the publisher.
It makes sense to elicit advice from well informed sources before implementing the ideas given in the book. The reader assumes full responsibility for the consequences arising out from reading this book. For proper guidance, it is advisable to read the book under the watchful eyes of parents/guardian. The purchaser of this book assumes all responsibility for the use of given materials and information. The copyright of the entire content of this book rests with the author/publisher. Any infringement/ transmission of the cover design, text or illustrations, in any form, by any means, by any entity will invite legal action and be responsible for consequences thereon.
Contents
Preface
1. Home Management
—A Necessity
Organising the Household
Types of Houses
What Our Home Says About Us
Time Management
Organising Household Chores
Chores for the Day
Weekly Chores
Monthly Chores
Maintaining the Household Records
2. Cleaning the House and its Security
Self Help
Domestic Help
Types of Cleaning Tools
Maintaining the Walls
Maintaining the Floors
Maintaining Tiles
Cleaning Carpets
Removing Spots from Rugs
Cleaning Curtains/Blinds
Maintaining Upholstery
Polishing Silver
Furniture
Appliances
Cleaning Light Fixtures
Handling Domestic Garbage
Household Hints
Problem of Household Pests
Using Pesticides
Security
Personal Safety and Security Measures
Making Doors and Windows Foolproof
The Use of Manpower
Security Check of Domestic Help
Safety Guidelines
Safeguard Against Purse Snatching
Types of Alarms
Safety Lock
3. Maintaining the House
The Exterior
The Interior
Care for Your Appliances
The Kitchen
The Bathroom
4. How to Wash, Iron and Maintain Clothes
Handwashing
Washing in the Machine
Starching
Types of Materials and Their Requirements
Stain Removal—A Guideline
How to Keep or Store Your Garments
Ironing
Home Crafts
Embroidery Threads
5. The Household Budget
Tracking One’s Money
Living Within the Budget
Organisational Aids
The Value of Making Lists
Simple Hints to Economical Buying
Shopping for Foods
How can the Housewife be Certain that She is Buying the Correct Quality?
How to Select Vegetables
How to Select Fruits
Storing Vegetables and Fruits
Shopping for Electrical Appliances
Save Energy to Better Your Budget
Tips on Energy Conservation
How to Buy a Mattress
How to Buy a Carpet
Setting up and Maintaining Bank Accounts
Procedure for Opening a Bank Account
Types of Cheques
Some Banking Tips
Credit Cards
Safe Deposit Lockers
Nomination
Wills
6. A Guide to Home Decor
Some Tips About Vaastu
What Decoration Achieves!
The Importance of Having a Neat Entrance
The Drawing Room or Living Room
The Dining Room or Dining Area
The Bed Room
The Children’s Room
The Guest Room
The Study
The Utility Room or Store Room
Storage Ideas
7. Etiquette for All Occasions
Marriage Festivities
Paying Condolence
Anniversaries
Correct Telephone Manners
Entertaining Successfully
Arranging a Party
Sending Invitations
Planning the Menu
Table Settings/Crockery
Laying the Table
Buffet Settings
Table Service
Etiquette at the Table
Different Kinds of Parties
Picnics
Proper Social Attitudes
Etiquette for Children
Miscellaneous Hints
20 Things You Must not Do!
8. Health & Nutrition
The Weather and Health
Food, Dieting, Anorexia and Bulimia
Exercise and Good Health
Health Check-Ups
Investigations
Good Health and Water
Constipation
How Yoga Fights Stress
Breathing Correctly
Sleep and Sleeping Disorders
Sleep Well-Hazards to Our Health
Hazards to Our Health from Pollution
Health Effects
Food and Nutrition
Storing Food
How to Buy Medicines Over the Counter
Menu Making for Daily Meals
Menu Making for a Party/Party Cooking
Health Watch
9. First Aid
Work, Emotions and Mental Health
Caring for the Sick
Alternative Therapy
Home Remedies
First Aid
Shock
Asphyxia
Colour Therapy
Food Poisoning
Foods that Will Fight Cancer
Water
10. Making a Home Happy!
Be Happy, Be Positive
Tips on Positive Thinking
Laughter Banishes the Blues
Adjustment is Necessary
Patience is a Virtue
Tidiness is a Must
Anger—A Volatile Emotion
The Power of Love
The Power of Communication
The Theory of ‘Instant’
Curbing Materialistic Values
Don’t Neglect the Children
Doing one’s Duty-Caring for the Aged
How to Make Friends
Home and Family as the Basic Unit of Society
What About the Position of Women?
Be a Good Member of Society
11. Travel and Transfers
Choosing A Destination
Advance Planning and Its Benefts
Travelling by Car
Packing Correctly
Emergency Travel Kit
Arrangements to be Made Before Leaving for a Holiday
Tips About Foreign Travel
What Happens When You’re Jet-lagged?
Coping with Transfers
Packing Materials
Transporting Luggage
12. Personal Grooming
Exercise
Calories
Massage
Good Posture
Skin Care
Facial
Hair
Make-up
Clothes and Jewellery
Know Your Body Type
Fashion and You
Colour Aesthetics and You
Men
Summer Clothes
Chiffon
Jewellery
13. Gardening
The Soil
Planting Trees
Maintenance of Your Lawns
Fruit Garden
Growing Vegetables
Flowers
Chrysanthemum
Different Types of Pots
Manures
Calendar for Monthwise Gardening
14. Home Crafts
Knitting
Macrame
15. Flowers in the Home
Vases
Japanese Flower Arrangement and its Requirements
Utensils
Indoor Plants
What Flowers Say
16. Interpersonal Relationships
Pleasing One’s Spouse
Helpline for Students
For Parents
Handling Teenagers
Handy Tips
Avoid being…
Coping with Mother-in-Law
Handy Tips
Coping with Daughters-in-Law
Handy Tips
Coping with Sons-in-Law
Son-in-law should
Parents-in-law
Bonding with Grandchildren
The Pitfalls of Being Grandparents
Grandchildren—do’s and don’ts
Relations with Neighbours
Preface
M anagement has become a key element of modern life. Whether in office or factories, commercial businesses or the hotel industry, systems have been developed to ensure the smooth and efficient functioning of any organization. Since this is so, why should the home which is the first and primary unit of organization be left behind? There is a need to organize the home front so that we are able to function efficiently when we step outside its doors.
Why should the home, which is the primary and most important unit of society be left outside its purview? If men, women and children are to reach their work place and schools or colleges on time, they need to be properly clothed, fed and rested in order to perform effectively. Since modern life proceeds at an unrelenting pace and time is a precious commodity, there is a need to systematize our activities.
For centuries, the role played by the homemaker—wife, mother and housewife has not been adequately appreciated. This job receives no monetary remuneration, there are no prescribed working hours and often the housewife downplays her role by saying, “I am just a housewife”. This is a sad spillover from the success-driven, money chasing Western norms that are invading our society. In keeping society healthy, happy, well-nourished and balanced, the home manager and home management plays a pivotal role, since she is called upon to be a chef, a financial wizard, an interior decorator, a doctor, a nurse, a psychologist, a wife, mother, daughter-in-law, friend and social worker—all rolled into one!
I strongly believe that the homemaker/ housewife plays an invaluable role. For example, the child or teenager who is given nutritious and lovingly prepared food at home, will not be forced to live on a diet of fast food which leads to obesity and also malnutrition on account of the empty calories present in the food. In fact, Dr. Jyoti Sharma in an article entitled “Straight To His Stomach” published in the September 2000 issue of “Woman’s Era” magazine goes so far as to say, “What ails Western society is lack of cooking skills” as she noticed that in Frankfurt, Germany, …”women do not cook there. They survive on canned food, or they buy fast food.”
There is much more to home management than cooking although this is undoubtedly an important ingredient in building up a happy home. I have tried to touch upo