| Household chores aren't hard, nor are they | | | | over radiators.If there's a delay in hanging |
| particularly boring - nice to have time to | | | | out your washing, take it out of the machine |
| think sometimes! BUT they are time-consuming. | | | | and fold it carefully, smoothing and gently |
| These tried and tested tips will cut your | | | | pulling each item into shape. |
| 'chores time' in half...1. Organize:Start at | | | | |
| the top of the house and clear it up! Then | | | | Now the moment of truth! Only iron what |
| allocate places for absolutely everything. | | | | NEEDS to be ironed. Towels, sheets, jumpers, |
| Install shelves and cupboards in the | | | | underwear and overalls probably don't need |
| bedrooms, and make sure there is enough space | | | | ironing.Smoothing and folding damp washing |
| for each pile of clothes. Before you go on to | | | | eliminates lots of creases, and everything |
| the next room, put a label on the front of | | | | that doesn't get a fibre crushing treatment |
| the shelf in full view of the shorter members | | | | will live a lot longer!5. Designer |
| of the family. Then there will be no 'But I | | | | Leftovers:Try these delicious family dishes |
| don't know where it goes' complaints when you | | | | from leftovers, saving time in the kitchen, |
| ask them to put their stuff away.Work through | | | | oh, and money too. Note: Leftovers should be |
| the house, re-organizing. You don't have to | | | | consumed or discarded within 24 hours.Bake |
| spend loads of money. I was once obliged to | | | | too many jacket potatoes, cool and |
| use 'cupboards' made from cardboard boxes. | | | | refrigerate leftovers overnight. Cooking a |
| They lasted a short time and the kids were | | | | whole tray of potatoes takes no longer than |
| quite happy to put their clothes away in the | | | | cooking one or two. Use your leftover jacket |
| novelty cupboards.Shelves are a must in the | | | | potatoes in different ways:-slice and fry in |
| children's rooms - you'll always be on at | | | | hot olive oil, adding some mixed herbs or |
| them to clear up but at least the little | | | | cumin spice to the oil.-peel, dice and add to |
| darlings may actually do it if they know | | | | an omelette with cheese and ham-peel and make |
| where everything goes!The kitchen has to be | | | | a rough potato salad with a little tinned |
| organized, no question, or you'll waste tons | | | | sweet corn, tuna and chopped onion.Double the |
| of time every day, looking for a wooden | | | | rice quantity, cool, cover and refrigerate |
| spoon, moving dishes to fit plates on shelves | | | | leftovers overnight. Using leftover rice:- |
| etc;2. Health Before Beauty:Wall to wall | | | | make a plain omelette and cut into pieces. |
| carpet harbours germs even the most rigorous | | | | Set aside. Stir fry leftover rice and add a |
| hoovering won't destroy. Throw them all out | | | | little soy sauce for flavour, then gently |
| and go for polished wooden floors. Use rugs | | | | stir in omelette. Serve hot.-mix cold rice |
| on cold spots and shake them outside every | | | | with fresh raw chopped vegetables. Chill for |
| day or two. Sweep wooden floors gently with a | | | | 30 minutes before serving.-Fry in olive or |
| soft broom. Avoid hoovering every day - some | | | | nut oil a finely chopped onion, tomato, green |
| hoovers emit a very fine dust into the air | | | | pepper and a few sliced mushrooms. Add rice |
| through their exhaust. This dust isn't | | | | to pan and stir fry gently, until hot right |
| particularly good for the lungs, better the | | | | through.Cook a bigger chicken than you need |
| dust underfoot!A quick shake of a rug and a | | | | then hide the leftovers in the fridge. Try |
| sweep will take a lot less time than getting | | | | these ideas for the next day's meal..-cut |
| out the hoover, doing the biz, wrapping it | | | | chicken into pieces, cover with a curry sauce |
| all up and putting it away aging. And the | | | | and bake thoroughly in a hot oven.-mix cut-up |
| broom doesn't interfere with the radio!3. Bye | | | | chicken with a finely chopped onion and stir |
| bye bleach:Do you need shades when you look | | | | in a half mayo half natural yoghurt dressing. |
| at your kitchen sink? Chances are the bleach | | | | Add a few walnuts for a special treat. Chill |
| is taking over! Research has proved that | | | | before serving.-Stir fry chicken with a few |
| those of us who live in a sterile environment | | | | vegetables and mix into a bowl of hot |
| have a less efficient immune system than | | | | noodles. Serve with an oriental style |
| those who slum it a bit! Cut the bleaching by | | | | sauce.Always make sure re-heated food is |
| half. And if you sterilise your house for the | | | | piping hot before serving.With a little |
| benefit of guests and their opinions, then be | | | | careful planning in the kitchen, a part of |
| prepared to inform them gracefully that you | | | | tomorrow's dinner will always be taken care |
| are building your family's immune systems - | | | | of today!Plan ahead and organize chores to |
| and saving the earth a little. Be smug.4. 90% | | | | fit in with your timetable and not the other |
| less ironing:Ironing or pressing cloth | | | | way round. If you work from home, take a |
| reduces it's lifespan considerably. You may | | | | break from your computer every hour or so and |
| have an outwardly smooth appearance but | | | | spend 10-20 minutes on the basics; peeling |
| inside the cloth is a tangled mess of | | | | veg for dinner, hanging out washing, a quick |
| flattened fibres.As soon as the washing | | | | tidy up, whatever's next on your list.Linda |
| machine has finished it's final spin, hang | | | | Gray is a freelance writer, and enthusiastic |
| the washload on an outside washing line, | | | | gardener. Cutting back on chores gives her |
| weather permitting. Shake each item before | | | | more time to grow veggies - and to write |
| pegging it out, and pull jeans into shape.Air | | | | about them! Pop in at anytime for pots of |
| the washload by folding carefully and putting | | | | gardening support. |
| in an airing or warming cupboard, or hang | | | | |