Archive for the ‘Quality of Life’ Category:
Home cleaning on a budget
A home that is clean and well-maintained is a healthy place for a family to live. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money on fancy cleaners to get the job done. While store shelves are filled with many different types of cleaning supplies, a few basic items are all that’s needed to clean many surfaces in the home.
Basic Cleaning On A Shoestring
These five products will help you deal with many cleaning tasks without breaking the budget:
- Liquid dish detergent. This inexpensive detergent used for handwashing dishes makes a good all-purpose cleaner for many hard surfaces. It removes dirt and cuts grease and when diluted with water, it can be used to clean sinks, bathroom fixtures, countertops, floors and windows.
- Vinegar. White (or cider) vinegar is a mild acid which helps remove hard water deposits. Use it diluted or full strength to loosen crusty hard water build-up and remove hard water spots on sinks, shower doors and windows. Boil a teaspoon of white vinegar in a cup of water to help eliminate unpleasant cooking odors. Or rub a little vinegar on your fingers before and after slicing onions to help remove the odor.
- Baking Soda. Baking soda is a mild alkali and a mild abrasive. Sprinkled dry onto a damp sponge, it makes a good powdered cleanser that doesn’t scratch surfaces. Dilute 2 Tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of water to make a mild cleaning solution which removes odors and stains from plastic containers. Place an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator to remove food odors. After 2 months, replace with a new box and pour the old box down the kitchen drain to keep it smelling fresh, too.
- Ammonia. Liquid ammonia is a powerful household cleaner. It is frequently used for cleaning ovens and soaking items to loosen baked-on grime. When mixed with water, it can be used as a window cleaner that leaves a streak-free shine. Prepare an all-purpose cleaner by mixing 1 Tablespoon ammonia, 1 Tablespoon liquid detergent and 2 cups of water. NOTE: NEVER MIX AMMONIA AND CHLORINE BLEACH– TOXIC FUMES MAY BE PRODUCED. (This also applies to any product containing chlorine bleach, such as commercial cleansers, toilet cleaners and antibacterial sanitizing products.)
- Chlorine Bleach. Bleach is not used as a cleaning product, but as a sanitizer. It will kill bacteria that may remain after surfaces have been washed and rinsed. A little bit is all that’s needed, so mix 1 teaspoon of bleach in 1 quart of water to use in a spray bottle or to apply with a clean cloth. At this dilution, just let the surfaces air dry- no further rising is needed. Resist the temptation to mix the bleach solution stronger– too much bleach leaves a chemical residue on surfaces and may cause damage to clothing or other textiles if accidentally splashed.
Great for Gifts, Too
This is the time of year when a collection of cleaning products could be a great gift! Combine the five basic cleaners in a bucket with a sponge and a pair of rubber gloves and give for a wedding shower or housewarming gift or for the graduate moving into a first apartment. Tuck in a copy of this article for ideas on how to use the products effectively.
Carefully Label All Products
Be sure to carefully label all cleaning or sanitizing mixtures that you prepare. Keep all chemicals, including household cleaners, out of the reach of children. Remember, homemade cleaning products may require a bit more “elbow grease” to be effective, but the result can be a home cleaned to a sparkling shine on a budget.
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Every ten years, the Census Bureau undertakes a count of every person residing in the United States. The census is as old as our country– mandated in Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. constitution.
Census forms arrived by mail in mid-March. I completed my form and sent it in, did you? If you haven’t returned the 10-question survey, please do so right away. Yes, I admit mine sat on the counter for a week, but when I finally opened it, the form was quick and simple to complete.
An accurate count of the local population ensures that our area receives fair representation in government and our fair share of federal resources for services such as health care, education and more.
Return the Census survey or expect a visit
The Census Bureau must get a completed form from every U.S. residence. So if you don’t return the form by mail, a Census employee will visit. (These representatives will identify themselves with a Department of Commerce badge and a letter from the Census Bureau director on official letterhead.)
But don’t wait– $85 million in tax dollars are saved for every 1 percent increase in Census mail response. So, fill out that form and send it in today!
March is Bake and Take Month
Giving a home-baked gift is a great way to show someone you care. And by doing so during Bake and Take Month in March, you might win a prize.
The Kansas Wheat Commission and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers are sponsoring Bake and Take Month in March. They encourage everyone to celebrate by baking a product that is made from wheat or wheat products and taking it to a neighbor, friend or relative. The sponsors suggest attaching a note to each gift indicating who has presented the gift and that it is a part of the Bake and Take Month observance.
In addition, Kansas residents who write in to share their Bake and Take experiences by April 16 will be entered into a drawing for three cash prizes, courtesy of Stafford County Flour Mills. Visit the Kansas Wheat Commission website for more information and an entry brochure.
Bake and Take is an ideal opportunity for individuals to express their gratitude and show special friends that they care. However, organizations can also get involved.
It is an ideal community service project for youth groups such as scouts and 4-H clubs to honor local leaders, club supporters, the elderly or shut-in’s in their communities. Adult clubs and church groups can bake and take as well.
To enter the prize drawing, participants should e-mail kswheat@kswheat.com or write to Kansas Wheat, 217 Southwind Place, Manhattan, KS 66503. Include the following information: name, organization (4-H club, FCE, church group, etc.), phone number, mailing address, and description of the Bake and Take activity (baked goods made, any community service involved, who received the gifts and how many years they have taken part in Bake and Take). Entries must be postmarked by April 16, 2010.
Continue the longstanding Kansas tradition of Bake and Take Month by choosing your favorite baked item to share with someone special this month!
Extension noon hour program on Radon
Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer and the cause of 21,000 deaths per year. In southwest Kansas, we have high concentrations of this natural radioactive gas in our soils.
You are invited to learn more about radon on Tuesday, February 16 at 12:00 noon at the Finney County Extension Office, 501 S. 9th Street on the fairgrounds in Garden City. Carol Ann Crouch, Scott County Exension Agent, will explain what radon is, where it comes from and what to do if you find high levels in your home.
The first five to register for this program will receive a FREE radon home test kit; others can purchase the do-it-yourself kit for $5.00.
Bring your lunch if desired; coffee, tea and dessert will be provided. To register, call the Finney County Extension Office at 620-272-3670.
Be Prepared for Winter Travel
After delaying our Christmas Eve trip to Salina for a day due to snowy weather, we were surprised to drive into blizzard conditions when we headed east on Christmas Day. We had done everything right– listened to the weather forecast, checked road conditions online, checked with family at our destination– and despite our preparations for what looked like a routine trip, we left sunny skies in Garden City and drove into blowing snow at Great Bend for the remainder of our trip.
Our experience is a perfect example of the uncertain weather and travel conditions on the Great Plains this time of year. Don’t leave home without being prepared for winter weather emergencies!
Winter Car Safety Kit
Make sure your car is well-stocked before winter trips. Pack these items:
- Blanket or sleeping bag (more than one if multiple passengers)
- Gloves
- Ice scraper
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Small shovel
- Bag of sand or salt
- Tow rope
- Jumper cables
- Bright signal flag or cloth
- Cell phone and car charger
- Empty tin can with a small candle (for temporary light and heat); don’t forget the matches, too!
- Non-perishable snacks for all passengers
- Fresh water for all passengers
Has anybody had the unlucky experience of being stranded in a winter storm? Leave a comment to tell about your experience and the items you had (or wish you’d had) to help survive the ordeal. Let’s learn from each other!