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Today we have some simple tips to make your washing a #tril?

https://www.today.com/food/how-keep-food-fresh-fridge-storing-it-right-place-t89496

Each of the following compartments  in the fridge (door, upper shelves, bottom shelf, meat drawer and crisper drawer) are designated to specific groceries/food so that freshness can be maximized. To get detailed information watch the video by clicking the link above.

I think the least favorite part about doing laundry is packing our clothes away. This video shows us how to pack our clothes away efficiently.

Before ‘getting rid’ of any of the following items listed below, you are encouraged to do research within your country. It is important to dispose of household items in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

Cleaning Supplies

Most household cleaning supplies contain harsh ingredients that shouldn’t just be tossed in the garbage. Check the back of each bottle to see if there are disposal instructions. Many liquid, gel or powder cleaners can be disposed of in the same way that the product is used, such as down the drain. Plastic bottles and aerosol cans can often be recycled when empty. Products with hazardous chemicals like oven cleaners should be taken to a waste disposal location.

Appliances

Fridges, freezers, window Ac units and dehumidifiers may contain toxics such as mercury, so sending to the landfill is not a good idea. If they are in good condition you can resell to a business/individual or donate to a group (school, charity).

Batteries

We’ve all been there – the dead remote, weak flashlights, beeping smoke alarms; we get frustrated and quickly toss the used batteries. While completely depleted alkaline batteries like these don’t usually contain enough hazardous material to do much harm, throwing them away in bulk can have an effect on the surrounding environment.

The more acidic batteries that you need to be wary of are car batteries, lithium and lithium ion batteries, rechargeable batteries, and zinc air batteries. The materials used in these are extremely toxic and should be brought to a proper hazardous waste disposal facility.

Paints

Oil based paints, paint strippers or removers, varnishes, stains, and coatings are highly flammable and use chemicals that are considered hazardous. You can check with the supplier for information on how to dispose. If you are using latex, or water-based paints, you can actually dry these out – away from children and pets – and dispose of them regularly with your normal trash.

Being mindful of what constitute as hazardous materials in your home is the most important step in preventing undue contamination.

1. Hide treats, stickers, or pennies in, on, or under knickknacks, then ask your child to dust. She gets to enjoy the rewards only when everything is dusted.
2. Post individual lists of chores kids can do (one for each child in your family). Whenever your child accomplishes a task, have her mark it with a sticker. Whoever has the most stickers at the end of the week gets the Helper of the Week award.
3. Play "Go Fish" with a basket of clean socks. Divide the socks among the players, leaving a pile to draw from. Each player, in turn, holds up a sock and asks another player if he has the mate. If not, the asking player must take a sock from the top of the draw pile. When finished, the player with the most pairs wins.
4. Turn any socks that stay single into child-friendly dust mitts. Insert child's hand into clean but dampened sock and use it to remove dust from houseplants and furniture.
5. Have a scavenger hunt. Make a list of everyday items (newspapers, magazine, shoes, etc.). Set a timer for 5 minutes, then have kids collect stray items throughout the house. The winner is the child who picks up the most (and returns them to their rightful spots).
6. After dinner, do a "10-minute Tidy." Set a timer and have family members scatter through the house putting away the day's clutter.
7. Appoint someone to be Inspector D. Clutter. Armed with a laundry basket and plastic police badge from the dress-up box, this person roams the house and puts stray belongings into clutter "jail" (the basket). To set an item free, its owner (Mom and Dad included!) must do a chore.
8. Turn a bucket into a personalized cleaning caddy. Use permanent marker to write your child's name on it and have him decorate it with other drawings. Store supplies such as sponge, dust rag and roll of paper towels, etc.

1. Always measure when baking. Baking is a science and any wrong measurements can be disastrous.
2. Invest in a baking scale. Scales are not only an accurate way to measure your cooking ingredients, but they streamline the entire process.
3. Always read and re-read your recipes before you start cooking.
4. Anchor your cutting board to the counter with a damp paper towel to keep things steady and safe.
5. Test oil in a pan before adding all of your ingredients. Throw a small piece in and make sure it sizzles before adding the rest.
6. When sautéing, it is important to first heat the pan, then heat the oil, then add the ingredients.
7. Never overcrowd your skillet with food. The heat will not distribute evenly.
8. If you need to grate soft cheeses, freeze the cheese for 30 minutes for a cleaner slice
9. Know your cooking methods.
10. Keep your spices away from sources of heat like the stove or lights. Herbs and spices can lose their flavor when exposed to humidity and heat.
11. To prevent sogginess, do not dress salads for large parties. Serve, then allow guests to add their own dressing.
12. Homemade meals are good for the heart and soul. Cook often and cook with others.
13. Remove seeds from chilies to help reduce heat.
14. Always marinate foods in a glass or ceramic dish. Most marinades contain an acidic ingredient such as lemon juice, vinegar or wine that can react with metal and cause off-flavors in your food.
15. Bring meats out of the fridge early. And don’t cook wet meat or fish. Try not to put meat on the grill or pan straight from the fridge. Try bringing it to room temperature first. This technique is based on the theory that the outside part will overcook by the time the internal temperature rises.
    It’s good to remember to take the meat out early to give it some time to warm up a bit before cooking. Another useful tip is to blot it with a paper towel first. If the meat has moisture on the surface, it doesn’t brown as well, and might end up being boiled rather than beautifully seared
16. Clean as you go!

Paper towels are most commonly used for wiping up spills, but did you know there are many more uses for the good old paper towel? Here are some additional uses for paper towel around the home: 

CLEANING CARPET 

The key is not to rub the carpet this will damage the carpet pile and can spread the stain further. Blot the paper towel to absorb liquids.

STICKY DROPS 

Drips may come from honey and golden syrup bottles, which can result in a sticky mess on the pantry shelf.  To make cleaning easier, I put a folded sheet of paper towel under these sticky bottles to prevent any mess from getting on the kitchen bench after use and on the pantry shelf. 

Or

OIL DRIPS 

A simple way to prevent oil dripping down the side of the bottle is to wrap the paper towel around it (I use two sheets folded), then secure with a rubber band. 

SOAK UP EXCESS OIL 

After you have finished cooking meats in the frying pan, place them onto a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.

CLEAN GUNK AROUND TAPS 

The base of sink taps can get a buildup of dirt and gunk. If cleaned regularly you can wipe away the dirt with a paper towel and all-purpose cleaner. But if not cleaned often it may be a little harder to remove. Dip a paper towel into a solution of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water and wrap the towel around the base of the tap and sit to soak for 30 minutes then wipe away.  If the stain persists, try using gumption and elbow grease. 

ABSORB MEAT LIQUIDS 

Often when a recipe says to brown the meat a common mistake is overcrowding the pan or putting the meat into a cold pan. This then causes the meat to water out and lose its juices, so rather than browning your meat you’re now stewing it.  Avoid this by simply heating your pan until it is hot before adding your meat and browning larger portions in batches.  However, if you do have a pan full of juices, place some paper towel into the pan (using tongs, so you don’t burn your fingers) to absorb the excess liquid.

KEEP LETTUCE FRESHER LONGER 

Lettuce doesn’t last quite as long as you would like.  However, you can extend its freshness and prevent it from browning for a few more days by wrapping unwashed leaves in a paper towel. This will absorb excess moisture and prevent the lettuce from spoiling quickly.

MICROWAVE BACON 

Lay slices of bacon on a plate lined with a paper towel, cover with another sheet of paper towel.  Cook in the microwave oven on high for 3 – 4 minutes, however, check on it at each minute to ensure it doesn’t overcook. The paper towel soaks up the liquids and your microwave is free from grease splatters.

LINE THE FRIDGE FRUIT DRAWER 

To make your crisper easier to keep clean, place a paper towel in your fruit drawer to capture the mess (pictured below). The towel will also absorb moisture from fruits and vegetables which will help keep them fresher for a little longer.

CATCH THE WATER OFF WASHED FRUIT 

When  in a rush and don’t have time to dry off the fruit after washing, put a paper towel at the bottom of the container to catch the water dripping off, rather than the fruit laying in it and spoiling quicker.  Remove the paper towel the next day.

Cookware is one of the most important things you’ll buy for your kitchen, but even professionals can get confused with the hundreds of choices of materials and types of pans out there. Restaurant owners think carefully about the equipment they purchase, and pots and pans are no exception.

While there are a lot of options for home chefs, knowing the pros and cons of the most popular choices and which type of cooking they are best for, is important in deciding what to buy for your kitchen.

Cast Iron

Cast iron is a popular type of cookware for many chefs, both professional and amateur. It’s got a lot of benefits, but there are a few things you need to consider.

Pros:

Cast iron is prized for a number of reasons, starting with the fact that it’s got a natural, nonstick surface if you take care of it properly. It’s also extremely durable, and will last a lifetime. In fact, many people who own cast iron skillets will tell you that they’ve been in the family for generations; it really does last forever.

Perhaps the biggest reason to use cast iron is that it heats evenly, and will brown meat and fish like virtually nothing else. You end up with a perfectly golden browned crust on your food, and it doesn’t stick. It’s ideal for cooking meat, vegetables, eggs, burgers and more.

Cons:

With all the pros of using cast iron, it doesn’t come without a few negatives. For starters, the durability of cast iron makes it extremely heavy. This can make it difficult for some people to use. Draining a cast iron pot can be quite the task, even for the strongest chefs.

It also requires special care. Although not difficult to care for, it does require maintenance to keep it working properly. Cast iron must be “seasoned” on a regular basis, or coated with a thin layer of oil and heated for an hour or so. This is what makes it such a slick non-stick surface. You can’t put cast iron in the dishwasher, and you should avoid using soap or abrasive cleaners on it. Properly taken care of, cast iron will rarely need anything more than to be wiped down with a paper towel.

One more word of caution about cast iron: Raw cast iron (a typical black skillet) shouldn’t be used to cook acidic foods. Citrus juices, tomatoes, or vinegar can break down the seasoning of your pan, which can take time to build up again.

Bottom line: If you’re willing to learn to care for it, and don’t mind the weight, cast iron can be an amazing tool for cooking flavorful foods.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is one of the most popular types of cookware, and for good reason, but not all stainless steel pans are created equal. Let’s go over the pros and cons of this cookware.

Pros:

Stainless steel retains heat fairly well, but not as well as some other materials. For this reason, most stainless steel cookware has a copper core, which helps it heat food evenly. Good stainless steel cookware is heavy and durable, and can last years if taken care of properly. It’s also budget friendly; you can buy everything from a cheap set at your local discount retailer to expensive high end cookware in your favorite gourmet kitchen shop.

It’s easy to clean, and in most cases can be put in the dishwasher, although you should check with the manufacturer of the specific pieces you own. It can go from stove to oven as long as you it’s all stainless steel (pieces with plastic or rubber handles may not be oven safe.)

Cons:

If you’re looking for a versatile set of cookware that will be useful in most types of cooking, stainless steel is the way to go. The only real cons come from the type that you use.

If you buy cheap pots and pans made of lightweight material, you will likely have trouble retaining heat, and the metal may warp or pit over time. Handles made of plastic mean you can’t put your pan in the oven if necessary, which can be a pain if you do a lot of stove to oven cooking.

Bottom line: You don’t need to buy the most expensive set of stainless steel pots and pans on the market, unless you are an experienced chef looking to get the most out your cookware. The cheapest products won’t do you any good, and will likely need to be replaced. There are plenty of high quality mid priced sets that will serve the average cook well.

Copper

Copper is one of the best conductors of heat available, but it’s not as widely used today as it once was. This is mostly due to the availability and durability of other materials.

Pros:

In addition to being strikingly beautiful, copper cookware offers some of the best heat retention you’ll find in pots and pans. This means even cooking for all types of foods.

That’s about it for the pros of copper, and unfortunately, there are quite a few cons.

Cons:

It’s expensive. Unlike stainless steel, which is readily available at all price points, you’ll only likely find copper in high end cookware stores, and you’ll pay several hundred dollars for a single small pot or pan.

It’s also reactive, which like cast iron, means that you can’t cook everything in it. Acidic foods may have a metallic taste, and the compounds in the copper may even discolor some foods. It’s not necessarily dangerous, but it’s visually unappealing.

Copper also requires regular maintenance and polishing with copper cleaner to maintain that beautiful look. You definitely don’t want to put it in the dishwasher, and depending on what you cook in it, cleaning can be a drag.

Bottom line: Unless you are a professional with the knowledge and desire to care for copper pots (and the money to invest in a set), stick to stainless steel with a copper core. While not as pretty, it’s a much better option for the average cook.

Non-Stick

If you’re new to cooking, you may think that non-stick cookware is the way to go; after all, why would you want your food to stick if it doesn’t have to? Unfortunately, there’s more to this popular cookware than meets the eye.

Pros:

If you cook a lot of foods that tend to stick like eggs or fish, non-stick cookware can be your friend, especially if you are inexperienced in the kitchen. Most non-stick cookware is easy to handle, and fairly inexpensive, which makes it a good choice for new cooks that don’t know exactly what they want.

Cons:

The cons of non-stick cookware should not be taken lightly. For starters, the Teflon coating that is used to keep foods from sticking to these pans has been shown to be toxic. They’re still deemed safe to use by the FDA, but the more you use these pans, the more of this toxic material you are ingesting. If you use metal utensils, or regularly heat your pans to high temperatures, you’re ingesting even more of these fumes or materials.

Another reason not to use them is that they simply aren’t the best when it comes to actual cooking. Most won’t heat evenly, and if you like a browned crust on your fish or meat, you will have a difficult time achieving that in a non-stick skillet.

And, finally, non-stick pans don’t last long if used regularly, no matter how careful you are when using them, which means you’re looking to replace them fairly often.

Bottom line: Even if you eat a lot of foods that tend to stick, non-stick cookware isn’t the best option. A better choice would be to learn cooking techniques that make using other types of cookware easy to use. Cast iron is a much better non-stick option.

Conclusion

Choosing cookware can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you are new to cooking or have been cooking for years, the right cookware can definitely make the job easier. Before shopping, figure out your budget, as well as what types of foods you’ll be cooking. You’ll likely find that a decent set of stainless steel pots and pans, with maybe a cast iron skillet or two will be more than enough to meet your needs.

Plan out a weekly menu
Making a meal plan BEFORE shopping is key, so you know what you need to pick up to complete any recipes and meals.  

Keep a list on your fridge and write things down immediately
When you run out of something, don’t leave it to your memory. Jot it down immediately, and you’ll never have to run back to the store because you don’t have eggs. 

Always go with a list
It is easy to think you’ll remember every item you need once you’re browsing the store, but in the hustle and bustle of shopping there’s bound to be something you forget. Before you leave home, take stock of your pantry items and make sure you’ve got things like olive oil, pasta and other staples you might not buy weekly. Plus, making a list beforehand lets you move more efficiently through the store. Pro tip: If you organize your list by product type, it’s a breeze to pick everything up as you work through the aisles.  

Prepare your grocery list by aisle
If you regularly shop at the same stores, organize your list so that you can easily find and check off items as you walk down the aisle. So you’re not constantly running back and forth in the store. 

Cut back on your “one-item” trips
They waste gas, and almost inevitably, you buy more than that one item. If you plan ahead, make a weekly menu, and shop with a list, this should drastically reduce the number of trips you make for a small number of items. But if you still find yourself running out for a few items, analyze the reason — are you not making a good list, are you forgetting some items from your list? Stock up on the things you frequently go out for. 

Don’t go when you’re hungry
On top of making it hard to concentrate, being hungry while grocery shopping can potentially cause an increase in your spending. Past research has proved that shopping for food on an empty stomach is a pricey risk. Hungry shoppers have the potential to buy items they don’t need or to fill their cart with unhealthy snacks. Instead, shop after meals. 

Always Grab Meat and Dairy Items Last
When you plan a longer shopping trip, you need to consider what items could lose their cool. On lengthy shopping trips, begin in the produce section and end in the dairy or meat aisles, as those products can spoil if left in a non-chilled environment for too long. 

Understand best by, sell by and use by dates
Understanding these dates will help you get the most life out of your groceries. 

• Best By dates are recommendations only and have nothing to do with safety: they indicate that the taste or texture of an item may change but they're still safe to eat. 
• Sell By dates indicate how long a store is willing to display an item on their shelves. It's not a safety indicator, as the product is probably still good for a few days (or weeks) after you bring it home. 
• Use By is the only safety designation and it indicates that the product is not safe to use after the date listed. 

Check the date
Avoid the risk of eating unsafe perishable foods, especially chilled or frozen items. A ‘use-by’ date shows the date by which a product should be consumed, while a ‘best before’ date indicates the date until which the food will remain at its best quality.  

Look for specials
Every store has specials. Be sure to look for them in the newspaper, or when you get to the store (they often have unadvertised specials — look on the higher and lower shelves for deals). Don’t buy them unless they’re things you always use. 

Knowing how to set a casual table will come in handy when you’re tasked with knowing how to set an informal table for a get-together or a laid-back dinner party. Essentially, the basic table setting, posted on April 13 2019, and the casual table setting are nearly identical, but in a casual table setting, there is the addition of a soup bowl and a dinner plate. As a general rule, only set out the glassware, tableware, and flatware that you’re going to use. If you’re not having a salad course, all you need to set is a dinner fork. If you’re only serving white wine, a red wine glass is not needed. And if there's no soup course, skip the soup bowl and spoon.

Chargers are generally reserved for more formal place settings, but RealSimple home editor Stephanie Sisco says you can still use a charger in a casual table setting if you wish—just make sure it’s fashioned in a more laid-back style, like raw wood.

Casual Table Setting Instructions

1. Lay the placemat on the table.
2. Put the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat.
3. Place the salad plate on top of the dinner plate.
4. If you’re starting with a soup course, place the soup bowl on top of the salad plate.
5. Lay a napkin to the left of the charger.
6. To the left of the plate, place the fork on the napkin.
7. On the right of the plate, place the knife closest to the plate and then the spoon.
8. Directly above the knife, place the water glass.
9. To the right and slightly above the water glass, place the wine glass or a glass for another beverage.

Casual Table Setting Etiquette Tips

If using individual salt and pepper shakers for each guest, place them at the top of the placemat. Otherwise, place them near the center of the table, or, if using a long, rectangular table, place them in the middle of each end.

Everyone has their own unique laundry routine based on their physical space (both closet and drawer space as well as access to laundry machines), their needs, their time and their opinion of what ‘clean clothes’ means. Whatever your laundry routine consists of, the important thing is that we each have a routine, so that laundry actually gets done. If you can’t quite ace your laundry situation, below has five (5) laundry practices, hopefully, you can take away some tips on how you can tweak your own laundry routine!

1. Sort as you go

Instead of wasting time sorting clothes into loads on laundry day, sort as you go with multiple hampers. This will take away that extra step on laundry day. It also allows you to customize your loads of laundry how ever you prefer.

If you like to wash each family member’s laundry separately, set your hampers up and label them with each person’s name. If you prefer to wash loads by color or texture, label each hamper that way. On laundry day, take each hamper one at a time to the laundry room and simply transfer all the clothes from the hamper to the washer. No sorting necessary!

2. Stain treat as you go

Just like sorting laundry, stain treatment on laundry day can take a ton of time (especially if you have messy kiddos). The time and energy it takes to look at each piece of clothing from the hamper, one-by-one. Then, treating all the stains BEFORE you can start the washer is a pain.

Instead, treat them as you go by keeping some of your favorite stain treatment near the hamper. Examining one outfit before it goes into the hamper is much more manageable

3. Use zippered mesh bags

Most people refer to them as delicate wash bags or lingerie bags. They are available in a wide variety of sizes and a range or “porousness” (space between the holes in the mesh. It’s a good idea to have a few different options on hand to accommodate all of your clothing items. You can use thicker mesh (smaller holes) for delicate items such as sweaters, blouses or item with lace, special bags with a bit of structure for bras or large, thin bags for other items.

How does this help move things along? You can separate items that need to be air-dried into their own zippered bag, so you don’t have to waste time fishing them out between the washer and the dryer. Additionally, you can eliminate time spent hand washing certain items or separating them into an additional “delicate” cycle load simply by washing them right along with a normal load of clothes. The mesh bag, particularly the thicker ones will protect *most* items from everything else and cushion them during the spin, similar to the gentle cycle.

To make this work best, buy zippered mesh bags with a “hidden” zipper that stays shut firmly during the wash cycle. You can opt to put multiple items inside one mesh bag. Just be sure not to overfill so that soap and water can move freely into the bag and reach each garment entirely.

4. Separate into fewer loads

Mesh bags can also help you cut down on the number of loads you wash. Fewer loads = less time and hassle, plus, studies show that a full load is cleaned more effectively and efficiently than a load with just a few items. Just be sure you don’t overstuff the washer or dryer. A good rule of thumb is to fill the machine until it’s ¾ full so that the items can get equal attention from you detergent and rinse thoroughly.

One way you can use mesh bags on your regular, wash & fold items is by separating each family member’s items into a zippered bag and washing them together. When it’s time to fold, you’ll have the items that go to each person’s room already separated! You can also solve the age-old “sock monster” mystery by putting all the socks in a bag together.

5. Make a schedule

There’s something about a routine that makes even the most mundane tasks go faster. It’s likely the mental preparation we all do subconsciously when following a scheduled pattern, combined with the autopilot that’s engaged once we start a routine.

There’s probably more psychology to it than that, but the fact of the matter is, a routine laundry schedule is way easier and less stressful than having no routine and figuring out you need to do laundry when you’re about to leave for some outing and your favorite pair of pants is balled up in the bottom of the hamper. Figure out how long it takes to fill your hamper and then you’ll know how often you need to do laundry. Then, decide what day or days are most convenient and stick to the schedule. Get in into your calendar or day planner so you can plan for it!

Few of us enjoy doing chores, but for a household to run smoothly these tedious and time-consuming tasks must get done. It’s a given that the adults will do their part around the house, but when it comes to assigning housework to children, there’s some debate.

Many parents want to preserve childhood for as long as possible, letting the “kids be kids” and enjoy plenty of playtime while they’re still young. Others may see children as less capable, preferring to finish the housework as quickly and efficiently as possible. These arguments make sense, but they also overlook the many positive benefits of giving kids chores.

Consider these seven reasons why children should help out around the house:

1. Chores help teach life skills
   They’re young now, but they won’t be kids forever! Laundry, cooking and budgeting are just some of the skills your kids will need once they finally move out. These are also things that schools do not fully teach, making learning them at home even more important.
2. Chores help kids learn responsibility and self-reliance
   Assigning children regular chores helps teach them responsibility. Tasks that personally affect your kids, such as cleaning their room or doing their own laundry, can help them become more self-reliant at the same time. Your kids or grandkids may also take pride in being considered mature enough to take care of themselves.
3. Chores help teach teamwork
   Being a productive member of a team can be modelled for children through housework. Members of your family “team” are accountable to each other, and there are consequences when you don’t meet each other’s expectations. Learning these lessons at home, where mistakes are more easily forgiven, can help kids develop strong teamwork skills to use at school or work.
4. Chores help reinforce respect
   It takes moving away from home for most of us to fully appreciate all the hard work our parents did around the house. Our children are likely no different, but assigning them chores may help this insight come a little quicker. Kids may become more aware of the messes they make if they’re tasked with cleaning up around the house, and more respectful of the work that goes into maintaining a home.
5. Chores help build a strong work ethic
   This trait is valued by teachers and bosses, so why not instill a work ethic in your kids from a young age? Chores are commonly tied to a reward, such as an allowance or TV time. Paying children for a job well done can also spark an entrepreneurial spirit, inspiring them to work outside the house once they reach their teens.
6. Chores help improve planning and time management skills
   It feels like there are a million things to do in the day, and fitting it all into our diaries is a challenge! Chores can help older kids and teens build good habits early. Juggling schoolwork deadlines, housework and their social lives helps them learn to set priorities and manage their time, important skills for the working world.
7. Chores give families a chance to bond
   People often lament that chores take up time they could be spending with their kids or grandkids. But chores can actually create special moments between children and adults. Little ones who always want to help will feel important and receive a self-esteem boost, and moody teens may decide to open up over a shared task.
   
   Source – Momentum Life. Gif - The Wall Street Journal