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Hand Washing

• Before washing sweaters, turn sweaters inside out and sew buttonholes together, so they won’t stretch during laundering.
• Don’t soak them for more than an hour; 30 minutes is best
• Keep sweaters underwater while washing them.
• Lifting the garments in and out of water strains the elasticity of wool.
• Don’t wring out excess water after washing.
• Place the wet sweater on a large towel, roll up the towel and press it.
• Never hang washed sweaters on the line or a hanger - dry flat on a flat surface, shaping the sweater in original shape.
• When half-dried, turn it around.
• Woollens should be put in the shade to dry.
• Always iron woollen garments on the wrong side, over a damp cloth, else the wool will loose its shape, softness and elasticity.

Machine washing

• Fill the washer with lukewarm water. Add a mild soap and let the washer agitate for a few minutes to mix well. Stop the washer and put your sweaters in.
• Put your hands into the washer and manipulate the sweater, washing it by using your fingers. If your sweaters washed the sweaters turn your dial and the washer to the final spin cycle. Let the washer spin the water out of the sweaters.
• Next, take the sweaters out of the washer and refill the washer with water again. Rinse the sweaters well, taking care not to be rough or stretch them too much. You may rinse twice, but usually one rinse suffices.
• After the final rinse take the sweaters out of the washer and lay them out on a flat surface to dry over a large towel as in hand wash.

Maintain coats and jackets

• Hang up coals and jackets on a strong, good-quality wooden lhanger (metal hangers dig I into wool).

• Never dump them [lest they lose shape.

• I Air frequently-worn coats [in the sun periodically to I freshen.

• Brush off with a chillies brush periodically, especially at the collars, cuffs [andonpoekei openings.

• Keep sparingly-used coats covered in cloth [bags (not plastic). Let these breathe.

• Clean problem areas such as collars, cuffs, top of pocket openings with kerosene (white petrol). Also, lreal any stain immediately so that it does not set in.

• There are certain rooms like the store room or study room which should be locked. These areas should be inaccessible to kids.

• The most important area that you have to be careful about is the Kitchen area.

• Make sure that you unplug all the electrical appliances when you are not working in the kitchen.

• Sharp objects like knife and graters should be kept inside draws or cupboards.

• Put the glassware on higher cabinets, don’t put it on the edges of your kitchen.

• Routine cleaning extends the life and usefulness of books and papers. Dust off grit and grime that come in through open windows, settle on top of books and work down between the pages, grinding into and marring the paper.

• There are moulds and microscopic organisms that continuously circulate and work themselves into the fibres of paper. Regular clean my, to remove grime enables the discovery of moulds and mildew that may be quietly eating away at the paper and cardboard in your books.

• Prepare the following solution:
  Mix 1tsp whiting (chalk powder)
  4tbsp soft soap (use grated bathing soap)and apply over marble evenly.
  Heat 500ml water and add dash of household ammonia apply the soap paste and wash clean with this solution.

• White marble will not discolour if wiped regularly with turpentine. Rinse and dry the surface with a cloth, then apply turpentine but sparingly.

• Moist salt rubbed on discoloured marble helps to clean it.

• To restore the colour of stained marble, apply this cleaning pasteMix 3tbsp non-abrasive cleaning powder (such as Vim) with enough lemon juice to make a paste - this amount is enough to clean 10 sq. ft of flooring. Run the floor with paste and then rinse with clean water.

• Add ltsp salt to 300ml boiled linseed oil (available at hardware stores) and mix well. Sprinkle drops of this onto cotton cloth and apply over the surface: Buff with a soft, clean cloth pad.

• Treat scratches on light-coloured wood with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or a tsp each of vinegar and raw linseed oil combined.
• For dark wood, use equal parts red wine and linseed oil.
• Try wiping your furniture regularly with vinegar-water solution.
• Dry thoroughly and then apply furniture polish (any brand).

To even out the wear, flip the mattress over and reverse it end-to-end every three weeks tor three months - and every couple of months thereafter.
Mattresses are surprisingly heavy; two people should do this to avert damage to the mattress and your back! Vacuum the mattress once a month.
Also, let it breathe for 10-15 minutes’-every day before making the bed - remove the bottom sheet and all bedding and keep aside.
Air mattresses thoroughly once in a while.

• Never spray cleaner directly onto the mirror - the drips could seep into the silver backing and damage it. Instead spray it on a soft, clean cloth or paper towel and wipe.

• Another way to gel shiny mirrors is to moisten finely powdered chalk or talcum powder with water, apply the paste on the minor and let it dry, then rub off with a clean rag.
• To make your own cleaning solution: Fill a spray bottle with water, vinegar and household ammonia - shake before use. To discourage fogging of bathroom mirrors rub a cake of soap across, then shine with a cloth.

For a festive look that’s easy to get buy broad-gauge ribbon that’s the   
same shade as your cushions.
Tie the ribbons around the cushions much as   
you would around a gift, with a generous bow on the front.
Snip off extra-long edges and arrange the cushions on your sofa.
You could also try using contrasting ribbons, the more ethnic dori or silver/golden gota borders instead.           

Following tips will make your home burglary resistant

• Equipment using solar energy, such as solar water heaters and solar cookers will reduce the consumption of electricity drastically.

• A 100-watt incandescent bulb, which typically lasts about 1,000 hours, can now be replaced by a 25-watt Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and last up to 10 times longer. CFL use 75 per cent less electricity than incandescent styles. Such bulbs are easily available.

• Wrapping the electric water heater with a tank insulating blanket will reduce the energy use by eight to ten per cent. These blankets are easily available at hardware stores.