Killer Confessions.

Photo by nicolasnova

Bacteria.

Often given a bad rap, bacteria is actually neither good nor bad. Certain forms of bacteria are necessary to keep us alive, while other forms are able to kill us in a matter of minutes. (Consequently, there is an entire museum dedicated to bacteria. Thankfully for those who choose to visit, it is located online--no gloves or bubble suits necessary.)

As home managers, it is important to locate/disinfect the places in our homes where bacteria is prone to gather. These areas and items can, unwittingly, cause us adverse health events if left unguarded.

1. Countertops. It's amazing how much we rely on counter space--whether in the kitchen or the bathroom--and, as a result, lots of germs and bacteria pass through on any given day. (Think JFK Airport on Christmas Eve.) We can combat bacteria by keeping our counters disinfected.

2. Cutting boards. It's a good idea to invest in a plastic cutting board that can be cleaned using soap and water. Also, it is critical that we not alternate using the board to cut raw meat and other food during cooking preparation.

3. Sinks. It would make sense--since we wash dirty items in the sink--that our sinks are breeding grounds for the uninvited. Soap and water goes a long way.

4. Sponges. Frankly, I don't use them. They collect and they infiltrate. If you are a fan of the porous cleaning tool, make sure you microwave it to kill any bacteria that might be present.

5. Toothbrushes. Cover them. Don't leave them out on the sink like little people without umbrellas on a rainy day. 'Nuff said.

Bacteria: not fun to talk about, but totally fun to kill.

Making Cents

Photo by j_rodenhouse

Have you ever jumped the gun?

I sure have. And today, though it might turn out to be a positive thing, the HouseHoncho team found itself off to the races before we even knew we were at the starting line.

Let me explain.

One of our HouseHoncho team members has a knack for pinching pennies...and I mean a total ability to reach into his pocket and find money that wasn't originally there. (And I'm fairly sure he's no pick pocket.) Recently, we started tossing around ideas for ways he could communicate his many ideas to you...so that you, too, could make cents.

This morning, after logging on to Twitter and playing with a househoncho account...voila!...e-mail invitations were sent--inviting you to "follow us." We were as surprised as you were to open our e-mail this afternoon and discover the invites.

Because many of you choose not to "twitter," (and truly, we can't blame you for that!), we have now created a category on our website entitled, "Making Cents" so that you, too, can follow househoncho's quick and easy tips for pinching pennies.

Maybe tomorrow we'll launch a magazine...

Rule #1

Photo by j_rodenhouse

Thankfully, I am still operating under a cloak of anonymity.

Otherwise, I would have to clean up rotten tomatoes after what I want to talk about today. I would like to discuss Rule #1 in operating a clutter-free home environment. And I warn you, it is not fun.

In short, we must separate our feelings from our stuff.

The number one reason we hold on to things that are past-date/out of style/unusable/unattractive is because we have attached a memory or a feeling to the object that we believe we are throwing away if we discard the item.

Throwing away the box our engagement ring came in is not throwing out our memories of that day. Tossing the coloring pages of our now-grown children is not eliminating our feelings for our offspring. Throwing away the seventh grade bug project...well...that just needs to be done.

But for reasons known only to Freud, it's easier said than done.

I once heard a really great tip from a lady whose home is void of "emotional clutter." She suggested that, in lieu of filling the house with these emotionally-charged items that will gather dust and take up space, we snap a photo of the person we love holding the object in question. Then, we insert the picture into an album and toss the thing we really don't need.

With this strategy, we win on two fronts. We've eliminated something we aren't using. And we have another photo of the person we cherish.

Take a Hint!

Photo by exfordy

Introducing "Honcho Hints."

So it's time to start a new week, and I am really excited to launch something that I hope will be beneficial to you. As you know, there are a million ways to do everything. Whether you are organizing a cupboard or preparing for a garage sale, there are as many opinions about how to do things right as there are people in the world.

Honcho Hints is a collection of tips and theories that have worked well for us, the HouseHoncho team. They are short "nuggets of home management wisdom" that cover the full range of homemaking topics. From time to time, you will see a Honcho Hint appear in a blog or e-mail. Feel free to try it, ignore it, or even respond to it if you have a better idea.

Today's inaugural Honcho Hint comes from something I have found personally useful when tidying up my home. I love to carry around a trash can with me from room to room, as I am cleaning, so that I can throw items away as soon as I identify them as garbage. (This saves me time and steps.)

Honcho Hint: The larger your garbage can is, the more likely you are to throw things away. If the can is full or overflowing, you won't be as motivated to pitch things. Therefore, when cleaning up a room, start by emptying the trash, (or at least making sure that there is room to add items). Also, the bigger the trash can, the more beneficial to your cleaning routine.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Photo by exfordy

I love reader feedback.

Because it is important to me to create space, here, that is beneficial to homemakers of every age and walk of life, I love hearing from homemakers--for better or worse--when they have something to say. What I heard from a reader this morning was as inspirational to me as any manual I’ve picked up. I thought you might enjoy reading a few lines for yourself:

"The year 2002 was one that wrecked havoc on my home. Within that year's time I had 4 surgical procedures done to the bones of my legs. Big Time Ouches. Needless to say, by the time I was rehabilitated, up, and somewhat functional, after the last surgery, my home looked worse than a bachelor's den. Two school age children, 2 cats, birds and guinea pigs, and a spouse that wasn't even sure if we had a mop or bucket.

I decided that each day, as I did my daily home care tasks, I would additionally do one task that was not a ‘regular.’ It could be as simple as cleaning out a dresser drawer, or dusting the top of the bookcase. Just one. And if I missed a day, only double up the next day, if I felt like it.

Sure, it took time to get things back to where I felt order had been restored, but I also didn't ever feel as if I had to put myself out. It now is a weekly thing. Once each week I tackle some out-of-the-ordinary task. And yes, simple 'on the go' pick-ups and tidy-ups are the mainstay of my house work. Having a debilitating illness has taught me that if I do this, the occasions when I can't keep up with my daily home-maker's routine, don't have the negative impact they would have otherwise. Keep it Simple. I have to. The key is the 'keeping' it. And knowing that it is not a house, it's a home."

Well-stated! Thank you for the reminder...it's a home.

Say, "Cheeeese."

Photo by SqueakyMarmot

You remember the days.

Your camera used film, which meant you had to wait a whole three days to see how the photos you took of that once-in-a-lifetime, never-to-be-repeated moment turned out. And if your grandma's eyes were closed or you put your finger over the flash...well...you could at least cling to the memory and point to the photo that looked like the moon on a foggy night and say, "Really! That was the moment he smiled for the first time!" And no one would tell you it looked any different.

Now that digital cameras have annihilated the use of film cameras, (is "film" even still a word?) you have nothing to worry about. Almost.

While we now have the luxury of snapping pictures in real time--and can actually document events and replay them in flipbooks--we, as a picture-taking generation, are guilty of making two costly mistakes when it comes to photos.

1. We fail to print pictures. Yes, we take twice as many. (Or, in some cases, we take 1600 times as many.) But our albums stand empty on the shelves. And really, what's the point of having 200 shots of a birthday party if later, we can't produce one photo to prove we were there?

2. We fail to back up photos stored on our computers. One crash and the last 6 years are gone.

There is hope. We can remedy both of these problems. But there is no time like the present.

Clean Smart

Photo by tj scenes

Challenge yourself.

Various rooms in our home have garnered bad reputations for being difficult or tedious or mind-numbing to maintain. Because of the many other important tasks in our lives—namely raising children, improving our relationships, or maintaining our jobs—chores like wiping down the sink or cleaning out the lint vent can seem to us less enjoyable than a double root canal. But the truth is, if we could discipline ourselves to do one good thing to every room we enter or exit—every time we come and go—cleaning, on the whole, would prove less exhausting. Consider these opportunities to find a few extra minutes and make a difference:

1. Commercial breaks
2. Waiting for water to boil or food to cook
3. Phone conversations
4. Discussions with members of the family, (who might pitch in)

Wiping down the sink every morning after getting ready would mean avoiding the once-a-week “deep clean.” Putting clothes away immediately upon changing would mean never having to “tackle the pile.” And throwing trash away as soon as it becomes scrap would mean never having to wander through the house with a trash can looking for wadded paper or empty wrappers.

Making a habit of improving every room during every visit, even in terms of one item or action, would be beneficial—both for our time and our sanity.

Easter Sunday

Photo by Carissa GoodNCrazy

And here is the Easter blog.

Apart from the candy, the baskets, the dresses, and the eggs, there is a whole level of significance attached to the Easter holiday that often gets lost in the shuffle. According to the New Testament—the second of the two major divisions of the Bible—the resurrection of Jesus marks the foundation for the Christian faith and is celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 every year.

Below are 5 inexpensive and creative ideas for celebrating Easter:

1. Attend a church service with your family. (Feel free to contact us if you'd like help picking a place to visit.)
2. Place non-candy items in the plastic Easter eggs—consider little notes or words of wisdom.
3. Reach out to someone who is alone on the holiday with a card or invitation over to your home.
4. Read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, or John 20 and 21 from the Bible. It will give you tremendous insight into the Easter celebration. (You do not need to consider yourself Christian to do this!)
5. Give someone a Bible. (Consider giving one of your Bibles away if you have more copies than you are currently using.)

Remember, one of the most important things you can do in your home--for any holiday--is celebrate the meaning behind the day.

Farewell, Winter (Clothing)

Photo by exfordy

Spring is here.

The changing seasons present us with great opportunities to sort through our clothing and eliminate what we no longer, (or perhaps, should no longer), wear. Consider the following tips:

1. If the clothing is clearly winter clothing, pack it away. Save out jackets and long-sleeved items for days when the weather has a panic attack—but don’t keep out items that are clearly “winter clothing,” (i.e., bulky sweaters, heavy coats, wool pants/skirts).

2. Eliminate clothing that you have outgrown—or that has outgrown you—and don’t think twice about it.

3. Purge while packing. If you don’t wear it now, chances are great that you won’t wear it later.

4. Consider packing away seasonal shoes. Will you really wear those winter boots in May? Why let them take up valuable space in your closet?

5. Wash everything before you store it. When you pull the items back out next winter, you’ll be thankful you did.

Finally, I like to include a page of goals I hope to accomplish before the box is re-opened. Think of it as a sort of goals-meets-time-capsule. Not only does it force me to evaluate my goals mid-year, it gives me something to look forward to next time I am opening my boxes of winter clothing.

Sign(s) of the Season

Photo by Trisha (concerning the following post)

I love a good garage/yard/estate sale.

Nothing says "summer" to me like a neon sign dipped in puff paint and pounded into the front yard inviting me to stop for a visit. Rarely do I actually buy anything. (I carry only a small collection of quarters in my pocket.) I much prefer walking around and looking at the objects that have occupied someone's home. Estate sales are my total favorite--with respect, of course, for the ones who have moved on from the home--because I can actually see how the house was run. I can open drawers, peek into closets, and rummage through cedar chests. It's a homemaker's dream.

This weekend I dove back into this hobby of mine. The pictures above show two of my favorite stops. The top picture was taken in a room that was featuring vases and glassware of all sorts, (a total clutter collector's heaven on earth). One shelf displayed a vase, another vase, a vase, and...a wig. I don't why it made me laugh, but it did. It was a homemaker's variation of "duck, duck, goose." (Glass, glass, wig!)

I almost bought the wig, just because.

The second picture was taken in the back yard of another estate sale. And I could have taken this identical picture from any angle. There were probably two hundred signs in this tiny yard. I loved it. Furthermore, I'd like to know where the signs came from...

As I was admiring the signs, I thought of a tip I acquired years ago. To keep collections of any kind under control--whether this refers to glassware, clothing, books, etc.,--choose the space or number of items that will complete the collection. Then, as you purchase or receive new items for this group, eliminate that same number. So you have a shelf that holds 10 books? Fine. Pare down the collection to 10. Then, when you add a book in the future, eliminate one.

You'll never have to "de-clutter" a collection if you stay on top of it in this way.

What's Hot, ( and What's Not)!

Photo by Dan Taylor

So it's Friday night.

Another long week just bit the proverbial dust, and I know that what you absolutely want to talk about right now is washing machine settings.

Have no fear. If you'd rather curl up with a movie or spend time with your family, (gasp!), this handy guide will be here when you're ready.

To truly master the beast that is the weekly laundry, it is important to understand water temperatures and their effects on your clothing. Below is a quick reference for the three main temperature choices. About as exciting to read as a VCR manual, this post exists for your future reference.

Cold: Use the "cold water" setting to wash mildly-soiled clothing, new clothing, dark clothing, or items that may be prone to bleed or fade, (think new towels and brights). Items that may shrink--including those made with wool--should also be washed with cold water.

Warm: Not remarkably different from the "cold water" standard, use the "warm water" setting to wash moderately-soiled items that are light-colored, bleed-prone, and permanent press.

Hot: Use the "hot water" setting for whites. Your lightest load gets the hottest setting. Also use hot water for items that are heavily soiled, (think muddy, grass-stained, soccer-worthy). It is important to remember to scrub out stains on clothing before tossing them into the hot water. Hot water "retains"--and can actually harm a stained piece of fabric.

Despite this handy run-down, it is important that you consult the special care labels on anything you wash. Also note that cold and warm water is generally better on your budget.

Now. Go enjoy that movie.

Think Inside the Box

Photo by ali edwards (great idea for advent boxes!)

In the event of an emergency.

When organizing the paper in your home office, it is a good idea to place important documents—or paperwork that you absolutely could not afford to lose under any circumstance—in a fireproof box or safe. Think about the things you could need in an emergency. (Subsequently, it is a good idea to update this information before it becomes a necessity.)

Growing up, my parents always kept this box in a hidden place in our home. Even before I understood the value of passports or tax information, I knew that whatever went into this box was more valuable than gold during the 1849 rush. As an added safety measure, consider purchasing a fireproof box that comes with a key or combination lock—and use it!

It is a good idea to store the following paperwork in a safe, fireproof location:

Automobile titles
Birth certificates
Cancelled checks
Copies of bank/credit card information
Contracts
Deeds to the house/property
Diplomas/official school transcripts
Important medical information
Important receipts
Insurance information
Marriage certificate
Passports
Stocks and bonds information
Tax returns (If you don’t want to fill a box with these, consider scanning and saving 3-year-old documents to a disk)
Wills

When the Bathroom Calls

Photo by emdot

It's a fact.

Depending on how your home is laid out, there are two places you can count on visitors seeing if you invite them into your home. The first is your living/family room—where the primary visiting will take place—and the second is your bathroom.

You could probably get away with closing bedroom doors, avoiding the kitchen like the H1N1 virus, and denying you have a basement. But, unless you want to be known as “that family without indoor plumbing,” chances are great you will need to show your guests that you do, in fact, have a restroom.

So how can you make it guest-friendly?

Keep it clean. That’s rule number one.

Fill a basket with items they may use. Consider toothbrushes, soaps, sample bottles of products, and fresh towels, for instance. (Of course, the length of the stay will determine the items that might be needed.)

Always have back-up supplies on hand. Toilet paper, towels, and soap are a must. Guests will likely not want to ask for these things. (Go out on a limb and display these items in a cute way.)

And finally, consider keeping a room spray or scented candle in sight for guests who…well, perhaps they found that H1N1 virus after all.

A Girl's [true] Best Friend

Photo by RowdyKittens

Whoever said that diamonds are a girl's best friend never used baking soda.

In what is likely to be the first of several installments on the wonders of the white stuff, I have included 10 uses for baking soda below.

1. Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin.
2. Add a teaspoon to your vase to keep flowers fresh longer.
3. Put an open box in your refrigerator to remove unpleasant odors. (Change every 30 days or so.)
4. Pour a cup in the toilet, leave it for an hour, then flush. It will clean itself.
5. Use it to remove stubborn grease from pots and pans.
6. Scrub the fridge with it.
7. Clean your ashtrays with it. (Actually, on second thought, just quit smoking.)
8. Sprinkle on rugs before vacuuming to deodorize.
9. Use it to scrub sinks, bathtubs, and toilets.
10. Use it as deodorant (not recommended, but totally possible. Good luck with that!)

And the best part is, baking soda is cheap. Peace of mind and a beautiful home can be yours for under two dollars a box. (And, if you use it as deodorant, you can have that great clean, confident feeling when you raise your arms.)

Not bad. Not bad at all.

"Go clean your room!"

Photo by suzettesuzette

If I heard it once, I heard it one million times. "Go clean your room!"

My mother had a knack for knowing when I had hidden something under my bed or stuffed an armload in a dresser drawer. In the ultimate game of hide and seek, I'd hide my stash and she'd find it.

Every time.

But the older I get--and the more I love homemaking--I realize there was a method to her madness. Whether or not she realized it, a clean room is essential to good rest. And good rest, as we know from our doctors, improves our health and lessens our stress. Meaning a clean room is a healthy choice, right? Here are three things to avoid in your bedroom:

1. Clutter. It makes us feel crowded. And feeling crowded doesn't help when trying to sleep.

2. Televisions. Not only does the noise itself keep us awake, but the lights from the TV mess with our natural sleep patterns and can keep us tossing for hours.

3. Eating in bed. Unless it's Mother's Day, don't do it. Crumbs in the covers are not advantageous. (Unless, of course, you are an ant.)

Now. Go clean your room!

Death by Paper

Photo by Rodrigo Galindez

The Living Room.

During the 19th century, the “front room” or “parlor” of a house was used for formal events, namely the laying out of a body for viewing prior to the funeral. In an effort to move away from a blatant association with death, architects aptly renamed the space “living room” in the 20th century.

While we can be thankful that the living room is no longer a place designed for sorrowing, we should quickly address one of the key issues that still causes homemakers everywhere to mourn while sitting on their couches.

Reading material.

Books, magazines, newspapers, catalogues, and mail have the ability to take us quickly from a place of joy to a place of grief if left unmanaged.

When it comes to magazines, remove the articles you want to keep and discard the rest of the periodical. Manage magazines by displaying only the most recent issue. Designate a place for mail—and cull it daily. Don’t allow mail to overtake your house. (This will also make bill paying more efficient!) Distribute books to the rooms where they are used. Box up the books you no longer want and donate them. (But don't donate them to your garage!)

In short, if you haven’t or won’t read it, remove it. It will bring life to your living room!

It's That Time

Photo by Muffet

Daylight-saving.

To some people, it means sunnier afternoons and the promise of a pending spring season. To others, it is a good reminder to change smoke alarm batteries and verify that carbon monoxide detectors are still working as they should. Yet to others, it simply means an hour less sleep.

No matter. Daylight-saving is here. And for those of us change-phobic terrestrials, it means we need to plan ahead. Here are a few tips from your HouseHoncho Team:

1. Update your clocks today. Start adjusting to the time change by going to bed at the new time. (But be careful not to miss any appointments in the process!)

2. Eat well and keep yourself hydrated. The body will already be taxed with a changing sleep schedule. Compounding it with poor nutritional choices could add to feelings of weariness or stress. (Always seek your doctor’s advice.)

3. Get up on time tomorrow morning so that Monday won’t be even more difficult. Stick to your regular schedule tomorrow—and don’t dwell on the “lost” hour.

Perhaps most important to any change is a positive mental attitude. Winter is on its way out. And that should give us something to celebrate.

Now go. Drink some water.

Welcome

Photo by Cameraman Phil

Testing...testing...am I on?

Here I sit, on a Friday afternoon, less excited about the fact that my weekend is here--and more excited that this blog is up and running! When it comes to homemaking, I have so many things to tell you. I am bursting at the seams to share cleaning tips and organizing challenges and simple how-to's that should make a difference in your home, and ultimately your life.

But one thing first.

Successful people always have clear goals. Always. Whether you've come to this website to save time, save money, or save stress--and I hope to help with all three--it is important for you to know what your goals are. And it is important for me to communicate what the goal of this blog is.

I know you are busy. If you're like me, you like quick and easy. So my commitment to you is that I will update this blog daily with a short, 200ish-word soundbite of something that should prove helpful in your home management today. I will try to make these blog entries relevant to the tasks you receive in your e-mail. And I won't include anything I haven't personally given my S.T.A.R.: simple, tested, affordable, reliable.

In short, welcome.