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Show It Makes Cents By Vi Blake By Vi Blake Spring housecleaning. I could never forget how it was done when I was young. My mother seemed to pride herself on not stopping until the entire house was cleaned ceiling, walls, wallpaper, cupboards, drawers, closets, floors, baseboards. And rugs drag them outside, wham, bang, shake, get out all that dust! No vacuum cleaner or professional carpet cleaner to help. We have it so much easier now, but we still welcome ways to lessen the work. Once cleaned, keep it clean is the best work saver I know. Let's start with the kitchen. Keep it clean by doing at least one little extra job each, day, such as: Exterior areas: Keep a spray bottle of a good all-purpose cleaning solution ready to use on the refrigerator, stovetop, cupboard, dishwasher and oven doors, finger marks, etc. It takes almost no time to spray and wipe such areas clean. Refrigerator: Several days before your major grocery shopping, shop-ping, start using whatever needs to be used leftovers, dairy products, fresh produce, meat, etc. Try to empty and clean one area at a time, along with your regular kitchen work. You'll hardly notice the time spent. Try to keep often-used items in the same place so that you can find them quickly. Freezer compartment: At least once a month wrap all the packages of food with pads of newspaper to keep them frozen while you clean the interior. Turn the dial to defrost. If there is heavy ice-buildup, as may happen even in self-defrosting units, place pans of hot water inside. When defrosted, clean the inside with baking soda on a wet sponge or cleaning cloth, wipe dry and restart the unit. Wait a few minutes to let any remaining moisture freeze and, finally, replace the packages in 'an orderly manner, meat, entrees, veggies, fruits, etc. grouped together. This is a good time to note what needs to be used and plan your meals accordingly. Oh yes, don't for-'get for-'get to empty the freezer's catch tray. Another day, while your vacuum is out, vacuum the coils underneath. The dust and dirt accumulated there lessens the freezer's efficiency. ' Cupboards and drawers. Do 'them one at a time along with 'your daily kitchen chores. Take everything off the shelf or out of 'the drawer and wipe it clean. Replace articles after discarding 'anything that needs to be discarded. dis-carded. Put like things such as. 'spices and baking items together. togeth-er. 1 ' THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Don't shut love out of your life 'by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive 'love is to give it. The fastest way ' to lose love is to hold it too tightly. ' Readers: This is your feature. Share your good ideas by sending send-ing them to IT MAKES CENTS, 328 So. 300 E. 5, St. George, Utah, 84770 or by e-mail: viblakeinfowest.com. If used here I'll send you $2.00 or one of my booklets: Kitchen Tricks, 'Discard Tricks, or Vinegar, the Homemaker's Best Friend. Please state your choice. For back issues of It Makes Cents, log into my web page: www.infowest.comcents. |