First, purge and organize your cleaning supplies by sorting into three groups. Put your cleaning gear in an easy to carry caddy or bucket.
group 1: those you never use. Purge any specialty cleaner you never use. (You know what I'm talking about, those products you bought on a whim from the cute door-to-door sales guy? I know, I bought some too.) Let's face it, if you haven't used it in three years, you're not going to! Send this pile straight to your trash can.
group 2: supplies you use once in a blue moon for deep cleaning. Store these in a leak proof bucket or storage bin, out of the reach of children.
group 3: the basics. These are your favorite products and tools, those you use every time you clean. Store your basics in a utility bucket or supply caddy (again, out of the reach of small children.) When cleaning day rolls around, simply carry your bucket from room to room and you'll have everything you need right at hand!
Need some added inspiration for your spring cleaning? Invest in cleaning products you love! I actually enjoy cleaning when I use my Method(TM) sprays and wipes. It sounds nuts, but have you seen them? Better yet, have you smelled them? Check them out at your local Target.
Designer Homes and its partners at Kohler are participating in WaterSense, a program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to make it easy for Americans to conserve water, save on utility bills and protect the environment.
WaterSense is doing for water conservation and awareness what ENERGY STAR® did for energy efficiency by creating a consistent, highly recognized standard for high-performance, water-efficient products.
Look for the WaterSense label on many of the Water Wise products, indicating that they meet this standard for high-performance, water efficient products.
The EPA is developing a WaterSense new-home standard that takes this efficiency to the next level with water efficient features throughout the home that don't compromise on performance.
DID YOU KNOW?
The average family uses about 100,000 gallons of water each year. With the right household appliances and fixtures, this number could be cut by 11,000 gallons, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
•Use fluorescent light bulbs.
•Upgrade to dimmer switches to save energy and nearly double the lifespan of your bulbs.
•Unplug or switch off power strips for small appliances and electronics when not in use.
•Always clean the lint filter on the clothes dryer after each use; a clogged filter will reduce dryer performance.
•Install a programmable thermostat to save on heating and cooling bills. You can set the thermostat according to your household's lifestyle patterns, and avoid wasting energy when no one is home.
•Keep your chimney's flue closed when not in use.
•Wash only full loads, in cold water whenever possible. If you are washing a small load of clothing, be sure to change the load setting.
Save up to 33%as much as $200 annually on heating and cooling bills by installing a programmable thermostat and setting it to 78° during the day and 72° at night.
WATER WISE
•Utilize highly efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances. Install WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets.
•Wash only full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. If you are washing a small load of clothing, be sure to change the load setting. Use cold water settings whenever possible.
•Take advantage of your dishwasher's "eco" setting to reduce water use.
•Turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing your hands, and take shorter showers.
•Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of day to avoid evaporation; early morning is best.
•Use a broom, not a hose, to clean outdoor areas.
•Learn to reuse and recycle. Don't pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as cleaning or watering plants.
•Fix leaky faucets or running toilets, which can save approximately 20 gallons of water per day.
HEALTHY HOME
•Regularly maintain your heating and cooling system to avoid the build-up of dust and moisture.
•Use non-toxic cleaning products.
•Add household sponges to the dishwasher before you run it to keep them clean.
•Be aware of what goes down the drain. Harmful chemicals in cleaning solutions can contaminate groundwater systems, harming animals and even other people.
•Use paints with lower levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
•Clean or replace filters in your furnace.
•Install mold-resistant carpet pads.
•Install a water filtration system to remove contaminants and sediment, and eliminate chlorine taste and odor.
•Install a carbon monoxide detector, since the odorless, colorless gas is impossible to detect otherwise.
•Use biodegradable shampoos and soaps, and buy rechargeable batteries. Leaking mercury from used batteries can contaminate water systems.
SUSTAINABLE SOURCES
•Reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible.
•Install Corian® countertops, which contain 6% to 13% recycled content.
•Choose carpets that contain recycled or recyclable content like Anso and Nylon 6 face fiber.
•Select shelving, cabinets and interior doors made from recycled wood particles.
So now that we are mentally prepared for back-to-school (yeah right), the next big pressing decision is to room parent or to not room parent.
Now I admit, I have heard/read all the horror stories, but with a little organization, a lot of delegation but, it can be a very rewarding and fun experience. Below are some tips from my many years (I am a three-peater) of being a room parent...
Communicate clearly.
Parents actually love to help, but most of the time, they just don't know what to do and where. Busy parents just don't have the time nor patience to dig through stuff or inquire about how to help in the classroom - so spell it out clearly and have it easily available.
Do NOT send out a general email that says "Volunteers needed for September" - Trust me NO ONE will sign up.
Setup an online group site and email.
Utilize the Internet and set up a classroom site on the Internet. With a shared calendar, online sign-up sheets, shared to-do lists, roster management, photo sharing, etc... - online group sites are the best and easiest way to keep everyone on the same page and informed.
Some of the newer services like Qlubb also have integrated email distribution lists that help remind parents of events, tasks, etc.
But do NOT spam.
While email is very tempting as a communication tool, do NOT send out more than one room parent-related email to the parent. Any more than that, parents will tune your email out ("mental spam filter"). Keep emails short and concise with links to sign-up sheets, calendars, information, etc.
Delegate, delegate, delegate.
By signing on as room parent, you are not volunteering for every event and every task - you are the organizing person, not the only do-er. So use sign-up sheets (online is best - ubiquitous and real-time) frequently - this is the best way to communicate with other parents what is needed, when, and where.
With emailed sign-up sheets, I have been completely hands-off when it comes to organizing and staffing classroom events. In other words "awesome." Everyone knew who was doing what/when and where - no staffing redundancies, no miscommunication and the reminders went out automatically to the volunteers!
Communicate frequently with the teacher.
Make time each week to spend 10 minutes with the teacher to discuss upcoming events, needs, and activities. Some teachers even prefer to connect via email since their classroom time and afterschool time is very hectic.
You are a room parent not a therapist.
Do not try to mediate problems between families and teachers. Don't take sides. If there are issues, lead the family to the correct school staff (e.g., learning specialist, school psychologist, principal, etc.)
Collect a classroom slush fund.
If your school allows it, build a classroom slush fund at the beginning of the year. Ask the parents to contribute $5 dollars to the fund to cover various expenses during the year, including special event expenses, costumes for plays. Having a classroom pot makes it MUCH easier to plan events, buy supplies, etc - no need to hassle every parent every month for a few dollars. Any money left over can be used for the end of school year or holiday gift.
Share photos.
Parents love photos. Use the online group sites or other photo sites to share photos of events.
If you have any other tips, I'd love to hear from you.
Being a classroom parent virtually guarantees such rewarding benefits. You get to see young minds grow. You come to know your child in a new way. And you get the chance to help one of the few people who work harder than you do -- your child's teacher.
Don't foget a thank you for all they do.
