USEFUL TIPS FOR THE HOME
• EASY ORGANIZERS
Sometimes all it takes to put the house in order and eliminate mess, clutter and confusion are a few hooks here, a basket to two there and a bit of reshuffling items on a shelf.
• BASKETS DO THE TRICK
Buy one small basket for each person in the house and hang the baskets near the coat closet door. Use them for gloves, mittens, caps, scarves and other small but important items such as house keys.
• EMERGENCY SHELF
Set up an emergency shelf out of reach of small children. Equip it with flashlights, votive candles in glass holders, a first aid kit and an index card with emergency phone numbers. Make sure househelps and baby sitters know where the shelf is.
• TOY STORAGE
Put playbooks and games on lower shelves in the play room; paint, clay, scissors crayons or anything you don’t want the kids to play with unsupervised on the upper, out-ofreach shelves.
• IN THE BAG
To organize various booklets and pamphlets that come with kitchen and home-care appliances, punch holes into self-sealing plastic bags so that they’ll fit into a three-ring notebook. Use one bag for each appliance and seal.
• SOFT STORAGE
Use drawstring pouches made from fabric as containers for baby’s blocks, puzzle pieces and other toys with various parts.
• BATH TIME
Use zippered mesh lingerie bag for storing bath toys. Tie with string and hang over the showerhead so toys can drip dry.
• BOX IT
Store envelopes of sauce and gravy mixes in a child’s shoe box.
• HANDY REFERENCE FILE
Keep a file of the instruction booklets that come with your appliances, from major ones like the refrigerator to minor ones such as the hand mixer. A few extra spent when you make the purchase may save you hours when service is necessary. Keep the following information: date of purchase, store name, service center, official receipt and amount paid. If a problem arises, it takes only a minute to determine whether or not the item is still under warranty and where to call for service. ─ from Hints, Tips & Smart Advice by Family Circle (Mallard Press)