Tips to Up Your Laundry Game

Doing the laundry is one of the task I hate the most. That's why I end up just throwing everything into the washer and hoping for the best. And, if you're just like me, this bad habit can not only lead to a premature degradation of clothing but can also waste money and water.

So, if you want to truly do your laundry ‘properly’ there is a bit more to it than that.

If you are wondering whether your laundry technique could be improved upon, take a look at the following tips to up your laundry technique:

Soak Stains Straight Away

As soon as you get a stain on your clothing, you must take action. Once a stain has dried, it will be tough, if not impossible to get rid of it. 

The best way to deal with a fresh stain is to put it in a sink or bucket full of water, add a little detergent and leave it to soak until you’re ready to wash it.

If a stain is particularly stubborn (grass, red wine), you may also need to purchase a specific stain removal product to deal with the problem.

Install a Water Softener System

If you live in a hard water area, you might want to look into water softener systems because hard water can have a very detrimental impact on your washing machine, and as a result, your clothing. A water softener system may seem unnecessary, but when you consider that it can help extend the life of your laundry and your washing machine, you will start to see how quickly such a device will pay for itself.

The Right Way to Sort

We all know that we should separate lights, whites and darks, and delicates, but many of us don’t realise that’s not the whole story. If you also separate your laundry by washing temperature and type of fabric, you will see much better results regarding cleanliness and the lifespan of your clothing.

Leave Some Room

It can be tempting to cram every bit of laundry into the washer, so you can get it done in one load, save money and use less water, and this is a god goal. However, you do not want to take it too far because a washer that is overloaded will not be able to clean all your clothes as effectively as it should. You may also experience problems at the spinning stage too.

Aim to fill your washer until it is around 75 percent full, and you shouldn’t have any problems.

Wash with Cold Water 

It is perfectly acceptable to save time, money and energy by washing with cold water, providing that they are only mildly soiled. This could save you up to 90 percent of the energy costs of doing the laundry.

Now that you know how to do the laundry properly, you’ll never have to worry about stained clothes, pink t-shirts or excessive energy costs again!

Revealed: The Best Apps For Your Family

Looking after kids can get hectic, I'm sure most moms will agree with me, right? This is most especially true when you’ve got to cater to the needs of each and every single member of your family. One kid might love sitting down and playing video games, but the others might enjoy walks around the park. Either way, you’re going to upset someone! You’ve got to blend and merge hobbies and activities. You’ve always got to be on your feet and be imaginative - sometimes that can’t happen.

Thankfully, mobile phones can rescue you, and you don’t have to give up your device to grubby little fingers for your mobile phone to save you! When you can’t think of any ideas, your tablet or mobile can. There’s an app for everything, or so they say.

• So, it’s a rainy day, and your plans have been ruined. You want to refer to your backup plan of a movie night in with the kids, but you don’t have the money to spend on a blu-ray disc. What’s more, you don’t really want to drive around and look for media stores… There are streaming solutions, and this is probably the best free app right now for Android, meaning that if you’ve chosen the Google option, you’ll have access to a huge back catalogue of movies! A great option.

• Now, if it isn’t raining outside - you might want to plan a nice day out. Google Maps is a great way to not only get from A to B but is a fantastic method of finding new things to do and see. It’s a huge virtual phone book you can navigate. Not only that, but it can show you traffic build-up - so you know exactly when to leave the house.

• Apple’s widescreen iPad has some amazing options and none more so than interactive iBooks. There are plenty on the market, and you just need to choose the best option for your kids. The interactive features of the iBooks make it perfect for the little ones who cannot sit still.

• Spotify is a classic and a must have for everyone! Who doesn’t like music? If you’ve got some bluetooth speakers, you’ll always be ready for a kids party and even if there’s no celebration going on, you can still introduce your children to some classics.

• If you’ve got a PS4 system and a Sony phone, you can link them up via Remote Play to let your kids on the console when you are out and about. Most computers can run Remote Play as well, so if the console is out of action because you’re having some ‘you’ time in front of the TV, the children can play on it!

There are plenty of workarounds and apps that can entertain your kids, but you shouldn’t rely on them as crutch. Make sure you plan entertaining days out for your children! It’s your job after all!

Life's A Beach, And Then You Fly! Pre-Summer Tips for Busy Moms

Summer is coming and it's possibly one of the most exciting holiday of the year for a family. It gives the kids a chance to explore new places and beaches and it gives the parents some quality time together away from the rat race. The one thing that comes with a holiday is a plethora of lists! Lists for what to pack for carry on, lists for what to pack in the hold, lists for what to bring for a baby should you have one… there’s even lists before you even go away of things you need to buy. For most of us moms, lists are exciting! When you’re getting ready to go on holiday with the kids, there are a few things you need to remember to do before you go and one of those is sorting out the house.

If you’re a lover of lists, you won’t mind reading through just one more and this one isn’t just about the tips you need when you take the kids abroad on holiday. It’s for moms who would lose their heads if they weren’t screwed on. It’s for moms who need just one more checklist to feel like they’ve done it all for this long-awaited family holiday!

1. Cleaning the house from top to bottom seems to be a habit for most families, as you then don’t have to come back to piles of washing, hoovering or dusting to do. Even the little jobs you don’t think to do should get done now. Roll up those sleeves and leave the house sparkling!

2. If you don’t live close by to family, scheduling a food shop to be delivered the evening you return to the house is also a great idea. No need to dash out to the nearest supermarket for the essentials.

3. Security is key when you’re going away. Checking out alarm reviews of Vivint home security can mean you have your peace of mind while you’re enjoying your holiday.

4. Adding to that, even if you don’t have a house alarm on the house yet, think about security lights. Timed lights to come on at certain times of the day can make outsiders think your home is occupied and deter thieves.

5. Ask a friend or neighbour to check on the house if you’re going away for more than ten days.

6. Have any pets sorted into a shelter or have a friend take care of them before you go.

7. Sort out your tickets and passports for every family member and make sure you have all your travel documents in the right order for your journey.

Your home is your castle and if you make sure you have the gates up and the alarms on before you go, your holiday can be epic. If you know the place you are leaving is secure and in tip-top shape, you can truly stretch out and relax on that sandy beach far away. Now go, before everyone reading this is even more jealous of your travels!

14 Ways To Save Time, Do More And Love Your Life

Time is precious, and it’s often scarce. Busy moms are accustomed to juggling work and home, and keeping everything running smoothly. But at what cost? We work hard all day, collapse into a tired heap at night, only to get up and do it all again the next day. Break the cycle with these smart tips to cut the jobs you hate and spend more time doing what you love.

1. Organize And Prioritize

Make a list of all the tasks you complete in a day. Include everything, even the small things like opening post, taking out the garbage, waiting for deliveries, etc. Highlight the tasks that are the most important and get rid of anything that isn’t important. A good way to determine whether a task is important or not is to work out what you’ll be doing five years from now and whether this will make a difference. You’ll be surprised at the things you can ditch. 

2. Optimize Your Productivity

Optimize what you can do in a day by keeping healthy. Eat well, drink enough water, exercise, and get enough sleep each night. If these four things are out of balance, it’s likely you’re feeling tired and sluggish, making any tasks take longer.

3. Invest In The Right Tools

Don’t skimp on your household tools. When you purchase a vacuum cleaner, you’re buying more than just a machine. If you choose well and purchase an efficient model, you’re buying time. Even if you save just ten minutes each time you vacuum, over the course of a year this could amount to around twenty-six hours; more than a day. The same is true of cleaning products. Opt for efficient natural products that cut through grease and grime and are safe for the whole family. Sites like www.CleanHappens.com have a good range. 

4. The 2-Minute Rule

If a task takes two minutes or less, do it there and then. This is relevant for home and work situations. For example, dashing off a quick email or opening and filing the post. If you put it off until later, you’ll have to make a note of it, remember it, and then complete it, which is likely to take 5 minutes or more. So do those tiny tasks now, get them out of the way, and save yourself some time. 

5. Keep A To-Do List

Keep a running to-do list for work and home. Keep it up-to-date and cross items off as you go. This will help clear your mind and ensure things are not forgotten. 

6. Meditate

If you don’t do this already, it looks like we’re adding things to list rather than taking them away. However, meditating each day is great for productivity. It promotes a calm, peaceful mind and helps with focus and clarity. Therefore, it helps boost productivity and helps your overall well-being at the same time. Even ten minutes a day will produce results. Sites like www.headspace.com demonstrate simple techniques. 

7. Cut Your Apps And Tools

In a digitized world, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that new apps will get the job done quicker. This might be true, but if you have too many of them, you’ll spend more time accessing and managing them. Cut your online tools and apps down to a minimum and only use what is useful and saves you time. 

8. Turn Your Phone Off

How many times do you access your phone each day to check email, texts, social media, WhatsApp, etc.? If you had a running total, you would be horrified at the minutes (or longer) you waste each day. The best way to deal with this is to unplug completely, even if it’s just for half an hour a day. 

9. Focus

When working on a task, whether at home or work, give it your undivided attention. Get rid of distractions such as your phone, social media feeds, and email. Work only on your current project. You’ll be surprised how much quicker you work without the distractions. 

10. Time Yourself

For all those jobs you hate, such as accounts, cleaning, etc. set yourself a specific amount of time to work on it. It could be as little as ten minutes. Pretty much any task is palatable when you only have to work at it for a short period of time. Using this method you can chip away at larger projects bit by bit. And what often happens is that you spend more than the allocated amount of time as you get into a flow. 

11. Schedule Emails

There’s a temptation to read and action emails as soon as they come in, regardless of what else you’re doing at the time. This is counterproductive and will make you lose your focus. It also wastes time if you’re constantly checking and reading. Schedule times each day when you check emails and switch off your inbox for the rest of the time. Unless it’s a necessary part of your job, don’t check emails at all in the evening. Establish a cut-off point and stick to it. There’s no point in mulling over messages that you have no intention of replying to until the next day. It only results in keeping your mind on work and can contribute to stress. 

12. Say No More Often

If you’re the person everyone comes to when they have a problem or need something doing, start saying no. This doesn’t mean you can’t be helpful and caring. It just means that you’re putting your own oxygen mask on first. Establishing healthy barriers will help you focus on your own work, without taking on additional tasks. It’s not easy to do this in the beginning, but it does get easier. 

13. Delegate

You don’t have to do everything yourself. Getting other people to help will boost productivity. This doesn’t just apply to the office; it applies to your home life too. Get the kids to put away their own toys and give them responsibility for certain tasks. 

14. Save Time In The Kitchen

There are lots of ways you can save time spent in the kitchen. Cut cooking times by making twice as much and freezing half of it. It may initially take a little longer to chop and bake, etc. but the next time you serve this meal, all you will have to do is defrost it and heat it up. 

And with all this time saved, it will create more time to spend with the people you love, doing the things you enjoy.

Tips on How To Deal With A Sick Child

Being a parent, we do everything it takes to keep our children healthy. We provide them with the best vitamins, feed them with nutritious food and a lot more. But there comes a point when we can't avoid sickness. And, dealing with a poorly child is one of the most difficult things about being a parent. It is important that we stay calm and focused so that you don't distress them, but having a sick child in itself can be pretty stressful for us too. You will probably have to take some time off work and depending on the illness, your child might have to go on medication. Being sick can be a traumatic experience for a child, especially if they haven't experienced it before. Many children experience bouts of illness as babies, but obviously, they don't remember it. Plus, as parents, we tend to misdiagnose our children with various ailments when they are babies and unable to speak to us, simply because we are paranoid that something is wrong. When they get older, this paranoia tends to die, as they are able to converse with us about when they are feeling sick. But nonetheless, it can still be a difficult time in the whole family's life when your child is unwell. If you suspect that something is wrong, here are the steps you need to take.

Determine whether it is an emergency

There are specific conditions and diseases that do only affect children, as opposed to adults. But for the most part, these are harmless - things like chicken pox, for example. Providing your child has had all their vaccinations, there is no reason why they should contract anything life-threatening. However, if your child is showing unusual symptoms or is in great pain, you may need to consider whether or not emergency care is needed. Try to avoid the internet at all costs - it will only give you a skewed diagnosis. If it is late and there is no way you can get to a regular doctor, you might want to give after hours pediatrics a try. 

Follow any treatment to the letter 

After a visit to the pediatrician, your child will probably be prescribed a course of antibiotics, or at the very least some steps to take in order to help them get better. The latter could be if they have food poisoning, for example, and they have been instructed to drink a lot of water to help them hydrate again. If they have been prescribed tablets or a cream, it is your job to make sure they take them/apply them correctly. If your child experiences any negative side effects from their treatment, go back to your doctor immediately. 

Take good care of them 

When your child is poorly, they are likely to feel pretty miserable. Keeping their spirits up is an integral part of their recovery and getting them back on their feet and back to school should be your priority. Make sure they are still eating well; you can allow them a treat or two to make them feel better, of course. But for the most part, make sure they are still eating nutritious, home cooked meals. This will build up their immune system and help them to fight the illness much quicker.