Thoughts from Home

Good Way

1. Erase odor with a deep cleaning. First, remove laces (wash in the washer; hang dry) and insoles.
2. Fill a bowl with warm water and a squirt of dish soap. Dip in a soft brush and scrub the insoles well. Rinse them. Lay them flat, upside down (to prevent curling), to dry.
3. Freshen your water/soap mix. With your brush, gently scrub the sneakers (this works for leather or canvas) inside and out. With a damp cloth, wipe until all soap is gone; rinse cloth as needed.
4. To help kill smell-causing bacteria, let shoes dry in the sun.
5. Sprinkle shoes often with foot powder or baking soda to keep feet dry and odors controlled until they are 100 percent dry.

vs. Good Enough

1. A no-wash method: Shake baking soda generously inside the sneakers, coating the insoles well. Also dust some on the outside of the shoes, working it into any crevices where bacteria may lurk.
2. Dump out the excess soda (leaving a coating is fine – it will help keep odors at bay). Whisk off the outside with a dry, soft brush; this will also remove dirt. (Another cleaning cheat: Rub off stains with a Scotch-Brite Easy Erasing Pad.
3. After wearing, stuff shoes with newspaper. It absorbs smell and moisture.
4. Fastest way ever: Use antimicrobial fabric spray, like Febreze, to zap bacteria and help with odors.

source: Good Housekeeping

I have problem with organizing our pantry cabinet. A lot of times, I can’t find what I am looking for. There are times when I get a pack or bottle of something in the grocery only to find out we have stocks here at home. Thanks to these tips I found that is very helpful in organizing the pantry. Hope to practice this very soon. Also, I hope I could get those shelves that I need for stacking canned goods and others. 

• Newly purchased items should be stored behind those already in your pantry. This way, you’ll use up what will most likely expire first.
• Once you open packs of pasta, grains, and baking ingredients such as flour and sugar, transfer the contents to transparent, airtight containers to ensure freshness. Note down the purchase date.
• When arranging pantry items on the shelves, place condiments on a turntable for easy access.
• Miscellaneous packets and sachets can be placed in a packet organizer or small basket.
• Group together items of similar weight and bulk. Put hefty items such as canisters of rice, flour, sugar, at waist level; lighter items like cereal boxes, bags of chips, cake mixes on higher shelves; and canned goods and bottles of sauces and dressings on the lowest shelf levels.
• To maximize spaces immediately beneath the shelf partition, use under shelf baskets to store lighter items like unopened bags of food.
• Eliminate double- or triple- stacking of canned goods by using lightweight double shelves.
• Hang blackboard on your pantry to keep track of items that are nearing their expiry date.