Paper Towels

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Ah the wonder of paper towels, one great invention that is simple to use and can be learned by anyone (even my kids are not against using them and that's saying something!) It stops you tearing your hair out!

I used a paper towel last night, I used them just about every day. I required one to clean up the mess the cat had made on our footstool in the morning. I then needed another one to clean up pasta sauce around the plates I was serving to my kids. It wasn't crucial, but it sure made the plates and the food look better. Chefs wipe around the plates all the time before they serve to customers.

The mess, like most messes I seem to encounter, was unplanned, but whether it was planned or unplanned, a paper towel wipes it up straight away and it's no big deal.

Paper towels turn major messes into life's little stresses (sounds like a slogan to me!). Yes they helped me achieve my goals of either cleaning up the cat mess or, in the case of the dinner, improving the look of the plate. You can't go wrong with that.

When I buy paper towels I tend to look for those that have a thick, absorbent texture. I like the ones that are small sheets, not large sheets as they are more economical, do the job just as well and are usually enough for the small messes I need to clean up. If there's a large mess, I simply use more than one sheet. I'm a big fan when it comes to paper towels but they have to be up to the job at hand.

Concepts to Consider

Life is Messy: that's for sure. When you have 3 kids and a cat, you wonder which one is the messiest! Life in general is just messy but it's a good job we know that and just come to expect it. However, it doesn't have to stay that way. That's what cleaning products and things like paper towels are for! Just the other day our cat messed on one of our footstools.

Women are resourceful: that's true, although men are too. We find ways to clean things up or to improvise. For instance, I was selling a baby bassinet that we were done with but noticed that the canopy was missing the rod that goes inside to keep it open. I was not going to be able to find a rod that was the same size, so I had to improvise. I tried a metal coathanger that I bent into shape and inserted into the canopy. It fitted great, but was still not sturdy enough so I added a second coathanger and then it looked wonderful! I was delighted when I was able to sell it and get a good price for it!

Strength means not falling apart when times get tough. This can apply to humans (see resourceful above) just as it can to paper towels. The last thing you need is a paper towel that will fall apart while it is being used. That's hopeless and just means you have to grab another one to finish the job. With the cat mess mentioned above, one paper towel was all it took to absorb most of the disaster which I found to be a good thing. It also makes that paper towel brand economical to use.

Getting Things Done: this also comes under the term "reliable". A reliable worker helps you get the job done and is something that is valued and appreciated, whether that is a person, or again, a paper towel. The person and the towel will become associated with reliability in your mind and you will use them again and again because you know you can trust them.

Tough but not rough: This is a nice touch. Often we associate the word "tough" with something that is hard and unpleasant ("rough" in terms of texture) and we assume that's just the way it is, it cannot be changed. But how refreshing to find something that not only does the job (tough) but feels gentle to the touch. That's a new concept and not one we often link together in our minds. When I was cleaning up the cat mess I knew the paper towel was tough and would do the job, but it wasn't particularly gentle on my hands when I was using it. Nonetheless, I had to be prepared to give up any feeling of gentleness in order to get the job done.

Demanding household job: housework is full of these - whether it's cleaning that cat mess or cleaning up spills on the floor, wiping a plate around the edge before you serve the food. Once the job is done you can throw the towel away which is convenient. I have used paper towels for all of the above occasions (though not, of course, the same towel!!). Paper towels are better than cloths since with cloths you are forever having to sanitize them in the dishwasher. Once they are in the dishwasher they are no longer available until the machine is finished, in which case you find yourself reaching for paper towels anyway! In many ways, we expect household jobs to be tough, but that doesnt' mean it has to be tough to clean them up. In fact, it can be quite easy!

Making Home Life Easier

Some things that could make home life easier in general are having any kind of machine to do the housework. I already have an IRobot which does the vaccuming which is nice. Machines like dishwasher, slow cooker and washing machine are practically indispensible for getting things done. The most precious thing we all need is more time so anything that helps us do that is just great.

I have made home life easier by being organized: anything that is need for school for the kids or anything for the following day is layed out the night before, usually by the door so you would have to trip over to get out (that way you will see it!). I also remind the kids to write down any appointments they have and to check the calendar every day so they wont' miss anything.

Cleaning products that make home life easier definitely include paper towels, they can be pulled off the roll (that is hanging up in my kitched so it is easily available), used to dispose of the mess and then tossed in the bin. Because they are made of paper they can put in the recycle bin which helps in terms of the environment (though of course using paper towels in the first place, some may argue, is using trees). Products that help make wiping easier are a good thing, they help you get the job done faster. Back to that thing about saving time.....

A product that would make my life easier? Definitely one that does a whole multitude of tasks at one time. It could be a household cleanser (in a spray bottle which makes it easy to use) that covers everything: it would clean stains, it would sanitize, it would wash windows, it would be used as dishwasher soap, laundry soap, be suitable for neutralizing pet odors (we have a cat), be strong enough to clean the toilet, gentle enough to wash your delicates in, would be good for colored clothes and white clothes, would make good handwashing soap and can even be used for shampoo! In other words, it would do it all...

The picture is of where my ideal home would be located. With a view like this, I would be quite happy to clean up any spills that might come along :-)

My Home Life

Hi my home life is quite relaxing when the kids are all out at school. I have 3 kids, ages 17, 13 and 11. The two eldest (boys) have gone back to school already but I have one daughter and she is still home. Sometimes we try to do refresher homework together (math) as she is weak in that area. Other times we go to Borders bookstore together.

I like it when all the kids are back at school because I can fill my day with things like going to the gym, filling in a database for my boss (I do that part-time, sometimes I work part-time as a temp secretary too), catching a nap which I often have to do in the afternoon and just getting dinner ready.

I am also dabbling in freelance writing for some of the markets overseas in the UK. Sometimes I write a relationships article. I've even had a couple pieces published which is nice. I don't think I could make it as a fulltime writer, there doesnt' seem to be any money in it!

Worst things about home life? It can be lonely and it can be quiet. But if I want companionship I can always call a girlfriend and go out for lunch. Or I can head out for the gym. I am not looking for a fulltime job just now as I dont' want to be overwhelmed with trying to do everything. I can always go back full time when the kid are off to college.

The photo shows two of my three kids on holiday.