Cleaning and Housekeeping

With so many items around the home and numerous cleaning products from which to choose, it can be difficult to match item and product. We also tend to relax once the house looks spotless and the chores are all done, but this can be a never-ending task if not organised properly and carried out in the most efficient way. Ensure that you have time to relax, enjoy your family and entertain friends by following time-saving guides for cleaning and good housekeeping performed by our maids and enjoyed by our customers.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Creativity in a company

Creativity is the soul of entrepreneurship and is required in spotting the patterns and trends that define an opportunity.  It subsequently becomes imperative in developing innovative business concepts.  The corporate entrepreneur has to be highly creative in getting a sponsor, building and using a network, obtaining management buy-in for the concept forming a team, gathering resources and overcoming the many obstacles that will be thrown into his/her path.
Much of the work on creativity tends to focus on the ability to relate and connect and to put things together in a novel way.  In a business context, creativity is not mere originality.  It is a pragmatic dimension in that creative approaches or solutions must also be useful and actionable in the context of the company and its competition.
There are three components of successful creativity in organizations: expertise, motivation and creative thinking skills.  Expertise is defined as what you know and can do.  Motivation can be primarily a passion or interest or the desire to achieve company rewards and awards.  The individual is solely driven by the challenge and joy of accomplishment.  Creative thinking can be explained as the ways individuals approach problems differently, seeking insights from other fields of endeavour, challenging assumptions etc
Employees should, however, be provided the freedom and access to resources to practice these components.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Where should quality checks take place?

The key tasks for operations managers is to identify the critical points at which the service or process need to be checked to ensure that it will conform to specifications.  These checks may be carried out at the start of the process, during the process and after the process.
At the start of the process the incoming transformed resources could be inspected to ensure that they are to the correct specification.
During the process checks may take place at any stage but there are a number of particularly critical points in the process where inspection might be important:
  • Before a particularly costly part of the process
  • Before a series of processes during which checking might be difficult
  • Immediately after part of the process with a high defective point
  • Before a part of a process that might conceal previous defects or problems
  • Before a point is reached, after which rectification and recovery might be impossible
  • Before potential damage or distress might be caused
  • Before a change in functional responsibility
Checks will take place after the process as well to ensure that the service conforms to its specification or that customers are satisfied with service they have received.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Routine Toilet Cleaning

Briskly scrub the bowl everyday with a toilet brush using the cleaner of your choice to remove deposits, discoloration and tide lines.  Be careful to clean under the rim.  Rinse the toilet brush in a fresh flush and occasionally give it a wash in warm water.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

What is method study?

Method study is the part of scientific management which makes a direct contribution to job design.  It is a systematic approach to job design and not solely a set of techniques to be followed by management.  This method study approach involves systematically  following six steps: select the work to be studied; record all the relevant facts of the present method; examine the facts critically and in sequence; develop the most practical, economic and effective method; install the new method and maintain this method by checking it in use.
Operations usually have many hundreds and possibly thousands of discrete jobs and activities which could be subjected to study.  The specific job selected for method study would give the most return on investment of time spent studying it.  It would be unlikely that it will be worth studying activities which may soon be discontinued or are only performed occasionally.  The type of jobs which should be studied as a matter of priority are those which seem to offer the greatest scope for improvement, or which are causing bottle-necks, delays, or  other problems in the operation.
There are different recording techniques used in method study which include recording the sequence of the activities in the job, the time interrelationship of the activities in the job or the path of movement of some part of the job.Recording the present method can give a far greater insight into the job itself and could lead to new ways of doing it.  It is also a good starting point from which to evaluate critically and improve the method.  It would be easier to improve the method by starting from the current method and then criticizing it in detail rather than starting with a blank sheet.
Examining the facts is probably the most important stage in method study and is often done by using the questioning technique.  This technique exposes the reasons behind existing methods in order to detect weaknesses in the rationale and develop alternative methods.  Typical questions would be:  the purpose of each element; the place in which each element is done; the sequence in which the elements are done; the person who does the element and the means by which each element is done.
The next stage is developing the new method.  This involves taking these ideas further in an attempt to eliminate parts of the activity altogether, change the sequence of events so as to improve the efficiency of the job or simplify the activity to reduce the work content.
Installing the new method concerntrates on project managing the installation process rather than examining the reactions of the staff whose jobs and methods are being affected.  The effectiveness of the job designs after they have been installed will need to be monitored regularly.  Although this cannot be viewed as a “continuous improvement” initiative it can be used as an opportunity to rethink and improve methods on a continuous basis.

How to keep your toilet clean with denture tablets

What you will need:
Denture Cleaning Tablets
Toilet Bowl Brush

When out shopping look at the most inexpensive cleaning tablets you can find.
Most directions recommend that the tablet be dissolved in hot water.  Do this by microwaving a cup of water and dropping the tablet(s) in.  When dissolved be sure there is fresh water in the toilet bowl and pour the solution.  Allow to stand overnight.
Swish the bowl with the toilet bowl brush and flush.  You may have to repeat this process a few times if the bowl is badly stained.  Once the bowl is sparkling clean, repeat once a week.
Once your bowl is clean, you can keep it that way by dropping a tablet or two in the tank.

Advantages:
Most tablets are anti-bacterial and kill millions of bacteria.
They fight odour.
Remove stains.
It's so easy!

Cleaning your toilet with some Coke!

Pour a can or bottle into the toilet bowl.  Pour it around the rim so it flows over the stains around the inside of the bowl.  Allow to sit for an hour or more.  The carbonic, citric and phosphoric acid will break down the stains.  Clean the toilet with a brush.  If there are lots of stains, you may need a brush to further loosen them before going to the next step. Flush and the stains will be gone!

Essential bathroom cleaners

There are many different areas that need cleaning in a bathroom.  Here are 4 essential bathroom cleaners that every bathroom should possess.
Toilet Brush - A good toilet brush is necessary to keep the dirtiest part of the toilet clean.
Glass Cleaner - With mirrors and glass doors to a shower, every bathroom needs a glass cleaner for at least a few areas.
Midew Remover (bleach) - Between showers, sinks and toilets, bathrooms are a haven for mildew growth.  Mildew can lead to major problems so be sure to get this one.
Tile Cleaner - These cleaners work on controlling mildew, bacteria and many other dirt details in the bathroom.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Why zoning becomes necessary?

On the smaller sites with just a single cleaner working, there is obviously no potential for dividing the work into smaller parts.  If the size of the sites warrants more people the total set of tasks could be divided into these zones.  This the breaking down of the total task into smaller parts each of which is accomplished by a single person.  In spite of its drawbacks there are some real advantages of division of labour principles.
It promotes faster learning
It is easier to learn how to do short and simple tasks than a complex one.   New members of staff can then be quickly trained when they are short and simple.
Reduce non-productive work
It ensures that the smaller tasks that are completed lead to a large chunk of the cleaning schedule to be completed.

Order of work for spring cleaning a room

  1. Open all the windows to air the room.
  2. Remove all flowers, empty ashtrays and wastepaper baskets, put away any other bits and pieces, for example, shoes
  3. Move all the small pieces of furniture out of the room.
  4. If cleaning the hall, move coats, umbrellas and stands.
  5. Clean out fireplace, if any, or remove spiders and cobwebs and brush out cupboards.
  6. Vacuum the floor, curtains and the upholstery.
  7. Dust everywhere. Mop and polish the floor.  Clean walls and windows.
  8. Shake rugs outside before putting them back in the room.
  9. Replace all furniture, give it a polish, if necessary.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

A definition of entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is a creative act.  It requires perception, drive, tenacity, dedication and hard work to pursue identified economic opportunities.  There is a general acceptance of entrepreneurial risk regarding time, financial resources and psychological well being. 
Entrepreneurship is a process intended to create wealth and accomplished by gathering and managing human, financial, physical and informational resources to pursue a business opportunity with acceptable levels of risk.
Entrepreneurship is manifested once the introduction of new and innovative goods, services or processes into the marketplace occurs.  This inevitably creates opportunities for additional goods, services and processes.
Entrepreneurship is instrumental in the development of any society, however, entrepreneurship needs a society that encourages and supports individual initiative.  Conditions aiding entrepreneurs include readily available investment capital and a cultural acceptance of business people who tend to operate in unconventional manners.


10 Tips when spring cleaning

  • Take down pictures and all ornaments and clean them (and the shelf and wall behind them)
  • Get at areas behind doors, above door frames and under tables, behind and under chest of drawers and large pieces of furniture, which have been forgotten or skimmed over throughout the year.
  • Remove all cobwebs.
  • Wash down paintwork thoroughly.
  • Polish all the furniture.
  • Clean lamps and shades.  Don’t forget light fittings as well, take them off to clean them if necessary.
  • Shampoo the carpets and upholstery and have curtains washed or dry cleaned.
  • Vacuum thoroughly and replace everything.
  • Clean out all the kitchen cupboards.
  • Use this opportunity to throw away all those things  that you never use, you’ll have less to put away.

Spring Cleaning

Even a room that is cleaned regularly will benefit from a good spring clean.
  • Turn out those parts of the home which normally don’t get the full treatment: the freezer, cupboards, medicine chest, kitchen cupboards etc.
  • Do one task at a time or you will be overwhelmed by the whole exercise and may end up completely exhausted with several half-finished rooms.
  • Get rid of non-helpful members of the household
  • If you can’t get rid of the children, it may be easier to let them help you.
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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Window washing tips

  • Never scrub dirty windows with a dry cloth, you’ll scratch the glass!
  • Don’t clean windows when the sun is shining, the water will dry too quickly, leaving streaks on the glass.
  • Change the water frequently, especially the rinsing water.
  • In cold weather, add a small amount of methylated spirit to the water to prevent it from freezing on the glass.
  • Use all detergents sparingly as too much can cause streaks and leaves layers of residue.  Never use soap because it is very different to rinse off.


Monday, October 3, 2011

Factors that influence successful project management

All projects are prone to different problems and fail for different reasons.  In order to minimize the chances of a project failing to meet its objectives the following factors become particularly important:
  • Clearly defined goals: the general project philosophy or general mission of the project and a commitment to these goals on the part of the project team members.
  • Competent project manager:  a skilled project manager who has the necessary interpersonal, technical and administrative skills.
  • Top-management support: enabling communication to all concerned parties
  • Competent project team leaders: the selection of and training of project team members, who between them have the skills necessary to support the project technically.
  • Sufficient resource allocation: money, personnel, logistics etc.  which are available for the project in the required quantity.
  • Adequate communications channels:  sufficient information is available on project objectives, status, changes, organizational conditions and client’s needs
  • Control mechanisms: these monitor actual events and recognize deviations from the plan
  • Feedback capabilities:  all parties should be able to review the project’s status and make suggestions and corrections through formal feedback channels or review meetings
  • Responsiveness to clients: all potential users of the project are concerned which are kept up to date on the project’s status.
  • Trouble-shooting mechanisms: a set of procedures to tackle problems when they arise, can trace them back to their root cause and resolve them.
  • Project staff continuity: the continued involvement of key personnel over the project life cycle.