Good Housekeeping: Spot on Advice for Removing Summer Stains

Summertime means many stains that come with fun like barbecues, picnics and sunning at the beach. Here is some advice provided by Good Housekeeping for the following stains:

Grass stains: take a little of liquid laundry detergent with enzymes and rub into the stain, let it sit 5 minutes, then launder using the bleach (chlorine or oxygen) and very hot water.

Mustard/Ketchup: for Mustard,dip paper towel in cold water and BLOT (don't rub) the stain, use a dab of glycerin and work it into the stain. For Ketchup, flush the stain from the back side of the fabric with cold water. Next, for both apply liquid detergent to the front of the stain and use a toothbrush. Add more detergent as needed and then machine wash.

Fresh Berry stains: immediately sponge the spot with cool water and then later stretch the stained cloth over a bowel or pot in the sink. Hold a kettle of boiling water above the fabric and pour it over the stain (12 inches above). If it doesn't come out, use rubbing alcohol before tossing into the machine.

Sunscreen streaks: apply aerosol-spray stain remover like Shout or Afta.

Think about bringing an on-the-go stain remover pen (Max Force Gel Stick - new from OxiClean)or wipe in case a food stain should occur. Never let a stain linger on the garment in a hamper for days. Treat it as soon as possible and toss into machine.

http://www.martaperrone.com

Will the New Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights be Enforced?

The first state to recognize the workplace rights of nannies is New York. They will get temporary nanny disability benefits, nanny unemployment insurance, one day off per week and the biggest thing is "overtime". It is quite an achievement for the nannies since they usually get the bum rap. It will be very important that the message gets out to the domestic workers that these new rights exist. They will also need to educate the employers to uphold these rights so that they are enforced. Often, even with laws in place, domestic employees are faced with domestic employers who refuse to abide, leaving employees the choice of taking the job, or not. It is up to both parties to uphold the law that protects us all.

http://www.martaperrone.com

Nap Nanny Recliners Recalled

Nap Nanny, a portable baby recliners has been recalled voluntarily by its company, Baby Matters due to an infant death. The 4-month old girl from Royal Oak, Michigan died in Nap Nanny that was put into the crib because she was caught between the recliner and the crib bumper. In addition to the death, the infant was trapped between the recliner and the side of the crib. How is it possible that these products get produced and pass inspection? This recliner was marketed to improve sleep, comfort and for medical conditions, including flu.Looking at this Nap Recliner, it seems obvious that this could pose a dangerous problem. If parents happen to own one of these, Nannies, Babysitters and Housekeepers should also recognize what may be hazardous and make the necessary recommendations.

http://www.martaperrone.com

Nanny & Housekeepers: Tips to Find Work

In this economy, you cannot rely on one resource to find work and must be proactive. You must be able to use all the ways possible. But first, you must have a portfolio ready. Here are some tips:
1) Get a resume together with your most recent job history first and make sure it is updated within the last 6 months.
2) Gather all your letters of reference and call your reference numbers to be sure they are still reachable. Find email addresses for them as well, so that your prospective employer can communicate quickly with your former employer.
3) If you are caring for children, be sure to have your TB and Hepatitis testing completed.
4) Get a criminal check on yourself in the city or cities where you have lived in the past 7 years and have it available in case you are offered a position.
5) Be sure to be CPR certified and have it renewed if expired.
6) Gather any course completion certificates or certifications in child care, or The Professional Housekeeper course.
7) Put together a nice cover letter explaining your work objectives to indicate to an employer the kind of work you seek and your intentions and goals.
8) Have the "perfect" interviewing outfit ready, clean and pressed in your closet so that you can put it on at a moment's notice for any last minute interview calls.
9) Make a list of agencies, job listing services, newspapers, neighbors, former employers and reach out to all of them. Send out resumes to agencies. Subscribe to job listing services and respond to posted jobs and post your resume. Respond to newspaper ads seeking help. Call friends, neighbors and former employers asking their help in getting you work.
10) Be positive, proactive and persistent!!!

http://www.theprofessionalhousekeeper.com
http://www.martaperrone.com

Health Insurance

Health insurance is an important benefit that every household employee would like to have as a part of their compensation package. There are tax breaks for both the employer and the employee to make this more affordable than you might think. Like all employers, the government encourages household employers to contribute to their employee's health insurance premiums. You can do this by making a portion of the compensation tax free to the employer. Similarly, the employee is not taxed on that portion of the compensation. You have two options: the household employer can choose to be the billing party for the policy, paying the premiums directly to the health insurance company, or the household employer can provide the dollars for premiums to the employee. Either way, the employee savings will be about 20% of the amount of the health insurance contributions and the employer savings will be about 10% of the amount of the health insurance contributions. The tax breaks associated with health insurance create a powerful financial tool enabling nannies and housekeepers to get critical coverage without destroying employer's budgets.

http://www.martaperrone.com

Cell Phone Nunbers go Public in July

REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month.
REMINDER..... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.

.... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON .. It takes about 20 seconds.


http://www.MartaPerrone.com

Patio Furniture Test

Michael Finny, the Consumer Watchdog for ABC solves problems for viewers. The latest question is what kind of "Patio Furniture" is most durable in the sun, rain and wind. Mother Nature is tough on every thing outside and definitely accelerates the wear and tear on outdoor furniture. Steel furniture is durable, but also very heavy to move. Rachel Rothman of Good Housekeeping says that aluminum is much lighter and more durable, but also more expensive. "Wicker is very light weight but not always weather resistant." The conclusion: When buying patio furniture, think of 3 things: weight, most weather resistant and expense. You want to be able to move it around easily, keep it as long as possible looking in good condition and not pay too much!!! Plastic just might be the answer!! But if you want it to look good too, then spring for the higher-end "Wicker".

http://www.theprofessionalhousekeeper.com

The New Teacher: Robot

Children are fascinated with toys that move, so it is no surprise that researchers developing robots who can teach various activities are seeing the possibilities. The innovation is such that the machines are able to learn as they teach which makes them also effective in repetitive therapies that are used to treat developmental problems like autism. In other countries, they are using the robot to serve as an assistant in the classroom and experimenting with having them teach language. They are finding that in many cases, testing the youngsters' knowledge is showing an error reduction of more than 25%. Research in social robotics (a computer science devoted to enhancing communication between humans and machines) find that grade school students are increasing their accuracy when taught by a robot. In San Diego, researchers are working on a robot named RUBI to have 2 main components: mechanical and psychological. RUBI actually can cry when a child tries to harm it (like attempting to take its arms off). With the reaction, the children are backing off at the sound. Apparently it is the machine's behavior that matters in making the child and machine in sync.

As usual, technology advancement brings about an ethical social debate.
Do we really want our children being taught by robots? Would removing the human element to teaching be a problem if you achieve a greater effect to learning?

http://www.martaperrone.com