Complete six clauses which provide a personal challenge to you. You should demonstrate safety awareness at all times.
Clause 1 Know how to clean windows. Try several different products till you find one that suits you. If possible try an "old fashioned" method e.g. newspaper and vinegar. Clean all the inside windows in your home, and the outside ones where possible.
Have cleaned all the windows in the house including the mirrors and mirrored wardrobes, that is two patio windows, six single windows, five double windows, four treble windows, three double mirrored wardrobes, two single mirrored wardrobes, two mirrors and the front and back door. I have tried: the following:- Windowlene which produced good results but is hard work and I kept getting it on the carpet Windowlene wipes cleaned well but left the windows smeary Mr Muscle glass and window cleaner cleaned well but again left the windows smeary Fairy liquid water and news paper produced the best results though I still had smears, more elbow grease required.
Clause 3 Learn how to iron one of the following, and practice till you are proficient:
I know how to iron, but I don't do it. My husband likes to iron on a Monday night whilst I'm at Brownies, this enables him to watch videos of programmes that I wouldn't be interested in usually of steam trains.
Clause 4 Know the meaning of the symbols on the labels of clothes.
Did this for my in stitches badge
Clause 5 Thoroughly spring clean and de-junk a room in your house. Find a home for every thing, clean, dust, polish and sweep! Bath a baby.
The kitchen. The following activities were undertaken:- Cleaned the inside of all the cupboards (13 plus a set of four drawers). Got rid of any out-of-date tins of food. Cleaned the outside of all the cupboard doors. Cleaned all the work surfaces Cleaned the double-oven and microwave Defrosted the freezer and cleaned the fridge Cleaned the kitchen floor Cleaned the kitchen windows and window in backdoor as part of clause 1 De-junked the kitchen table.
Clause 8 Clean a cooker hob and oven
Done as part of clause 5
Clause 9 Evaluate five or more different products designed to keep your home smelling nice (e.g. scented candles, air freshener sprays). Which work the best?
As I have an allergy to sented products this clause is impossible. Keep the house smell free by keeping windows and doors open. The smell of homemade food is always good.
Clause 10 Clean, dust and polish the entrance to your home to make it look inviting. This should include any curtains, windows, getting rid of cobwebs in corners etc
Removed all the cobwebs from the front door, open porch, study window and two single garage doors. Washed all the doors and window frames and outside lights. Swept the open porch area and trimmed back some plants that were growing into the porch area. Also removed all the muck from the guttering that had collected in the recent storms.
Clause 11 Entertain friends at a dinner party (at least 4 people in total), which you have prepared. Be aware of the planning and organisation required to host such an event.
Frequently have 9 people for dinner. Usually do a roast followed by homemade pie or crumble as this seems to be the least time consuming meal and suits everyone.
Clause 14 Hand wash a garment. Know what fabrics should be handwashed, the detergents to use etc
Have a few garments that need hand washing and have done this regularly using soap flakes
Clause 15 Treat stains such as blood, ink, wine and wax on a variety of fabrics including carpets and upholstery.
Have treated various stains on clothes using stain devils. Have used 1001 stain remover on the carpet which has worked well. Have also tried bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar as recommended by someone on this site.
Clause 16. Know the correct order to wash up, and adopt it!
There has been great discussion on this lately. I normally do cups/glasses, cutlery, plates, cooking utensils, pots and pans. I always leave the grill pan until last and nearly always use boiling water from the kettle.
Clause 17 Lay a table for a formal or celebratory dinner.
Done as part of clause 11
Clause 19 Clean a fridge and defrost a freezer.
Defrosted a freezer and cleaned a fridge as part of clause 5
Clause 20. Sort laundry, load a washing machine and set the correct programme.
Do this every week. I wash white colours and darks separately using a programme appropriate to the load. I use a biological washing liquid and fabric softener.
Clause 21 Load a dishwasher and set the programme. Know how to clean it, and refill the salt etc.
Don't do it every often but I know how to load the dishwasher. I use a 3 in 1 tablet. I never dishwash best crystal glasses. If I can't get all the washing up in the dishwasher I always ensure that the dirties items go in and then wash the rest by hand
Clause 22 Load a tumble dryer and set the programme. Know how to clean the filter etc.
Have had my first tumble dryer this year. I have learnt how to load and set programmes as well as cleaning the filter. I now use tumble dryer sheets as I was having problems with static which now seems to be resolved.
Clause 24 Evaluate "hot spots" in your home where junk accumulates (e.g. the side of the stairs, the kitchen table). What sort of junk accumulates there? How can you reduce it? Is there an alternative (e.g. a designated filing tray)
The BOGUK must have been in the kitchen and seen the kitchen table. Did this as part of clause 5
Clause 25. Dust and polish all the surfaces in a room. Know what surfaces you cannot use polish on.
Did this as part of clause 5