OVERVIEW and CLASS #1 : 

DOING LAUNDRY: PRODUCTS AND THEIR PROPER USE, STAIN REMOVAL

One of the primary tasks in the home is the laundering of the family’s clothing and its linens. This class covered a wide range of laundry-related topics:  sorting clothes; choosing the optimal water temperature and washing cycle; and the most effective products for stain removal prior to and during the wash cycle. Also addressed was the set-up of the laundry room and its basic requirements: good lighting, sufficient space for folding clothes and for the ironing board, and ideally, a sink. Valuable professional tips throughout the talk and a list of recommended laundry products added to the practical benefits of the class. The participants posed their various laundry ‘challenges’ for the presenter in the discussion time at the end of the session. 

CLASS #2: 

HOUSE CLEANING

The session House cleaning focused on two particular rooms in the home: the kitchen and the bathroom. After dividing the group in half, the two presenters, one in the kitchen and the other in the bathroom, demonstrate how to clean the room from top to bottom using the appropriate tool/product for the different tasks involved. Advice on cleaning products and procedures that save time and effort accompanied the on-site demonstration. Keeping all the necessary cleaning supplies at the point of use (where they are used), if at all possible, is key not only for regular cleaning, but also for quick touch-ups by others in the family. Both presenters reiterated the importance of thorough cleaning and attention-to-detail in these constantly-used rooms. The groups then exchange location and presenters repeat their talking demonstration.

CLASS #3: 

IRONING, MENDING AND SEWING

In a throw-away society the concept of taking good care of material possessions–doing the necessary maintenance and making timely repairs–receives scant attention. This class lends itself well to a host of previously routine tasks for the homemaker: sewing, mending and ironing. The class also covered the features and maintenance of the iron and the ironing board, something in which relatively few young women have any marked proficiency. During the step-by-step demonstration, the speaker detailed proper iron temperature settings for different fabrics and discussed the difference between ironing and pressing. Replacing missing buttons, mending small tears, and cutting off stray threads before ironing are all examples of good care and attention paid to small details.