Posts Tagged ‘time management’

Alarm Clocks And Collaboration On Line

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

Have you ever bought an item of equipment that you thought could come in really handy only to leave it lying around for months because you could not figure out how to set it up? Or not set all the functions up, because it would have taken hours to read through the manual, which looked as if it had been translated by a machine anyway?

Most people have undergone the situation at some time or another. I had an alarm clock once that had dozens of features like waking me up at different times on the weekend to during the week and arbitrarily choosing a radio channel every day to wake me up. It also had a feature with which I could train it to understand some voice commands, but I could not be bothered with all that.

I just wanted it to wake me up whenever I set it. Video recorders are similar devices. How many times do you hear of people setting their video recorder to record a film only to get a soap opera on another channel? It used to occur a lot, didn’t it?

The aspect that I am getting at here is that the designers of these machines have been told to put as many functions as possible into them up to a price in order to be all things to all people. However, in making their equipment so complicated, a lot of people decide not to bother using them at all and will avoid that make in the future, which is the precise opposite of what the manufacturers intended.

The next time you go out looking for some electrical implement, you will say to yourself: “Oh, So-And-So, you need a diploma to use one by So-And-So. I’m not buying one of theirs”.

So how can this concern you? Well, if you have to organize anything that you expect others to take part in or be enthusiastic about, try not to make it excessively complex. I am not saying ‘dumb-down’, just don’t show off by putting all the bells and whistles on it merely to show that you can do that. People will not be grateful to you for it, they will take no notice of your project.

This has a great deal of implications for on line projects where individuals can be hundreds of miles apart but still be collaborating on a joint development from home. Open source programming is a good example of this type of work. The team leaders should keep everything as simple as possible if they want the utmost co-operation.

One technique that you can use to test to see if your venture is being understood is to ask. It sounds obvious and it should be, but a lot of team leaders will not ask because they think that it makes them look weak and unknowledgeable. Again, in fact, the opposite is the case. A good team leader is not a tyrant; a good team leader is a good organizer and is considerate.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a variety of topics, but is currently concerned with Bose alarm clocks. If you would like to kcurrently more, please visit our website at Bose Digital Radio.

categories: team leadership,management,organizing,business,internet business,time management,entrepreneurs,goal setting,motivation,coaching,inspirational,careers,success,other

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What Can You Do If You Live In A Hard Water Area?

Sunday, July 25th, 2010

The large majority of households will be fed with a domestic water supply which is defined as “hard water”. This is just a definition which is applied to signify water which has a fairly high concentration of minerals in it. Magnesium and calcium are the two most important minerals. According to the World Health Organisation, there are no health problems associated with hard water supplies – but it can affect the effective operation and lifespan of a variety of different domestic appliances.

Hard water supply can lead to a build up of mineral deposits, sometimes known as “scale”, in heating systems, water pipes and a variety of small household appliances. Household equipment which uses hot or boiling water, steam irons, kettles, washing machines, coffee makers, dishwashers, etc. – are especially prone to this. This is a result of the fact that heating hard water releases many of the minerals which then reform as scale. Central heating systems and hot water boilers may also be affected.

A number of different variables have an influence upon how much scale is generated. One of the strongest influences is the temperature of the water. The higher the water temperature, the greater the amount of mineral deposits that will be freed and the more scale that will form. Lowering the operating temperature of household heating systems, dishwashers and washing machines will tend to reduce the amount of deposited scale and will ensure that these appliances operate more efficiently and have an extended lifespan. Choosing a detergent that includes anti-scaling agents can also help.

With appliances such as kettles, coffee makers and steam irons, it’s not really practical to operate at lower temperatures. However, some kettles include filters – which can help to prevent various minerals getting into the sensitive heater elements. Many modern irons now come complete with removable anti-scale traps which gather the scale deposits for easy cleaning just by flushing it under running water. It’s also possible to get a variety of anti-scale chemicals and cleaners which can be used to clean your appliances periodically.

Although there are no health problems associated with a hard water supply, many people will dislike the resulting taste of hot drinks or boiled and steamed food. On the other hand, some people actually prefer the taste of tea that is made using hard water to that made using soft water – it is, in the truest sense of the word, a matter of taste. If you don’t like the taste of your hot drinks and food, then you can make use of a water filter. A simple, but effective, jug filter will work – or you could install an under sink or whole house filter if you prefer.

Whilst it may seem like a bit of an inconvenience, it’s well worth taking a little effort to combat the effects of a hard water supply. Apart from improved efficiency of domestic appliances, using the right detergents, operating at a lower water temperature and occasional cleaning will save you money and extend the life of your household goods.

Discover how you can cut your ironing time in half by using a Tefal steam generator iron – it’s a lot faster and the finished result is better as well

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Selecting An Ironing Board – What To Look For

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

An ironing board is, without doubt, a mundane item of household equipment to which the majority of people give very little thought. However, it is an essential item for any household and, if you choose the wrong one, then you might end up with badly pressed garments, take more time than you need to when ironing and even put unnecessary strain on your back.

Most people use steam irons these days – or possibly even steam generator irons, which are becoming popular due to the fact that they can reduce the amount of time spent ironing by 50%. For either of these types of irons, an ironing board with an open mesh surface construction is a good choice. This allows the steam to pass through the garment being pressed, through the cover of the ironing board and through the mesh surface of the board itself. When a lot of items are being ironed in one session, this helps to avoid any build up of condensation which might otherwise cause both the garments and the cover of the board to become soggy.

The cover of the ironing board should present a smooth surface to facilitate ironing. It should be secure and not prone to slipping. An elasticated cover, possibly with one or two cross-ties at the centre, is generally a good design which won’t move about as you iron. A metalised cover will reflect some of the heat and this will help to smooth the underside of the garment whilst the top surface is being ironed.

The type of items that you intend to iron will play an important role in determining the size and shape of the board for you. A small board will be easier to store – but will typically require you to position the garment that you’re pressing more often. Picking a large board is usually the best choice – but make sure it has a good taper on the pointed end. This will make it easier to get into corners – the corners of blouses and shirts, collars etc.

Scissor action legs which allow you to adjust the height of the board are pretty much standard these days. Make sure that you set the board height at a level that’s comfortable for you and doesn’t strain your back. If you’re the only one who irons (I bet you are) then a position marker is always useful. If you like to sit down whilst ironing then choose a board which has curved legs so that your knees don’t bang against the legs when you’re sitting down. Whatever type of legs you go for, they should provide good support and give you a stable platform to iron upon. A broad T-piece foot or splayed feet joined by a connecting bar usually works well.

The support for the iron should be strong enough to support the iron’s weight. For a traditional steam iron a wire frame type of arrangement is generally sufficient. Due to their large base units, steam generator irons can be quite a bit heavier than normal steam irons. A slightly longer board which just uses a heat resistant plate on its surface may be better for this type of iron. Alternatively, the base unit could be placed on the floor – as long as the connecting hose between the base unit and the iron is long enough to allow this.

Ironing is a thankless task at best. Cut it down to size with a Tefal steam generator iron – you’ll be delighted at just how much time you can save.

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Could You Save Time With A Steam Generator Iron?

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

The majority of people will consider ironing to be a dull and boring household chore. Listening to music or watching television whilst you iron can help to reduce the tedium (a little) – but it’s still a task that most people would prefer to avoid. Any way of reducing the amount of time spent ironing would be gratefully received in the large majority of households.

You could always send your clothes to the dry cleaners of course – or consider employing a maid. There are even companies which offer a service whereby they pick up your washed clothes and return them pressed and ironed. However, these are somewhat pricey options.

Mercifully, modern technology offers a solution to the problem of spending long hours ironing – in the shape of a different style of iron. Steam generator irons may, at first glance, look pretty similar to standard steam irons – but they have a totally different construction – which offers several important benefits.

Unlike a conventional steam iron, a steam generator iron has no water in the iron itself. Instead it uses a base unit which acts as both a water reservoir and heater. This produces a good deal more steam than a standard iron – and the steam is at a higher pressure.

A hollow connecting hose feeds the steam from the base unit to the iron and, since it is at a high pressure, it penetrates deeply into the material of the item being pressed. The end result is that it is easier and faster to iron using a steam generator iron. The fact that no water is contained in the body of the iron also makes it lighter and somewhat easier to work with. This produces a higher quality of finish for the finished garment and reduces the amount of time required for ironing. The majority of users report reductions in ironing time in the region of 50%.

When choosing a steam generator iron, be sure to go for one which has a high enough steam pressure. Somewhere between 4.5 and 5.0 bar is good. You will often see the steam output quoted in grams of steam per minute (gpm). A value between 70 and 120 gpm is desirable.

The water tank size is another important consideration. You don’t want to have to keep stopping to refill the reservoir with water. Some irons feature a removable water reservoir to ease filling – others have the facility to top up even when the iron is in use, and this avoids any waiting for the iron to heat up again.

You may also want to consider a number of other factors such as the inclusion of an anti-scale system (especially important if you live in a hard water area), the length of the hose between the base unit and the iron (especially if you have a small ironing board and want to position the base on the floor), the material of the soleplate and the overall usability of the iron.

Although steam generator irons do tend to cost a little more than standard irons, they really are great value for money. Apart from the fact that they give you better finished garments, they will save you a lot of time by cutting your ironing time in half. Even if you only value your time at minimum wage, that’s still a very worthwhile investment.

Reduce your ironing time with a Tefal steam generator iron – you’ll be surprised at how much quicker it is. Check out our steam generator iron buyer’s guide and you’ll know just what to watch out for.

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How To Choose The Right Steam Generator Iron

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

At first glance, a steam generator iron looks very similar to a conventional steam iron – especially the iron itself. However, it has a significantly different construction and mode of operation. Steam generator irons have a separate base unit which acts as both a water reservoir and boiler. There is no water in the body of the iron itself. The steam is passed from the water reservoir to the iron along a hollow connecting tube.

Steam generator irons do tend to cost a little more than traditional steam irons – but they offer several advantages to the user. It’s worthwhile taking a little time to consider the important points before you decide which one to buy. The key things to look at when comparing steam generator irons are steam pressure, the capacity of the water reservoir, the soleplate, how easy it is to clean and the overall ease of use.

STEAM PRESSURE: The steam causes moisture and heat to penetrate the fabric of the garment being pressed. This makes it flexible and makes it easier to remove wrinkles and creases. The higher the pressure of the steam, the further it penetrates into the garment being ironed and the better the final results will be.

Steam generator irons usually have their output quoted in grams of steam per minute. The higher the number, the more steam is produced and the easier it is to iron. Typical values range from 70 to 140 grams per minute (g/min).

Sometimes you may see the steam pressure expressed in bar. Once again, the higher the number is, the more steam that will be produced, the deeper it will penetrate the fabric and the better the results will be.

WATER RESERVOIR SIZE: Steam generator irons normally have a generously sized water tank. This means that you will be able to do a fair bit of ironing before you need to top up the water. The exact duration will vary based upon the type of fabric being ironed – but you should get a couple of hours of ironing out of a 1.4 litre tank.

If you do a good deal of ironing then you may wish to consider getting one of the larger tanks available. If you have an ironing board which is relatively small, then you might want to make sure that the tube which connects the reservoir to the iron is long enough for you to work with the base unit positioned on the floor rather than on the ironing board itself.

It’s worthwhile considering the ease of filling the reservoir. Some of the better steam generator irons are supplied with detachable reservoirs which make filling easier. Others include the option of filling the iron whilst it is being used – which avoids the need to switch it off and the requirement to wait whilst it heats up again after being topped up.

THE SOLEPLATE: The iron’s soleplate should be of a design and material which allows it to pass smoothly and easily over the fabric being pressed. It should be scratch resistant, durable, and easy to clean.

EASE OF CLEANING: The majority of modern irons, whether steam generator irons or conventional steam irons, use ordinary tap water. Depending upon where you live, this will typically contain a variety of different minerals – including both calcium and magnesium. This can result in scale deposits as the water is heated and evaporates.

If your house is in a hard water area, then you will definitely want to go for an iron which has some type of anti-scale system. Some iron use a special detachable anti-scale cartridge – others use water to loosen the scale and then flush it out.

EASE OF USE: As previously discussed, you may find it best if your steam generator iron has a long enough hose connection so that you can position this on the floor rather than at the end of the board.

The majority of people will appreciate the added convenience of a removable water reservoir.

Other features, which you may or may not find appealing, include automatically rewinding power cords, fast heat up systems, easy clean soleplates etc.

SUMMARY: Be certain to pick an iron with a high enough steam pressure for your needs. Choose a water tank that is big enough for you to complete your ironing without having to stop to top it up. Make sure that the soleplate is well designed and uses a suitable material in its construction. Make sure that some form of anti-scale system is included.

Find out how you can cut your ironing time in half by using a Tefal steam generator iron – it’s a lot faster and the end result is better as well

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