TIP OF THE WEEK

Ironing

Have you noticed that the more you try to conserve on electricity use, the more the monthly bills increase?

I have, and I am not happy about it. When I compare myself with others though, I am not doing badly, and that is because I do not iron my work clothes every morning. I iron two week's supply every other week. It is easy to iron 10 outfits, and I save time in the mornings by deciding overnight what I will wear the next day.

It is no secret that ironing every morning wastes electricity. The iron uses up a lot of electricity, especially when the television set, radio, water heater, coffee percolator, curling iron and the regular appliances are in use every morning.

So, start scheduling Sunday evenings, from 6 p.m. until after the major news broadcast, to do the ironing, or do it before bedtime so you can unplug or turn off the other appliances at the same time. If you have a family, iron the children's five sets of uniforms for the week and your husband's shirts for the week, as well. Remember to sprinkle (damp), the clothes before ironing to save on spray starch. Also, it's better to buy the liquid concentrate starch and dilute in a spray bottle rather than the ones in the aerosol cans that leave all that flaky mess on your clothes.

Do you have a useful energy-money- or time-saving tips that you have tested and tried? Share it with us at: lifestyle@gleanerjm.com .