OC's rules

[kaiz]

^same dilemma sis. been thinking to take pix of all our clothes categorized accdg sa may-ari. upload ko lang sa comp then gawa gawa ng parang virtual closet. hehe. been planning to do this since college pero until now di ko pa rin nagagawa

[aquacharly]

I have hardly any loss nor damage to our clothes due to 3 systems:

         System with my lavandera-planchadora;
         Storage system; and
         System of use.

Everyday, the underwear, school uniforms  nightwear, and pambahay are brought down for laundry.
Every Saturday -- the work outfits are handed over to the lavandera; and complete instructions as to whether these are for laundry, airing, drycleaning or just pressing are clearly discussed with her.

Now, every Saturday is the lavandera's Show Time.
She must give back complete and in good order ALL as in everything:
     Previous week's  work outfits
     All underwear, pambahay, uniforms, nightwear, etc sent down during the week
     Including all items sent every Monday for drycleaning

System of  Use --
   To illustrate:
I have 4 batches of work outfits.
Each batch is for 1 week:  5 days and a spare
Each outfit is hung up complete.  Since suits usually require inner tubes/tops -- I do not make a top do double-duty.  Each outfit has its own required top/inner bouse/tube.
Each batch has a photo; so 4 photos in all. 1 set on my inner closet doors; another set on the palanchahan walls for my lavandera.

If absent ako or tinamad/out of town -- I skip over those outfits and continue with my set chronology. 
Every Saturday, I turnover to my lavandera all 6 outfits of the past week, whether nagamit or not, with instructions as to which are to be laundered/drycleaned/or aired lang. 
That same day,  the lavandera must turn over to me complete --  the previous weeks' batch of 6 outfits.  Actually, my trusted cleaner and her hang the clothes in the closet -- accdg to the photo.  So maliwanag, wala na kaming satsatan pa. 

The above illustration is done for my husband's and kids' clothes.

For thieving helpers,  what helps them get away with it is when you do not follow up your clothes.  They hope you will forget about these. 
Or if you do not regularly ask for these --  pag hinanap mo ang lusot eh -- ay hindi pa napalancha, nasa baba pa, something like that.

So I make it clear that my cleaner, my yaya and I myself expect the clothes back in every Saturday.  I have also trained my cook to check for me (I do at times too) that the palanchahan room and laundry area are in perfect order. Walang kalat, walang tambak.  There are bins to put away clothes in, to put away labada in ...   

I am never shy about photographing our clothes -- easier to say what you are looking for di ba.  No need to print everything -- just store in your digicam or USB,   Nor am I shy about having my lavandera write down in front of me (in her notebook) the things sent out for drycleaning, the bedlinens  or whatever.  Clothes, and linens,  are getting to be "investments", and should be tracked well.

Well, it also helps to control the number of clothes you have out.
As a rule, a 2-week inventory of pambahay, underwear, nightware is sufficient.  Easy to monitor. 
It also helps to store methodically.  All work clothes in 1 closet/area, etc etc.  When you open your closets -- easy to locate what you need, easy to determine if something you are looking for is missing.
It does not matter if it is a whole floor of closets or just a small area -- basta organize your storage by clothes use (work outfits, pambahay, pangflirt/night out, nightwear, underwear, etc.  basta store wherever convenient for you, hwag lang sa kapitbahay).

[Frenzied]

When I was still working, I never had problems with my office suits since our in-house laundry in the hotel takes care of it. I just bring it for dry cleaning 1x or twice a week with signed forms and get it back 3 days after. So I have peace of mind no matter how expensive the suit is because I know this will be well taken cared of and walang mawawala.

It's just the other clothes (non-office) like pambahay, going out outfit, etc na I just recently realized that I have problems with keeping track of clothes (magulat ba naman ako na a lugggae full of our clothes was found in our helper's stuff -- haller! kaoka di ba?)

It might be too tedious naman if I photograph every single clothing I have especially since we don't wear our regular clothes in set, we mix and match -- though this can be an option. hahahaha

We do laundry every day and make plancha once a week. Our clothes are also stored by category -- jeans together, shirts together, undies together, etc pero nalusutan pa din!!!

[aquacharly]

FRENZIED talagang decidido your thieving maid -- talagang extra planning and effort on her part to pilfer your clothes.  She must be used to this kind of activity.  Matagal na ba sa yo or bago bago pa lang?

Yeah, tedious to be photographing all your clothes.
Well, I just photograph my business outfits and gowns/special dresses -- coz, well talagang my weak point is ayaw ko masyadong kinakausap ang helper.  Pag may photos eh napaka dali to look for things.

As for gimmick clothes, no I do not bother to photograph.
I think I am able to keep track coz well, these aren't as many as my business clothes.  Also,  usually when I dress up and I am not going off to the office -- I really do not have pambahay.  I mean, my clothes are sufficient to go out in . kasi bigla kong maisip I gotta go here, I gotta go there -- hindi na ako waste time dressing up, bihis na ako eh.   

I think you are perhaps like my Ate or mom who have so many iterations -- business clothes, leisure clothes (depende pa kung saan pupunta -- tennis vs golf vs mahjongg or whatever).  Pag madami nga your clothes it can be hard to keep track of.

Maybe you can modify your previous procedure with the office suits the hotel used to take care of for you -- make it simple, but maintain the listing aspect with your lavandera.  If she knows you keep track, she is not likely to be so tapang to pilfer.

[Frenzied]

^sis, haha I guess you're right, may extra effort and planning nga siguro. She would test me kung maalala ko pa or not. Minsan kase I would see some of the clothes sa palanchahan ng ilang linggo even if nakaplancha na siya, so deadma naman ako kase inisip ko na-miss lang. as for my hubby's, knowing guys, whatever they see in the closet yun na ang isusuot. I wasn't able to keep track of it except for really expensive clothes which I make sure to thoroughly instruct the maid how to wash and store. hahaha

That maid was relatively new - she's with us for 3 months (she started sept and left dec 28 to go back to their province) and replaced by her sister (she promised she will not do what her sister did so we gave her a chance). (We trusted that maid so much because her siblings are all employed by my aunt in the province and we let them live in our lolo's old house for free in the province. Given that, we really didn't think that she would do such a thing because we've been kind to all of them. Oh well, enough said.)

Yes, I think I am like your mom and your sis! Okay lang mawala the pambahay outfit because these are usually the going out outfit na pinagsawaan na kaya pinambahay nalang, but the rest -- ARGH!!! No way I would let her steal it. hahaha

I might follow your system -- turn over ALL clothes once a week, no more no less. The laundry will still be daily but I will tell the helper to iron 1x or 2x a week, no single clothing left in the palanchahan and turn over all clothes at the same time.

I'm no longer working now, which got me thinking.. I'd better check my office suits baka ma-shock ako kulang kulang na. Even my upcoming baby's clothes napraning ako the other day, I crosschecked the baby clothes in the closet from the receipt (buti I was able to keep the receipts of the clothes). Ayun, I'm missing 1 set of baby clothes from children's place. Wala na ako magagawa, I don't know where to find it. I just hope wala ng iba.

Hay buhay..

[aquacharly]

FRENZIED, Sis, hay naku.  You know what 1 maid of my sister did?

Eh everytime somebody goes off/goes home for bakasyon/termination --hindi ba check the things?  The maid's clothes are folded na di ba, and usually -- we just have another maid take hold of the folded clothes, re-pile these to just check na walang nakasama na clothes natin?  Usually, the maid checking in front of us eh iniingatan hindi makusot kusot ang clothes nang maid na paalis?

Naku, this maid of my sister --   she went to the trouble of sewing ha -- just enough sewing so that hindi mahulog ang clothes ninakaw nya --  she sewed the kiddie clothes inside her clothes!  Tapos folded nga ang  clothes niya.  Now the mayordoma of my Ate eh maabilidad talaga, at duda na daw kasi bakit nawawala some clothes of the kids eh tapos hindi nila makita-kita kung asaan.   Well, inisip nya while she was checking the clothes in front of my sister --  bakit medyo makapal/bulky  ang folded clothes?    So she made these pagpag and kapa and talagang weird 1 blouse in its weight and bulk, so the mayordoma looked inside that 1 shirt.  Ayun nabuko.  Almost every item of clothing of the maid had something ninakaw sewn inside.   

Kaya if  your maid really has the intent to pilfer/steal -- she will find lots of ways to do it.  The only deterrent we can easily implement is consistent tracking.

[chocoholic21]

The way I see it...I keep things organized and neat..if only to make life easier for me. It saves me time and energy when I know that I am on top of things. I'm a SAHM without a maid  (I live in a condo)...so people in my household (my son and hubby) rely on me most of the time.

Add to the fact that I HATE clutter. For me, a cluttered house contributes to a cluttered mind. Nahihilo ako! But I'm also madaya kasi most of the time, I keep all the messy things I see inside my drawers and closets...ergo, my drawers are a mess! Ayoko lang sila makita, ha-ha!

hahahahah! Sis, pareho tayo, when you come inside our room, it's so neat and clean, but when you try to take a look at my drawers waaahhhhh super gulo ng loob!

But, anyways, mga sis, do you ask your maids to clean your house everyday? [textspeak!] ako, yes, I want our house to be cleaned everyday as in bawal may palya, and iba pa yung general cleaning... And alam na alam ko din kapag nakapaglinis o hindi kahit na sinabi pa ng maid na naglinis o nagwalis siya.. Sana lang ma apply ko yung attitude ni sis Aquacharly, na tipong bihira na lang mag utos sa maid, [textspeak!] sa totoo lang, I feel so tired just by telling or keep on reminding our maid what to do.. Example, at night, I would ask her to do something in the morning after her daily routines, mga 3-4 times ko siya ireremind, tapos biglang kinaumagahan nakalimutan na.. Haaayy!! GGrrr!! Magkakawrinkles lang ako.

BTW, Sis Aquacharly, pa email naman sample pics of what you've mentioned earlier, para lang mainspire ako lalo.. :-) Thanks

[Frenzied]

Kaya if  your maid really has the intent to pilfer/steal -- she will find lots of ways to do it.  The only deterrent we can easily implement is consistent tracking.

hahaha I know I know.grabe naman ang maid! That's what's I'm doing now, talagng track the clothes. I told hubby to make sure to remember what clothes he wore for the week and make sure he sees them back the ff week. I cannot check for him naman. hehe

Oh well, tiyaga lang talaga but could be a waste of time!!! Thanks for the inputs!

[aquacharly]

LEENEY B -- pics of what specifically?
                 PM me email add -- but strictly, no distribution ha

Kasi, LOL -- baka ma pin down na ng SIL ko my identity beyond question -- at ako naman feel nya saksakin.  LOL   

[kaiz]

found this from the net:

Obsessive- Compulsive’s Guide: Top 12 Organizing Tips, Plus Resources

Is your life in disarray? Do you have trouble finding things? Do you constantly forget stuff? If so, don’t worry — you’re like most of the human population.

Disorganization is a natural state of order. It takes an obsessive-compulsive (like myself) to get the chaos of the universe into some form of organization.

If you have a desire to get organized, here are my favorite organization tips … stuff I’ve learned along the way, from other sources and from experimentation. And a list of some useful articles at the end, for those who need more.

1. Everything in its place. If you just followed one tip on this list, this would be it. Practice this, and you can skip the rest of the tips and articles listed in this post. Seriously.

So how do you do it? It’s simple. For everything that you own, designate a place for it. You can even label some of those places, to make it easier to remember. Find something that doesn’t have a place? Designate a place for it. Then simply put things back where they belong when you’re done using them. It sounds simple, but it actually takes a lot of practice to get this habit down.

2. Start small. If your life and your home and your office are all incredibly disorganized, don’t try to conquer all of it at once. Choose a small chunk (maybe the top of your desk, or at least one part of it?) and organize that. Then come up with a simple system to keep it organize, and try to practice that system until it becomes habit. Now expand your “zone of organization” further, to a new area. One chunk at a time, you can get organized.

3. Create routines. One of the best ways to keep your life organized is to make routines for everything — for errands, laundry, finances, etc. And if you do this one at a time, and make it a habit, you can optimize your life this way.

4. Clean as you go. This is a great habit … instead of having big cleaning binges, clean things as you go. Done using some dishes? Wash them right away. Clean the toilet when you finish using it, so it never gets dirty.

5. All info in one place. Use a text document, a wiki, or some other type of system to keep all the information you regularly use and need in one place. You’ll never look for it again. Read more and also see how to organize your family with a binder.

6. Put it away now. Done using something? Most people will put it down somewhere nearby, with the intention of putting it away later. But messy houses and offices are full of these intentions. Instead of letting things pile up, put them away immediately. Right now, no exceptions.

7. Use an inbox, and empty it. Instead of having papers all over the place, have one inbox for all incoming papers. Well, one for your office, and one for your home. Now you’ll never lose a piece of paper again. Empty it regularly (at whatever regular intervals work for you — daily, weekly, every other day, etc.).

8. Keep a simple filing system. If your filing system is too complicated, chances are you won’t use it. Use this simple system to keep your files in order.

9. Google Calendar. It really doesn’t matter what calendar system you use, but I’ve found that Gcal works best for me. It’s so simple and fast, and as an online calendar I can access it from anywhere (as can my wife). We share a Google Calendar, and we put everything on it: work stuff, personal stuff, our kid’s school and extracurricular events, birthdays, family gatherings, reminders to follow up on things, school holidays, and much more. It keeps all our scheduling in one place, and we never have to worry about remembering again. Other good calendar options: 30 Boxes and Outlook are also popular.

10. A simple system for pending items. One reader recently wrote to ask me how she should organize her pending items, such as plane or theater tickets. I suggested she create a “Pending” folder to hold those items, and make a note of each item on her calendar. For those that are attached to a specific date, she could note the item on that date (”Theater tickets for 8 p.m., in Pending folder”). For items that she wants to remember periodically, she could make a note on the first of each month (for example) … so on the first of next month, there is a “Pending items” notation on her calendar, with a list of items in the Pending folder she wants to reminder herself about. If she doesn’t need to remember them yet, she can move that item to the first of the next month.

11. Make your system usable. If you’re having problems with your organization system, take a careful look at what’s tripping you up. Sometimes there’s a difficulty or complication that makes the system too difficult to use. If it’s too difficult, you won’t use it. Keep it simple and usable — if possible, even fun — and you’ll be more likely to stick to the system.

12. Create a landing strip. When I get home, I empty my pockets and put everything onto a tray near my doorway. My wife does the same. Keys, purse, my ID and cash, cell phone, anything. This way it doesn’t get tossed on our counter or table, and we never have to look for it or forget it when we leave.

[aquacharly]

THANK YOU, KAIZ. 
Great KISS list.

God bless.

Comment ko lang -- with the calendar thing.
Here in the Phils. you gotta share your home calendar with critical house staff like the yaya, drivers and cook at least.
            Ganoon din sa office -- your secretary should be able to access it too.  And make it clear to her that any additions/changes must 1st be pre-approved by you.   

[greenpease05]

Whew! just finished reading all the posts here. I'm glad I bump into this thread. As I am on my way to live in the Phils soon.

sis aquacharly, your posts are so informative it gave me an idea on how to run my household in the Phils. Kailangan ko talaga ng galamay to help me run the house. =) Medyo malaki ang area eh di ko kaya mag isa unlike dito sa flat namin in HK. Dalawa lang kami so most of the time hubby and I know already where things are.

hmmm... so now after reading all your posts I'm planning to make a housekeeping manual for the whole house. hahahaha!
 

OC na ba ako? Sa tingin ko hindi pa naman. i just want to put things in order bago pa mang magrambol rambol ang bahay ko sa pinas. =P

[quennna]

galing galing..
pabasa ko kaya sa house tong thread na ito? =))
sa house, makalat..
pwede na nga gawing museum eh
ang hilig magtambak ng gamit father ko, kahet sira, tago pa rin..
kaya ako, ang gawa ko, kumukuha ako ng di na talaga pwedeng pakinabangan then sa office ko itatapon.. LOL..

[lyn]

Ako OC lang when it comes to organizing books, statements, important papers. Kailangan by file yan and alphabetical order. Everything should have a document, like if you paid the bills may notation date, time, check number, account number, paid in partial or paid in full. Each have its folder or envelope. Even receipts kinikeep ko. I go crazy pag tinatapon yun sa hubby ko what if we need it for reference dba?

But regarding cleaning not too much. Enough na sa akin if it looks fairly clean.

And yes, I always like things even. Kailangan pantay2x, like dates, arrangements sa mga things like frames, shelves etc.

Kaya I love watching MONK series because I understand his being Obessesive Complusive nya.

aquacharly, grabe hats off ako sayo. I wish I can do that.

[lyn]

Another thing, yung paglo-lock din ng door chi-nicheck ko yan twice or three times. Even sa car, if hindi ako ang gumawa (like it was hubby) I keep on asking him kung sure ba cya. Sometimes he has to grab me if I go back just to check for sure. I remember also I'll let someone else do the stuff I'm suppose to do but I'm not satisfied sa result, kaya ako na din ang mag fi-finish. But I really try to make some of it slide, especially when hubby or anyone else will say to me, why don't you do it yourself then. Hehe

I don't want kasi na ipaiiral ko yung pagkaOC ko. Sometimes I have to bite my tongue or keep my mind wander/think of something else para hindi ako palaging nagiisip sa bagay na yun.

[kaiz]

sis aquacharly, in your manual, how long does it take for your cook to prepare your meal?

i want to make din kasi a schedule of the helpers dito sa bahay

[aquacharly]

KAIZ!  --   How long does it take for my cook to prepare a meal?

20-30 min. max. per meal.
Breakfast is 1 chix/meat ulam/combo + a veggie dish + a fish/seafood dish + soup. 
Dinner is all the above plus a green salad (my kids and I prefer salads to "wet veggies -- LOL that is what my son calls sauteed or cooked veggies)

This is achievable due to 5 systems in place.
This is loooonnnngggg, and well -- I hope it helps you with managing your helpers' sked.    Or, just skip it . 


1st System:  MENU PLANNING
I have a 2 week breakfast and dinner menu, including a weekend menu with snacks.
So, wala nang time wasted on kaiisip -- ANO LULUTUIN? 
Walang kaba ang cook na her ingredients are incomplete.
(if I get around to cooking, well that is extra to add to the set menu).
 
2nd:  ORDERLY MARKETING
Every Friday AM after breakfast -- my cook gives me 4 lists that is based on the menu for the coming week:
           Grocery, Palengke, Santi's & Monterrey
Each list must be specific as to quantity and cut (even brand if reqd).
For the chicken for ex. -- kelangan nakalagay --  for ex.  2kgs deboned quarter legs, 1 whole chicken adobo cut, etc etc.

Madali gawin the lists kasi hindi ba I mentioned previously that at the back of each recipe eh nakalagay the ingredients' quantitities and naka segregate in 2 columns as to whether palengke or grocery.  So halos no-brainer na pag gawa ng lists. 

Cook  faxes the last 2 lists to my secretary (yes, all my maids must know how to operate the fax machine)  who in turn, faxes to Santi's and Monterrey & confirms pick-up the next AM. 

Saturday AM -- palengke and grocery day (my sukis are given the lists by my cleaner, even the chicken suki -- so antay na lang.  Now my palengke suppliers know marekalmo ako so they send only what is fresh.) 
Same deal with the grocery.
(I think the driver of the kids can now do the grocery kasi he pushes the cart for my maid)

Sunday AM --- the cook goes to the North East Greenhills Sunday market at 6AM to buy the fish and other seafoods.  And whatever else I decide to cook that day.  But I do not cook every week ha. I cook well but it is not something I like to do often.   

KAIZ, generally we buy only what we need for the next week.
But the grocery staples -- what is not perishable, usually I have a 3-month stock.

Also medyo complicated --  kasi my househelp have their own 2-week menu.
I do not know what.  I just give them a budget. (I have 6 female household staff, 3 drivers now -- dapat maging 2 lang yan -- and a "poolboy" na matanda na who comes on 3 mornings/week and also eats lunch 3x a week.) 

The bills for family and house staff are separate. 
(I audit all bills.  Now and then, I also check -- I have a kitchen weighing scale -- if the timbang is accurate.  Parang surprise/spot audit. LOL)
But with a menu to follow, and sukis  -- hindi madali ma-ngupit.


3rd:  1 DAY COOKFEST

After the palengke/grocery on Saturday --  what can be marinated is marinated and chillled na.

A lot of the chicken and beef/poor ulam are all cooked on Monday after we have all left the house.  The cleaners help the cook with the prep work.  Beef kaldereta, lechon kawali, chicken adobo, etc mga ganoon.  When the cook heats on another day -- just add the veggies required.

Now, sometimes pag ganado ako, I have the cooking done on Saturday -- when I do not feel like going out.  Basta Kaiz, there is that Sat or Monday cook fest.

The timesaver and effort saver here is that -- we double what we cook.  1/2 will be eaten in 2 weeks.  So there is that week when less cooking is required.   

4th:  CUSTOMIZED FOOD STORAGE
When we freeze anything, each pack is good for 1 cooking.
With seafood/fish it is 1 serving for 1 person per pack. 
Parang Lego kasi it is my husband only who eats fish with every meal.
As for the veggie pangsahog (pork, shrimps) -- we also freeze in single-serve portions -- convenient for the cook.  Kasi, it is my husband who eats ginisang veggie all the time.

Kasi hindi ba KAIZ, what makes cooking time consuming is generally the defrosting.  So if you freeze and store per your single-meal/single-serve preference -- madali for the cook.

KAIZ, if I did not have these systems in place -- my husband would have driven my cook and me crazy.  Kasi he decides what he wants to eat 15 or 30 minutes before he sits down to eat.

So my 5th SYSTEM is that my cook has a list ready for presentation to my husband  24/7.    It is a single short bond listing, in her writing, under my set headings:

                        FROZEN SEAFOOD/FISH
                        LEFT-OVER FOOD
                        FOOD IN CHILLER
                        COOKED FOOD IN REF  (refers to stand-by/ extra)
                        VEGGIES

He will ask what is our food (eh di per the menu), add what fish/seafood and veggie he wants cooked -- and eat all that.  (Kaiz, hindi sya mataba -- how unfair nga.  Wala din sya bulate -- pina test ko na din sya for that.)

 As for the SUPPORT SYSTEM -- during the cookfest, my 2 cleaners help with the chopping, pagbalat ng garlic, etc.  But it is the cook that does the cooking.
While we are eating --  my long-time cleaner helps to serve.
That is all. 

KAIZ, my cook cleans the Service Kitchen and our Daily Dining with my adjacent kitchen.  She cleans the freezer and refs all by herself too.  She also cleans my Formal Dining Room (which we use every weekend only). Plus she is responsible for keeping track of all my kitchenware, tableware, table linens, etc.  (There is an inventory listing for all that.   

She is able to do all that, and meets my standards 90% of the time, because of the 5 systems in place. 

IF you need help, and well some people sew or cook or mahjong  to relax -- I formulate systems and dance mostly --  I can help you declog your cook's major blocks.  Kanya kanya kasing lifestyle, so kanya kanyang system.   

KAIZ, hindi sa tamad ako but well -- I like to pass on to people what are no-brainer or simple tasks.  To maximize their time diba.  If you de-kahon them,  napapansin ko they can do so much more in a shorter period of time, with less tension on their part.   (So iniisip ko nga just now if I can make the kids' driver do the grocery Friday afternoons.  He has so much spare time waiting for the kids and sleeping. 


KAIZ! -     Nakatulog ka na?   


post modified to delete the large empty space after the post.

[kaiz]

^grabe sis! certified OC ka nga  thanks thanks. will make a menu na lang tonight.. for next week ya. dito muna ako start

[greenpease05]

grabe sis aqua, nababaliw ako sa yo pero helpful talaga. Minsan kasi pag di mo nabigyan ng instructions ang mga helpers they tend to make chismisan lang o d kaya kulong sa kwart to watch TV. =(

Okay din to maximize what you pay for them. At walang sisihan.

[marcy1]

sis aquacharly, ang galing talaga ng posts mo. very informative. also like to thank you for being so generous in sharing your system/s.  sana you can share rin some of your recipes and menu.