Bachelor Tips From
Barry Onmione
Your mother always told you to make your bed. You were forced to learn
hospital corners, tucking and folding techniques that would be useless
of course when you were finally out on your own.
I can offer a few
suggestions when it comes to bedroom management.
First, you
can start by eliminating the top sheet from your bed. This is a redundancy
issue--we only need one sheet on the bottom really. And hey, sheets have
two sides! When your bedsheet starts to become unmanageable, you can always
turn it over. With this technique you should be able to get another eight
weeks out of your bedsheet.
Odor-eliminating products
such as Febreze can be a godsend.
Pillowcases and comforters
can go for ages with a well-timed spray from time to time. (You can also
read more about Fabreze in my article about clothing and fabric management.)
Making your bed is
another issue that can easily be fast-tracked.
An old comforter
or sleeping bag will develop a certain rigidness after time. This is ideal,
as a quick snap can have your bed made in seconds. No more ruffling, fluffing,
and tugging. Remember, a bachelor has no need for fluffy girly bedspreads
or duvets.
And blankets never
need to be washed in any case. If you were to try, you could waste an
entire afternoon cleaning out the lint trap in the dryer! That's a task
you want to avoid at all costs.
Keeping pillows hidden
underneath your cover is also an excellent suggestion. This eliminates
the need for any coordination in your linen materials. If it's not going
to be seen, it doesn't need to match.
If sheets are an option
that you're not willing to work with, your mattress should be flipped
every six months or so. While this would seem an excessive use of your
energies, it will allow your mattress time to dissipate strange smells
and allow stains to dry and fade. This can also extend the life of your
mattress, and that in itself is a bonus.
Bedframes
can also be eliminated in an effort to remove the need to vacuum or clean
beneath your bed, although this may reduce the area where your adult magazines
can be placed. It's completely optional. (I go into more detail in my
article dealing with bedside material management).
Well I hope
these tips are of some use to you, the man on his own. I know it's hard
maintaining the bachelor life with all the pressures of society. Stay
single! |