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Life & Style.

 

‘The Other Press guide to life: cleanliness part two)

By Keating Smith, Staff Writer

Puneszne household
cleaning products doesn’t
need to cost you an arm and

a leg, especially if you're
working with a student budget.
However, if you hold off ona
brew night with the boys and
use the money to buy a few
essential cleaning products for
your residence, they can last you
quite some time and make those
unwanted science experiments
you have growing in your pad
disappear effectively.

Where to buy from: Avoid
purchasing cleaning products
from stores such as Safeway,
Thrifty’s, Superstore, London
Drugs, Save-On-Foods, or any
convenience store. Unless they
have a sale on or you partake

in clipping coupons like an old
lady, you will pay a significant
amount more for these products
at those stores. Instead, buy
them from places such as the
dollar store or Army & Navy.
These places will generally have
the same types of product, but
with significantly lower prices.
Another place to consider is a
bulk store such as Costco; if you
do not have a membership, find

a friend or family member who
does. You will acquire more than
what you need but that’s fine as
it means they will last longer.
Finally, one of the best-kept
secrets for purchasing cleaning
products here in Vancouver is
from the Vancouver Flea Market
on Terminal Avenue.

What to buy: In no particular
order you should have the
minimum: Windex, toilet bowl
cleaner, Pine-Sol, LYSOL spray,
vinegar, bleach, dish soap, a
mop, a bucket, a broom, and any
type of abrasive cleaning pads
(some brands include Scotch-
Brite or 3M). The cheapest way
to acquire rags for cleaning is
by cutting up old cotton T-shirts
you no longer use or going to
the Salvation Army and buying
some.

Do not buy: Swiffer dusters,
Bee Mops (complete garbage),
and specialty cleaning rags.
Avoid paper towels if you can.
Newspaper works just as well as
paper towel does and you have
my permission to use this page
to clean whatever it may be
when you are done reading this.
If you are still feeling like
these purchases may all be a
little too much for your budget,
then hot water with a touch

Before you g0

The preparation and
apprehension of travelling

By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer

S youve decided to trade
in the comforts of home
for the adventurous world
abroad. Good choice, but there
is more to travelling than just
hopping into a car or stepping
onto an airplane. Sometimes
we get so focused on the
beaches, foods, and activities
we forget that we are not
entering a big playground; we
are entering someone’s home,
natural habitats, and a different
functioning society. These are
important things to take into
consideration before you depart.
While some friends would
look at you with envy, others
will eye you with trepidation,
worried that you might not
return. You can spin a globe
around as long as you want and

never land on a perfect country.
Every place has their own unique
problems, whether it is poverty,
political disputes, natural
disasters, or all of the above. It is
true we are fortunate to be living
where we are, but bad things

can happen anywhere at any
time. Despite this, it is important
we make choices that sustain

of vinegar or bleach and a rag
will suffice when cleaning any
surface in your home. Before I
forget to mention this, do not
mix bleach with ammonia or
make a concoction with multiple
cleaning mixtures unless you
want to inhale some deadly
gases and take a trip to the ER.
If you think I’m joking, you
should know that this kind of
mistake is common. Finally, if
your microwave resembles the
set of a bad horror movie, you
can place a bow] containing
lemon juice and water inside it,
let it nuke for two minutes, and
wipe all that splatter off using
little to no elbow grease.

So there you have it, fellow
Douglas students. I sincerely
hope that this has helped you a
little, especially if you are living
on your own for the first time
and no longer have your parents
around to look after such
household tasks. Good luck, and
don’t be afraid to take a little
time out of your busy student
life to make sure everything in
your house looks legit . Maybe,
just maybe, you will find the
chaos of school a little less
intimidating if you have a clean
and organized place to call
home.

You don’t just go some place

to check it out!” He seemed

outraged by my response, as

if I had irresponsibly booked a

flight to the moon. The old man’s

disapproval stayed with me for a

while, but he was wrong... life is

all about checking stuff out.
Now that you have your

passport renewed, required

 

Keating Smith, showing you how it's dane | Photo courtesy of Jude Hussain

Any teeth, joint, or head pain
should be properly assessed
before departure. Your travel
companions do not deserve to be
your nurse for the length of the
trip. And unless you are staying
at an all-inclusive five-star

hotel, try to get into reasonable
shape. You won't be running
marathons, but sightseeing can

Just imagine someone coming to your hometown and vandalizing

6

cuss, and dont fight.

personal growth. I remember a
conversation I had with an older
man on a connecting flight in Salt
Lake City. I asked him where he
was going and he said, “Atlanta,
Georgia to visit my family.” Then
he asked me the same question
and I replied, “Quito, Ecuador,

to check it out.” “Check it out?

visas, vaccinations, traveller’s
insurance, plane tickets, and
packed bags there are few less
tangible necessities that you
should consider. Make sure you
are physically healthy. I know
you are a trooper, but believe
me the smallest aggravation can
ruin your long-awaited vacation.

your property because it was okay where they grew up. Odds
are your bad habits will look bad in any country. Dont spit, don't

be a strenuous activity.

Next, you must do some
research about the culture.
Wherever you end up going,
understand that people don’t
always agree on the same
customs. Tourists often feel
immune to the law and plea
ignorance, but that is not right.

Just imagine someone coming to
your hometown and vandalizing
your property because it was
okay where they grew up. Odds
are your bad habits will look bad
in any country. Don’t spit, don’t
cuss, and don’t fight.

Not all locals enjoy tourists
waltzing around their city. Most
will gladly help you, but keep
in mind that they too have busy
schedules. They don’t have all
day listening to you fumble with
words to communicate. Have a
communication strategy if you
don’t know the language. Bring
a translator or a phrase book and
attempt to learn. You might feel
like an ignorant fool, but it is part
of the process. Plus, you are not
as good of a charades player as
you think you are.

Boarding time is
approaching, and you are
anxiously anticipating the trip of
a lifetime. Always be aware that
the worst-case scenario is just
right around the corner—but it
probably isn’t, so have fun.

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