Spring is almost upon us and it is time to start thinking and organising the spring- cleaning of your guesthouse. Besides the daily and weekly cleaning that needs to be adhered to we advise a total clean of your guesthouse at least twice a year and what better time to do it then now! It is time to give your guesthouse a new lease of life.  Before you pick up your duster, delve into closets etc, here are a few tips to help you de-clutter, clean up and revitalise your guesthouse with a minimum of fuss.

Before You Start:

There are a few things to consider so that the cleaning will be finished quickly as possible.

• Check your cleaning supplies.
• Assemble your supplies and put them in a bucket to take with you when you clean. Items such as cleaning rags, all purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, cleaning rags, feather duster, disinfectant, and furniture polish. If you are interested in ‘going green’, Kerry of Better Earth www.betterearth.co.za has an amazing range of household products.
• Get rid of the junk. Hold a garage sale. De-clutter your guesthouse and garage to turn trash into cash or think charity, there are many charity shops that will be more then grateful to you if you drop off your unwanted goods, from old clothes to books to household goodies. 
• Pick a week and start your spring cleaning.
• Make a list: Make a list of all things you would like to replace, fix or give to charity, and prepare a budget if necessary.
• Open the doors let the fresh air in: open all the doors, let the fresh air in, start some music and start working in the room.

Take it one room at a time

A common mistake that people make when spring-cleaning is moving randomly around the house.  Try to clean methodically from room to room.  This will conserve your energy and ensure that nothing gets missed out.

Clean your curtains

In order to prolong the life of your curtains and keep them looking as good as new, curtains need cleaning at least once a year.  You will be able to clean and iron most curtains, if the fabric is washable at the guesthouse.  It is important to release the pleats or gathers if curtains are gathered at the top and look for mildew.  Mildew often happens when the curtains rest against damp windowsills or against patio doors, so please remember to wipe down sills and windows frequently.

Rescue your carpets

Carpets accumulate a lot of dust, dirt and even fungi over time, this is unhygienic, unsightly and can be a potential health hazard.  Most of carpet dirt is loose and can be removed with regular vacuuming. To tackle those really stubborn bugs and stains, it's well worth hiring professional steam-cleaning equipment for a day.

Get your duvet dry-cleaned

Duvets should be cleaned at least twice a year. Now's the perfect time to do it, as you switch between Winter and Summer duvets.   Domestic washing machines are generally too small to clean duvets effectively.  Professional dry-cleaning is more likely to kill of dust mites and the allergens produced by them.

Clean your oven

If your oven is in desperate need of a clean after all of the Winter roasts, here is a useful tip to make life easier.  Mix some bicarbonate of soda into a thick paste, then smear it inside your oven - including the door - and leave for a few hours or overnight. Then you simply wipe it away with a damp sponge. No chemical cleaners required!

Clean out your pantry and kitchen cupboards

Remove everything from your cupboards and drawers, and vacuum them thoroughly inside and out, then wash the insides with soap and water. Moths and cockroaches love to eat, mate and lay eggs in dark, dusty, undisturbed corners.

Store away your winter blankets and bedding

Always wash or dry-clean your winter blankets and bedding before putting them into storage. Moths feed on the proteins in wool - and they especially love the food, skin and hair particles left behind. Store out-of-season blankets and bedding in cotton, breathable bags - never in plastic, as this can attract dust and condensation.

Think charity

Do your bit for good causes by donating any clothes, books, blankets, sheets, towels etc that you haven't used in the past year. Remember, charities will also be glad of books, music, films and home accessories. E.g:  www.ruralchild.org.za

Get your windows squeaky-clean

Now the sun is shining, it's time to get that natural light flooding through your windows.  Here’s a useful cleaning tip: Use  a spray bottle to mix together 1tsp washing-up liquid, half a cup of white vinegar and two cups of warm water. Spray this solution on to your windows and use a soft, dust-free rag to wipe clean.

Now is it time to use your vases and display the beautiful flowers that are in bloom

If your favourite vases have become discoloured with grime and greenery over the winter months, you can give them a new lease of life.  Use a few tablespoons of vinegar and add warm water, let your vases soak a few hours and now they are ready to use.   Buy yourself a bunch of spring flowers as a reward for all that cleaning...

Theme 2011

Forests-Nature At Your Service-

Forests cover one third of the earth’s land mass, performing vital functions and services around the world which make our planet alive with possibilities.  1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods.

They play a key role in our battle against climate change, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide.

On World Environmental day thousands of activities were organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more.  Do your part to show how important our forests are to you and make every day world environmental day.

Re-use and recycle!!!

South Africa is the most amazing place, during Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter there is always something to do and beauty all around.   With Winter upon us, here are a few ideas of things to do and places to go.

The World Famous Namaqualand Flower Route is a must.  The wild flowers start bloom­ing from July to October.

This phenomenon will never cease to delight and amaze anybody who experiences this
The Namaqualand Flower Route is roughly 5 hours north of Cape Town. The main areas being a series of drives that centre on the towns of  Springbok, Kamieskroon, Garies and Port Nolloth up the N7.
As there are almost  4000 different speciesyou could find many different selections of flowers from year to year.  We recommend that you take at least two to three days to explore, either by driving, hiking or cycling this area. 

The Sardine Run

Thousands of visitors flock to the KwaZulu Natal’s east coast to witness the Sardine Run, Aptly named  The Greatest Shoal on Earth, where millions of Sardines migrate annually.  The Sardine Run starts in Durban Saturday, 11 June 2011 to Saturday, 23 July 2011

The Sardine Run 

The Greatest Shoal on Earth, as it has been named, sees thousands of visitors flock to the KwaZulu Natal east coast to witness the annual migration of millions of sardines. Hundreds of thousands of dolphins, sharks, whales and seabirds follow the impressive body of sardines as they move along the coast.

It is truly a magnificent spectacle for locals and visitors. Visitors will also enjoy a full programme of entertainment, including cultural activities and music shows.

NOBODY SAYS WINTER IS BORING, HERE ARE A FEW OTHER NOT TO BE MISSED WINTER ACTIVITIES.

1. Winter is great for Hiking.  There are many amazing hiking trails around South Africa.  The beauty of hiking in Winter on a sunny day is that you do not have to wake up so early to avoid the mid-day sun.  Take something warm to wear, your celphone and plenty of water.
2. During Winter in the Cape the rivers are a lot less dry and so besides the cold, White water rafting is more enjoyable.
3. Unlike the Cape, Winter is dry sea­son in most of the coun­try. Since the days are warm and because it is dry, Winter makes for great game viewing. You will find more animals converging at the watering holes and there are no tall grasses for the animals to hide behind.  Daytime is cool and comfortable, but the evenings are cold, so make sure you go prepared with jackets, blankets etc.
4. Great White Sharks are known to be more active in Winter.  Take a trip to Seal Island and watch them hunting from the safety of the surface. For the more adventurous you can go Shark Cage Divng in Mossel Bay or Gansbaai.
5. Go to the beach! South Africa has spectacular beaches! What better way to spend a sunny Winters day then going to the beach instead of being cooped up inside.  Take a walk and clear your head with the crisp ocean air.  There are many amazing outdoor restaurants  on the beaches.  Treat yourself and your friends and family.  

So don’t despair, besides the above mentioned Winter ideas there is snow man building, Winter is the month for Rugby, support your team! Restaurants, skiing, health spa’s, craft markets, botanical gardens and so much more!

Go out there and HAVE FUN!!!!!!

If you weren’t able to make it to Decorex Cape Town this year, there are more design expos on the way, showcasing South Africa’s talented designers and filling you in on the latest trends.

Running from 21 to 23 May, the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg will host a brand new design event known as Grand Designs Live South Africa. Grand Designs, a hit television show in the UK, informs audiences about home renovation and design solutions. Based on the multi-award winning UK consumer event, Grand Designs Live will combine cutting-edge design products, interactivity and an eco-friendly message. Grand Designs Live aims to be South Africa’s top design and home show. Visitors to the event will be provided with ideas to help them create their dream home.

If you missed Decorex in Durban and Cape Town, you can still catch the event in Johannesburg later this year. From Thursday 5 August to Monday 9 August in the Gallagher Estate in Midrand, the multi-award winning show, now in its 12th year, displays the latest trends in everything design and décor related.

Decorex will be back in the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) again next year as well as the Design Indaba Expo, which will hit the Mother City between Friday 25 February and Sunday 27 February. The Design Indaba Expo brings together more than 260 exhibitions displaying the latest in advertising, architecture, craft, décor, film, fashion, graphic design, interior design, jewellery, new media, publishing, product design and visual media. All products are original, contemporary and innovative, and manufactured in South Africa. There will be much to do and much to see, including fashion shows, a short-film festival, a Design Indaba Kids Workshop, a designer bar, designer food and daily Pecha Kucha presentations. The Expo runs alongside the Design Indaba Conference which has been going since 1995.

View the talent South Africa has to offer and learn about new trends at these interesting and exciting design expos. Join in on the fun and satisfy your curiosity!

Cape Town’s International Convention Centre was the place to be this week, for anyone involved or interested in South Africa’s hospitality and catering industries. Run by Specialised Exhibitions, HOSTEX visited Cape Town for its eighth time since its establishment 24 years ago. The exhibition is held in Johannesburg every other year.

HOSTEX is the largest and longest-running exhibition of its kind in Africa and attracts high-level buyers and representatives from the catering, conference, restaurant and hotel industries. Anyone is welcome to view the latest showcase of market trends, products and services.

Visitors to 2010’s HOSTEX browsed a wide range of products and services, including bedding, furniture, kitchenware, beverages and foodstuff, among hordes of other interesting goods. Even colourful balloons and an on-site massage parlour had a place in the exhibition. Over 6 000 visitors, excluding students, flocked to HOSTEX Cape and were entertained by 220 different exhibitions. Endorsed by the South African Chefs Association, HOSTEX has been picking up in popularity over the years and visitors have come to expect to see certain products while also being introduced to new and exciting additions.

Visitors could leave the exhibition with satisfied tummies. Foods and drinks were available to sample and those who found themselves at the right place at the right time, could receive various giveaways. Over at the Global Pizza Challenge, audience members tasted the mouth-watering, original pizzas that were being created by some of South Africa’s top pizza chefs. 70 individual chefs applied with their recipes which were judged by internationally accredited judges. Applications were narrowed down to 30 contestants who were invited to take part in South Africa’s second Global Pizza Challenge, held at HOSTEX. The only rules given to chefs were that the pizzas had to be made from dough and have a tomato base, which meant there was a lot of room for creativity. One chef produced a chocolate soufflé pizza and another made his pizza out of smoked flour! The winner of the South African competition will be flown to Melbourne, Australia, where he or she will compete in the Global Finals.

A few metres away, more voices boomed on loudspeakers at the SA Chefs Pavilion, drawing visitors to this hub of activity with competitions such as the Student Skills Challenge, the McCain Tribute to Good Taste and a Restaurant Showcase Challenge, where audience members could get an inside look at what goes on inside the kitchen of some of Cape Town’s most popular restaurants.

Nearby, the HomeGrown SME Village showcased proudly South African goods and services. One such service was the Khayelitsha Cookie Company (KCC) which has been running for four years. While it is the end result that attracts customers to their business, the KCC does a lot more than just producing delicious treats. It’s the people behind the nutty fridge brownies and shortbread biscuits that make up the success of the company. The employees are all previously unemployed women from Khayelitsha who were hired by KCC without any skills. Focusing on employing single moms, the cookie company trains their employees and provides them with skills, creating a form of sustainable job creation. KCC is a non-government organisation currently not making any profit, so strong is their desire to give back to the community. Employees receive 30% shares in the company’s income, which will rise to 50% as soon as the company has paid off their funds, which comes close to R2 million. Employees are also given money for transport to and from the factory. Originally in Khayelitsha itself, the factory had to move to Maitland when they encountered problems receiving supplies. The Khayelitsha Cookie Company believes that their employees’ quality of life and self-esteem has improved since they have become a part of the company and thus they hope to expand to other parts of South Africa.

A large variety of products and services came together at HOSTEX this year and attracted visitors from diverse backgrounds, each with different interests. Members of the hospitality and catering industries who missed out this year, can become a part of this event next year in Johannesburg, or can wait for 2012, when HOSTEX will be back in Cape Town and filling out the International Convention Centre with curious, chattering crowds all over again.