Home Care Honor

Household Arts

Requirements

1. Have the Laundry Techniques Honor.

   Answer: Yes. Complete Laundry Techniques (HD-018) before Home Care. Laundry teaches washing/drying/ironing clothes and removing stains; Home Care advances to general cleaning, stove, refrigerator, bathroom, and complete household organization. — HD-018 covers washing symbols on labels, separation by color, bleach, and fabric softener. HD-004 (Home Care) is broader, including the kitchen, bathroom, and general care. The DSA manual requires the sequence. Both form a base of household autonomy essential for adult life.

2. Make a list of the cleaning products and tools used in a house.

   Answer: Products: detergent, washing powder, bleach, fabric softener, all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant, alcohol, bleach water. Tools: broom, squeegee, cloth, sponge, bucket, mop, vacuum cleaner, glove. — Neutral detergent at pH 7 does not harm skin/surfaces. 2.5% chlorine is the standard disinfectant (Anvisa). All-purpose cleaner uses quaternary ammonium. Microfiber cloth retains 99% of bacteria. A HEPA vacuum filters dust mites. Bleach water diluted 1:10 disinfects the toilet. Gloves prevent allergy to chemicals.

3. Describe how to keep stoves, microwave and/or electric ovens, and refrigerators clean.

   Answer: Stove: clean after each use with water+detergent, let it cool first; burners with baking soda. Microwave: a bowl with water+lemon for 3 min (steam), wipe with a damp cloth. Refrigerator: defrost monthly, wash with water+baking soda, dry well; cover food. — Baking soda neutralizes odor (refrigerator). Lemon steam loosens grease in the microwave (an Anvisa trick). Gas stove: clogged burners = risk of a leak. A refrigerator at 4°C is ideal (FDA). Microwave filters should be replaced every 6 months. Never use abrasive products on glass.

4. Under what conditions do microorganisms and insect pests develop? Know how to clean each of the following items: clothes closet, kitchen cabinet, sinks, and toilets.

   Answer: Microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) and insect pests develop where there is heat, moisture, dirt, scraps, and exposed food, in addition to poor ventilation and light. How to clean each item: 1) Clothes closet — empty it, wipe it with a dry cloth, air it out, let light in, use mothballs/sachets against mold and moths, and only store clothes that are well dried; 2) Kitchen cabinet — remove everything, wash with water and detergent (or a vinegar solution), dry well before returning the items, and keep food in closed containers; 3) Sinks — wash daily with detergent/disinfectant, scrub the drain, and clear scraps to prevent bad smells and insects; 4) Toilets (bowl, shower stall, tiles) — clean with bleach/disinfectant and a brush, at regular intervals, keeping the environment dry and ventilated. — Bacteria multiply at 30-40°C with moisture. Mothballs (naphthalene) repel moths. White vinegar kills fungus (5% acetic acid). The sink retains food in the drain — it attracts cockroaches. The toilet needs daily disinfection (E. coli). 2.5% chlorine is the Anvisa standard. The kitchen cabinet cannot have moisture (mold).

5. Describe the proper way to prepare dishes to be washed, whether in the sink or in the dishwasher. Correctly wash the dishes in your house daily for at least 1 month.

   Answer: Sink: pre-rinse + detergent with a scrubber + rinse + dry. Machine: remove scraps, organize, specific tablet, 1h cycle. Wash daily for 30 days and keep a record. — Ypê neutral detergent has a pH of 7. A vegetable scrubber is more hygienic than a synthetic sponge (it does not accumulate bacteria). A dishwasher consumes 60% less water than the sink. The Finish tablet dissolves grease+starch+protein. Always clean the scrubber after each use (leave it immersed in water with 1% chlorine).

6. Know how to clean rugs, carpets, pillows, upholstered furniture, walls finished with wallpaper, painted walls, floors, and windows.

   Answer: Rug/carpet: vacuum and steam. Pillow: wash with neutral soap+dry in the sun. Upholstery: vacuum and a damp cloth. Wallpaper: a lightly damp cloth. Painted wall: cloth+neutral soap. Floor: broom+damp cloth. Window: glass cleaner and newspaper. — Carpet accumulates 200g of dust/m²/year (USDA). A pillow should be replaced every 1-2 years (dust mites). Upholstery needs weekly vacuuming. Vinyl wallpaper accepts dampness; others do not. Homemade glass cleaner: 1 tbsp vinegar + 1L water. Newspaper does not scratch glass (microfiber). Sun kills fungi on the pillow.

7. Know how the garbage collection system works in your region. Correctly separate the garbage in your house.

   Answer: Collection 2-3x/week. Separate: organic (food scraps), recyclable (paper/plastic/metal/glass), residual waste (bathroom). Batteries at an eco-point; oil in special collection. — The National Solid Waste Policy (Law 12.305/2010) requires selective collection. Reverse logistics for batteries (CONAMA Resolution 401/2008). Brazil recycles only 4% (vs 35% in Germany). Composting reduces garbage by 50%. Waste-picker cooperatives receive recyclables (Cooper Vivabem in São Paulo).

8. How do you keep a house safe for children? Cite at least 5 measures, involving precautions with electricity, chemical products, sharp objects, and care when cooking.

   Answer: At least 5 measures to keep the house safe for children: 1) Electricity — cover the outlets with protectors and do not leave loose wires within reach; 2) Chemical products — store cleaning products, medicines, and poisons in high, locked places, in their original packaging; 3) Sharp objects — keep knives, scissors, blades, and tools out of reach, in drawers with locks; 4) When cooking — use the back burners of the stove and turn pot handles inward, preventing the child from pulling them; 5) General — do not leave buckets/containers with water, protect furniture corners, and install gates on stairs and windows. — These actions are essential to prevent common household accidents, protecting children from risks such as electric shock, poisoning, and burns. Most household accidents with children occur in the kitchen.

9. Keep your house clean and organized for at least 1 month, including:
   • Wash the floor
   • Dust
   • Change the bedding, cushion covers and slipcovers, and tablecloths
   • Make the beds
   • Put everything in its proper place
   • Clean the bathroom
   • Take out the trash

   Answer: Schedule: floor weekly, dusting 2x/week, sheets weekly, bed daily, bathroom 2x/week, garbage daily. Maintain the routine for 30 days with a checklist (date, task, OK). Ask for an evaluation from family or a leader. A before/after photo helps to prove it. — Marie Kondo method: tidy up by category, keep only what brings joy. Changing the sheets weekly prevents dust mites. The bathroom needs disinfection 2x/week (E. coli). 'Whoever makes the mess cleans it up' (club rule). Apps like Tody and Nesta help with organization. A study shows that organization reduces cortisol by 27%.