CONTENTS:
i) Simple Maintenance Methods
(ii) Care of common goods
SUB-TOPICS 1: SIMPLE MAINTENANCE METHODS-
Cleaning: This is done with the use of cloth and water or foam and oil to clean a surface of an object or equipment. E.g. Furniture, glass, ceramics, plastics.
Washing: Is done with water and soap or detergent. Washing in those days was done manually but nowadays washing machines have developed due to technological advancement. Such devices include washing machine for cloth materials, rugs and floors or tiles.
Dusting: This is carried out with a napkin or soft textile material to remove or wipe off dust from the surface of an equipment or furniture.
Sweeping: floors sweeping is part of maintenance activities carried out on the building. Sweeping is usually done with brooms. Nowadays, sweeping can be done using a product of technology which is a modern sweeping machine called vacuum cleaner.
Painting: Painting is the application of paint (gloss or emotion) on the surfaces of a structure or equipment. Wood polish serves as paint on wooden materials such as doors, windows, furniture (chairs, table, beds) to prevent the surface from corrosion and insect attack. Painting of the walls, floors and roof is also necessary to protect the building itself.
Lubricating: is carried out on equipment whose members are rubbing one- another in the course of operation. It simply means to apply oil or grease to rubbing parts at their points of contact to prevent or reduce friction.
Replacement of damaged parts (Repair): In some cases, some appliances may require minor repair work or total replacement of the damaged parts/components. This is therefore a corrective maintenance which has to be carried out by an expert.
EVALUATION
Discuss 5 simple maintenance methods that you know.
SUB - TOPIC 2: CARE OF COMMON GOODS
(i) Kitchen wares: - Kitchen wares are made up of cooking utensils, plates, cutleries and frying pans; they do not need much maintenance. The golden rule to ensure continued use is that these must always be cleaned after use and kept dry.
(ii) Electronic appliances:- stereo sets comprising tape recorders, radio, turn-tables, amplifiers and loudspeakers, as well as video sets, comprising television receivers, video recorders and video games have brought many types of entertainment to our homes. These goods usually require no maintenance at all. These entire gadgets must be regularly dusted and protected against power surge. Where there is a breakdown due to one fault or the other, it is the service personnel who can attend to them. All the same, there are simple procedures which can be carried out in order to ensure continued use. In this case, owner’s manual or operator’s instruction book is the source of information on the care of a particular gadget.
(iii) Telecommunication Appliances: they should not be allowed to drop from hand or table. They may be repaired as well.
(iv) Household Furniture: - Household furniture usually consists of the following: chairs, beds, cabinets, tables and chests of drawers.
In order to ensure good use and long life, the following procedures should be followed:
• Regular clean up. Furniture must be regularly cleaned of dust and any other dirt, with the use of dry cloth.
• Once a week, or less frequently, depending on the environmental condition of the area, examine the furniture for possible insecticide, attack as such insect
• Ensure that the vanish on the furniture is not removed. Vanish prevents deteriorating and attacks by insects. It also gives the furniture a shiny and beautiful appearance. Furniture should be polished regularly to maintain its appearance.
• Check regularly for damage, especially at the joints, and either fix it or call in carpenter.
(v) Electrical gadget: - Refrigerators, fans, pressing iron, electric kettles, air conditioners are some of the electrical goods found in the home. Proper procedures for use and care are given in the owner’s manual, which must be read thoroughly before any attempt to unpack and operate the units.
The following procedures will help to keep these units in good operating condition:
1. Electrical kettles should not be left to boil dry. There must be enough water in the kettle to cover the heating element completely at all times it is used.
2. Fans must be cleaned of dust regularly. In the process of rotating the fan, blades collect some dust which is deposited mostly on the edges of the blades. Such dust absorb moist from the air and cause the blades to rust.
3. Fridges and air conditioners need no attention. It is recommended that regularly physical inspection is carried out in order to detect any unusual sign impending breakdown.
4. If a unit fails to work, a preliminary investigation should be carried out. The following will help:
(a) Physically examine the power cable to ensure that it is not broken at any point along it.
(b) Check that the power cable is connected well in the plug
(c) Physically examine the unit for obvious signs of failure.
If after all these checks the unit is plugged in, switched on and yet fails to work, call in the service personnel. Electrical gadgets are to be regularly checked for naked wire, or burnt to prevent electric shock. They should be cleaned by dusting regularly.
EVALUATION
1) ‘When serous faults arise in household items, it is necessary to call in a service personnel.’ Why is this so?
2) How do you take care of common goods?
READING TEXT
NERDC Basic Technology for Junior Secondary School 2 chapter 12 Pages 127-141
ASSIGNMENT
1. What is ‘simple domestic maintenance’?
2. Describe the procedures or measures to take in order to ensure long life of household furniture.
3. Classify household equipment and state the methods of maintaining each of them.
Further Studies
- Furniture
http://www.slideshare.net/katherinegane ... re-8223533
http://www.indobase.com/home/furniture/ ... aning.html
http://www.abodebangkok.com/simple-tips ... ture-care/
- Kitchen wares e.g. pots, cutlery and knives, etc.
http://www.ifood.tv/blog/how-to-maintai ... g-utensils
- Electronics e.g. radio, television
http://www.ehow.com/way_6022632_prevent ... nance.html
http://mobilehacking.org/electronic-dev ... nance.html
http://www.europrocleaningservice.com/e ... ic-gadgets
- Other appliances e.g. refrigerator, fans, pressing iron, electric kettles and air conditioners.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-re ... iances.htm
http://housewares.about.com/od/homeesse ... ndmtce.htm
http://www.domesticappliances.co.za/maintenance.html
