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5 Great Ways To Get Rid Of Unwanted Items Before A Move

Posted on by John Conde

Although moving can be a stressful time for many people, it also provides a great opportunity for you to purge your life of items that you no longer want or need. Your moving costs will also be less expensive if you have fewer household items, and you will be able to start a clutter-free life in your new home. Fortunately, several ways exist for those who are moving to get rid of items that they would prefer not to take with them. Following are five options for you to consider when deciding how to dispose of certain household items.

1. Consignment Shops

If you have clothing or accessories that are of good quality and show minimal wear and tear, you may be able to sell them through a consignment shop. Consignment shops will keep a certain amount of the sale price and send you the rest after the items are purchased. Although consignment shops frequently only deal in fine clothing, jewelry, handbags and other accessories, some carry items such as furniture and household decorations.

2. Good Old-Fashioned Thrift Shops

While consignment stores are usually somewhat selective about items that they will accept, thrift stores will generally take anything as long as it is clean, in good repair and usable. Many thrift stores will also pick up items from your home, saving you the hassle of loading things into your car and driving to the store locations. Keep in mind those items given to thrift stores are donations that you will not be paid for. If the value of your donations is of considerable worth, however, you may be able to obtain a tax credit.

3. Have a Garage Sale

Having a garage sale is a good way to quickly get rid of things you don’t need anymore. Be sure to advertise your garage sale in your local paper as well as put up signs around your neighborhood. Some people offer leftover items for free after their sale is over.

4. Craigslist

If you have household or personal items that you would like to sell but don’t want to organize a garage sale, consider putting an ad on Craigslist or another free advertising site. You will be able to show the items to interested parties at your own convenience, and it’s possible that you will be able to make a significant sum of money on your unwanted personal items and household goods. Another option is having an online garage sale through an auction site, but you may not be able to dispose of things as quickly as you like if you go this route. You will also have to package items and ship them if the buyers do not live in your geographical area.

5. Give Things Away to Family and Friends

If you have household things that you won’t be needing in your new home, take a look among your family and friends to see if anyone needs anything that you would like to discard. For instance, if you are moving to a smaller place because you are downsizing or retiring, that large dining room table may be perfect for the young family in your circle.

Most people find that getting rid of superfluous items allows them to feel as if they are starting fresh in their new environment.

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How To Make Your Bathroom The Best Room In The House

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

It is probably fair to say that the bathroom is not top of many people’s lists when it comes to their favourite room in the house.  Most people would probably say the bedroom, followed closely by the lounge or living area. The bathroom would likely be some way down the list, and perhaps even be ranked lower than the kitchen!

What we cannot understand is why you wouldn’t want the bathroom to be one of your favourite rooms, and give it the attention it needs in order to become so.

The Bathroom Attitude

Most people view their bathroom thus: “I only spend a short time in there having a shower and brushing my teeth, so why bother making it a place I want to stay?”

There is some mileage in that argument, for sure, but surely the answer is that if the bathroom was a welcoming, calming place, you would want to spend more time in there?

How can you make your bathroom the best room in the house?

Put Some Thought Into Decorating It

We don’t mean that you have to go and paint the walls in bright colours, but the least you can do is make the décor just a little more inviting. This might mean tiles instead of laminate on the floor or applying a lick of fresh paint to the walls. You don’t need to spend a lot of time and money, but just make it similar in terms of care and attention to the rooms where you do love spending time.

Buy Some Books

Simply put, the modern bathroom needs books. Not only will it impress visitors, it also gives you the perfect excuse for you to draw yourself a hot, deep bath, pour a glass of wine, and sit and relax for an hour while getting lost in your latest novel.

A search of ‘ideal books for bath time’ in Google will give you a number of great ideas, including for those of you who might want to read to children while they bathe, so that you can always have something at hand to fit the mood and atmosphere.

Ensure Your Shower is Awesome

While you don’t want to spend any longer than you need to in the shower and so wastewater unnecessarily, the transforming powers that a great shower have are unrivalled. Where else can you step in half asleep, and step out of five or ten minutes later ready for everything that the world is ready and waiting to throw at you on a particular day?

If you have an awesome shower, you can rule the world.

Go For Scented Candles

Whether you are having a short, sharp shower or a long soak in the tub, scented candles are a great way to switch off and escape to another world while you’re in the bathroom.

Whether you go for a cheaper option from a supermarket or put your faith in a brand such as Yankee Candle, you will be ensuring you make your bathroom a tranquil paradise that you simply love spending time in.

Put all of these tips into practice, and you’ll immediately be bumping your bathroom up the list of your favourite rooms at home.

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5 Swimming Pool Maintenance Mistakes To Avoid

Posted on by John Conde

A commercial swimming pool often needs a lot more maintenance and care than your average backyard swimming pool. Sometimes, this is due to the massive size of the pool, while other times it may be because of how frequently it used by a large group of people. Whatever the reason may be, maintaining the swimming pools can help organizations and business owners save a lot of money in the long run. Here are 5 common maintenance mistakes that one should avoid when dealing with a commercial pool.

Adding chemicals during the day

Adding chemicals to the pool during the day is perhaps the most common swimming pool maintenance mistake. Chemicals, including liquid chlorine, work a lot better if you add them after sunset. Keep adding chemicals during the day and you will find that they are not as effective as you had hoped. Also, the chemicals you have added will not last for too long and will have to be replenished often, casing maintenance costs to go up. Add chemicals during the night and you will find yourself spending a lot less money on purchasing them.

Letting the pH levels soar

What is the point of adding chlorine to the pool if it isn’t allowed to do its job? In order for chlorine to be active, the pH level of the pool water has to be within a favourable range. As a rule of thumb, never let the pH level go above 8.0. This is the extremely common in commercial-sized swimming pools where pH levels tend to soar. If the pH level hits 8.5, the chlorine is only 10-15% active, which makes adding chlorine to the pool water an exercise in futility.

Backwashing filters too often

The filters in a swimming pool work best when they are clean. However, in the name of maintenance, the DE and sand filters are often over-cleaned. This is one scenario where it is actually possible to have too much of a good thing. As long as the needle in the pressure gauge is sitting on ‘clean’, there is no need to backwash the filters; the backwashing won’t do any good and you’ll just end up wasting a lot of water. When the pressure goes up by 8 psi, that’s when the filters should be backwashed.

Not running the pumps long enough

In an effort to save money on power bills, it is not uncommon to run the pumps for short durations. However, though you will be saving on electricity, the swimming pool will suffer. Circulation is crucial for ensuring a good swimming pool and not leaving the pumps running for long enough is a major oversight. Generally, leave the pump running for an hour for every 10 degrees.

Failing to maintain chlorine generators

Ignore cleaning the chlorine generators for too long and it will end up damaging the salt water system cells. If the cells get corroded or calcified, the will not generate chlorine and you will have to spend a small fortune to get them replaced. Clean the cells regularly to prevent calcification and check them at least once a month for signs of corrosion.

Avoid these 5 common gaffes and your commercial pool will be perfect for a long time to come.

Author of this post, Ashley Parker is an architect who specializes in landscape design. Her latest achievement is the award-winning design of a giant garden and pool area of a luxury hotel. She collaborated with commercial pool builders to incorporate an infinity swimming pool as a part of the design. Her hobbies are writing and cycling.

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Why Should You Buy Rugs For Your Home?

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

When you move into a new home, there are so many things to do that you often forget about some of these things. Naturally, you can never forget to buy basic furniture pieces such as beds, sofas, the dining table, and similar stuff. However, there are those things that always seem less important than all the others, and that always seem to get left for the end. One of these things are commonly rugs, and you should know that this is a mistake you will want to avoid – as there are many great reasons for buying rugs for your home.

Aesthetics

One of the reasons for buying rugs is the fact that they can be a great addition to your home décor. Modern rugs are very versatile, and they come in many different designs, colors, patters, and shapes, and they are also made from various materials. Therefore, a wisely chosen rug can add style and elegance to your room.


Comfort

Naturally, a thick and fluffy rug will feel heavenly under your feet on a cold winter’s day, and this is a feeling that cannot be substituted by anything else. Walking around your home without rugs can often feel like walking down the street, and your home should always have that feeling of something special and warm. Therefore, get some rugs, place them around your home, and enjoy the feeling of walking on proverbial clouds.

Heat Insulation

Another benefit of getting rugs for your home is the fact that they are great thermal insulators. When you have a rug under your feet, winter temperatures will seem higher to you, and you will spend less energy on heating – and this is a fact. Therefore, if you want to save some money on your energy bill, invest in buying rugs for your home.

Floor Preservation

Owing to the fact that people all over the world have to think about saving money anyway they can, it is logical to think about keeping your home in pristine condition for as long as you can. This goes for floors too, but it is usually difficult to keep your floors as new, as you walk on them each and every day. Well, instead of destroying your hardwood floors inch by inch, why not walk on rugs and keep your floors intact?

Safety

Even though this isn’t the first thing that comes to your mind when someone mentions rugs, the fact is that floors are often the cause of accidents, especially when they are wet. When you place rugs on your floors, the chances of someone slipping and falling down will decrease dramatically.

Acoustics

Did you know that some apartment building have a regulation which says that 80% of your floor must be covered with rugs and/or carpets. The reason for this is that the neighbors from downstairs will suffer from the noise your feet make when you walk across your uncovered floors. If you place rugs and carpets in your home, you will not only do a favor to your neighbors but also reduce sound echoes in your entire home.

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Preparing Your Home For Water Damage Restoration

Posted on by John Conde

You could have gone through all the proper steps to take preventive measures against water damage in your home through regular maintenance, but unfortunately, things didn’t work out to your advantage and now you’re stuck with a mess. Even if you just bought a new home It doesn’t have to take a big rainstorm and consequent flooding to result in water damage. Your home may have the misfortune of encountering burst pipes or suffering from unknown leaks, and before you realize it, you must act quickly to avoid further destruction from rot and mold. The good news is that with proper cleanup and water damage restoration you can salvage your home and personal belongings.

Identify the Source

Identifying the source of infiltration is the first step to managing water damage. If you come across stains that lead you to discover water draining down walls or dripping from the ceiling, your problem probably lies in a faulty roof that needs immediate repair. Hopefully, you can detect a burst pipe or leak from the sound it makes and determine the need to shut off your home’s water supply right away.

Dry Out Items

Assessing the damage before you jump into cleanup mode is imperative for water damage restoration. As you go through the house noting exactly what needs to be tended to, you should be working to circulate air and dry out all areas exposed to moisture with open windows, fans, and dehumidifiers. All household items need to be dried out to conclude if there is irreversible harm.

Clean and Sanitize

Floors, walls, furniture, and personal items will all require different treatment solutions. Anything that can withstand bleach, including drywall, plaster, and tile, should be washed a couple of times and completely dried out again to get rid of any traces of mold. A steam cleaner should be used immediately on soaked carpets and upholstery. Clothing can be laundered or dry cleaned, and any books, papers, or important documents can be freeze-dried if there are no signs of mold growth. Any unimportant damaged items you find that you can really do without should be thrown away.

Recheck and Reseal

Once you’ve dealt with the urgent matters straight away, you should begin to take new action to minimize further damage. Check for any leaks that can occur around windows, doors, and through roofs and reseal openings or replace shingles. Seal cracks in walls and the foundation, inspect all plumbing, and look for termite destruction in wood structures.

It is always best to bring in a water damage restoration professional to fully evaluate the situation and advise you on things that just aren’t salvageable. Mold is especially difficult to eliminate in carpet and furniture. If not treated properly or if kept when they should be tossed, these items can cause significant long-term health problems. Although you won’t look forward to the money it will cost you, due to weakened materials and rotting, water damage restoration may involve necessary renovations to ensure your home stays strong and standing.

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