Perhaps you’re looking to move home. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about renovating and clutter is making it difficult. Perhaps one day you simply wake up and realize you have too much stuff. Whatever the reasoning, it’s time to downsize and there are plenty of ways to do just that, to give yourself some breathing room and maybe even make a little money in the process.

What to get rid of

How do you make sure you’re getting rid of the right stuff? There are plenty of tips on items to get rid of. Know the difference between clutter and decor, first of all, and don’t feel compelled to throw away things you love looking at just because they don’t have an obvious practical purpose. Things that are aged past their usefulness, aren’t likely to be used any time soon, or simply don’t get you enthusiastic about keeping them should be on the chopping block.

Make use of resale potential

Of course, any items that could be sold should be sold. You should look for item resale sites and try to be specific about where you sell what. General auction sites are good if you need a sale relatively quickly, and garage sales are even better for that purpose, but if you have time, you should try to get as much as you can. Sell old electronics to people specifically into electronics, and sell unwanted art on art trading sites, and so on.

You don’t need to get rid of it immediately to get it out of the home

There are some items that might have some sentimental value but don’t belong in the home. Or perhaps someone would like it, but you can’t give it to them immediately. Or perhaps it has a lot of resale value but you need time to find a buyer. For items that you want out of the home but can get rid of just yet, consider options like storage pods, instead. There are cost-effective ways to store items that you don’t have an immediate use for. Just make sure that they’re not left lingering there without a purpose for too long.

Be smart about recycling

If you’re throwing items away, then make sure that you’re doing it as responsibly as possible. There are going to be plenty of services near most people unless you’re out in the sticks, that will take recyclable materials of all kinds. If you’re smart, you might even be able to make some money by recycling, as well. For instance, almost any digital electronics, no matter how old, can be given to recycling companies for a little cash. It might not be a whole ton, but it can help you pay for moving expenses if you are moving.

The sooner that you start getting organized, the sooner you can open up some space in the home and make better use of that space. Or perhaps you simply might want that space to enjoy a little more breathing room. Whatever the case, the tips above can help.

You likely keep your home as clean as you like, picking up clutter and cleaning the truly dirty areas, like the kitchen and bathrooms, on a regular basis. However, no matter how attentively you tidy up and wipe down your home, it could still be a toxic environment if you have the following common items in your home:

Carpet

Brand-new carpet is no small investment, and it can do wonders to make one’s home feel clean, fresh and cozy. Unfortunately, brand-new carpet is also one of the most significant sources of toxins in the home. Often called “new car smell,” the odor that accompanies brand new carpet is actually volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are gases that can irritate the skin, eyes and throat and cause damage to the respiratory and nervous systems. Worse, long-term exposure to VOCs can have exceedingly serious health effects, like certain types of cancer. VOCs are used in the adhesive that secures carpet fibers to its backing, so it isn’t possible for homeowners to wash them away.; though VOC off-gassing can diminish over time, carpet VOCs might never disappear entirely.

Ripping out your carpet and replacing it with a different type of flooring can help, but you need to be careful of the type of flooring you choose. Laminate and vinyl flooring can be just as bad at emitting VOCs as carpet. Tile and natural wood floors are your best options for keeping indoor toxin levels low.

Paint

Indoor paint color trends change every year, and many homeowners repaint regularly to keep their interiors feeling fresh. Unfortunately, doing so is certainly introducing excess toxins into the indoor air, which can make a home feel unclean and unhealthful, even if it looks on trend.

Like carpets, paint contains high quantities of VOCs, which in this case act as solvents to keep the colored pigments mixed with the other ingredients. VOCs are the reason pregnant people are advised to avoid painting the nursery; some VOCs can affect the reproductive system, resulting in miscarriage, early labor, birth defects and other issues.

Greater awareness of VOCs has led some paint companies to create low- and no-VOC products, but you should be careful to investigate exactly what that means. It might be better to use more natural paints and pigments, like milk paint and chalk paint, which have never contained VOCs, or wallpaper, as long as you use a VOC-free adhesive.

Furniture and Mattresses

The most dominant items in your interior décor could be major sources of indoor toxins. Typically, furniture undergoes extensive manufacturing processes, which oven subject it to all sorts of chemicals that can off-gas VOCs into the home. Wood furniture, for example, can contain pesticides, adhesives, stains and sealants that emit VOCs. Couches, cushioned chairs and mattresses can contain foams and synthetic fabrics that are similarly toxic, and they also tend to be sprayed down with VOC-producing fire retardants.

The solution here is the same as before: Get rid of furniture that could be toxifying your home and replace it with pieces that are known to avoid VOCs. You can find non-toxic mattresses that utilize natural materials to provide comfort, but doing the same with other pieces of furniture might be more difficult. You might see if your mattress manufacturer offers furniture options as well, which is the case with larger natural and sustainable brands.

Candles and Air Fresheners

You don’t want your home to smell stale or stinky, so you probably light scented candles to generate more pleasing aromas. Though there is little evidence that burning wax is dangerous to human health, the scents used in these products often involve VOCs, particularly formaldehyde and benzene, which can irritate the skin and respiratory system. For this reason, you should avoid plug-in air fresheners as well. An essential oil diffuser is your best choice for healthfully scenting your home, but you should be careful to use essential oils properly to avoid negative effects from this source.

Cookware

When you cook a meal from home, you usually want it to be a combination of delicious and nutritious — but if you are using non-stick pots and pans, you could be introducing toxins into your food. The chemical that prevents adhesion to pots and pans — called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — wears off into food over time. Studies show that it causes damage to the liver, thyroid and immune system.

Fortunately, there is a wealth of alternatives to non-stick cookware. You can use stainless steel, glass, ceramic or iron pots and pans to avoid PFOA in your kitchen.

You might think your home is clean, but there are some clear signs that your home is filled with toxic chemicals. If your eyes, skin and respiratory system are regularly irritated or if you suffer from chronic dizziness or headaches, you might look into replacing any of the above products around your home with safer, healthier alternatives.

The living room rug can be a game changer on how the space looks and feels. It can either sit in harmony with the room or make a big statement to add a whole new vibe to the living area. Whether you are looking to give your living room a quick spring refresh, or starting from scratch and looking for inspiration, we have many gorgeous living room rug ideas to spruce up your space.

Living room rugs have many useful practical attributes. These natural insulators cut down on draught and heating bills. Besides being soft and comfortable underfoot, rugs soften footfall and absorb noise. And when it comes to style, what better way than rugs to add colour, pattern, and texture to your living room space?

Here are some trendy living room rug ideas that you can seek inspiration from. There are lots of rugs online sellers that you can from and you can use the following guides to design your space:

1. Layer Up Your Living Room Rugs

Layering rugs is an easy and inexpensive way to add some textures and patterns to a living room. The key is to choose a large area rug in a neutral shade, made of sturdy material like jute that will ground the subsequent rugs you put on top. Then, add layers with either a small single rug in the centre, or multiple overlapping rugs.

2. Choose An Area Rug to Work With Your Layout

Pick an area rug as a starting point and design your living room furniture layout based around the rug. Use the rug as walls and float the furniture around that rather than pushing them all against the edges. Allow breathing room between the furniture pieces so that there’s more light flowing around the space. Make sure the rug is placed centrally and it’s big enough to sit your furniture fully or partially.

3. Use Rugs to Create Zones

For a large or open-plan living room space, you can use rugs to zone your space. Basically, instead of partitions, you throw down different rugs with different vibes to lend a separate feeling to each space. For example, if your living room, kitchen and dining table share an open-plan space, add in a rug to the living room space to give it a separate feeling. Highlight the kitchen area with a low pile runner and use an area rug under your dining table.

4. Use A Corner Sofa And A Rug To Create A Nook

A great décor idea for open plan living rooms. Position a corner sofa atop a rug that’s slightly bigger in size, instantly creating the effect of a cosy nook within the larger room. Add a small coffee table in the centre, and voila you have your mini living room!

5. Let Your Rug Decide The Colour Scheme

If you’ve got your eyes on a colourful rug, go for it and decide the colour scheme of the rest of the space based on the rug. You could also use a rug featuring bold patterns as a contrast to a neutral living room. Team it up with furnishings in accent colours to add a punch.

There is no doubt about it that wintertime is one of the more difficult periods within a year to try and move. Many factors need to be kept in mind during the winter, plus having to move around and pack your belongings in the cold doesn’t help your case either. Most moves, whether it be long-distance, short distance, or even a business moving, are all in the summer months. It tends to be easier and far more predictable to move in the summer months thanks to the weather and the fact that it’s much warmer outside.

November through February are the months that tend to be off-peak for moving companies. This means that it can be fairly more affordable to move, and it’s far easier to find some reliable moving services to assist you in your journey. These tips will help you and your family out when moving during the winter season. 

Image credit

Keep your winter wear close

Whenever you’re packing up your belongings, you’ll want to make sure you know where all of your winter wear is located. This includes sweaters, hats, gloves, coats, and anything else to keep you warm during the move. You’ll want to make sure that you have all of your winter clothes readily available so it may be best to have those packed up last so you know where they are at all times.

Stock up on winter supplies

When it comes to winter weather, there is no telling when you may be stuck in the snow, in rain, or some type of nasty weather. You should always keep some items well-stocked in your cars such as a first aid kit, space blankets, salt, shovel, and an extra cell phone to call for help. While it may not be likely that you’ll be stranded in your car, you should always look for ways to be prepared in case an emergency hits.

Cover your floors

Whether it’s snowy outside, or all wet and muddy from the rain, you’ll want to avoid trailing that inside your home. To combat this, you can lay out some plastic tarp to walk on, a trail of cardboard, or even place everything outside on a tarp. It’s important that your floors stay protected so it’s best to try your best to avoid anything getting on them. It can be tricky achieving this during the winter months.

Make sure your utilities are turned off

Just right before you move, it’s best to get your utilities turned off at your old home and have the new home be fully functional with utilities. This also includes making sure that any storage units you were using get cleared out. The last thing you’ll want to deal with is arriving at your new home in the middle of winter and there isn’t any electricity. So it’s best to be sure that once you arrive, your new home is fully functional. It can sometimes take up to a couple of days, so be sure to plan out everything accordingly.

You are unlikely to spend a lot of time in your garden during the winter. Additionally, your garden will require less attention due to the cooler temperature and lack of plants that may thrive. However, now could be a good time to start thinking about cleaning up your garden before winter so that you don’t have as much work on your hands come spring. It’s natural that you don’t want to spend too much money, particularly at this time of year, so check out these suggestions for how to care for your garden before winter arrives.

Protect your wood

Water seeping into cracks, freezing, and breaking the wood may swiftly affect and destroy hardwood furnishings and decks in cold weather. Water softens wood, which causes it to decay, which is a huge nuisance if you’ve invested a lot of time and resources on your garden. Rather than sitting back and watching things happen, invest in some hardwood varnish to reduce the likelihood of having to replace it the next year. This will allow water to flow off rather than sit on your hardwood surfaces, leaving your furniture and decks looking like new for next year. It’s also a smart idea to cover wooden furniture with tarps throughout the winter to protect it even more.

Bring the heat

If there’s a chance you will be entertaining in your garden over the winter, whether it’s for a family tradition or for bonfire night, you’ll need to keep everyone warm. Why not look at fire pits for sale to gently burn and keep people warm? They’re cosy, super useful for heating snacks, and they look great too. It’s a no brainer.

Rather than replacing, repair

It’s reasonable that as Christmas approaches, you don’t want to spend money on replacing any damaged parts of your yard. Paving and concrete can deteriorate and even break as a result of use and weather conditions. Re-enforce this by hiring paving contractor Lubbock to touch up the concrete.

Prevention is key

Weeds are a hassle, and you probably won’t want to spend more time in your garden digging them out in the winter. Preventing weeds from growing is a smart way to solve this problem, and weed killer can be found in almost any home store or supermarket these days. Your garden will look as fantastic as it normally does after a fast spray treatment.

Conduct a last clean-up.

Finally, as has been said several times today, you will not want to spend too much time gardening during the winter months. As a result, you should conduct a last clean-up of your garden to avoid having to do so. It involves giving your grass, bushes, and trees a last trim, removing dead plants, making sure fallen leaves don’t litter your yard, and even refreshing your bird feeder so the birds don’t go starved this winter. As a result, you can relax and enjoy the celebrations without worrying about your garden!

Your home is a reflection of you. It provides a sense of comfort and security when you walk in after a long day at work, or it can be the place where your kids run around and play games with their friends. Maybe you just moved in or you’re looking for ways to spruce up the place. Whatever the case, some simple and inexpensive changes will make all the difference when it comes to revamping your living space. In this article, you will find four ways that might be right for you.

Flooring

Flooring can be very tricky if you don’t know what you are doing. I would recommend having a professional come and do it for you if you are unsure about what to purchase. There are so many different wood floors and tile types that can look very modern and add an old rustic charm that will give your home the illusion that it’s been in the family forever. Conduct extensive research on the pros and cons of laminate vs vinyl before embarking on a flooring project to brighten your home. You want to have the best chance of success when you undertake something like this, and flooring is no different. The type of floor you decide on will depend on the style of your home, just like everything else. Just make sure to get a matching and stylish vent cover for your flooring as well!

Redo your walls

The color of your wall can significantly impact the feel of your home, whether you want to go with a bold color, something bright and cheerful, or a more neutral color that blends seamlessly into the background. The end result should be something that you love. You can try painting them in two different colors, painting one wall of every room a different pastel color. For example, you can make one wall white and another blue or pink. You could also print portions of the walls to create attractive and creative patterns. If this is too bold for your taste, why not go with some wallpaper instead? There are many wallpaper patterns you can choose from, and the best part is that it is removable if you ever want to re-decorate.

Get rid of unnecessary things

We all love our stuff, but sometimes we need to take a step back and evaluate what is necessary and what can go. It will give your home a much more open feeling. If there are any things that you have not touched in years, why not donate them? It’s never fun feeling cluttered, so give yourself some breathing room by removing excess items from the house and making room for fresh and modern interior design. You can also consider taking a trip to your local thrift store and see what they have in stock. You never know what kind of hidden gems could be at the back that

you need to develop a bit of vision for it. There are so many things out there that people no longer want but would work perfectly for your home.

Upgrade the bathrooms

Adding new and upgraded accessories to your bathroom can work wonders for your home. It will give it a unique look and feel that the previous owners may not have provided to you. There are many accessories out there, but make sure they all match each other and the house’s overall theme before installing them in their place. Upgrading the bathrooms can be a pricey ordeal, but it is well worth it. This investment may also increase the value of your home because everyone needs an excellent place for their guests to use when they come over, and this will give them that experience every time. If you want to go even further, companies like the Auld Building Company can completely renovate your bathroom space to incorporate luxury features that make it feel more modern, such as recessed lights. The bathroom is probably, after the kitchen, the most important room in the home to communicate a calm home, so don’t neglect it.  You know your home more than anyone else does. You know what works and doesn’t, so use this information to your advantage when upgrading or changing your house. Home improvements can be rewarding, but they’re also costly if you choose to do them all at once. Start with one of these ideas and see how it goes before continuing to the next project. The more love and attention your home gets from you, the better the place will be in years to come. You can’t go wrong by investing in something as important as where you live.

Plumbing leaks can be one of the most annoying and detrimental problems that you face as a homeowner in Bethesda. Leaks cost you money in wasted water, time spent trying to fix them yourself, plus costly repairs if they are allowed to escalate into more severe issues.

Here are the types of plumbing leaks and how to remedy them with the help of a plumber Bethesda.

Worn Out Seals or Gaskets

The rubber seals on washers, toilet flappers, faucet fixtures, etc., eventually wear out over time. When they do, you’ll start seeing water dripping from your sink or toilet. Replacing these is simple and relatively quick with standard household tools.

Loose Hardware Pieces Small pieces of hardware like nuts, bolts, washers, or screws can wiggle loose over time, causing water leaks. Look for any loose-fitting parts under your sink (faucet connectors) or near a showerhead and tighten them back up if necessary.

If your leak is further down the line from a connection, you’ll need to remove the piece to tighten it up, as it will be impossible to do so through the existing piping.

Cut off the rusted part using a hacksaw at your desired stopping point, then re-attach it with an epoxy suitable for use on metal pipes after cleaning both surfaces completely first with alcohol, as this will allow for a strong bond.

As you can see, this is not a very straightforward process, and it would be wiser, safer, and less time-consuming to simply hire a plumber in Bethesda to do it for you instead.

Failed, Burst, or Deteriorating Pipes

Plumbing leaks caused by corroded, deteriorated, or burst pipes are not always as easy to find as the other causes since there aren’t many indications until it’s too late.

If your home doesn’t have an internal inspection system like a water meter, you should check your exterior faucets (inside and out) each year for signs of these issues.

They often appear in the form of discoloration or flaking around washers or fixtures after years of neglect where moisture has corroded the metal piping underneath the outside faucet.

Your indoor fixtures (sinks, showers, and tub) can also go undetected for years before they start to leak when these types of problems arise. A simple way to check your in-house piping for signs of deterioration is to turn off all your faucets and then slowly run your sink and tub faucets, one at a time, until you hear the water running slightly.

This will tell you if any of the valves or fixtures in that line is leaking water into the wall cavities where it can’t be seen easily. If this happens, call a plumber immediately as these pipes are much more likely to burst and must be replaced immediately.

Leaks from Water Heater Tank

A leaky hot water tank often goes unnoticed for many months before an issue becomes noticeable since people tend not to use their hot water for much except hand washing and dishwashing in that period.

A slow drip the size of a dime per minute (or slightly less) can cost you up to 10 gallons or more per day which will add up over time quickly to become an expensive problem if not addressed promptly.

Your local plumber will be able to install an inexpensive temperature and pressure relief valve that fits on top of the tank’s drain valve. This is highly recommended regardless of whether your hot water heater is old or new.

Plumbing leaks of any type need to be taken seriously and must be attended to before they get worse immediately. Water is a valuable resource, don’t waste it. Your plumber will be able to determine the best solution to fit your home and budget.

Man Collecting Water In Bucket From Ceiling. Ceiling panels damaged huge hole in roof from rainwater leakage.Water damaged ceiling .

Mold is a really common, and really unwelcome, visitor in many homes. It is one of those things that can creep up on you and before you know it, it has pretty much taken over your house! So, it really is pretty important that, as far as you can, you take steps to prevent it BEFORE it becomes a problem.

With that in mind, here’s what you need to do to stop mold from getting a hold over you:

Keep moisture out

It’s obvious, but if you want to keep mold out of your home, you first need to keep moisture out of your home. Mold thrives where there are areas of dampness and humidity, so you need to remove as many of them as possible. From hiring a roofer to ensure your roof is free from cracks and holes to replacing old weatherstripping and repairing any leaking pipes to setting up dehumidifiers in your home, anything you can do to keep humidity levels under 60 percent will go a long way to preventing mild from becoming a problem for you. 

Clean and disinfect regularly

If there are areas of your home that you know are prone to getting moldy, then it is so important that you clean and disinfect them on a regular basis. It only takes two days for a fresh growth of mold to take hold, but if the place has been recently disinfected, it will never get the opportunity in the first place. If the first signs of mold have already appeared, a steam cleaner and bleach are a great combo for killing it stone dead and keeping it at bay.

Ensure laundry is dry

When you do your laundry, you should always ensure that it is 100 percent dry before you put it away. A failure to do so could mean that there is an excess of moisture in your closet, and that could cause mold to form in no time at all, and unless you’re regularly checking, it may be a while before you notice it. A moldy closet, as I’m sure you’ll agree, si far from ideal because it can quickly spread to your clothing, so never put anything away that isn’t bone dry! 

Open the windows

Fresh air and sunlight are great for keeping mold at bay, so pen the windows and let as much of them both in as you can, unless it’s raining in which case, you may be better off keeping them closed to avoid any water getting in. Regularly opening your windows is a great way to keep your home smelling fresh too because, of course, it lets bad smells out as well as it lest frsh air in.

Maintain the HVAC

An unclean HVAC  is a veritable breeding ground for mold, so change the filters regularly and have it serviced at least once every year if you want to prevent mold from taking over your home.

Mold is nasty and potentially dangerous so don’t let it take root in your home!

It is so important that you take the time to maintain your appliances not just because they will last you longer, but there are plenty of problems that can occur in a home environment. One of the most dangerous is carbon monoxide. It’s an odorless, colorless, and toxic gas, and could kill you before you are aware of it in your home. Let’s show you exactly what you need to do to protect yourself from carbon monoxide. 

What Are the Sources of Carbon Monoxide?

There are a number of different sources in the home. From gas stoves to furnaces, leaking chimneys, and unvented gas space heaters. At low concentrations, carbon monoxide can cause chest pain and fatigue but with prolonged exposure, CO could contribute to reduced brain functions, blurred vision, and possibly angina. But at higher concentrations, there are a number of symptoms. These include confusion, dizziness, headaches nausea, and can prove fatal. 

How Can You Reduce Exposure to Carbon Monoxide? 

It’s so important to make sure that any combustion equipment is maintained. If you have a furnace at home, a furnace repair service can inspect your central heating system. It is important that this is done annually, and if there are any leaks in your central heating system, that these are repaired as soon as possible. 

Additionally, you may want to consider purchasing a vented space heater if you are replacing an unvented one. And if you are looking at purchasing a wood stove, while these look amazing, make sure that they are certified to meet the emission standards of the EPA. 

Additional Prevention Methods

There are so many things that we can do to make sure our home is safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. It is completely preventable, and now you know the symptoms, you have to make sure that there are many of these components in place. For example, you will need to check or change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector every six months. It’s important to have a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector. 

Additionally, if you have a garage, do not leave the motor running in a closed space like your garage. You should never run any motor vehicle or generator less than 20 feet from an open window vent or door because if the exhaust can vent into an enclosed area, this is exposing that space to carbon monoxide. It’s important to remember that enclosed spaces are where the risks of carbon monoxide run high. You should never run any gasoline-powered engine inside an enclosed structure, even if the windows and doors are open. And if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, you have to call a healthcare professional or 911 right away. 

Carbon monoxide is often called “the silent killer.” Because we cannot detect it, this is why prevention is the best course of action. If you are ever concerned, you should never be on the fence. Make sure that you conduct your due diligence because it is so important to protect your family and yourself.