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4 Ways To Create An Eco-Friendly Backyard

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The environment and taking care of it, are hugely important, and it’s something we should all think about more in our everyday lives. Many people are doing a great job in being more eco-friendly and using sustainable products, but if you’re wondering what else you could do, perhaps it’s time to consider your backyard.

When we think of being more environmentally friendly, it’s our homes’ insides, or maybe the transport we use, that comes to mind. However, there are also a number of ways we can make our backyards more eco-friendly; here are some ideas so you can implement the changes as soon as possible.

Eco-Friendly Fencing

One of the best ways to incorporate sustainable products into your yard is by installing eco-friendly fencing. First, the fact that this kind of fencing is made up of composite recycled and sustainable materials means that it’s already better for the planet than standard fencing. Yet there are more great reasons to use this kind of fencing too.

One of these reasons is that eco-friendly fencing will last longer than standard fencing. It’s stronger and more durable, and that means fewer repairs and a longer life for the fence; you’ll have to replace it much less. This is great for the environment as there is less waste.

Conserve Water

Conserving water is an essential part of being eco-friendly, and your backyard is a great place to ensure it happens. Look for every downpipe you have and install a water butt at the bottom of it. In this way, you are collecting any rainwater, which can then be used to water the yard rather than using water from your hose.

With the right setup (which you may need an expert to help you with), you can even use this collected rainwater within your home to flush your toilets. However, if you choose to use this water in your shower, it will need to be treated first.

Don’t Use Chemicals

When you use chemicals in your yard to combat pests or to help your plants grow better, those chemicals will leach into the soil and water systems, and cause problems for the environment. This is why they should be avoided as much as possible.

Instead of using chemicals, there are many natural ways to remove pests from your yard and to encourage better plant growth. You can try ‘companion planting’, for example. When you plant certain species of flowers or vegetables close to one another, they can ward off the pests that would normally plague their partners. Another option is to erect bird boxes in your yard; this will help to keep your slug or caterpillar problem down since you’ll have more birds around.

Encourage Wildlife

We’ve already mentioned how to encourage more birds into your yard is a good idea, but encouraging other forms of wildlife is also eco-friendly. The more wildlife you have in your yard, the more eco-friendly it will be.

Bees are especially useful, and since they are becoming endangered, if you can make a safe space for them in your garden, that’s a positive thing. To do this, choose flowers that have large, ‘open’ faces and are brightly colored. You can even install a bee hotel.

5 Things Your Kitchen Needs To Make It Multi-Use

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Thanks to the pandemic, there are thousands of families up and down the country that are now juggling working with childcare as well as keeping on top of the daily tasks that need doing. Therefore, if this is you, you’re not alone, and you will be pleased to know there are ways that can make this difficult task much easier. One of those solutions is to make use of multi-use spaces, such as in your kitchen.

Why Multi-Use Spaces?

Thanks to everyone being at home, your kitchen is likely to have been turned into a multiple-use zone, where the kids do their e-learning, you do your home-working, hubby does his work, and one or all of you still have to cook every day. These five tips will help you create a multi-use area that is perfect for busy families just like you.

A Kitchen Island

Kitchen islands, if your kitchen is big enough, are a really great idea for busy parents and families! They provide ample space for you to work on food while the kids work on their school work, and they look so good too.

To really make your kitchen island multi-use, don’t put the cooker on the islands, as this will mean less work surface space, but keep your island nice and clear. Have a look at granitetransformations.co.uk for some great inspiration for your next kitchen update.

Pop Up Electrical Outlets

If there’s one thing that’s lacking in older homes, it’s a good selection of outlets! Usually, outlets are located on walls. In kitchens, this could mean dangerous wires trailing while the kids (and you) try to charge laptops to do homework or watch TV.

Pop-up electrical outlets are the perfect solution, and when not in use, they can be pushed back into the island out of the way. Perfect!

Good Chairs or Barstools

You’ve probably found yourself doing more homeschooling than you were planning to do over the last twelve months, and if you’re like many busy parents, you’ve also found yourself trying to work at home while the kids do e-learning?

Make this situation better for you all and your bodies by getting good chairs or barstools for your kitchen and bar. Chairs that support your back and help you sit correctly for those long hours behind your laptop will benefit all of you.

Plenty Of Storage

Kitchens aren’t just places to make food anymore, and even if yours is just a food prep kitchen, it’s likely that you’re missing out on vital storage space that can be used to store all kinds of kitchen gadgets and accessories.

Getting a good variety of storage is important here, especially if you’re storing homeschooling supplies next to the cereal.

Easy Clean Surfaces

Last but not least, invest in easy to clean surfaces. More people at home for longer means increased risk in spilled drinks, pen breakages, and of course, the odd crayon finding it’s way onto your work surface.

Go for a nice granite, stone, or lacquered finish for your work surfaces to help with the clean up after the inevitable disaster that’s likely to happen!

5 Home Maintenance Tips for Busy Parents

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When you are a busy parent, it can make it challenging to keep on top of home maintenance, and it can feel like there is always something that needs doing. Home maintenance is hugely important, and putting this off could lead to costly repairs and a difficult living situation, so what are a few ways that you can keep on top of everything? There are a few handy home maintenance tips that will work well for busy parents and help them to keep their house in good condition while hopefully reducing stress at the same time. Read on to find out more.

  1. Create A Schedule

Creating a schedule is a smart way to keep on top of home maintenance as it allows you to make them a part of your routine and spread them out. It is easy to put off carrying out tasks such as cleaning or DIY projects, but when you write them down, it will be a constant reminder, and you will want to get the work done so that it can be ticked off the list.

  1. Involve the Kids

It would be best if you didn’t have your kids carrying out potentially dangerous work, but there are maintenance tasks that they will be able to handle and learning skills like cleaning and washing will develop their independence and self-esteem. It is good parenting to give your children chores, and this is also a smart way to lighten your load.

  1. Do It as You Go

It can be easy to sit there and think of what chores need to be done and then simply forget about them, which is why you should adopt an attitude of performing maintenance tasks as and when they pop into your head. If you put something in the rubbish and notice that it needs taking out, for example, then you should do it straight away as opposed to delaying it.

  1. Call Out HVAC Contractors

Your HVAC system is something that you will rely on heavily in the home throughout the year, and you certainly will not want to encounter any issues. This is why you should use HVAC contractors Waxahachie TX or those in your local area to perform maintenance and any repairs when needed so that you can keep the system running efficiently at all times.

  1. Tackle One Project at A Time

It can also be easy to get overwhelmed when you think of all the big and small maintenance tasks that constantly need doing throughout the year. Instead of juggling multiple different tasks, try to tackle just one project at a time or focus on one room to make it more manageable and minimize disruption.

Home maintenance can feel like a never-ending cycle and difficult to keep on top of as a busy parent. Hopefully, these tips will be useful and help you to keep on top of maintenance, reduce stress, and keep your home in tip top condition throughout the year.

A Workable Guide to Welding Containers and a Recommended DIY Project Idea for Your Backyard

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Have you ever driven around your neighborhood during the weekends and come across garage sells with containers on sale?

Now, if you are like me, I am pretty sure you wondered to yourself, “Why on earth would someone go through the trouble of selling containers?”

Well, if you have a backyard and have been trying to find a DIY project for your garden. Then keep reading on, I will explain to you a reason why you need to get your hands on a container or containers that are up for sale the next time you stumble upon a garage sale.

What can you do with Containers?

If you are looking to start planting potatoes or any other vegetable in your backyard, you could consider nurturing them in containers.

However, you need to keep in mind that you won’t find brand new containers in garage sales. Otherwise, what would be the point of purchasing a used container, when you could simply make a trip down your local hardware store and get yourself a brand new one?

The majority of containers in garage sales have split ends, and more than likely will require you to join the split ends by way of welding.

Here’s some good news for you, if you are passionate about preserving the environment, you could consider reusing these disregarded containers and put them to good use by welding them.

This is because once plastics are taken to the junkyard, they tend to pollute the environment since they aren’t biodegradable.

On the other hand, if they are shredded and reused, it often wastes one’s energy. So, the better way to put split plastics to good use would be through plastic welding.

How to Weld Plastic

It would help if you remembered that you don’t need a certification to make your DIY welding project a success. With careful research online, you can stumble across writeups such as this one that can help you get them done efficiently.

  • Step 1.  The first step towards ensuring a successful result in your DIY plastic welding project is finding a plastic welding rod covered with a non-heat conductor handle, and heat the rod. Once the material is heated for about 30 seconds, you can proceed to the second step.
  • Step 2. After heating the plastic welding rod, your next step would be to join the two split ends using the heated piece.

You go about this drawing the hot material from one split end to the other.

Your goal is to melt the plastic, so it bonds together.

You need to note that the material will tend to cool off after a few seconds, so you will need to ensure that you put it back in the flame to continue tracking your welding up and down the container’s split ends.

  • Step 3. Once you are done with welding, you can fill the container with whatever you need as good as new.

Four points to consider when planning your 2020 festive party

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With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic still greatly affecting everyday life all around the world, it’s not surprising that most people will be glad to see the back of 2020. However, due to the pandemic, you might not be able to celebrate the end of the year with a huge party as you would other years. However, all is not lost as with some additional considerations, you can still host a party this festive season. Here are four points to consider when planning your 2020 festive party.

1. In-person or on Zoom

Many regions around the world have tightened restrictions in an effort to prevent a spike in infection rates over the winter period, and as a result you may not be able to host a huge number of guests at your house. Throwing your party over Zoom can be a great alternative once you get past the awkwardness of being on camera, and has the added benefit of being accessible to friends and loved ones who you wouldn’t normally be able to celebrate with due to distance. If you do decide to have your party in-person, limit the numbers to only your nearest and dearest, and ensure that there is plenty of hand sanitizer and hand washing facilities available.

 2. Food and drink

From pigs in blankets to mulled wine, most people can’t resist the smell of delicious Christmas food and drink. If you’d normally host your festive celebration at your favorite restaurant, that might not be an option for you this year. However, ongoing COVID-19 restrictions do not stop you from enjoying your favorite restaurant meals, with many establishments now offering delivery services, bringing their speciality dishes to your own front door. For instance, you could order a vegetarian meal box delivery for a delicious meat-free feast. If hosting your party online, make sure all guests are armed with their favorite tipple. You could even have some fun by trying to recreate an online cocktail recipe.

3. Decorations

Nothing says ‘Christmas’ like a Christmas tree and fairy lights, and while you no doubt take great pleasure in your annual home decoration ritual, there are additional decoration points to consider for Christmas 2020. If you are planning on hosting a lot of parties on Zoom, make sure that your recording space looks aesthetically festive. You could record next to a roaring fire, if you are lucky to have one, or with your Christmas tree in the background. Or, if your recording space also doubles as your work station, add some Christmas décor for your desk. A miniature Christmas tree will look cute and Christmassy during your Zoom calls.

4. Entertainment  

You might decide not to plan any specific entertainment for your party, instead using it as a chance for guests to chat and catch up with one another, accompanied by some festive tunes in the background. Or, you could plan to play a few rounds of classic board games, or make some festive crafts.

Updating Your Property’s Electrics: A Guide

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To maintain the safety of a property, it is necessary to carry out repair and renovation work throughout the year. The electrical installations play a unique role. Naturally, cables and switches are subject to normal wear and tear, but modern devices and other electrical consumption points place different requirements on the installations than in the past. In addition to replacing power guzzlers, renewing them can often save energy. The power grid for the household’s supply is mostly invisible. This makes a renovation all the more complex. Also, technology is becoming more and more complex. Anyone who is making changes must pay attention to many different aspects.

Refurbishing electrics: The basis for proper planning

If the electrical installations are to be renewed entirely, solid planning is essential. As a renewal involves so much effort, old cables or sockets are not replaced as they should be. What is the case for many older houses, is that the installations have not been changed since it was built and since them, circuits and electricity points could have changed. Often people are unaware that this is a significant risk, as brittle lines can lead to short circuits and cable fires.

On top of this, various new regulations have been issued today to increase security. To ensure adequate protection against overvoltage and to equip the complex system of cables and connections appropriately for today, certain principles should be observed.

Modern upgrades with the best quality products

The number of devices that we use daily has increased significantly in recent years. Private households today consume around ten times more electricity than they did 50 years ago. Especially at this point, the ancient existing pipeline system usually shows significant deficits. In addition, due to the lack of sockets in a house, using an electric lead to allow for multiple plugs to be used simulously can lead to potential danger. For example, if the maximum possible power is exceeded, a fire can occur. The quality of electrical supplies plays a vital role too. You should ensure you have thoroughly researched your supplier and make an educated decision. You can refer to powerpointelectrics.co.uk for more information.

Safety is paramount: Refurbish electrics and plan several circuits

Shorter lines and circuits are safer than continuous cables from the basement to the point where the source of consumption is located. That is why it makes sense to install a power box on the property. Here, too, there are various points to consider:

  • Plan separate circuits: You should provide separate circuits for the individual consumption points, such as lighting, sockets, or communication lines should each be laid separately.
  • Adapt the number of circuits to your needs: Depending on the size of the property and the number of necessary consumption points, a minimum number of separate circuits has become established today.

When it comes to electrics, you should endeavour to be safe and ask professionals to step in where you can’t make the changes yourself. Even as someone with experience, electricity is a powerful force. Make those practical and beneficial changes to your home in an educated and secure way.

3 Ways You Can Add Value to Your Home

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Are you looking to up sticks and move to a new location in the foreseeable future? If you want to ensure that your prospective relocation goes off without a hitch, you need to start putting plans into place regarding the move now. The earlier you start preparing for this massive milestone in your life, the easier you will find it to avoid any problems that come your way.

There are a number of tasks that you should be performing in your attempt to prepare yourself for your move, one of the most important being to add more value to your current property. You don’t want to leave this all-important task to the last minute, simply because it might disrupt your move and, in turn, give you something else to worry about as your relocation deadline draws closer.

If you want to enjoy a stress-free move and subsequent financial freedom, you need to add more value to your current abode today. To unearth the secrets of what you must do to perform this crucial task, be sure to read on.

Enhance your bathroom

Your bathroom will have no doubt been blighted by instances of wear and tear over the years. To ensure that this damage doesn’t impact the overall market price of your property, you simply must make an effort to enhance this room in your home.

Not got any prior experience when it comes to enhancing bathrooms? Don’t worry, there are plenty of external sources of help out there that are willing to provide you with some assistance in this instance, one of which being Beautiful Bathrooms. As stated at beautifulbathroom.net, this team of specialist designers have the experience and knowhow required to transform any old bathroom into a luxurious wet room. With them by your side, you will no doubt find it easier to turn your design dreams into a reality and, as an added bonus, you will also be provided with some much-needed support when it comes to sourcing cost-effective bathroom equipment.

Add more living space

If you want to appeal to potential buyers that have big families, you should make an effort to create more living space within your property. You can introduce this additional space to your home in a number of different ways, a few of which include:

  • Converting your loft
  • Transforming your garage
  • Changing the use of your cellar
  • Building a conservatory
  • Knocking down walls that separate small rooms

Split your house into flats

Splitting your house into flats is another route that you can take in your attempt add value to your property. There are a whole host of people out there that want to rent small, compact living spaces, and embarking down this renovation pathway is the perfect way to appeal to this niche audience.

Of course, if you take this route, you will automatically become a landlord. To find out what you must do to succeed in this money-making venture, be sure to check out this helpful article on the matter.

How to Revitalize Your Home

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Whether you want to update your living space for your benefit, or you’re trying to get the house into good shape before you put it onto the market, there are many things you can do to revitalize your home. Some projects will require more time and money than others, but they could be worth it if you want to transform your house into a new and improved home. Below are some suggestions on how you can refresh your living environment and increase your property’s value.

Check for Structural Repairs

A good place to start when trying to refresh your home is checking for any structural repairs. These are essential things to look out for when you’re a homeowner, and it’s important to keep up with this kind of maintenance to make sure you and the other people living in your home are safe. Furthermore, keeping on top of these repairs will help you add to your property’s value.

Tidy Your Garden

Garden’s do take a lot of work, and if you haven’t been paying attention to yours recently it’s time to give it some TLC. The appearance of your garden can affect your property a great deal, which is why keeping the weeds at bay and your plants in good health are important. To give your home a new look, think about hiring a landscape gardener to redesign your garden, or plant some new flowers to add some more color.

Add New Features

A great way to revitalize your home is by introducing some new features to it. For example, installing a fireplace in the living room would add a new and dramatic focal point. A lot of models are easy to install, and you can even purchase reproduced fireplaces like the ones at stonewoods.co.uk. If this doesn’t sound appealing to you, then consider other features like smart tech for your kitchen or bathroom, or perhaps convert your attic or basement into a bedroom or study.

New Décor

Even a new coat of paint can make a big difference, and this is the most common option for people who are looking to update their living space. If you have the budget and want a professional finish, think about hiring a decorator to do this for you. If you want to be even more glamorous, an interior designer could help you revitalize your entire house for a fee!

Declutter

For a simpler way to refresh your home, take on the task of decluttering. It’s easy to gather a lot of unwanted or useless items over the years, and eventually, they will start to take over and leave your home feeling messy all the time. You can sell your unwanted clutter online if you want to make some extra money or donate it to a local charity store. Once you get rid of your clutter, you will be surprised at how much space you have at home!

There are many things you can do to revitalize your home whether you have a big budget or not. If you think your house could do with a few changes, consider the points above for your next home improvement project.

Home Management: Efficient Ways of Keeping a House Squeaky Clean

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Not too many homeowners are enthusiastic about cleaning their homes, and for a good reason. When you consider cleaning your house in its entirety, it can feel somewhat overwhelming. It is typically the reason why some homeowners prefer to neglect household duties, especially if they happen to spend a lot of time working in an office.

That said, dealing with household cleaning does not have to be a miserable experience! With the right mindset and a bit of preparation, it is more than possible to deal with household cleaning without too much trouble. Here are a few efficient ways of keeping a house squeaky clean!

Start with cleaning supplies

When it comes to keeping a home clean, it is all about being well prepared. For example, even if you might be motivated to work toward cleaning your house, it can take far too much time to accomplish without the necessary supplies. It would be a good idea to stock up on everything you need to ensure that things go smoothly.

You do not have to worry about tackling everything at once. All you have to do is purchase the supplies you need, and you can start working out how you want to handle the task at hand.

Without a plan of attack, cleaning a home can be tedious

If you do not plan how you intend to clean your home, you will end up with a disorganized mess – and you will not know where to start. In such situations, planning out your attack by setting a schedule would be the best way to deal with your house. A particularly good tactic would be to start with where you keep your cleaning supplies. Typically, cleaning supplies are kept in bathrooms, which is an excellent place to get things started.

For those who happen to be too busy to spend a substantial amount of time cleaning, you can set aside some time before bed to deal with your home’s clutter. If you pace yourself, you will accomplish so much more than you think.

What about the junk around the yard?

While cleaning your home and keeping things squeaky clean is all well and good, the heavier junk around your house is a different story entirely. It would not be a good idea to try to remove it on your own, especially if they happen to be junk vehicles. Fortunately, you can call professionals to help get the job done for you. When it comes to getting rid of junk, a professional junk hauling service is often more than enough. If you need help cleaning the interior of your home as well, you can hire professionals to aid you as well.

There is no denying that cleaning your home can be a tedious endeavor, especially if you do not have a set schedule or plan. Even if it might not be particularly fun, the tips above will help you deal with household responsibilities without pulling your hair out!

Keeping Your Family Home in Tip-Top Condition

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Source: Unsplash | Paige Cody

Are you tired of your home being a madhouse? Wish you could find things the second you need them and not two days later? If so, then it sounds like you need to get your home in tip-top condition.

Read on to find out how you can run a tighter ship in your family home.

Draw up a weekly to-do list

You need to get on with various tasks throughout the duration of each week to ensure that your home remains in ship-shape condition. Life does tend to throw the odd curveball from time to time, though, and most of the time, these curveballs are distracting enough to make you forget all about your chores.

With a to-do list to fall back on and check regularly, you wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting about your important tasks and chores. This plan will act as a constant reminder of your responsibilities, and, even if your chores aren’t set in stone, it will be sure to keep you on the straight and narrow with regards to what needs to be done by Friday each week.

Your weekly to-do list can be used as a way of ensuring that everybody in your household is pulling their weight. Once everybody is aware of their responsibilities, they can set about completing their individual tasks.

Do a bit of de-cluttering

Your home cannot be in ship-shape condition if it looks like a hoarder’s paradise. Quite simply, especially if you haven’t done so for a while, you need to partake in a spot of de-cluttering!

To be quick and effective when it comes to de-cluttering your home, you should:

  • Devote a whole weekend to your de-cluttering operation
  • Visualize your desired result before you start
  • Designate a spot for both incoming and outgoing papers (if you’re not careful, paper will account for most of your clutter)
  • Teach your children about where things belong
  • Don’t be afraid to get rid of things you no longer have any use for

Fix problems as soon as they occur

The longer you leave problems to fester, the worse they get, and subsequently, the harder it gets for you to keep your home in ship-shape condition. You should seek to fix problems whenever they occur within your home, regardless of the effort, time, or cost it requires for you to do so.

The task of fixing every little problem that occurs in your home doesn’t necessarily have to be your responsibility. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be your partner’s responsibility, either. No matter where you live in the world, there will always be people out there who can keep your home in tip-top condition for you. When it comes to finding a trained professional, or any other trained tradesperson for that matter, be sure to use Porch — this extensive tradesperson database will allow you to find and hire a handyman quickly and easily.

Embrace KonMari when it comes to organizing

When you have kids, keeping your home organized is an all but impossible task. Toys, clothes, games; you name it, and your little ones have probably left it lying around on the floor in the last hour alone.

Fear not, however, as all hope is not lost just yet. There’s still one organization method that will be sure to help you keep your home in ship-shape condition, and that’s the KonMari method. This advocates a category approach to organizing rather than a room-by-room one. It entails cleaning up items based on their function, not based on where they belong. Should you embrace this method, you would be tasked with, say, cleaning up all the toys in your home, then all the clothes, and then all the games. It would see you clean the entirety of your home without losing the motivation to do so, rather than cleaning one room from top to bottom before realizing that you can’t be bothered to do any more.

If you really want to stay on top of your keeping your home organized, you should resolve to clean as you go. That way, there won’t ever be any mess for you to tidy up.

Once you put the above advice into practice and your home is finally in ship-shape condition, your standard of living will be sure to improve. Things won’t go missing half as much, everybody in your household will have started pulling their weight, and you will no longer find yourself stepping on pieces of Lego every five steps that you take!