MOVING: Packing The Kitchen

How to Pack Kitchen Items

  • Use the original boxes for small appliances like a microwave or toaster (if you have them). Or, follow these detailed steps to pack small appliances safely.
  • Wrap breakables in packing paper, foam wrap, or Bubble Wrap® for much-needed protection. Pot holders and dish towels can also double as extra cushioning.
  • Pack dishes in dish pack boxes that include partitions to keep glasses, bowls, plates and other pieces in place during transit. Watch our video for examples of how to carefully pack dishes and china.
  • Wrap fine silver in cloth or silver paper. For tips on how to move everyday cutlery, check out our tips on how to pack silverware.

SOURCE: http://www.upack.com/moving-resources/packing-tips.asp

Hydrogen Peroxide Uses

hydrogen-peroxideFirst Aid

Hydrogen peroxide gently sanitizes cuts and scrapes without harsh chemicals. It’s a natural anti-septic that helps to prevent infection. This solution should be used to help clean minor wounds but should not be used for long term treatment or to clean serious wounds.

I personally use a food-grade, 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for minor cuts, scrapes and bug bites to disinfect, and use this DIY first aid ointment to promote healing.

Contact Lens Solution

If you forgot your contact lens fluid, fear not! If you have hydrogen peroxide, you can use this as a temporary contact lens fluid. The 3% solution will keep your contact lenses safe and will even help break down proteins that have accumulated on your lenses during the day.

Sinus Infection Relief

Diluted hydrogen peroxide can be used as a nasal spray for those of you dealing with sinus congestion.

Mouthwash

A food-grade, 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide can be used as an effective and safe mouthwash. When used daily, it can even whiten your teeth and help with persistent canker sores. You only need about 1 tablespoon daily; just swish around the solution in your mouth for 1-2 minutes and then spit.

Sanitize Toothbrushes

Keep toothbrushes naturally clean with hydrogen peroxide. Just soak toothbrush heads with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide to kill germs and bacteria. Try this 1-2 times a week.

Whiten Teeth

Mix 1 tbsp of baking soda with 1 tsp of food-grade, 3% hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Use this as a “toothpaste” to remove stains and help to whiten teeth. Use a few times a week as needed.

All-Purpose Cleaner

I always turn to hydrogen peroxide in my home because it is an effective and safe cleaning product. It has strongdisinfectant properties and so it can be used in the kitchen, bathroom and even on your children’s toys. It’s also great for cleaning mirrors and windows.

Laundry Stain Remover

Next time you have to tackle a laundry stain, try using 3% hydrogen peroxide. Gently dab the solution onto the stain and let sit for no longer than 3 minutes (hydrogen peroxide can bleach fabric if left on the stained surface too long), then thoroughly rinse the affected area.

Whiten Laundry

Give up bleach for good and opt for hydrogen peroxide to get clothes naturally white. Add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide a load of laundry. Let soak for 20-30 minutes and wash as normal.

Mold and Mildew Cleaner

Don’t reach for bleach if you have a tough mold or mildew stain. Spray a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide on mold and mildew on grout, tiles, bath tubs, shower stalls and more. Let solution soak for at least 30 minutes and rinse.

Carpet Cleaner

Got a tough carpet stain? Spray a little hydrogen peroxide on the stain and let sit for no longer than 3 minutes (hydrogen peroxide can bleach carpet if left on the stained surface too long), then wash out well with a cloth. Test on an inconspicuous spot first.

Disinfect Kitchen Sponges and Sinks

Kitchen sponges and sinks can easily contain more germs than bathroom toilets. Yuck!

Keep those sponges and kitchen sinks clean with hydrogen peroxide. Clean out sink of any dishes or dirt. Plug the sink and fill with very warm water and add 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide. Add kitchen sponges and let sit in sink for about 20-30 minutes. This will help to sanitize both the sponges and the sink and naturally kill bacteria.

Natural Fruit and Vegetable Cleaner

Hard to believe, but, yes, that produce you got from the store is covered in germs. Ew, right? Hydrogen peroxide can kill germs on your produce, as well as help neutralize potentially harmful chemicals.

Simply fill half of your sink with warm water and add 1⁄4 cup of food-grade, 3% hydrogen peroxide, then let your fruits and vegetables soak for 10-15 minutes. I would recommend using this method on fruits and vegetables with thicker skins such as cucumbers and potatoes.

Sanitize Cutting Boards

Keep your cutting boards clean with hydrogen peroxide. Just spray cutting board surfaces with hydrogen peroxide and let sit for 5 minutes. Rinse well with hot water, and then use dish soap to wash off food particles.

Disinfect Refrigerator

Got a funky smell in the fridge? First, empty out all the food and drinks. Then, spray hydrogen peroxide and let sit for a couple of minutes. It will help to sanitize and neutralize odors. Wipe down with a clean cloth and place food back inside.

Original article can be found at: http://wisemindhealthybody.com/tracey-black/hydrogen-peroxide-facts/

 

 

 

Selling Your Home – Tricks Of The Trade To Help You Get Top Dollar By Jason Phillips

Selling your home is easier than you think. It all comes down to several basic principles: marketability, price, and advertising skills. Hiring a competent realtor to sell your home is equally important; you think you can do it all on your own, but you’re wrong. Here are some cool tricks of the trade to help you get the best deal.
1
Settle on the right price
Before putting your home up for sale you’d better find out how much is it worth first. After you’ve done that, shave about 15% off that price. You’ll instantly be pelted with bids from multiple buyers; and that will happen even if the market is not strong. They’ll start bidding and the initial price you gave will go up. Your house’s value will increase, although let’s not forget that we’re talking about an investment. You are taking a risk, so it is important that you know what you’re doing.

Pay more attention to half empty closets
Many home buyers crave for storage. If you want to make a good impression on potential investors, you are advised to empty your closets. Take your stuff out and make sure all storage spaces left available are neat and clean. This will create a positive impression. Buyers like to snoop around, so it is fundamental that your cabinets and closets look tidy and organized.

Let your home shine
Light up your home if you want to people to like it. Apart from an ideal location, buyers search for good lighting. This is key to purchasing a home. Nobody would want to invest in a property that’s dark and unappealing, so keep that in mind when putting your house up for sale. Take down all the drapes and curtains, make sure the light bulbs are bright, clean all windows and change the lampshades. Welcome as much natural light as possible and you’ll make your house appear welcoming and sellable.
2
Hire an informed broker
Believe it or not, hiring an informed broker is easier said than done. There are so many inexperienced realtors out there who claim to be the best. Make sure yours knows what he’s doing. Perform a thorough check on his background before employing his services. He should be able to monitor multiple listing services, know property types that hit the market, as well as neighborhood comp. Go for someone who likes to use technology; a tech savvy broker will have all the tools necessary to help you sell your house at a convenient price.

Avoid over-upgrades
It’s always a good idea to go for quick fixes prior to putting your home up for sale. However, stay away from over-upgrades because you won’t any cash back. Significant improvements don’t pay off. As an alternative, you could stick to updates that are worth it. Painting the walls, cleaning the curtains, or even purchasing new ones, can be a convenient and effective way to make your home appear more welcoming.

Minor décor touches can go a very long way when aiming to sell a home. Replace cabinet hardware, door handles, and it might even be a good idea to place welcome mats at the entrance. Clean the grout too, and be sure to fix leaky faucets.

Depersonalize the home
When trying to sell your home it is important to depersonalize it. If you keep things that are too personal, buyers won’t be able to imagine themselves starting a life there. Put all your personal stuff in storage. Memorabilia collections, family photo and other personal keepsakes should go away. To maximize your home’s potential; you could consider hiring the services of a home stager. A stagger is a professional that will help you arrange the furniture in order to maximize the space available.
3
All eyes on the kitchen
Many home buyers would say that a house’s most important room is the kitchen. There are endless benefits to remodeling a kitchen prior to making the sale. The best part is that you have 85% chances of getting back the sum invested. The most convenient, fastest kitchen updates are painting and replacing old cabinet hardware. Stick to a neutral color in order to allow the buyer to envision a personal style.

Whether you’re selling a property in Turkey to a foreign investor or you’d rather stick to the US marketplace, it is essential that you abide by several basic principles to get top dollar. And believe it or not, sometimes the most effective upgrades are the simplest.

Easy Budget Bathroom Storage By Rida Maqbool

Not everyone can afford homes that come with a lot of storage space. Typically, bathrooms are very small and you have to be really creative to find ways to store your things. The best thing about functional storage ideas is the fact that they don’t require you to spend a lot. So if you are looking for some fun and easy ways to help you make the most of your small bathroom, I advise you to read on.

1. Floating storage
Floating storage comes in handy when you have a small space and you want to make the most of it. For this you need to mount shelves to the wall of the bathroom, and put as much as stuff as you can on it without making it look cluttered. Not only is this tip, space saving but it is also very affordable. You can also attach wooden crates or buckets to the wall. Be sure to attach generous amount of nails so that the crate doesn’t fall off. Using walls for storage purposes is borderline genius.

1Photo credits: custom-contracting.com

2. Décor turned storage
Use decoration pieces that you have in your bathroom to store things. For example if you have a vintage box in your bathroom, you can use it to store your rings, earrings or bracelets. You can also use decorative trays to organize the essentials you need for shower, like shampoo, conditioner or body wash.

3. Borrow it from the kitchen
There are a lot of things in the kitchen that can be used in your bathroom to save space. A simple example of this is spice racks. Spice racks are perfect to store shampoos, conditioners, hairdryers and straighteners. Like I said earlier, using walls for storage purposes is simply a really good idea for saving space and using your small bathroom space wisely.

4. Hair dryer and straightener holder
An inexpensive hair dryer and straightener holder can be easily bought from your local store. With the help of these holders you are able to hang your hair dryer, flat iron and curling rod on the inside of your cabinet door. As these hair styling tools are typically the largest items in a bathroom, this tip will really come in handy.

5. Drawers inside your cabinet
If you have a hard time organizing your things then having drawers inside your cabinet is a great way to make complete use of your cabinets and find everything easily. You can easily buy these drawers from any store as they’ve gotten really popular among people.

6. Three tier DIY bathroom organizer
Buy reflective trays and stands from your nearest dollar store and turn them into a three tier bathroom supplies organizer. From hair pins to rings, you can pretty much place anything on this organizer. This way you’ll have easy access to things that you need the most when you’re in the bathroom.

2Photo credits: www.thiscasita.com

Author Bio: This article was written by Rida Maqbool. She loves interior designing, home décor and art & craft. She blogs at thecanvasprints.co.uk.

Christmas Refrigerator Makeover

432023_485600214803234_2095832864_nWhat an awesome idea to make over your fridge – and you could do this no matter what finish you have (stainless steel, black, white, almond). The eyes, nose, mouth and buttons are made from plain construction paper or you could use special papers with prints to give a different feel to it. The ‘ribbon’ is just a strip of wrapping paper but you could actually use a thick ribbon if you have one. Cheap and you can throw away when the year is done so no storage.