Easy Moving Day Plan

Posted under Household Tips

 

 It’s one of the biggest curses. Moving Day. Just the thought is enough to make you break out in a sweat and fills you with a horrific sense of dread.

Don’t you wish we could just be like Merlin in The Sword and the Sorcerer and just wave everything into one suitcase? That would be great, wouldn’t it?

 

You just knew that Carole has a plan to make it easier, didn’t you?

 

Here are some tips to make your moving day less painful, both mentally and physically.

 

Lighten the load. Dispose of as much as possible before you start to pack. Donate to charity, have a yard sale or throw out.

 

Use the same size boxes. They will be easier to stack both while you are packing, and in the truck. No more spending time trying to figure out how to get all those different sized boxes stacked so they won’t fall over.

 

Use smaller boxes. Then you won’t have big heavy boxes that will wear you out fast. You, and your moving team will be able to keep going without struggling.

 

Use a good quality tape and tape gun. The couple extra bucks will save you tons of frustration.

 

A couple of wardrobe boxes are always a good idea. They keep your clothes clean and ready to hang. Plus, you can throw boots, shoes, and purses in the bottom.

 

Before wrapping your figures in newspaper, put them in a plastic shopping bag. It will keep them clean. A paper towel will work with smaller items.

 

Always write the room the box goes into on the outside of the box so your movers or helpers can deposit the boxes without you having to play traffic cop all day.

 

Write a description of what’s in the box so you can find things easily. If you are using recycled boxes (always a good idea), tape a sheet ofpaper on the outside to make a nice clean readable label.

 

When packing clothes, sheets, towels and such, put a plastic garbage bag in the box first, then place the items in the plastic bag. This works for pots and pans too. Then you won’t have to rewash them when you unpack. Throw a fabric softener sheet into the bag of clothes and linens before you close it up to keep them smelling nice.

 

Pack the items you will need the first night in separate boxes and label them so you can get to these things right away without having to go through 20 boxes trying to find things when you’re already exhausted.

 

Make sure the beds get set up, and other heavy items are in place. Other things can be moved around later.

 

Old fashioned as it may be – let the guys worry about the furniture. Take the girls and let them help you get the cabinets and drawers washed out and your kitchen set up. Then, once the truck is empty – everyone can easily sit down, relax, and have some pizza and beer and conversation.

 

If you packed well, the clothes can go right in the drawers. The sheets and towels can go right into the linen closet. Hanging clothes can go right into the closets. Depending on how ambitious you are, the entertainment center can be set up and books put in bookcases.

 

Take a break – the rest can wait for a little while……Rome wasn’t built in a day.

 

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Carole can show you how to keep that new home really clean right from the start. Get your copy of Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak and find out how you can easily keep your new castle gleaming. 

How to Clean House Fast … 

Repurposing Household Items

Posted under Household Tips

 

I just stumbled on a great blog filled with ideas for reusing household items. She’s got some good ideas. And since we’re all concerned about saving money, and the environment – I thought I’d pass this on!

One Small Step – Repurposeful

 

Make Your Own Solar Panels

Posted under Household Tips, make money, save money

I was surfing around looking for some ways to make some extra money when I stumbled upon this site that has step-by-step plans for making your own solar panels and windmills. It says that you can build one of these portable panels for less than $200, and you can run all of your appliances off of it. That’s weird and interesting. Saving money on your utility bills is always a good thing. My neighbor and I have discussed the possibilty of putting up a windmill between us since the Chipolte Grill opened up locally. They use a windmill to power the restaurant.

I got to thinking that someone who is handy could probably make some cash building this stuff for people. It’s supposed to be the next big thing since money is tight and utilities have gone up so much – and we want to be concerned about the earth and resources too, right?

This could be a lucrative career for the right person.

Save money, make money. If you’re a little handy, and you have someplace where you can work on this stuff – it could be a good idea, you think?

Anyway – here’s the site for building your own solar panels and windmills >>>

Fall Window Cleaning Shortcut

Posted under House Cleaning, Household Tips

 

Well, we have a nice weekend in store. And I’m sure you’re thinking I’m going to tell you to go have fun.

Unfortunately, not this week.

These might be the last nice days to get the windows washed and getting ready for closing up the house for winter.  

You’ll want to clean the carpets before you have to close everything up too. There’s a lot of odors in those carpets that won’t rear their ugly head until you’ve had the house closed up tight for a couple weeks – know what I mean?

And of course, there’s the leaves, and the garden clean up, and gutters.

While it may not be fun, getting these things done now will make your winter more enjoyable. You’ll be able to see out of the windows, and your house won’t stink.

I’m not looking forward to hanging out of the windows. I’ll have to in order vacuum or brush off all the ‘stuff’ stuck to the screens. Or, I guess I could remove them. We’ll see what I feel like tomorrow.

But my little washing trick worked so well the last couple of years – I’m going to do it again.

You’ll need to be able to reach the windows with a spray bottle. I have to use a ladder for the second floor windows.

Fill the spray bottle with ½ water, and ½ white vinegar. Add a couple drops of dish detergent.

Spray the windows well. Give it a minute or 2, but no longer. You don’t want it to dry on the window.

Simply hose it off.

Sure beats taking the windows apart, washing, trying to get them streak free, and putting everything back. Even triple tracks take a lot of time.

This way, you’ll be done in no time!

Hey, that’s what I’m about – get it done and go have fun

 

Carole

 

Find out how to clean your house fast and keep it that way – and still have time to do what you want to do >>>

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stumped on a Project?

Posted under Household Tips

 

If you’re like me, you belong to the weekend do-it-yourselfers club.

I love puttering around and doing things myself. But sometimes you just get stuck and have to ask “What do I do Now?”

Here’s a couple of resources for some quick home project how-to advice -

http://homedepot.com/projectcenter

http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/

Hey, anything I can do help keep you from pulling your hair out!

Carole