Month: June 2017

You can scarcely move about town on a Saturday in June without encountering a wedding. Yes, it’s wedding season, and you know what that means – at least for us in the junk hauling business – more work!

When couples marry they must face the challenge of combining households. That means determining whose couch stays and which goes, whether one person’s microwave is newer or better, and downsizing one’s personal goods in order to share space in a new home.

Because wedding time is already filled with anxiety, we make moving in together less stressful by providing a number of services for brides and grooms.

We help you clean out your old home

If you are moving out of your existing home you are going to want to cull through your household goods and determine what you really want or need in your new life. Rather than spending time sorting through items, simply pile them all into one stack and let us do the work of hauling it off.

We help you ready your new home

If someone is moving into your home, you are most likely having to clear out space. Take this time to remove unused furniture, clothing, dishes, and any clutter to start your marriage with a fresh, clean environment.

We’ll clean out the yard

Having a backyard wedding? Call 123JUNK to come help ready your yard for the big day. We can haul away yard debris as you groom the trees and bushes, old swingsets, or rusted lawn furniture.

We move big things

When the big day is done and you are finally moved in together, don’t ask your husband to move the big, heavy furniture around. Call 123JUNK. With our labor-only service, we can relocate large items within your property or help clear a room to prepare for painting, for example.

With our three-pronged approach to protecting our environment 123JUNK will 1) Donate any repurposable items like furniture, working electronics and household goods to our charity partners and provide you with the receipt. 2) Recycle outdated electronics, appliances or recyclable items, and 3) Haul to the dump anything else. Just point that newly-ringed hand toward the pile and we’ll take care of the rest.

All the best wishes to the June brides and grooms here in the Northern Virginia-DC-Maryland metropolitan area from 123JUNK. Call us!

It’s not only our homes that get filled with too much clutter, our offices do too. And whether you have a home office or work in a big corporate tower, you share the problem of…TOO MUCH STUFF.

Office Items to Donate

Rather than store your unused office furniture, consider donating it to a local charity like Virginia’s Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore or Maryland’s Montgomery County Humane Society. to help them raise money for good causes. 123JUNK will pick up your items and deliver them for you, and provide you with a receipt for tax deductions. Items we pick up include:

• Desks
• Chairs
• Filing Cabinets
• Bookcases
• Storage Cabinets
• Shelving
• Modular Office Components
• Kitchen Appliances (working)

Office Items to Recycle

Most of the clutter we find in businesses comes from paper or outmoded electronics. These items can be recycled to help save our landfills from becoming toxic problems in the future. Recyclable items include:

• Paper
• Plastic
• Computers
• Printers
• Monitors
• AV Equipment
• Televisions
• Non-working Appliances

Anything 123JUNK can’t donate or recycle, including office trash, we take to the dump, where their workers go through it once again to see what they can remove. It’s part of the overall green initiative.

123JUNK’s Additional Office Services

123JUNK can also provide other office services to include:

• Full Office Cleanouts
• Light Deconstruction and Removal of Cubicles
• Labor Only Services to help move heavy items or relocate items from one floor to another, or to a storage unit

Office managers and business owners love the fact that we provide all-inclusive pricing, convenient scheduling and professional staff. Not to mention some of the biggest trucks in the industry and a real live person answering the phones. We can be in and out quickly, leaving you to get back to business with a cleaner, more refreshed working environment.

Call 123JUNK for your Office Cleanout

When you need to clear out or clean up your office in Northern Virginia, DC or Maryland, call 123JUNK.

Have you seen our mascot around town? If not, then meet Jake the Junkman.

We decided to put a face to 123JUNK and developed the Junkman character based on our friendly and professional service. He always has a smile on his face, and a friendly wave. If you see him out and about, wave back.

Realtors Love Jake the Junkman

Jake loves to visit area businesses and can often be seen in local Realtor offices. Most of the time he even bring sweets! Realtors love to be reminded of the fabulous services 123JUNK has to offer, and have a good time taking selfies with the Junkman.

Jake Loves to Visit Local Events

You’ll find the Jake the Junkman at 123JUNK community events like the annual Dulles Plane Pull, Chantilly Day, Taste of Reston or Potomac Day. But did you know you can request his presence at your office or school event as well? He even shows up for some of the jobs we do. With his big beefy arms and strong legs, he can help lift even the largest objects onto our big red trucks.

Although he is the embodiment of 123JUNK, the Junkman rarely speaks. Secretly, he hides one of our fine employees, but we’ll never tell who. If he spoke, it would give it away. You can only guess who it might be. Just don’t praise him too much, or he might get a big head. Oh wait, he already has one.

123JUNK Makes Junk Hauling Fun

Although we take junk hauling as a serious business, we enjoy being lighthearted about what we do, and you’ll find our spirit of fun in Jake the Junkman. Follow our Facebook page for our – and Jake’s — latest adventures.

Getting rid of stuff should be easy, but sometimes it comes with restrictions—as with hazardous materials. Knowing what can and cannot be disposed of in the normal trash is important; not just for our environment, but for the safety of those who handle our waste.

Here is a list of materials that are considered hazardous in the county of Fairfax, Virginia:

• Aerosol cans/spray containing flammable or hazardous materials like hairspray, pesticides or cleaners.
• Ammonia-based products like drain and bathroom cleaners
• Chemicals like Muriatic Acid (Hydrochloric Acid) or Ammonium Hydroxide
• Chemical solvents like acetone and turpentine, if solvents are present in can
• Charcoal starter
• Fertilizers containing pesticides or herbicides
• Fire extinguishers
• Floor care products
• Fluorescent bulbs & tubes, unbroken
• Gasoline or gas and oil mixture
• Glues, solvent-based
• Inks and dyes, if in container
• Mercury-containing products like thermometers or switches
• Moth balls
• Nail polish remover
• Paint, oil- or lead-based
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Poisons
• Pool chemicals
• Printer cartridges, if flammable or containing liquid
• Refrigerant coolants, less than 16 ounces
• Rust remover chemicals
• Sealants, as for driveways and other surfaces, and empty aerosol cans

If you wish to dispose of hazardous materials in Fairfax County, Virginia, please take them to either the I-66 Transfer Station at 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, or the I-95 Landfill in Lorton at 9850 Furnace Road. Note that they have limited hours for hazardous waste disposal. Please do not include them in a load to be picked up by 123JUNK.

Call the Infoline to find out more about the Household Hazardous Waste Program at 703-324-5068, TTY 711.

Call 123JUNK

For more information about hazardous materials disposal, or to schedule a pickup for household items including furniture, appliances and old electronics, call 123JUNK. We’ll be glad to answer your questions. Please see our FAQs for more information on what we haul.

OK, you caught us bragging, but really, all trucks are NOT created equal! 123JUNK is proud to say that we have some of the largest trucks in the junk hauling industry. And the cleanest.

Here are some fun facts about our 123JUNK trucks:

• Our truck is our brand; they are all the same size and sport our logo and phone number prominently
• They are red so you can’t miss them
• They have a huge 560-cubic-feet capacity—30% larger than our national competitors’
• They hold more than a 20-yard commercial dumpster
• They can hold the equivalent of about TEN three-cushion sofas
• With larger trucks, we need to make fewer trips
• They are named after U.S. Presidents in Virginia and Rock Stars in Maryland
• Our trucks are custom built to spec — you won’t find another truck like ours
• We’re proud of our trucks and it shows by how clean we keep them
• We started 123JUNK with a beat-up old truck
• We add 2-3 new trucks to our fleet each year
• Since we can pick up more, we can charge less per cubic foot

Have you seen a 123JUNK truck lately? Send us a picture!

If you see one of our trucks out on the road or at a job, take a picture and send it to us. If we post it on our social media site we’ll send you a gift card!

To schedule your 123JUNK pickup in one of our big, red, shiny trucks, call us today.

Usually we don’t get questions on how to save money on junk removal. First, 123JUNK provides really fair, all-inclusive pricing. Second, people generally just want their junk gone.

But there are people who are budget-conscious and would like to know how to save money wherever and whenever possible. We’re glad to help you save money whenever we can, and we want you to get the most for your money and your valuable time, so here are some tips on how you can save time or money on junk removal.’

1. Gather your items together

123JUNK can come in and remove items from anywhere in your home. But having your items organized into one area makes it easier for our crew.

2. Disassemble large items

Part of the time we take in hauling away large items like furniture is in disassembling it to fit into our big red dump trucks. Save time by disassembling large items prior to our visit.

3. Remove non-acceptable items

Check our blog post on “Hazardous Items” and our list of “what we don’t haul” and remove those items in advance from your junk pile

4. Get an estimate

Have 123JUNK come to your home to give you an in-person estimate on hauling away your junk. Don’t rely on online services who claim to give you a one-size-fits-all price. For an accurate estimate, be sure they lay eyes on the size of your job.

5. Create one pickup

Having 123JUNK pick up all your items at once saves money over having us make multiple trips over a period of time.

6. Recycle what you can

Find a local recycling center and take recyclables such as newspapers, bottles and cans, or electronics there yourself.

7. Contact a charity

Local charities sometimes have pick-up options where they can haul away furniture and household goods on your behalf. They usually require that you have the items at the curb or in the garage. Check with your favorite to see.

8. Share the expense

Get together with your neighbors or adjoining business to see if they have junk hauling needs as well. Then split the expense of having a 123JUNK truck make one pickup.

123JUNK Charges Only By Volume

Whereas other junk hauling companies may charge by volume, weight and accessibility, 123JUNK charges only by volume, not by how long a job takes or how much it weighs. The price is determined by how much space it will take up in our big red truck. You’ll be given one flat fee so there are no surprises.

At 123JUNK, we’re always glad to make our customers throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. happy. Even if that means saving them money on our services. Contact us today to schedule your pickup.

There is one big thing in your house that may be the most difficult thing to get rid of. And no, it’s not because of its sentimental value; it’s because there are restrictions and limitations on how you can dispose of it.

It’s your mattress.

We’ve all seen mattresses lying near dumpsters, or even abandoned along the side of a roadway. But that’s not OK; don’t do that. And you can’t donate a used mattress; most collection centers will not take them. A third option is the landfill, but even there, you may be subject to additional disposal fees since mattresses are difficult to compact and take up a lot of room, and it is cumbersome to get a large mattress to the landfill in your family car.

Here are some options for mattress disposal.

Give it away

If your mattress is relatively new or in good condition, post it on Craiglist (for sale or free) or give it away on Freecycle or your local service like Next Door. There is always somebody who is in need of a good mattress and who can take it off your hands for you.

Donate it

Again, if it is in good condition, you may be able to donate it to an area charity that can pick it up from your home. Because of health concerns, not all charities will accept used mattresses. Try organizations like A Wider Circle (MD) or Pender ReGift Thrift Store (VA). Do not try to pass along dirty, stained, bug-infested or damaged mattresses.

Trade it in

Check with your mattress store or manufacturer to see if they provide a trade-in option when purchasing a new mattress.

Destroy it

Take apart your mattress yourself by cutting around the perimeter and peeling away the cloth. Remove the foam and soft materials and roll them into a compact bundle for the trash, then use a saw to cut apart any wooden structures. The box springs and other metals can be taken to the recycling center.

Call 123JUNK

By far, the easiest method for disposing of a used mattress is to call 123JUNK. Give us a call to talk to one of our customer service representatives (we always answer the phone in person) and schedule a pickup. We’ll arrive and do the heaving lifting for you. And with our green initiative, we’ll find the best solution for healthy disposal.

There are three options when it comes to removing junk from your home or office:

1. You can hire a junk removal company
2. You can rent a dumpster
3. You can load your car or truck and do it yourself

When it is a really small job, sure, throw the junk in your car and take it to the dump. But when the load is large or the objects are bulky or heavy, your best option is to choose a service that will haul your junk away for you: a junk hauling service or a roll-off dumpster.

Use a Junk Removal Service

The simplest option is to schedule a pickup from a local junk removal company. You decide what needs to go, and schedule a pick-up date. Fees are generally determined by the volume of junk or debris to be hauled, and truck, labor, fuel, mileage, and dump fees are included in one price.

With a junk removal company, a crew will do the work for you, quickly removing the items you’ve selected, while taking care to protect your property as they work. They are usually in and out in one day for the least disruption to your schedule.

If there is a mix of items, companies like 123JUNK will sort through them after the pick-up, donating reusable items to our charitable partners and providing you with a tax-deductible receipt, delivering recyclable items to the recycling facility, and only then disposing of the rest. A junk removal service is not always ideal for large amounts of construction or demolition debris, but is an excellent choice for large or bulky items like a refrigerator, mattress, wall unit, shed or above-ground pool or hot tub. One of the main benefits of hiring a junk removal company is that most will pro-rate the price based on volume. In other words, you get what you pay for.

Rent a Dumpster Container

Roll-off dumpsters come in a variety of sizes, from a 10-yard container for smaller jobs to a 40-yard container more suited for large demolition or construction jobs. When you call, you must decide which size is best for your job, and schedule delivery.

Weight restrictions are an issue and place restrictions on the load; going over the weight limit may result in additional fees. In addition, since a dumpster can weigh up to several tons once filled, care must be taken to protect your driveway, asphalt or yard from damage. Placement of a dumpster may additionally require a permit if it is to remain on your street or property for a period of time, and can be unsightly.

A dumpster is often rented for a week or more, allowing you to complete your project on your own schedule. However, you must do the work of yourself. Once filled, you call to schedule a pick-up and the company will haul the dumpster away and dispose of its contents.

Dumpster rental can be more cost-efficient when working with large jobs construction or demolition jobs and allow for bigger loads and lower labor costs. Be sure to check with your community HOA or property manager to make sure dumpsters are allowed on your property. Some towns will require you to get a permit.

Hazardous materials like paint, oils, or toxic chemicals are not accepted in either option.

Need a Quote? Contact 123JUNK

123JUNK is happy to give you an all-inclusive quote on junk hauling in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington D.C. Please contact us today.

 

Related: The benefits of Junk Removal services and dumpsters