Category: Junk Removal

Out With Outdated Furniture Décor Trends

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

No doubt, you were probably excited about the furniture you purchased way back when. Especially if it was included in one of the latest design trends. Now that we’re in a new century, that furniture may be looking a little dated, so it’s out with the outdated furniture décor trends and in with the new.

Design trends change constantly, and choosing one that will stand the test of time can be challenging. Remember shag carpets, wallpaper borders and tiled countertops? Once they were all the rage! So were the items of furniture you couldn’t live without that now you should.

Outdated Furniture Décor Trends

Some of the most common pieces of furniture that are now considered outdated include:

  • Oversized entertainment centers. With the popularity of flat-screen TVs and streaming services, large entertainment centers that were designed to hold tube televisions and other electronics are no longer needed.
  • Bulky sectional sofas. While some families still enjoy the comfort of a large sectional sofa, your family may no longer need it. Besides, it takes up a lot of space and may be covered in an outdated fabric or color.
  • Heavy armoires. Once popular for storing clothing and linens, oversized armoires and difficult to design around with today’s modern décor styles.
  • Clunky coffee tables. A heavy, blocky coffee table can make a living room or den feel cluttered and outdated. Consider replacing it with a lighter, more streamlined option.
  • Traditional china cabinets. Because formal dining is less common, the need for fancy china and china cabinets has waned. If you have one taking up valuable space in your home, consider donating it.

outdated furniture decor trends

Other outdated décor trends include:

  • Heavy, ornate furniture with intricate details. This trend has given way to simpler, more streamlined designs.
  • Matching furniture sets, like a sofa and loveseat. Now is the time to infuse your eclectic and personal style!
  • Busy patterns. Today’s furniture design emphasizes a more understated and minimalistic look, with solid colors or subtle patterns.
  • Brass and gold accents. While metallic accents are still popular, brass and gold finishes have become outdated. Nowadays, furniture design features muted metals like brushed nickel, copper or matte black.

Related: 10 Interior Design Trends Going Away in 2022

Know the Difference Between Junk Furniture and Antiques

Just because your furniture is old doesn’t mean it is a valuable antique. There is a distinct difference. Junk furniture refers to furniture that is no longer functional, useful or in good condition. Or it can refer to furniture of low-quality materials, poor design or simply outdated.

On the other hand, antique furniture refers to furniture considered to be of historical or artistic significance. It is more than 100 years old, and made from high-quality materials with expert craftsmanship and unique design elements. It can be very valuable. Some common types of antique furniture include Victorian-era pieces, Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs, and mid-century modern.

It is important to note that not all old furniture is antique, neither is all furniture that is no longer functional or in good condition necessarily junk furniture. Many factors can influence the value and significance of a piece, including its age, style, design, materials and condition. If you’re unsure of a piece’s value, consult with an expert.

Let 123JUNK Relieve You of Your Outdated Furniture Décor Trends

One of the best ways to unload outdated furniture is to donate it. That way it can be used to fund some of your community’s charitable organizations. With 123JUNK’s 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose, we’ll gladly pick up furniture you no longer want or need and deliver it on your behalf to one of our charity partners. You’ll receive a receipt in return for your tax deductions and the good feeling that you’ve done your bit to help others.

Think of other items besides your furniture that needs to go. We’ll take that too! Household goods, clothing, electronics, yard tools—even your old appliances. We’ll divide out items for donation and those that can be recycled and deliver them to their appropriate destinations, and take whatever’s left over to the landfill.

Take the time to enjoy your uncluttered space and dream about the new décor trends that will soon fill it up! It’s fun getting new furniture!

Contact 123JUNK for Furniture Removal in DC, MD, NoVA

When you’re ready for your furniture removal, contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778. We work with home and business owners throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and the Washington, DC metro area.

get-rid-of-sentimental-clutter

How Do I Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter?

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Feeling sentimental about objects is real. There are many emotions surrounding them because they often hold personal memories and meaningful connections to people, places and events. When you try to let go of these items, you may feel an intense sense of loss, guilt or even grief—you are essentially releasing a part of your history. Unfortunately, without being able to cull items from your home, they can accumulate and create a cluttered situation. But with so much involved, how do you get rid of this sentimental clutter?

What is Sentimental Clutter?

Sentimental clutter refers to items that hold a special meaning or emotional connection. An item becomes sentimental when related to personal memories, experiences or significant events in your life. They bring back positive memories that makes them difficult to part with, even if they no longer serve a practical purpose in your life.

Over time, the accumulation of sentimental clutter can lead to disorganized and overwhelming living areas, making it difficult to find storage for them or navigate around them, and taking up valuable space. Your environment is no longer relaxing.

Some examples can include:

  • Childhood toys or games
  • Family heirlooms
  • Pictures and photo albums
  • Letters, cards and notes from loved ones
  • Mementos from travel and vacations
  • Arts and crafts made by children
  • Wedding and engagement rings
  • Clothing and accessories from special events
  • Awards and certificates

What Should I Keep?

The decision on what to keep depends on your personal preferences and the item’s emotional significance. Here are some guidelines on what to keep:

  • Items that bring you joy and have a strong emotional connection
  • Items with practical value like jewelry you wear regularly
  • Items with sentimental value to others such a gift from a loved one
  • Items with historical significance like old family photographs or letters that may be of interest to future generations

How to Remember Sentimental Items

It’s not necessarily the item itself, but the memories you want to preserve. To remember sentimental items you don’t want to keep, and hold on to them in different ways, try these ideas:

  • Take photographs before disposing of the items
  • Write a journal entry of your memories and associated thoughts, and make the journal the keepsake
  • Create a memory box for small items
  • Keep a digital record with scans or important documents or digital photographs
  • Share you stories with loved ones to keep the legacy alive
  • Repurpose items by turning them into something new, like making a quilt from old clothes or a piece of jewelry from broken pieces.

How Do I Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter?

What’s important is to evaluate the sentimental value of each item, and only keep those that hold real significance and bring joy. To help eliminate items, try these steps:

  • Separate items into categories such as sentimental value, practical value and emotional value.
  • Ask yourself if the item still holds sentimental value and brings joy to your life. If not, let it go.
  • Choose a course of action. Decide what you will do with each item: keep it, donate it, or toss it. Create bins for each category and place each item in its appropriate bin.
  • Store or display. For items you decide to keep, create dedicated storage or display areas to preserve them property and protect them from damage
  • Let go. Once you’ve made your decision to donate or toss, take action to let them go.

Related: 13 Tips on How to Get Rid of Sentimental Clutter Without Feeling Guilty

A Junk Removal Company like 123JUNK Can Help You Release Sentimental Clutter

A junk removal company like 123JUNK provides a convenient and efficient solution for disposing of items you no longer need or want. Their services include:

  • Pick up/removal. Your junk removal company will come to your home and remove the items, saving you the time and energy of having to dispose of them yourself.
  • Respectful handling. At 123JUNK, we train our team members on courtesy and respect. They understand that getting rid of sentimental clutter is stressful, and that there are a lot of emotions involved. They know how to handle your objects carefully and respectfully to reduce the stress and emotional burden of letting them go.
  • Junk removal companies like 123JUNK also have a donation component, where perfectly-good items are delivered to local charity partners to be repurposed back into the community, or used to raise funds for charitable causes.
  • Based on an items suitability and usability, some items may be better off being recycled than donated or taken to the local landfill.
  • Peace of mind. Your junk removal service takes care of the entire process to ensure that your sentimental clutter is disposed of properly and ethically.

What’s most important is to be kind to yourself. Understand that handling sentimental items is emotional, but not disabling. Give yourself permission to let go of items that no longer serve a purpose in your life, and don’t feel guilty.

123JUNK: The First Choice for Junk Removal in NoVa, MD and DC

If your home is located in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC, contact 123JUNK. You’ll love the fact that you talk with a live person when you call, and that all our team members are trained to be courteous and respectful. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

When you call, learn about our 1-2-3 process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose, and our flat fee, all-inclusive pricing. Call us today at 1-800-364-5778 to schedule your junk removal pickup.

9 Ways to Fake a Clean House

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

When talking about your home, do you often describe it as “lived in?” You’re comfortable with the overstuffed couch and the everyday clutter, and you don’t consider it dirty. But when unexpected guests arrive, do you find yourself making excuses like, “Oh, this week was so busy, I didn’t have time to pick up,” or “We don’t normally live like this.” Except that you do! If this sounds like you, you may like this post that includes these 9 ways to fake a clean house!

9 Ways to Fake a Clean House

Clear the Entry

The first rooms your guests step into are their first impression of your home. That’s where you should pay the most attention to living clutter-free. If this is a drop zone, place baskets or assign hooks or cubbies where family members can place their items neatly when they come in. Install cabinets or baskets with lids to hide clutter. Take a moment to sweep this area regularly and you won’t be so embarrassed to open the front door!

Have “Formal Rooms”

In Victorian times, the lady of the house would invite guests into her formal rooms, which were always kept up to standards for visitors. If your home has formal rooms, set up comfortable seating and usher your visitors into these areas and keep family areas private. That way it won’t matter if you are messy in your own areas. Always keep the guest bathroom clean as well.

Use Hiding Places

Remember when you were a kid and your mom asked you if you cleaned your room? You always said “Yes,” even though all you did was stuff everything into your closet and hoped she wouldn’t look there. Or you folded just the top layer of clothing in your drawer to give the illusion of neatness. Use these same tricks as an adult and stuff your clutter into drawers, closets and cabinets. (Even under the couch—temporarily.) Once the doors are closed (if they can close), your rooms look tidy and you feel like you have a clean house!

Set Up Zones

There’s a rule in business of “touch it once.” That means when you pick something up, don’t set it down anywhere—deal with it and place it where it is ultimately supposed to go. You can do this in your own house to give the illusion of neatness. Assign zones where items should be placed when you’re done using them. A toybox to hold toys. A basket to stack magazines and books. A rack to hold unread mail. Collections of items look tidier than having them randomly scattered on furniture, the floor and throughout the room.

Related: 20 Ways to Organize With Baskets

Use Cover-Ups

If your couch is covered with animal fur, or your kids have left stains on the chairs with their juice boxes, guests will have hesitation about sitting on them. Cover up these unsightly spots quickly with throws or furniture covers you keep on hand to quickly toss over these pieces of furniture.

Scoop and Run

When a friend calls and asks if they can drop by, grab the laundry basket and scoop everything that’s out of place into it for a really quick pick-up. Stash the basket in your bedroom out of sight. You can always sort through these things later to put them away where they belong.

Toss It

Is your home filled with papers, junk mail, wrappers, old magazines and other clutter? It may be time to get a big trash bag and toss out these extraneous items. There’s no need to collect things that are obviously junk.

Be Conscientious

Because we’re so busy with work, family and outside interests, we often drop and run, without noticing how clutter is building up. After a while, you don’t even see it. It only comes to light when you see it through a guest’s eyes. Set a habit of being conscientious about not cluttering your home and you’ll feel better about living in a clean house and having friends over.

Call 123JUNK

Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in your home? Let 123JUNK help. We’ll gladly remove excess or broken furniture and household items, paper, electronics, appliances, tools, toys and yard equipment—pretty much anything you’d like to get rid of.

With our 1-2-3 Process of of Donate-Recycle-Dispose, we’ll cull out anything we think is perfectly good and donate those items to one of our local charity partners who can use them to support a local family in need. For appliances, metals, paper and electronics, we’ll deliver what can be recycled to the local recycling center for safe disposal. Only then do we take the rest to the area landfill for disposal. It’s our part—and your part—of protecting our environment and our local community.

For Junk Removal in Northern VA, Maryland and Washington DC, Call 123JUNK Today

We know you’re busy, so we try to keep our process simple. Call us to speak to a live operator who can explain our process, give you a price, and set up your pickup appointment. Before we arrive, we’ll give you a courtesy call to let you know we’re on our way. And when we get there, show us what you’d like us to remove. We’ll take a moment to lay down protection on your floors and walls, if needed, and get straight to work. In no time, your home will feel tidy and you won’t have to fake a clean house. What a relief!

To learn more or to set your junk removal appointment, contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778.

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Environmentally-Friendly Minimal Waste Junk Removal

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

In the fast-paced environment of the Washington DC metropolitan region, clutter can easily and quickly accumulate in our homes and offices. But getting rid of that clutter shouldn’t have to come at a cost to the environment. By performing environmentally-friendly minimal waste junk removal, 123JUNK helps home and business owners dispose of their unwanted items in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Minimal waste junk removal is a foundational element of our company’s 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose. It is our commitment to prioritizing reuse and recycling to minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, thus reducing the negative impact on the environment. Our team of professionals understands the importance of this and looks for ways on every pickup to divide out items that can be repurposed, donated or recycled.

Minimal Waste Junk Removal

We offer convenient and hassle-free junk removal services to leave you with a clutter-free space. Let us remove your furniture, appliances and electronic waste—or whatever you’d like to clear out. To make the process easier, we’ll provide you with upfront flat-fee pricing. You’ll know the cost of our service before the work ever begins.

123JUNK is fully insured, giving you peace of mind when it comes to the safety of your property. We take great care to protect your home and your belongings during the junk removal process. We’ll even sweep clean the area when we’re finished. This level of professionalism and attention to detail sets 123JUNK apart.

Education on the Importance of Minimal Waste

Our commitment to environmentally-friendly minimal waste junk removal doesn’t stop here. We also raise consciousness about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling, and provide helpful tips through our blog and programs on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. We believe that even small changes can have a big impact.

Working Towards Zero Waste

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that many communities across the country are even working towards zero waste, a concept that “goes beyond recycling and composting at the end of a product’s life cycle to encompass the entire life cycle of a product, beginning with product design, and envisioning the use and management of materials in ways that preserve value, minimize environmental impacts, and conserve natural resources.”

We’re getting there. Washington DC’s recycling rate stands at about 30% and around 43% is reported in Virginia, while Maryland reports a recycling rate of 45%. Overall, the EPA finds that the current US household recycling rate lies at 32%.

Minimal Waste Junk Removal from 123JUNK in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC

If you are looking for an environmentally-friendly solution to your junk removal and hauling needs in Washington DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia, look no further than 123JUNK. With our commitment to reducing waste, protecting the environment and providing convenient and professional services, we’re the clear choice for anyone looking to declutter in a responsible and sustainable manner. Contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778 to schedule your pickup appointment today and enjoy a clutter-free and eco-friendly life!

 

123JUNK-PG101-professional-development

To Grow Your Company, Develop Your Team!

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Our goal at 123JUNK is to be more than the top junk removal company—it’s to be the preeminent service organization in our region. Our first company value – “culture of excellence” – drives us to becoming the quality-of-service standard to which other businesses aspire. To get there, we believe in providing our team members with personal and professional growth opportunities.

We train our team to look beyond comparing our performance to other junk hauling companies. Our customers are comparing us to every other service provider that comes into their homes—plumbers, electricians, and more. Homeowners make judgments every day about how they are treated by a service organization. They know what they expect, and they can be delighted or disappointed by either the service or the service technician—or both!

We’ve earned all our five-star reviews and loyal referral partners because we’ve helped our team think beyond the task—to be more conscious of how we are presenting ourselves and to constantly improve.

Our Most Important Customer: Our Employees

We are so grateful for all the loyal customers we have serviced throughout the years, and for all our referral partners who know our quality and refer us without hesitation. We understand that to achieve this level of success, we need a happy, loyal, and talented workforce. This why Mallard Owen, Chief Operating Office, often states that “123JUNK’s most important customers are its employees.” And this is where we try to excel by investing in the growth of our team members. We take time when we hire, as we look for enthusiasm, drive, and, most importantly, a desire to learn and grow. Even interviews for our fleet team include “auditions”—working interviews where candidates can experience first-hand the quality we strive to achieve in all our jobs.

“Our culture is one of a learning organization. We want to give our team members something beyond the technical training aspect of their work; something that would help them become better contributors no matter where they work,” said Owen. It’s why he started the company’s “JUNK-U,” the internal brand under which employee training and development programs fall.

Related: 5 Reasons to Invest in Employee Development Now

PG101: Professional Growth

The first formal program that Owen developed for JUNK-U was a course called Professional Growth 101 (PG101). In this program, employees go on a journey of self-discovery and focused improvement. They learn more about who they are, their strengths, and personal accountability. From these insights, they explore ways to perform better, strengthen their personal brand, and bring even better value to any employer.

PG101 is voluntary and runs once per week for 12 sessions. To ensure the full and focused commitment of participants, enrollment begins with three documents: 1) a syllabus and overview of the course goals and participant expectations, 2) a code of conduct—how participants are expected to engage and interact within the program, and 3) a review and acknowledgement of key components to being a trusted employee.

“We pay attention to our team members, give them insights on how to reflect on their work, and provide them with a broader perspective on how people view them in terms of their brand/performance,” Owen said. “After one team member took our PG101 course, he realized how much he didn’t think about how his performance could affect or influence others, or how his behavior might cause a certain reaction in someone else.”

The group is small, with usually fewer than 6 team members. Participants are encouraged to grow by looking at their current performance/behaviors, and then deciding what they need to adjust to get to the next level. Between each session, they commit to working on a specific growth area, and then report back to the group on their progress. They learn to open up about what they are working on, not only with fellow PG101 participants, but also with other colleagues with whom they work on a daily basis, recruiting them to help assist with their improvement. They learn from and support each other, and listen to concerns or stories an individual might have. The learnings come as much from their stories and feedback from other participants as it is about “book learning.”

“When you realize that what you do will have an impact on and potentially change the mindset and behaviors of people around you, you can have a major impact on their lives and the success of the company,” Owen described. “How do you make that sustainable within the company? You just continue to develop the team. Their new and improved behaviors will take hold and spread within the organization—and more good things will happen.”

“What surprised me were the ripple effects of the program. The content is so valuable that it has impacted the lives of employees outside of the workplace. In addition, we’ve brought elements of the PG101 curriculum into other aspects of our organization, like our interview process, employee onboarding, and corporate retreats. It helps reinforce the lessons learned.”

The collaboration among the team members has also grown since the program’s inception, with everyone jumping in to help others with their work and their attitude. This raises the whole team, and impacts how we can accommodate our clients and provide exceptional service. “We have a great brand, and we try to reinforce the concept that when you are conscientious about helping others, they’re appreciative—whether it’s another team member where you jumped in to help, or a client struggling with disposal of a loved one’s estate,” Owen said.

Experience the 123JUNK Difference Yourself

123JUNK is on the path to becoming the leading junk removal company in Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC because of our commitment to personal and professional growth. We’re a local company that is investing in its team and its community so that you can count on a wonderful experience, from your first phone call with a live representative to a friendly and responsible junk pickup. (Read Our Story.)

We invite you to experience the 123JUNK difference yourself. Contact us at 1-800-364-5778 to inquire about pricing, set your pickup appointment, or join our team!

123JUNK Announces 2022 Team Awards

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Every year, 123JUNK holds an in-house awards ceremony where team members are lauded, and sometimes teased, for their accomplishments throughout the year. Except for our Customer Choice Award, they are all nominated by their peers. Here are some of this year’s 123JUNK awards winners recognized at our December 2022 holiday party! Click on their names to read more about them!

 

The Big 3 Awards

Some of our most important achievements either impact ourselves, our team or our customers. Here are the winners of our Big 3 Awards:

Gets Better with Time Award: Nick Williams

One of our newer team members, Nick Williams, has shown immeasurable growth throughout his time here at 123JUNK, and was recognized by his peers for his dedication to improvement and his drive to move up the junk haulers ladder.

 

Personal Impact Award: Jesus Vializ

Jesus Vializ is one of our team players who thinks of others and always offers a hand. His positive attitude and team spirit elevates others and makes an impact on the team and the company.

Culture of Excellence Award: tie between Paul Atherton and JJ Pedder

At 123JUNK, we set standards for our service and behaviors that we call our Culture of Excellence. It is posted on our walls and we review it regularly in our team meetings. This year we had a tie between Paul Atherton and JJ Pedder for their dedication to upholding and promoting the high standards for which we are known and loved.

Other Awards Include:

Customer Choice Award: Kevin Wheeler

We ask our customers to name their favorite team member and this year they chose Kevin Wheeler as their winner. Kevin goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service in whatever capacity he is called to perform.

HA HA Funnyman Award: Jesus Vializ

It’s important to have fun on the job, and nobody makes us laugh more than Jesus Vializ. Whether he’s in the office or on the truck, you can count on him for a fun-filled day.

Speedy Gonzalez Award: Jeremiah Hankerson

Want the job done fast? Then call on Jeremiah Hankerson. No matter what we throw at him (not literally), he picks it up and runs with it. It could be a new skill or the speed with which he loads the truck. He’s definitely a go-getter and the winner of this award for his second year in a row!

Strongman Award: Nick Williams

Hauling junk isn’t for the weak…it sometimes takes strength of body and character to do the job well, and we recognize Nick Williams for his feats throughout 2022.

Jake the Junkman Award: Jesus Vializ

Jake is our mascot and the face of our company. And so is Jesus Vializ. We are proud that he represents 123JUNK in whatever capacity he does.

Knock Your Socks Off Award: Nick Williams

It’s no accident that Nick Williams was the winner of several awards this year. His work ethic simply knocked the socks off of all of us!

MVP Award (Most Valuable Packer): Paul Atherton

Have you ever tried to solve a block puzzle? That’s what it’s like trying to figure out how to load one of our 123JUNK trucks! We separate out items for donation, recycling and disposal in the order that they are to be delivered to the appropriate location. We need to load efficiently. And since we charge clients by the volume their stuff takes in our trucks, we want to be fair to them. Paul Atherton’s eye for packing earned him the award as our most valuable packer!

Salesperson Impact Player of the Year: JJ Pedder

JJ Pedder did a fabulous job explaining the value of 123JUNK to Realtors, companies, homeowners and anyone else who would listen, and helped us land numerous junk hauling jobs throughout the year. We certainly value his services! This is his second year in a row as winner of this award!

Related: Why team awards are important.

Congratulations to all our 123JUNK 2022 awards winners. We are proud of all our team members and look forward to seeing who will shine in 2023!

 

For Exceptional Junk Hauling in VA, DC or MD, Contact 123JUNK

If you’d like to experience 123JUNK’s award-winning junk hauling services, and are in the Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC area, contact us at 1-800-364-5778. We’re the fastest-growing junk hauling company in our region!

clutter-stress-on-kids

Why the Stress of Clutter is Bad for Kids

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

“Mom—where is my homework? I can’t find it.” “Don’t come down until you clean up your room.” Sound familiar? These are just two of the commonly-heard results of too much clutter in a home. As Americans, we have an abundance of stuff, and sadly, the stress of clutter can be bad for kids.

A team of researchers at UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives of Families (CELF) explored Los Angeles families and the following is what they discovered. “Walk into any dual-income, middle-class home in the U.S. and you will come face to face with an awesome array of stuff—toys, trinkets, family photos, furniture, games, DVDs, TVs, digital devices of all kinds, souvenirs, flags, food and more. We put our stuff anywhere in the house, everywhere there’s room, or even if there’s no room. We park the car on the street so we can store our stuff in the garage, and pile the dirty laundry in the shower because there’s nowhere else to store it, and no time to wash it.” Their conclusion: we are a “clutter culture.”

The problem is that clutter creates stress. “It’s difficult to find time to sort, organize and manage these possessions. Thus, our excess becomes a visible sign of unaccomplished work that constantly challenges our deeply ingrained notions of tidy homes and elicits substantial stress,” said Anthony Graesch, PhD., co-author of Life at Home, a book based on this study.

How Does the Stress of Clutter Affect Kids?

Graesch surmises that “Dual-income parents get to spend so very little time with their children on the average weekday, usually four or fewer waking hours. This becomes a source of guilt for many parents, and buying their children toys, clothes and other possessions is a way to achieve temporary happiness during this limited time span.”

This clutter has an adverse effect on kids. According to Sherrie Bourg Carter, Psy.D., they experience:

  • Excessive stimuli, causing the senses to work overtime on things that aren’t important
  • Distraction from what the focus should be on
  • Difficulty in both physical and mental relaxation
  • Inhibition of creativity and productivity with the lack of open spaces that enable thinking, brainstorming and problem solving
  • Frustration due to lost items
  • Anxiety from never getting everything done

Another study reports that kids in disorganized homes have more trouble regulating their emotions, and that they can feel overwhelmed by a mountain of playthings and the constant nagging to put them away.

How to Reduce the Stress of Clutter

Dr. Carter offers 8 tips to reducing the stress of clutter:

  1. Don’t tackle the job alone. Get the whole family involved. Start with one room and make each person responsible for a section.
  2. Create designated spaces for frequently-used items. Make them closed spaces like drawers and cabinets.
  3. If you don’t use, want or need it, get rid of it. Toss it, recycle it or donate it. If you use it rarely, store it.
  4. When you take something out of its designated space, put it back immediately after use.
  5. Create a pending folder to clear your workspace.
  6. Don’t let papers pile up. Go through them and toss what you don’t need.
  7. De-clutter before you leave a space.
  8. Make it fun.

Let 123JUNK Help Reduce the Amount of Clutter and Stress on Kids

123JUNK has some advice too—let us haul away your unused, unwanted and unneeded items. As Dr. Carter advises, start in one room and make piles. You don’t even need to sort them for donation, recycling or trash. We’ll do that when we pick them up; it’s part of our service and our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose designed to help the environment. Just make the piles and point our team members to them when they arrive. It’s as simple as that.

With less stuff, you have more room to breathe, relax and enjoy life without the stress of having to clean, organize, manage and worry about the clutter. Your kids will thank you too.

We serve families throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. To speak to a live representative and schedule your 123JUNK clutter removal, contact us at 1-800-364-5778.

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America Recycles Day

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Annually, America Recycles Day® takes place on or around November 15th, as part of the government’s “Keep America Beautiful” campaign. Their goal? To educate, motivate and make recycling bigger and better.

“America Recycles Day is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States,” states the website. It encourages and educates people on how to be more mindful about what they consume, where and how to properly recycle, and to pledge to recycle more on a daily basis.

According to the EPA, the current rate of recycling has increased to 32%, as compared to 7% in the 1960s.

How did America Recycles Day Begin?

In 1994, two employees of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality suggested the special day to the Nation Recycling Coalition to bring awareness of recycling. It was accepted and the first America Recycles Day was held on November 15, 1994, with 40 states involved.

Benefits of Recycling

It is important that we do our part to help keep our planet healthy. Programs like America Recycles Day and the Great American Cleanup® strive to reduce littering, improve recycling and beautify communities across the United States. The many benefits of recycling include:

  • Less delivered to landfills
  • Conservation of natural resources
  • Decrease in the burning of fossil fuels, leading to a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gasses.

Because fossil fuels are used to create single-use plastic, the process of extracting and creating these plastics emit 12.5 to 1.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses. Single-use plastics in landfills also account for 15% of methane emissions. (source: University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Center)

How You Can Recycle Year-Round

The average person can generate about 4.8 pounds of trash each day, while an avid recycler who recycles 75% of their discarded items generates just 1.12 pounds of trash each day. So you can see how recycling makes a difference.

Ways to mindfully recycle include:

  • Recycling at home, school, work or on the go
  • Purchasing products created with recycled content
  • Using re-usable items like grocery bags and water bottles
  • Repurposing items
  • Educating and encouraging friends, family, co-workers and others
  • Sending recyclable items to local recycling centers

123JUNK’s Mission of Recycling

When we started 123JUNK, we incorporated our 1-2-3-step process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose into our mission. It wasn’t that we just wanted to differentiate ourselves from other junk haulers, we had a true passion for helping our environment. We still do.

We encourage people to recycle items in two ways:

  1. Donate. If you have perfectly-good items around your house that you no longer need or want, they don’t belong in the landfill. Others may be able to use them. That’s why we hand-picked charity partners to which we deliver these items to be recycled back into the community. They are always looking for furniture, household goods, working electronics and other items that they can either provide to local families in need or sell in their stores to raise money for their causes. Check out our list of charity partners we work with.
  2. Recycle. There are items that don’t belong in a landfill because they contain metals or hazardous chemicals. That’s why your communities have local recycling centers. When 123JUNK makes a pickup at your location, we look for any items that either cannot be donated or don’t belong in the landfills and cull them out for delivery to the recycling center. Things like electronics (e-waste), refrigerators and air conditioners all can be broken down into their components and their hazardous contents handled properly. Paper, glass, metals and plastics can often also be recycled. Read our blog post on the Dangers of E-Waste.

Contact 123JUNK

On America Recycles Day—or any other day of the year—look to 123JUNK to help you fulfill your recycling goals. We’ll be glad to clear out the junk from your home or office and deliver it to its proper location. It’s our way of helping our community and our environment.

To speak with a representative, get an all-inclusive price and schedule your junk hauling in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC, contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778 or fill out our online form.

three boxes lined up next to each other

11 Items to Throw Out Right Now

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Whether you live in a big house or a compact condo, there are probably items you no longer need or can use. So why are they still cluttering up your home? By clearing them out, you open up space in your life for other good things to enter. Here are 11 things you need to throw out right now.

Broken Items

If an item has been broken or damaged and you think that you will fix it one day, you probably won’t—like that chipped platter or table with a splintered leg. It will sit there taking up space and reminding you that you haven’t yet completed that task. Clear it out.

Mismatched Items

Be honest. Do you have a box with single socks without a mate? Or bowl lids without a bowl? Give these items a time limit and after several days or weeks without a match, toss them.

I-May-Need-This Items

Believe it or not, you may have hundreds of items around your house that you “might need someday” but haven’t touched in 20 years. If you think you will need an item within the next 6 months, keep it. Otherwise, out they go. If you do need it, it is easily bought.

Duplicate Items

Looking through your kitchen drawers, do you have six wooden spoons and four wire whisks. How many do you really need? Sift through your belongings to uncover duplicates and donate them to a local charity where people who have none can use them.

Items that Don’t Fit

Face it. You’ve been holding onto those Size 8 pants for years now, believing you will one day be able to fit into them again. Chances are, your body has changed. And so have the styles. Donate the clothes that are too small (or too big) and open the doors for getting new items when you reach your fitness goals. It will give you an incentive!

Items You Never Use, Or Never Will

How often have you taken home a freebie and tossed it into a drawer? How many pairs of shoes do you own that haven’t seen the light of day in years? How about stacks of books you haven’t gotten around to reading? These items are just taking up space—physically, visually and mentally. It’s time to recycle them to a better home!

Expired Items

You’d be surprised how many herbs, spices, medications, and other items with an expiration date are WAY past their prime. Some of these can become dangerous if ingested. Take an afternoon to sort out the past-due items and throw them out. Dispose of medications and drugs in the proper way. Don’t flush them down the toilet or put them into the trash can.

Craft Items from a Long-Abandoned Hobby

Does your spare room closet hold boxes of sewing materials, yarn, or scrapbooking supplies? When is the last time you crafted with them? If that hobby has gone by the wayside, so should the craft supplies.

Items from Another Life

Are you still storing items from childhood, a previous marriage, or your single life? Has your pet passed away, yet you still have its feeding dishes and bed? Are you now retired and no longer need a set of work clothes? It’s time to toss to make room in your life for the items that reflect your life right now.

Trash Items

If you’re like most people, you have piles of papers or receipts you’ve been meaning to shred, or junk mail or old newspapers and magazine you’ve intended to go through. Empty your wastebaskets and your space by throwing these items into the recycling bin or trash container.

Live Better With Less

Research shows that clutter is linked to higher levels of stress, and can even lead to overeating and weight gain. With less clutter, your home with be healthier and more beautiful. And you will have more time since you aren’t burdened by the emotional or physical labor of taking care of these items. Make it a habit to only purchase what you need at the moment and you’ll free up finances as well.

Throw Out Items the Easy Way with 123JUNK

Want an easy way to get rid of these must-toss items? If you’re in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington, DC, contact 123JUNK. Not only will be pick up and dispose of your castoffs, we’ll donate what can be reused and recycle things like metal and paper. It’s part of our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose. It’s a win-win! You get to clear out your home and we get to help others like our charity partners succeed. We’ll even provide you with a receipt for your donations so you can claim the donation on your tax return!

Contact 123JUNK today to schedule your junk removal.

several men moving a large lawn mower onto their moving truck

Help! I have BIG Things to Get Rid Of!

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

We can’t tell you how often we hear this call for help! People have a lot of really big things inside or outside their homes (or offices) that they just don’t know how to get rid of. Luckily, they know enough to call 123JUNK.

Big Furniture

Today’s sofas are bigger and heavier than ever, making them more difficult to move or remove. They can be up to two or three times the size of a regular-sized piece of the same furniture. The bigger pieces can include sectional sofas, sleep sofas, oversized couches, big lounge chairs, stadium seating, chaises, recliners, and leather couches. In other rooms, you might have an oversized dining room table, hutch, or bookcases or other furniture that you’d like to donate in order to make room for the new furniture.

Big Bedroom Furniture

Massive bedframes and dressers have to have someplace to go when you’re redecorating or downsizing. Big bedroom furniture is no problem for our team at 123JUNK.

Big Mattresses

One of the most difficult things to get rid of—believe it or not—is a mattress, especially if it isn’t the greatest condition. There are limitations and restrictions on how to dispose of it, despite the fact that it’s awkward to carry and load.

(See our related post: How to Dispose of a Mattress When You Can’t Remove it Yourself)

Big Appliances

Your old or unused refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, stove, oven, water heater, air conditioner, dishwasher or other big appliance may also have restrictions on disposal options due to chemical contaminants like Freon. Plus, they’re heavy!

Big Entertainment Items

Are you tired of playing pool, or has ping-pong gone out of fashion in your home? You’ve been wanting to use that space for a new purpose, but your large entertainment items are in the way. How about the piano that nobody ever plays any longer, that old big-screen TV, or stereo equipment that’s gathering dust. With a quick call to 123JUNK, you can quickly and easily move these items on to new homes.

Exercise Equipment

Do you want to replace that old treadmill with the latest and greatest health equipment? No problem, with 123JUNK. We’ll gladly remove any exercise equipment, including home gyms, barbell and weight sets, weight benches, squat racks, CrossFit setups, cardio equipment, elliptical machines, rowing machines, and more.

Outdoor Fun

What do you do with your big outdoor living things when they’re no longer fun? Call 123JUNK! We’ll send our professional junk hauling team out to remove your hot tub, above-ground pool, grills, outdoor kitchen, playground set, jungle gym, swings, trampoline, fire pit, lawn furniture, statuary and landscaping items.

Lawn Equipment

Downsizing or moving into a condo, or upgrading to newer models? Then you no longer need all that old lawn equipment. We’ll gladly take off your hands your lawn tractor, mower, trimmers, blowers, snow blower, edger, spreader, sprayer, trailer, ladder and put them to good use somewhere else. We’ll even remove the shed, fence and lawn debris!

Related: HGTV’s 6 Tips for Downsizing

Let 123JUNK Do the Heavy Lifting to Get Rid of Big Things Around Your House

Don’t break your back trying to carry out big things. And don’t guilt your friends or neighbors into spending an afternoon loading them onto their pickup. That’s what 123JUNK is here for. Our professional junk haulers are trained in safety protocols when lifting and hauling big things. We don’t want them—or you—to become injured from lifting a heavy object the wrong way.

Our team is also trained in how to protect your home and property when removing big items. We’ll lay down floor covers, protect corners and doorways—whatever we have to do to ensure a clean and efficient removal.

After almost 15 years in business, we’d like to say we’ve seen it all. Yet we’re still surprised when someone contacts us to haul away a big item we haven’t handled before—like a motorcycle from a basement!

If you have big things to get rid of in Maryland, Washington DC or Northern Virginia, give 123JUNK a call at 1-800-364-5778.