Tag: junk removal VA DC MD

spring-yard-cleanup-mowing

The Essentials for Spring Yard Cleanup

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Now that the weather is beautiful, your family will be spending more time outdoors and want to have a beautiful environment to enjoy. That means spring yard cleanup! To make this chore easier, we’ll explore in this post the tools and techniques you’ll need to get the job done.

Basic Tasks for Spring Yard Cleanup

You likely haven’t touched the yard in several months, as winter wreaked its storms and cold air, so now there are tasks to do to get your yard ready. They include:

  • Raking leaves and removing debris such as leaves, twigs, and other debris accumulated during fall and winter months. This will help prepare your lawn for new growth.
  • Pruning trees and shrubs. Prune dead branches from trees and shrubs, but wait until after flowering trees and shrubs are done blooming to trim them as not to disturb their showy array.
  • Clearing out flower beds to remove dead plants and flowers, and add new soil or compost to prepare for new plantings.
  • Aerating the soil, fertilizing and mowing the lawn to promote healthy grass growth.
  • Laying seed or sod to fill in bare spots in the lawn.
  • Spreading mulch around trees and shrubs to retain moisture and suppress weeds
  • Weed and pest control.
  • Fertilizing with a slow-release fertilizer to give your lawn the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy.

10 Essential Tools for Yard Work

It’s always easier to perform a task when you have the right tools on hand. Here are the basic pieces of equipment you’ll should keep on hand for your yard maintenance.

  1. A good quality rake for removing twigs, leaves and other debris.
  2. Pruning shears or loppers for pruning dead or damaged branches from trees and shrubs.
  3. Garden gloves to protect your hands from thorns, prickly plants and other yard hazards.
  4. A wheelbarrow to transport soil, debris and other materials around the yard.
  5. A sturdy shovel for digging and moving soil and mulch.
  6. A lawn mower to keep grass well groomed.
  7. An edger to achieve a neat and professional-looking edge around your lawn and garden beds.
  8. A leaf blower or vacuum to remove leaves and debris from hard-to-reach areas.
  9. A hedge trimmer to maintain shape and control growth on shrubbery.
  10. Safety equipment such as safety glasses and ear protection to wear when using power tools.

Related: How to Tune Up Your Lawn Mower

When is it Time to Get New Yard Equipment?

Knowing when to replace your yard equipment depends on your individual needs and circumstances, but usually there are signs that it may be time to make the investment. Some things to look for include:

  • If your equipment is older than 10 years and shows signs of wear and tear.
  • If you are making frequent repairs, or your equipment has become unreliable, it may be more cost-effective to replace it.
  • For maximum efficiency, like if your mower is struggling to cut the grass evenly, it may be time to consider a newer model.
  • If your equipment is no longer safe to use, or is missing safety features, replace it.
  • Environmental considerations. Older gas-powered equipment can be replaced with newer, more environmentally-friendly models that are more efficient and produce fewer emissions.

What to Do With Your Old Lawn Equipment and Yard Debris During Spring Yard Cleanup: Call 123JUNK

So that leaves the question on what to do with your old lawn equipment and the yard debris that you’ve collected during your spring yard cleanup.

The easiest answer, if you live in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. or the Maryland suburbs, is to contact 123JUNK. As a junk removal company, 123JUNK can pick up your old equipment and lawn debris and dispose of it in a safe and environmentally-responsible way. We provide:

  • Free estimates and transparent pricing.
  • Easy pickup from your home or business at a time convenient to you.
  • Responsible disposal in accordance with local regulations and guidelines.
  • Donation and recycling to a local charity or the appropriate recycling center.
  • Professional service and experience with all types of lawn care equipment, including lawn mowers, trimmers, chainsaws and more.

There’s no need to sort through items for recycling, or haul away bulky items on your own. With 123JUNK, you’ll save time and effort by letting us handle removal for you, thus allowing you to focus on more exciting things—like lying in your hammock.

For to schedule your lawn debris and junk hauling appointment, contact 123JUNK today.

Earth Week

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Earth Week is a global event celebrated annually from April 16th to the 22nd to help raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions that would protect our planet.

During Earth Week, various events and activities take place, such as community cleanups, tree planting, educational campaigns and sustainable living initiatives. Organizations, schools and individuals can participate by organizing events, activities and programs to promote environmental awareness and encourage people to take action. Activities in the past have included environmental film festivals, eco-friendly art shows and environmentally-themed concerts, along with speakers, recycling drives and fairs showcasing sustainable products and services.

Earth Week was first observed in the United States in 1970 as a response to growing concerns about environmental issues such as pollution, loss of wilderness and wildlife extinction. It was proposed by Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin who wanted to create a national teach-in on the environment. An estimated 20 million people participated in the rallies, marches and demonstrations that took place in cities across the US.

Today, Earth Week is a worldwide event offering an opportunity for individuals, communities and organizations to come together to learn about environmental issues take action to protect our planet, and advocate for policies that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Earth Week and Earth Day are not the same, but are related. Earth Day is specifically celebrated annually on April 22nd. Earth Week, on the other hand, is a week-long event that takes place leading up to Earth Day.

How Can I Commemorate Earth Week?

There are a number of ways you, or your business or organization, can promote Earth Week and environmental awareness:

  • Organize a community cleanup to clear the local parks, beaches and streets of litter and debris.
  • Create a neighborhood recycling event where items homeowners no longer use or want can be picked up by a junk removal company like 123JUNK and either delivered to local charity partners or taken to area recycling centers.
  • Promote sustainable practices at work or home, like recycling, reducing waste and conserving resources like energy and water.
  • Support environmental organizations through donations or volunteer time.
  • Host an educational event, film screening or interactive workshop to raise awareness or teach skills about sustainable practices and environmental awareness.
  • Partner with organizations to create a larger impact.

Related blog post: Earth Day

What Can I Do Personally to Help Keep Items out of Landfills?

You can help reduce environmental pollution and conserve resources by:

  • Reducing waste you generate. Choose products with minimal packaging, buy in bulk and avoid single-use items.
  • Reusing items. Before you throw things away, consider whether they can be reused. Reuse containers for storage, old clothing for cleaning rags or scrap paper for crafts or notes.
  • Recycling. Learn what can and cannot be recycled in your area and properly sort them.
  • Composting. Instead of throwing away food scraps and yard waste, compost them instead to create a nutrient-rich soil amendment that you can use to fertilize your garden and lawn.
  • Donating or selling items. If items are in good condition, donate them to charity (123JUNK will pick them up!) or sell them online.

123JUNK Helps Your Earth Week Initiatives Locally

Keeping items out of landfill is our number one priority at 123JUNK and we are glad to help you, your company or your organization with your Earth Week initiatives. With our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose we’ll pick up or look for items that can be donated to our charity partners. We’ll pull out items that cannot be repurposed but do contain recyclable materials and take them directly to the appropriate recycling centers. As a final resort, we’ll take what’s left over to the landfill.

123JUNK is a locally-founded and operated, environmentally-friendly junk removal company. As such, we care greatly about the communities in which we, ourselves live. Contact 123JUNK today and let us help you with your Earth Week junk removal and recycling event.

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.

stress-free-mornings

How to Organize for Stress-Free Back to School Mornings

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Now that the kids are back in school and many parents are returning to the office, mornings can be hectic. With everyone trying to eat breakfast, make lunches and gather their items for the day, there is little time left over. Wouldn’t it be great to organize everyone to create stress-free back to school mornings? That’s where systems and organization can be a big help.

Declutter

Having too many items around creates havoc when you’re rushing to get out the door. Declutter areas where you and your children are trying to get ready in the morning. Put away items to keep and toss items you no longer need or want. If you have a lot of items you’d like to get rid of, contact 123JUNK!

To prevent clutter from building up, create drop bins for trash and items that need to be put away. Create one bin for each person that they can take to their rooms at the end of each day.

Create a Command Center

Dedicate one space as your home’s Command Center, and outfit it with anything required for last-minute preparation. Stock it with a clock, pens and pencils, the weekly schedule, a calendar, paper pads, safety pins, Band-Aids, stapler, ruler, tape, erasers, and a parent’s inbox for important papers that need to be signed and returned.

Create Stress-Free Morning Zones

Create a zone for each person into which they can put items needed for the following day. It’s a great way to “grab and go” for a stress-free back to school morning routine. Install cubbies near the front door for bookbags and briefcases. Dedicate a section of the kitchen counter or island for lunch preparation. Place non-perishable lunch items into marked bins, and refrigerated items in one section of the appliance. Here’s how one mom does it.

Develop Stress-Free Routines and Schedules

A key to creating a stress-free morning is to not have to think about what to do. That’s where a routine comes in handy. Create a schedule for the kids of what time to get up, what grooming items to perform (making the bed, brushing teeth, combing hair, washing face, getting dressed, etc.), and what time to come to the table for breakfast. Keep in mind the ultimate schedule item of what time they must leave for school. Have clocks available in each area in order to keep track of time. For younger children, create a picture chart.

If the children are involved in making their own lunches, make a schedule for that too. Assign individual responsibilities, or take turns each week as lunch makers. If the children will be buying lunch at school, make sure they have their lunch money, or establish a school lunch account with the school.

Start the Night Before

Each evening, lay out the items that will be required for the next day. This can significantly help create a stress-free morning. Make sure homework, bookbags and jackets are in the cubbies. Lay out the outfit and shoes. Pack non-perishable items in lunch bags and lunch boxes. Get baths out of the way. And check the schedule and family calendar for any out-of-the-ordinary schedule changes.

123JUNK Loves Stress-Free Back to School Mornings

As a junk removal company, we are probably more aware than others of the chaos clutter can cause. We see it every day in our job. That’s one reason we transitioned to a paperless office! And we try to implement these tips into our own mornings to reduce stress and get our families out the door on time.

Our goal at 123JUNK is to provide home and business owners throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC with one trusted resource for junk removal. We also make it our mission to protect our environment with our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose. Our clients love that too.

When you need junk hauling, contact 123JUNK and talk to a live representative.

 

Check out the recent Redfin article we were
featured in: Create a Clean and Organized Home
with These 22 Tips

It’s easy for homes to become disorganized and
full of clutter. Whether you have numerous
belongings or always seem to accumulate more,
it’s easy for it to become unmanageable. If so,
consider incorporating structure into your
cleaning routine. Creating simple habits will help
you avoid the clutter and mess that always
seems to accumulate at home. Once you begin
practicing these new habits, you’ll notice how
much easier it is to create a clean and organized
home.

Read the full article here: Create a Clean and
Organized Home with These 22 Tips | Redfin