6 Reasons to Buy Natural Cleaning Products for Your Home

In your fast-paced life filled with appointments and responsibilities, you can reach for the usual brand of disinfectant without another thought. With so many important things to stay on top of, have you taken a closer look at the ingredients of these basic cleaning solutions?

Many popular cleaning products are chocked full of toxic components that you don’t want in your home. While this is just one reason to switch to organic options, there are several others. Discover more with the following reasons to buy natural cleaning items for your house.

1. Protect the Earth

Common cleaning solutions can lead to pollution, especially through water contamination. Basic ingredients like ammonia, phosphorus and nitrogen may sanitize your house, but they ultimately end up lakes, rivers and coastal waters. Ecosystems suffer when these substances wreak havoc on wildlife habitats.

When you opt for non-hazardous cleaners, you can prevent damage to the environment. Choosing biodegradable solutions can better the earth and its inhabitants. Shield the ecosystems from disaster by ditching contaminating substances.

2. Spend Less

Green cleaning options are simple and serve multiple purposes, so you don’t have to purchase as many items. As a budget-friendly path, you can easily transition to an eco-friendly lifestyle and benefit your bank account.

Household staples can double as effective purifying agents in straightforward recipes. Tossing together homemade mixtures including lemons, vinegar and baking soda costs little.

3. Avoid Health Risks

Typical store-bought cleaners hold harmful chemicals that can irritate your skin, cause respiratory infections and lead to serious health complications. Eliminate these risks and restore your health by incorporating safe cleaners into your housework.

Known carcinogens are even present in some cleaning items and cosmetics. Toilet bowl cleaners contain dangerous formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, so don’t take any chances when clearing out your stores of disinfectants.

4. Save Time

Your current collection specialty sprays and powders for every room of your house, but with a few all-purpose cleaners, you can streamline your house chores. Rather than shifting back and forth from one bottle to the next, your cleaning essentials can get the tasks done in a flash.

A sprinkle of baking soda can deodorize smelly spots, fight grime and remove stains. From the kitchen to your beauty routine, natural supplies are versatile and can accomplish a lot.

5. Maintain Pure Air Quality

Harsh ingredients in cleaning products give off unpleasant smells, but odors aren’t the primary way your home’s air quality is in jeopardy. Volatile organic compounds or VOCs from aerosol sprays, detergents and bleach fill your home’s air even when their stored and not in active use.

The effects of VOCs can range from something small like a headache to a more severe impact like liver or kidney damage. These also create smog, and there’s no place for that in your home. Natural alternatives can bring clarity to your living space.

6. Stay Informed

Fully understanding what you’re exposed to is crucial. You may think government regulations keep risky ingredients out of reach. While some changes in recent years have added more transparency, there still isn’t a federal requirement for manufacturers to disclose ingredients in cleaners.

To keep questionable compounds from your home, select trustworthy cleaning solutions. Control what comes into your home by sticking with organic materials and clearly healthy components.

Choose Safe Cleaning Products

Stocking your home with green cleaning products can give you a sense of security and add many advantages to your life. You can achieve a truly clean setting by trading in your chemical-filled products. Make the change to improve your finances, personal health, environment and schedule.

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How to Start a One-Man Handyman Business Out of Your Home

Homeowners have to develop a special skill set to handle all the day-to-day demands of maintaining their property. A self-sufficient attitude is essential to cutting the costs associated with repair, and, naturally, most people pick up a few things along the way. You might count yourself among these people.

You’ve fixed your fair share of squeaky floorboards, creaky doors and leaky faucets, and you’re ready to take the next step. Other homeowners are in need of your abilities, and many of them likely live in your area, or even next door. The only obstacle between you and success is a strong business model.

With this in mind, here’s a simple guide for starting a handyman business out of your home.

1. Learn the Laws in Your State

Compliance with the law is critical to your success, as some services require a contractor’s license. You don’t want to move through the entire process of starting your business only to find it isn’t legal. In many cases, you won’t need a license, but contracting laws change from state to state.

Before you continue with the next step, visit your state’s contractors board website and consult the FAQ for laws related to small repairs and maintenance.

2. Decide Your Range of Services

You don’t necessarily need to offer a wide variety of services to attract customers. You’ll find it’s just as profitable — if not more profitable — to offer a limited range of services instead of spanning several trades. Start with what you know and work toward improving your skills within that niche.

Begin with a list of all the possible services you can provide at the present moment. Which of them are you confident you can perform at a professional level?

3. Define Targets and Pricing

As you develop your handyman business, you’ll have to set aside time to define your target customers and pricing. Your target customers are those clients you could see paying for your services, people you’d enjoy working for. As for pricing, determine the amount which will cover business and lifestyle expenses.

Some handymen average around $100 per hour, but it will depend on a number of different factors. Just choose reasonable prices, but prices you’ll profit from.

4. Purchase the Necessary Assets

Starting any kind of business requires commitment, and you’ll likely need to purchase certain assets. These assets might include tools and specialized equipment, or even service trucks. In choosing the right service truck for your handyman business, your options fall into two categories.

1. Service bodies sit on the back of the truck to create an open cargo area with no enclosure.
2. Utility bodies have an enclosed compartment which the driver can physically enter if necessary.

Between service and utility bodies, you should make your decision on considerations like the type and size of the equipment you’re using. Utility bodies are better than service bodies if you’re carrying sensitive components and items you need to shelter from the weather. Then again, oversized equipment is easier to manage with service bodies, and open bodies are usually less expensive, which is critical in the early stages of your business.

5. Create Your Marketing Strategy

After you’ve settled issues like legal compliance, services, target customers, pricing and assets, you should start to develop your marketing strategy. Take an afternoon to analyze your target customers’ desires, behaviors and frustrations, crafting your message around what you think would attract them.

It’ll take time to build a profitable client base, of course. Even so, word-of-mouth marketing and referrals cost nothing. More than that, these methods are extremely effective for what you’re planning to accomplish, one of the positives of starting a handyman business.

Start Planning Today

You have a basic outline for starting your business, so don’t delay. Homeowners are in need of your help! Review your state laws and start planning today!

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5 Reasons To Hire a Forklift For Your Home Project

Whether you’re revamping your downstairs bathroom, or constructing an outbuilding from scratch – hiring a forklift can boost the efficiency of your project. From saving you money and time, to doing the heavy lifting when manual labourers are struggling, there are a few key reasons why you should consider hiring a forklift for your home endeavour.   

Fixed monthly costs

Bigger projects may need lots of heavy lifting, and the most cost-efficient way to approach a project is through hiring a forklift, rather than employing lots of manual labourers. When you hire a forklift, you pay only fixed monthly costs and will not be surprised with any sudden repair or maintenance bills – your forklift hire company will cover any problems the moment they arise without you needing to fork out. This payment plan allows for greater flexibility and cost-efficiency in the long run, particularly in regards to short-term hire.

Time-efficiency

Forklifts can not only save you money, but also time. The ease of movement and lifting that these machines bring to your project can save a lot of time and effort, and also potentially prevent injury from workers overstretching themselves. Consequently, hiring a forklift can also enhance the time-efficiency of your project.

Regular maintenance and servicing

Hiring from a forklift specialist means that you can rest assured that your hired machine will have undergone regular maintenance and servicing to ensure optimal performance and quality before you receive it. What’s more, if your forklift experiences issues mid-project, a professional can attend to the problem and offer a resolution – this comes from the specialists’ in-depth knowledge of all the makes and models they supply.

Flexibility

Different aspects of your project may require different machine capabilities – the good news is that machines can be easily swapped or upgraded when using a professional company, such as East Midlands Forklifts. This gives you total flexibility and reassurance in the knowledge that you can access the right forklift at the right time. Very often, different lease periods can also be agreed to adapt to your project’s schedule.

Can handle large projects  

Forklifts are designed to tackle big projects and heavy weights and are most often seen on large construction sites or in warehouses. However, they can also prove useful on home construction projects too, such as home renovations, landscaping projects, construction of outbuildings, or extensions. No matter how ambitious your project, forklifts can handle it. Simply get in touch with a specialist who can advise on exactly the right make and model for your needs.

East Midlands Forklifts are a leading authority on forklifts in their area, specialising in the supply, repair and maintenance of a wide range of trusted makes and models.

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What is the Best Type of Roof for Solar Panels?

Solar panels are a great way of making our homes more eco-friendly and sustainable. They can generate clean energy to cut down on bills and reduce our overall carbon footprint, but do you need a particular type of roof to install solar panels?

In this article, we’re looking at what factors might make some roofs more suitable than others for effective solar panel installation.

Key factors

There are some notable key factors which will influence your suitability for solar panels. These include:

• Ownership of the roof
• The direction your roof faces
• Age of the roof
• Material of the roof
• Roof size

More factors will likely come into play, but for the most part, these are the most decisive and easiest to consider. Let’s look at how these might affect your decision.

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Ownership

If you’re in a rental property, you’ll need to obtain the owner’s permission before making significant structural changes — such as the addition of solar panels. If you’re the sole owner of the roof, then you’re okay to proceed.

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Roof orientation

In the UK, a south-facing roof is a prime candidate for solar panels, as it will maximise the amount of solar energy you can generate. If your roof is north facing, then solar panels won’t be worth installing — although ground-mounted options could provide an alternative.

If your roof is east or west facing, then you’ll still be able to benefit from the power of solar panels. In fact, east/west-facing solar panels provide a better distribution of energy overall. This is because, when most people install south-facing panels, demand peaks at around midday and the grid can find it difficult to cope. By opting for east/west-facing panels, you can still generate an impressive amount of energy while also reducing demand on the grid.

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Age of the roof

When planning your panel installation, you need to think about the age and lifespan of your roof. Ideally, you’ll want to install your panels on a roof that’s in good condition and has more than a couple of decades’ life left to give. It might be that you’ll need to make sweeping repairs or even a full replacement if you have an older, traditional roofing system — such as slate or asphalt.

If you have a metal roof, then you’re already in a strong position. With their long-lasting lifespan and durability, a metal roof will likely outlast your solar panels.

This is a key element to think about if you’re planning to build a new roof alongside your solar array; you’ll want to install a roofing system that will outlive your panels. Metal roofing is an ideal choice for this type of installation.

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Size of the roof

The bigger your roof, the more panels you can install and the more energy you can produce. In domestic terms, the roof space of a small terraced house is definitely on the small side, and likely won’t be worth having panels installed. A three-bed semi-detached house, however, is a much healthier proposition.

When you think of size, you also need to factor in the ease of installation. Standing seam metal roofs offer a clean and easy installation surface for solar panels, without needing to drill any holes. This allows you to maximise space and create an unimpeded installation that draws as much energy as your roof size allows.

Finally, you’ll also need to take into account any obstacles on the roof — chimneys, vents etc. — as well as ensuring you have enough internal space for the string inverter.

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Material of the roof

While solar panels can be installed on a range of roofing materials, an ideal choice would be a standing seam metal roof. As mentioned above, age and condition of the roof is important and this is intrinsically linked with the material. A metal roof is a sturdy and efficient platform for solar panels, and one that will last for many years to come without needing to be repaired or replaced.

Standing seam roofs also make it easy to install solar panels without any kind of restructuring or additional work, and some solar panel installers have dedicated metal roofing rails to accommodate simple installation on these kinds of roofs. If you have a metal roof — or are thinking of installing one — it’s the ideal companion for solar panels.

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Spring-Cleaning Tips for Your Cluttered Garage

Winter is nearly over, and that means it’s time for spring-cleaning. Even if the rest of your house is in good shape — save for a little dusting, because that is one job we’ll be doing forever — your garage probably needs a little bit of TLC. We get it. For most of us, the garage becomes a catch-all for everything that won’t fit in the rest of the house. Here are some quick and easy spring-cleaning tips to help you transform your garage from a storage shed into a functional room.

Start With Four Piles

Believe it or not, 57 percent of people with a garage attached to their home can’t park their car in it. They don’t have the room! Clutter is a big problem for most of us. We hang on to everything, swearing we’ll fix that broken blender later, or that we might need that massive box of half-dead Christmas lights for something in the future. The first step you need to take in your cleaning efforts is to create four piles: keep, store, sell and toss.

Once you have a place for each pile, start sorting everything in your garage into one of these four areas. Tools and items you use daily go into the keep pile. Seasonal stuff, like winter clothing and holiday decorations, go in the store pile. Anything that is still in good working order but you don’t need or want anymore can go into the sell pile for your next garage sale. Trash can go straight into a bag or can, so you can drag it to the curb on your next scheduled garbage day.

This step will cut down the amount of stuff you need to sort through by half, at least, depending on the ratio of junk to useful things in the garage.

Figure out Why You Want Your Garage

Once you’ve sorted through all the junk cluttering up the garage, figure out what you want to do with it. Are you going to park your car there, or use it as a craft or hobby room? Maybe you want to turn it into a rec room, with a pool or ping-pong table. Whatever your plans, now’s the time to figure them out, because your next steps will depend on the result you’re trying to achieve.

Plan Your Storage

Once you’ve got everything sorted out, you’re going to need to start thinking about storage. Shelves, cabinets and even overhead storage are all options, depending on your needs.

Store seasonal stuff first, since you’ll only need those items for a few months out of the year. If you’ve got an attic with garage access, this is the perfect place to store it. If your garage or attic isn’t climate-controlled, be careful with storing seasonal clothing. At the very minimum, you’ll need to throw a few mothballs in each box to keep your sweaters and jackets safe from hungry moth mouths.

Clear out everything in your garage and take a close look at the empty room. Where can you put storage where it won’t interfere with your other plans? If you’re going to work on your car or turn the garage into a hobby room, a workbench with storage for tools might be a good investment.

Keep Your Garage Tidy Year-Round

Once you’ve spent time deep-cleaning your garage, the last thing you want to do is let it get cluttered again. Make sure everything stays in its designated place, and that if you buy anything new, you put it away before it has a chance to become clutter. Spring-cleaning your garage, especially if you’ve been using it as a catch-all, is a big project — but once you get it emptied, it’s much easier to maintain.

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Home Plumbing Maintenance Checklist for New Homeowners

Two years after buying my new home, I awoke one morning and went to clean the kitty litter located in an alcove closet in the downstairs bathroom. Suddenly, I heard gurgling akin to a rapidly boiling soup pot coming from the toilet behind me. Seconds later, the lid lifted as a foul-smelling black goo spewed forth from the bowl like something out of “The Amityville Horror,” ruining rugs and towels while causing me panic.

The Great Toilet Disaster marked my first plumbing emergency as a homeowner, and it could have been averted had I paid attention to routine maintenance. As a new homeowner, learn from my mistake to minimize your own risk of plumbing woes. Preventative maintenance is key, as plumbing issues can cause some of the most pricey home repairs. Conducting regular inspections can fix little problems before they cost you thousands.

Monthly

1. Leaks: Leaks can cause serious water damage and provide breeding grounds for black mold. Check pipes monthly by inspecting underneath each sink. Drips or moisture indicate a possible leak. Also inspect interior walls for damp spots.
2. Drainage: Poor drainage indicates a clog. Pour a gallon of water down each sink and bathtub drain. Snake any slow-moving drains.
3. Faucets: Turn on all faucets and run them for a minute or two at full blast. Water should not escape from anywhere but the spigot.
4. Irrigation lines: Those with irrigation systems should check them monthly for leaks and clogs. Turn on the system 20 to 30 minutes prior to visually inspecting all parts.
5. Water heater: Check settings on your water heater monthly. The ideal temperature to keep your water heater at is 120 degrees, although families with young children should set it even lower to avoid potential burns.

Quarterly

1. Turn on/off irrigation according to climate: Most states north of the Mason-Dixon line turn on irrigation systems in late May to early June and back off again in mid-September. Those in warmer climates may use some irrigation all year but should nevertheless turn the frequency of watering down in cooler weather.
2. Search for any drafts: Most people winterize their homes by checking doors and windows for cracks, but outside plumbing lines may also let cold air in. Check outside water fixtures, and caulk up any cracks.
3. Check the toilet bowl for leaks: A toilet that won’t stop running often indicates nothing more than the chain bob inside the tank slipping off. However, if the tank looks fine inside, your toilet may have sediment or leaves caught in the line, so call a plumber before (like me) you end up needing to buy new bathroom rugs.
4. Inspect certain appliances: You should inspect your washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator and any other water-using appliances. Replace any cracked tubes or lines. Mold anywhere inside appliances indicates a leak, so if you cannot find the source on your own, call in a professional.
5. Clean out gutters: Twice per year, clean all the leaves and other debris from your outdoor gutters. Additionally, inspect gutters after powerful storms, and remove any clumps of blown materials.

Yearly

1. Flush your hot water tank: Once per year, flush your hot water heater free of sediment. Water flowing from spigots turning cold sooner than usual indicates that sediment is eating up room for hot water.
2. Check for rust: Visually inspect all visible pipes in the home. Call in a plumbing professional if you find discoloration and rust, as this issue indicates that pipes hidden in walls may also need repair or replacement.
3. Check for mold: Sniff around all fixtures and under sinks. Should you see or smell mold, clean it with a water and bleach solution.
4. Clean shower heads: Sediment can build up in shower heads, making skin itchy and decreasing water flow. Take apart the shower head and clean all components.
5. Call in the pros: Those on sewer should schedule an annual camera inspection of their line (as I learned the hard way). Plumbers use a special camera to seek out and remove leaves, paper towels or tree roots, preventing them from creating backflow.

Managing Plumbing Emergencies

Performing routine maintenance should prevent many plumbing headaches, but emergencies still sometimes occur. Perform a plumbing check as part of your home inspection, and establish a relationship with a trustworthy local plumber so that you aren’t left scrambling to find someone should an emergency occur.

Those in cold climates should heat their entire homes instead of only certain rooms to prevent pipes from freezing. If financial factors require heating only a few areas, rotate which ones you use. Insulate pipes as much as possible before temperatures drop below zero.

Those living in condos or townhouses may share an outside sewer line with one or two neighbors. Find out who they are, and take turns paying for the annual sewer inspection.

Protecting Your Investment

For many people, their home represents their biggest investment. Protect your home and your money by keeping up with routine plumbing maintenance tasks. You’ll save sweet moolah this way and avoid big messes and huge headaches.

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How to Add Value to Your Home

With the housing market looking extremely unpredictable thanks to Brexit, it’s unlikely that many buyers or sellers are going to put much stock in spikes and dips until the dust settles. That said, if you want to squeeze as much value out of your home when the time comes, then these tips are for you.

Kerb appeal

When people talk about adding value to domestic properties, the term ‘kerb appeal’ gets thrown around a lot. What is kerb appeal, you ask? Well, put simply, kerb appeal is how attractive your home looks from the street. Everyone knows just how important first impressions are and boosting your home’s kerb appeal is all about capitalising on them.

There are numerous ways in which you can boost your home’s kerb appeal, here are some popular ones:

• A new front door is an excellent way to smarten up the front of your home, particularly if you go for a nice composite one. And, if that seems like a daunting task, even installing a nice new brushed aluminium door handle will improve the first impression your home gives.
• Freshening up the front of your home with a lick of paint is a surefire way to make your house look more appealing to passersby. You don’t necessarily need to worry about the other sides – unless the contrast is glaringly obvious, that is.
• Clean up any clutter on the drive. This is a very quick win for anyone looking to boost their home’s kerb appeal. Whether you need to tidy up some renegade toys or your drive needs a quick sweep – this one’s a no-brainer!

New windows

If you’re looking to improve the look of your home as well as its thermal efficiency, then some new windows are a great choice. You’ll save money on your heating bills, which buyers will definitely appreciate, and the clean, new look is bound to catch their eye.

A home office

Given that working from home is becoming the norm in many professions, for some, the idea of a home office isn’t just enticing – it’s essential. Whether you can simply rework a currently defunct room, or you have to do something a little more DIY-intensive, a home office could be a great way to tempt prospective buyers to consider your home.

Get round to those repairs you’ve been putting off!

A stitch in time saves nine – and it could also net you some extra cash. Whether the damage is structural or purely cosmetic, it’s definitely worth getting round to fixing some of the issues you’ve been turning a blind eye to before your home goes on the market. If someone who’s viewing your home notices that the house needs a great deal of work done to it post purchase, they will be much less likely to put in an acceptable offer, or worse, put in an offer at all.

Hitchcock & King have over 40 years of experience providing customers with an excellent variety of top quality building supplies, including roofing materials. With eight branches spread across the London region, we’re ideally placed to serve customers throughout the capital. For added convenience, we can also offer prompt same and next day delivery of our building supplies directly to your site. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experts today for advice and enquiries.

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