Tag: spring cleaning

April is known as home improvement month, because it is a time of year when many people start jobs to spruce up their home. Research indicates that in Britain one in three households spend £2,000 a year on home improvements. However, 43% of jobs are left unfinished because people lose interest or give up because the job was too large or difficult, but a DIY job does not have to be a big project to make a difference.

Here are some suggestions of smaller projects for those who are less confident about their DIY skills that can really enhance your home:-

  • Create an illusion of space in a narrow hallway by painting the end wall a darker shade than the side walls.
  • Update the kitchen or bathroom by changing the taps.
  • Paint the front door to make a great first impression.
  • Update old furniture by painting it or put on new handles.
  • Spring clean the lamp shades and windows, inside and outside, to improve the quality of the light in your home.
  • Create a new look by adding new soft furnishing e.g. new cushion covers, throws and table runners.
  • Add new plants for extra colour and interest.
  • Make a herb garden for the kitchen.
  • Get creative using cheap materials like crates and pallets to make bookshelves or a coffee table.
  • Give the tops of tables and dressers a quick makeover by adding a decorative liner.

 

We all tend of have more stuff than space, so a useful project for April could be to sort out the garage, loft and the cupboard under the stairs to get rid of all those items we no longer want, need or use.

If, after the sort out, there are somethings you simply cannot bring yourself to throw out but haven’t the space to keep them in your home why not consider hiring a self-storage unit.

Spaces and Places is the perfect place to store items you do not want to throw away and furniture you wish to sell at a future date.

Get in touch with Spaces and Places, a secure, convenient and trustworthy storage company.

As the seasons change from winter into spring, more people may be thinking about putting their bulky winter clothing into storage instead of having it clog up their wardrobes.

Unlike some parts of the world where the climate remains fairly constant, in the UK we definitely have 4 seasons – sometimes in one day! This means that in the autumn and winter we wear thicker heavier clothes and in the spring and summer our clothes are generally lighter and thinner. Having all these clothes in our wardrobe and drawers can lead to overcrowding and difficulty finding the things we want to wear, plus there is a danger that the clothes can get damaged and spoilt if they are crammed into wardrobes and drawers ‘fit to burst’!

The best way to overcome these problems is to store the bulky autumn/winter clothes during the spring/summer months and the skimpy shorts, tops and dresses worn in the spring /summer should be packed away over the autumn /winter months.

Here are a few tips on the best way to store clothing to ensure it stays in perfect condition until you need it next.

  1. 1. Sort out clothes and accessories – Before storing clothes, shoes and accessories it is always a good idea to have a good sort through. There is no point in storing clothes you have not worn for the last twelve months. There is probably a good reason why you have not worn them- too small, too big, the fit is wrong, they are out of fashion or they are showing signs of wear. Be ruthless – get rid of worn out clothes –even if it is a favourite shirt and send items in good condition to the charity shop.

2. Clean /polish -Wash or dry clean all clothes before storing them. The clothes do not need to be ironed but it is essential to clean them properly to remove marks and stains. Similarly clean and polish leather goods like boots and shoes before storing. Keep boots and shoes separate from clothes and stuff tissue paper into them to help keep their shape.

3. Repair – Carry out minor repairs on clothes before storing them for example sewing on buttons, or repairing seams or hems.

4. Storage containers – Invest in good quality plastic containers with airtight lids to store your clothes. They will keep your clothes dry and free of mildew/mould plus mice and other small creepy crawlies will not get to your clothes. Avoid vacuum packing clothes – it may save you space but clothes made of natural fibres like wool can be damaged if crushed in a vacuum bag for a long period of time.  Contains should then be stored in a warm, dry place.

5. Packing – Although clothes don’t need to be ironed before packing, they should be packed carefully either by folding neatly or rolling. Heaviest items should be packed first and the lighter more delicate items should be at the top and whatever you do, don’t over pack the container!  

If you find that you’re struggling for space to store all your clothes, why not think about renting a self-storage unit.  We offer clean secure storage with 24/7 access.

Get in touch with Spaces and Places and get your wardrobe under control!

It’s that time of year again! Once the harshest weather of the winter is over, the days are getting longer and the sun is brightening the sky, many of us start to feel the urge to give our homes a ‘spring clean.’ Traditionally spring cleaning was a way of getting rid of all the soot and dirt that had built up over the winter from open fires but today it tends to refer to sorting out the house, getting rid of unwanted items  and giving our home a deep clean.

Listed below are some great tips to help you spring clean your home:-

  1. 1. Declutter: start by getting rid of unwanted items. There is absolutely no point cleaning things you no longer want or need. Either take them to the tip, to the charity shop or store them to sell at a later date.
  2. 2. Tidy up: find a home for everything (there should be more room in the cupboards now you have decluttered). It is much easier to clean if you don’t have to keep moving things.
  3. 3. Pace yourself: Take one room or area at a time to avoid running out of time and energy, leaving you with unfinished jobs. You have greater satisfaction and will feel more motivated to continue if you complete cleaning one room rather than if you have several rooms partially cleaned.
  4. 4. Start at the top: when cleaning it is always best to start at the top of a room and work down, and similarly clean inside a cupboard before the outside. This will help to avoid things you have just cleaned getting dirty again. Also work round a room in one direction to avoid missing areas out.
  5. 5. Be prepared: have all your cleaning products together in a caddy to carry around with you as you clean.
  6. 6. Hand protection: invest in a good pair of rubber gloves to protect your skin and nails from harsh chemicals.
  7. 7. Freshen up: get the windows open and let fresh air circulate in the room.
  8. 8. Multitask: when spring cleaning a room, first take down curtains, remove cushion covers and other soft furnishings and get them into the washing machine so they can be washing while you are cleaning.
  9. 9. Repairs: carry out any repairs that need to be done as you come across them.
  10. 10. Look after yourself: wear comfy clothes and shoes when cleaning and give yourself a reward for all your hard work!

When you have finished your spring cleaning if you have items of furniture, household goods or clothes you do not want to throw away but need to store, why not think about using a self-storage unit. Get in touch with Spaces and Places for a secure and convenient way of storing these items.