Clean surroundings can make even a mundane house feel like a treasured home. You will enjoy your space more fully while taking advantage of numerous health and wellness benefits. Here are a few tips to help you keep your surroundings spotless after moving in or finishing a construction project:
- Clear the rubbish around your house and yard. Sort it into piles and recycle whatever pieces you can. Some rubbish can even be reused around your own home. Dump any trash into garbage bins and sort recyclables as needed. Purchase or rent a variety of containers of different capacities in order to most efficiently complete the job. You can rent industrial-size containers from websites such as http://www.hometowndumpsterrental.com and http://www.dumpster.com.
- If using rented containers, make sure you arrange for a pick-up time. Know what can and cannot be disposed of. Do not overload the containers as this may lead to excess charges. If using purchased containers, set out at the curb the night before the collection date in order to have your rubbish hauled in a timely manner. Mark collection dates on your calendar, and also make note of recycling, vegetation, and newspaper pick-up dates.
- Keep toxic materials like oil, paint, varnish, thinner, stain, and batteries in a cool, dark place. Do not dispose of these with other household trash. Investigate local hazardous material collection drives. Many communities offer such collections in the spring and autumn, but check with your municipality for their policy. Some allow continuous drop-offs at a local facility with proper identification.
- Do not mingle perishables with recyclables or other rubbish. This can lead to unpleasant odors, vermin infestation, additional charges, and other issues. Keep old food in separate containers. Try to compost organic materials such as salads, coffee grounds, and egg shells if you can. This will decompose into a rich, dark soil that is especially potent for growing plants when mixed with standard outdoor soil or potting soil.
- Know the size of each container, its volume, and your removal needs prior to scheduling a pick-up. Most American dumpsters are available in 10-, 20-, and 30-cubic yard volume containers, and outdoor heavy-duty rubbish bins are available in 20-, 32-, and 45-gallon sizes. Make sure your bins or dumpsters will fit in the space you have available. If blocking your driveway, make alternate plans for parking your vehicles.
- Check your municipality’s regulations regarding commingling and separation of trash and recycling. Some municipalities will not collect errant trash. Others will impose hefty fines. Also ask about any regulations regarding the amount of trash that can be put out at one time and about any objects that require appointment-only pick-ups.
- Utilize walk-in bins and dumpsters to throw away heavier waste. You can use a wheelbarrow or other wheeled equipment with ease. This will protect your back while allowing you to easily throw away even the heaviest of rubbish.
- Protect against overflow. If necessary, schedule for an additional bin. Overflowing trash may cost you a tremendous fine, and if a strong gust of wind blows materials across your lawn, you’ll need to pick them up again.
- Rented container charges are based on the size and type of bin as well as the number of days used. Ask for a fee schedule prior to renting in order to find your optimal configuration. Rent as many containers as needed.
- Use environmentally friendly organic cleaning products when possible. Outdoors, try to use primarily water if possible. Avoid using bleach or other harsh chemicals outdoors as these can damage lawns, shrubs, trees, and other plants. Do not dump spent chemicals down storm drains which may flow into local waterways, causing pollution and ecological crises.
- Before allowing pets or children outside, scan the yard with a metal detector to locate any loose nails, staples, siding shards, or other sharp metallic pieces that could cut or pierce flesh. Remove any plastic that could lead to suffocation. Always check after the clean-up company leaves to make sure no pieces were left behind.
- Always inspect the interior of your home (including the attic and basement) for signs of infestation, poor workmanship, and leftover components. This will prevent future problems from blossoming into disasters.
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