Best Tips for Organizing Your Bathroom

Whether you want to sort your bathroom because you’re having guests or because it’s simply on your to-do list, it can seem like a daunting task. Here are a few of the best tips for organizing your bathroom to get you started.

Tackle Cabinets and Drawers

Maybe you’re a fan of throwing items into a drawer or under the sink for an “out of sight, out of mind” solution. Or maybe you prefer the “organized chaos” system. Either way, it’s time to tackle these cluttered spaces. A great way to organize bathroom drawers is with dividers, much like a cutlery drawer. Try tiered stands for sorting products in the cabinet under the sink. Place items and products you use most often on the countertop or in the closest drawer; everything else can go below the sink or in a lower drawer.

Install Shelves

Shelves are an easy way to give your bathroom a cleaner and more organized look instantly. By installing shelves, you can clear space from your floors, vanity, or countertops. Some shelves even serve a decorative purpose. For example, glass shelves are a great way to display decor, and these shelves serve several other benefits to your bathroom as well.

The same concept goes for inside and outside of the shower! Are your shampoo and soap bottles constantly performing a balancing act on the edge of your tub? Save yourself space and the headache by picking up a shelving system for in-shower use. You can hang these over the showerhead, stick them to the tile wall with suction cups, and more. This type of shelving can keep your bottles from slipping and falling every time you shower and keep them organized.

Towel Solutions

Folded towels take up a ton of space on shelves or in your closet. If you have more wall space than storage space, install a few more towel rods or hooks. This will keep towels accessible from the shower and free up more of that precious storage space. Hanging a towel to dry is also more sanitary and prevents mildew.

And there you have it! These are three of the best tips for organizing your bathroom that you can knock out in an afternoon. By setting up these organizational tools, you can more easily maintain your clutter-free bathroom too. Try out these tips today in your home!

Why Every Home Should Have a Portable Generator

When your home loses power, it can be frustrating and sometimes concerning to wait for your power to return to appliances. This blog will discuss how to be prepared for these inevitable power outages and why every home should have a portable generator.

What Is a Portable Generator?

Portable generators produce alternative power for your home appliances when your house encounters a power outage. Since these generators run on fuel such as gasoline and propane, they manually power your devices until automatic power can be restored to your power lines. Since generator installation is a convenient and straightforward process, these machines are a piece of must-have equipment for several vital reasons.

Food Safety

When many people lose power, they don’t realize just how many of their home appliances are affected. Perhaps the most significant and dangerous appliance to lose power indefinitely is your refrigerator. Regardless of how full your fridge is, your entire fridge is compromised once the temperature isn’t regulated and kept cool. 

Foods such as chicken, eggs, and milk are likely to become inedible and unhealthy if they’re left in warmer environments. In order to avoid wasting foods or eating things that have gone bad, every home should use a portable generator immediately. These power sources will keep your fridge running and protect the safety of your foods.

Sump Pump Functioning

When your home experiences flooding, sump pumps are installed in basements to pump away excess water so you can avoid getting damage inflicted upon your basement flooring and walls. These pumps are vital to controlling flooding in a home and preventing widespread damage.

If your home loses power during a thunderstorm, these pumps will be defunct, and your basement will be at risk of immense flooding. However, when you plug your sump pump into a portable generator, you guarantee it’ll be able to drain your basement without hassle or concern.

Working From Home

One of the most significant reasons why every home should have a portable generator is to back up all the information of your home office. Now that more and more people are working from home, owning a portable generator has never been more essential.

If your home experiences a power outage during your workday, you must be able to log back onto your computer to avoid falling behind on tasks. With a portable generator, you can rest easy that you’ll be prepared for your workday.

When you lose power, you compromise several of your home’s appliances and functions. Avoid unnecessary damage and waste by investing in a portable generator. With these effective machines, you’ll be more prepared for extreme weather and power shortages.

Eco-friendly cleaning hacks for World Environment Day (June 5th)

With everything going on in the world, maybe the last thing on our minds is the environment—but green thinking and cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore! Simple swaps can go a long way when it comes to living an eco-friendly lifestyle. 

Just in time to celebrate World Environment Day, we wanted to share small changes that you incorporate within your home that can make a big impact for the environment. There are many ways to tidy up for a cleaner, and greener household. One way is to use green cleaning products during your cleaning regimen. But finding what works best for you and your household dynamic is the first step toward sustainable living.

Below, we have outlined different eco-friendly swaps you can make at home, along with printable recipes for DIY all-natural cleaners. 

Use reusable cloths to clean up

When scrubbing down dishes or wiping up spills, grabbing a disposable sponge might be your first instinct. Instead, consider a microfiber cloth. 

Microfiber cloths have many eco-friendly perks such as:

• Naturally attracting dirt, grease, and oil

• Stain removal

• Two-sides to scrub different surfaces with the same cloth

• Durable and guaranteed to last around 300 washes 

Declutter monthly

Make efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Schedule a time to throw away trash and unwanted items to a local recycling site or donation center. Recycling and donating clutter will allow you to maintain your home and protect the planet. 

Benefits include:

• Lowering the risk of allergies in your household

• Giving back to the community

• Having a healthier lifestyle

• Focusing on being clean and organized 

• Being mindful of materialistic items

Switch to all-natural surface cleaners

Opting for natural cleaners with organic elements isn’t just eco-friendly but friendly to yourself, pets and children as they are non-toxic. Eco-friendly cleaners are often stored in recycled containers as well. Although, it’s important to keep in mind that stronger cleaning products are the best defense against germs and viruses such as COVID-19. 

Get the kids involved

Making eco-friendly products can be easy and fun—even your kids will be into it! And even better, unlike products with loads of chemicals, it will be safe for them to use, too. Many green cleaning products will quickly replace commercial cleaning with toxic ingredients. 

Looking for all-natural cleaning recipes? Create DIY cleaning products with these fun printables. Under your supervision, this will make for a great afternoon activity, but will also contribute to a cleaner household. 

Cleaning tips and tricks:

Following a weekly cleaning schedule will make your house tidy and organized while you use eco-friendly materials. Cleaning smarter, not harder can be accomplished by:

• Tackling a different part of your house each day instead of rushing to scrub every surface in sight 

• Switching to non-toxic surface cleaners

• Choosing water safe cleaning options

• Opt for eco-friendly bathroom cleaners

Download the weekly cleaning schedules here.

Multi-Zone AC Summer Tips: How to Keep Cool & Cut Costs

In many areas around the world, air conditioning units are an absolute necessity throughout summer. While some appliances are more efficient and cost-effective than others, air conditioning units are notoriously expensive, particularly when used frequently. In a report published by the U.S. Energy Energy Information Administration (EIA), air conditioners account for 12% of U.S. home energy expenditures, with that figure rising to 27% in hot and humid regions. 

Homeowners are constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce their utility bills while maintaining comfortable temperatures within their homes. One of the most effective ways of efficiently regulating the temperature and airflow is investing in a multi-zone mini split air conditioner. However, even these efficient appliances can be expensive if they are not suited to the building they’re installed in. 

Perhaps the most common reason that someone would install a multi-zone AC system is for the cost savings. Unfortunately, many people fail to purchase the right system or use the device inefficiently, leading to high utility costs. With the right approach, multi-zone AC system costs can be reduced significantly while keeping your home cool.

1. Install a Programmable Thermostat

Without a programmable thermostat, running an AC unit efficiently requires you to be at home whenever the temperature needs adjusting. Although a thermostat requires an initial investment, it is relatively cheap and can save you money over the long term. In many cases, a thermostat pays for itself in a single summer. 

A leading contributor to high utility costs is when people leave their AC system running for extended periods. Whether they forget to switch off the device or the high temperature means it needs to be left on continuously, this practice makes for expensive running costs. 

Programmable thermostats allow you to set specific times for your unit to come on and off. Rather than leave the AC running while you’re at work, you can set it to turn on half an hour before you arrive home, ensuring your house is cool and comfortable when you arrive. Many modern thermostats are smart-technology-enabled, allowing you to monitor and control your home’s temperature remotely from your phone, laptop, or smart device. 

2. Keep on Top of Maintenance

Air conditioners need to be maintained in order to function properly. Also, a lack of servicing leads to increased utility costs due to inefficient operation. One of the most straightforward maintenance tips for your AC is to clean or change the filters regularly. 

No matter how clean you keep your home, dust particles, hairs, and other airborne objects can accumulate and clog the filter. As well as compromising the quality of the air being circulated, clogged filters force your system to work much harder to regulate the temperature. This causes a needless increase in your electricity bills. 

Some filters are cleanable, meaning they don’t need replacing very often. Read the guidelines on how often and how they should be cleaned but keep an eye on their condition. If you’re using replaceable filters, read the instructions on how often they need to be replaced. For most AC units, filter changes should occur roughly once every 90 days.

For multi-zone appliances, remember that each indoor air dispensing unit has its own set of filters. However, you may not use rooms in different zones as often, meaning filter changes might not be needed as often. 

All HVAC systems, even quality appliances like an LG ductless mini split, require regular servicing. Hire a professional technician to inspect and service your AC unit once per year. They can check for issues, clear unwanted debris, change the filters, and repair any other problems they find. An annual service can help keep your unit in good condition while improving its efficiency and extending its lifespan.  

3. Repair Any Window Defects

Some of the biggest contributors to energy inefficiency in a home are poorly sealed windows and doors. Badly sealed windows leak air, making it virtually impossible to effectively maintain the temperature. It also means your conditioning unit has to work hard and continuously to treat the air. 

If your home is old or you suspect that it has leaky windows, hire a professional organization to carry out an energy audit. This can help you identify areas of your home that are causing inefficiencies. If there are inefficiencies in your home, an audit can lead to long-term cost savings. 

Fixing air leaks or replacing old windows reduces your utility costs and makes the temperature much easier to regulate. For minor air leaks, DIY weather strips are affordable solutions. 

Upgrading home insulation also increases the building’s energy efficiency, reducing bills and making it easier to regulate the temperature. 

4. Use Ceiling and Portable Fans

A ceiling fan is a perfect accompaniment to an air conditioning system. It helps circulate cool air, creating a more balanced inner climate. Similarly, portable fans help keep your home cool while increasing energy efficiency and reducing utility costs. 

While fans don’t change the temperature, they circulate air, move warm air away from the skin, and facilitate evaporation, making you feel cooler. Ceiling and portable fans are also helpful for ventilation. Portable fans can be placed near household appliances, windows, and doors for better air circulation.

5. Ensure Your A/C System Is the Right Size

The size of an air conditioning unit is one of the most crucial factors in terms of temperature regulation and efficiency. Air conditioners should be chosen specifically to fit the exact size of an area. Depending on the square footage, a certain number of British Thermal Units (BTUs) are required. 

While most people understand that an undersized unit won’t have the necessary capabilities for circulating air in a large room, many don’t realize that an oversized conditioner also creates inefficiencies. AC systems that are too large for your home tend to short cycle, meaning they switch between on and off cycles too frequently, causing them to work harder. This increases your utility bills and makes the unit more likely to break down.

Upgrade Your Air Conditioning System

Although air conditioning systems are built to last, many older appliances lack efficiency. While effective, traditional ducted HVACs are expensive to run and waste a significant amount of energy. A multi-zone mini split system is a highly efficient air conditioning solution that allows for custom temperature regulation in different areas of a building. 

If you’re looking to reduce air conditioning costs without sacrificing comfortability, consider upgrading your existing system to a more modern and efficiency-based one.