Hauling Services
This post is the second in a two part series. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, I recommend you do before continuing.
Tips for using and disposing of fireworks safely (continued)
Contact your local fire department, landfill, or waste disposal company to learn about options for safely disposing of fireworks in your community.
If you intend to store unused fireworks for New Years or Independence Day next year, make sure you keep them in a cool, dry place. Don’t store them on top of or near electrical appliances, as a power surge or lightning strike could cause them to ignite.
Safe BBQ waste disposal
Another potential source of fire danger surrounding independence day is BBQ coals and ashes, so it’s important to consider BBQ waste disposal, too. Another 9600 fires start each year because of a household grill, and July is the number one month for fires started by BBQs. Even more frightening, over 16000 Americans end up in the emergency room each year due to injuries caused by their household grills.
Here are a few strategies for using your grill safely:
- Make sure your setup is safe. Clear away any fallen limbs or dry grass from the grill area. Never try to move a grill while it’s hot.
- If you’re grilling with charcoal, be sure only to add lighter fluid to cold coals. Spraying on extra lighter fluid in an attempt to save the fire can cause a flash fire and severe injuries.
- Many BBQ fires are caused by ash that seemed like it went out, only to re-ignite later. Make sure your ash is completely cool before you clean it out, and keep ashes in a fireproof container. If you grill with lump charcoal, you can spread the ashes on your garden or compost pile. If you use briquette charcoal, however, it’s best not to spread it on your garden. Briquette charcoal can contain additives that, while they help it burn easier, are toxic to plants and people.
If you’re in need of fireworks disposal, ash disposal, or disposal of yard or other waste disposal, R&R containers can help. Give us a call today for a fast quote on junk hauling or roll off container services.
Hauling Services
Independence day and fireworks and BBQ safety
It’s nearly the fourth, and everyone is busy with last minute grocery shopping, fireworks buying, and BBQ preparations. But before you fire up that grill and start lighting those fireworks, it’s worth taking a minute to ensure everything will be done safely. Fireworks alone are responsible for a dizzying amount of damage each year, so it’s smart to read up on safe fireworks use and fireworks waste disposal. Check out these alarming statistics from the National Fire Prevention association:
“Fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires per year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and 16,900 outside and other fires. These fires caused an average of three deaths, 40 civilian injuries, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage.” (1)
Let’s take a look at some tips for using and disposing of fireworks safely:
- Before you start lighting your fireworks, make sure you have plenty of fire suppression capability on hand. Hoses, buckets of water, and fire extinguishers are best, but buckets or bags of sand, dirt or mud can be useful too.
- Dedicate one bucket to fireworks disposal. After you’ve used the fireworks, submerge and soak them for a minimum of 15 minutes. Soaking overnight is best of possible. Embers can continue burning deep inside fireworks long after they’ve been lit, creating a potentially dangerous situation if they’re not soaked.
- Be particularly careful with any misfired, dud, or partially fired fireworks. This is the most involved fireworks disposal procedure. Do not approach or handle dud fireworks for at least 20 minutes after lighting. Once it’s safe to approach, soak the duds thoroughly. Then, wrap the soaked fireworks in plastic wrap or a garbage bag before disposal. This step is important because if the dud fireworks are allowed to dry out, they will be a very serious fire hazard.
Check back soon for Happy Independence Day! Learn more about safe fireworks waste disposal and BBQ ash disposal to stay safe this Fourth – Part 2
Source cited:
https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Seasonal-fires/Fireworks
Hauling Services
This post is the second in a two part series on spring cleaning and junk hauling. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, I recommend you do before continuing.
Spring clean safely
Despite the fact that nowadays most of us own vacuum cleaners and don’t heat our houses with wood or coal, spring cleaning has remained popular – and it turns out for good reason. Even though we don’t need to carry away soot or dust, we have taken to using rather potent and toxic chemicals to do our household cleaning chores.
A 20 year study led by scientists at the University of Blegen in Norway recently concluded that regular exposure to household cleaning agents can be equally detrimental to respiratory health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day! (1) So by all means, wait until a nice, warm day and get as much ventilation as you possibly can when you’re doing spring cleaning tasks that involve hazardous chemicals.
Spring cleaning tips
All right, now that we know a little more about spring cleaning and doing it safely, let’s take a look at some spring cleaning tips!
Tips for around the house
- Windows – during spring cleaning is a great time to wash your windows, both inside and out. Wipe them with a microfiber cloth rather than a paper towel or rag to avoid leaving lint or paper shreds behind.
- Walls – when cleaning your walls, be sure to pay special attention to switch plates and other areas where people frequently touch.
- Window dressings – these can be tricky to clean. To freshen them up, put them in the dryer for a tumble cycle along with a wet towel. The towel will collect dust. Re-hang them right away once the cycle is finished.
For bigger cleanups
If you’ve got a spring cleaning project that’s a little more intensive than your average dust and mop, R&R containers has your back. Call us when you’re ready to get rid of that old fridge or that pile of clutter from your garage with some junk hauling services. Planning something bigger, like a demolition, construction, or renovation project? We can help with that too. We offer a variety of roll off container sizes for jobs both big and small. Give us a call today for a quote!
Source cited:
1 – http://www.thoracic.org/about/newsroom/press-releases/resources/women-cleaners-lung-function.pdf
Hauling Services
Spring cleaning tips and junk hauling
I don’t know about you, but as soon as we got that warm weather right after valentine’s day, I started thinking about spring. I’m looking forward to the trees getting their leaves back and the warm rainstorms. One thing I’m not looking forward to, though, is spring cleaning. Don’t get me wrong, the end result will be great, but what a hassle! Fortunately, this year I’m putting together a list of spring cleaning tips and strategies. Of course, if you’ve got junk, just give the pros at R&R a call! Whether you just need a little bit of junk hauling or a 15 yard roll off container for a major cleanup, renovation, or demolition, they’ve got you covered!
About spring cleaning
Humans have been spring cleaning for thousands of years. It has remained a popular tradition in Europe and North America largely due to the cold winters we experience compared to areas closer to the equator. Before the invention of the vacuum cleaner, spring was really the only time to clean. It’s warm enough that you can open up all the windows, but it’s before the bugs come out in force. What’s more, spring is often windy. House cleaners of yore relied on this wind to carry the dust out of their house through their open windows. Furthermore, spring marks the end of the season where we need to heat our homes. Historically, this was done via a wood or coal burning stove or furnace. This caused soot and ash to accumulate inside homes over the winter. Once spring rolled around, people were free to scrub away these residual combustion products.
Check back soon for spring cleaning tips and getting organized with junk hauling, part 2! In the meantime, check out our page on junk hauling.
Hauling Services
This article is the third in a three part series on downsizing and decluttering, organizational strategies, and junk hauling. If you haven’t already read parts 1 and 2, I recommend you do before continuing.
Oprah’s closet method
One of the most difficult areas for people to downsize is often their closet – and I’m not just talking about the ladies! If you’re having a hard time deciding what’s important to you in your wardrobe, consider giving this method a try. Take everything out of your closet, and put it all back with the hangers backwards. Then, when you wear something, put it back with the hanger the normal way. After a few months you’ll start to get a good idea of what you’re using and what’s just taking up space. This technique can also be easily adapted for things that don’t go on hangers – put shoes away upside down, or switch up your folding technique for items in the dresser.
Take 5
Not every decluttering and organizing project needs to be an ordeal. For this method, declutter 5 minutes at a time. Pick something quick from your “divide and conquer” task list, or for more ideas check out this article by Leo Babauta at Zen Habits for 18 different 5 minute decluttering tasks.
Got junk? Get junk hauling!
Whether it’s that old freezer in the garage or just a bunch of cans of dried up old house paint, some decluttering projects are going to involve junk. When you’re ready to cut ties with all that old junk, R&R is the only number you’ll need. We offer junk hauling services for clean ups both small and large, as well as roll-off container rentals in the Dallas and Acworth areas. R&R containers has been locally owned and operated in Acworth for over 18 years. Give us a call today for a fast quote and to make that junk disappear!
Hauling Services
This article is the second in a three part series on downsizing and decluttering, organizational strategies, and junk hauling. If you haven’t already read part 1, I recommend you do before continuing.
First decluttering and organizing, then junk hauling
What it all comes down to is downsizing your possessions will save you time and money while making you happier!
Alright, so we’ve established the benefits of downsizing and organizing your space. But how can we approach such a daunting task? Let’s take a look at some decluttering tips:
The 4 (or 5) box method
For this technique, you’ll designate 4 different bins to 4 clean up categories. Big plastic tubs work well, but you can use any kind of container you have on hand. The 4 categories are:
Things to put away – for items left out of their assigned spots
Things to repair – for things that need fixing. Be careful with this one! Only keep things that you actually plan to repair and use.
Things to donate – When was the last time you used it? If you can’t remember, someone else could probably make better use of it.
Things to throw away/recycle – think of old greeting cards, junk mail, paid bills, etc. You will probably need 2 bins for this one unless you plan to sort your garbage from your recycling later.
Divide and conquer
One reason decluttering your home can be so daunting is because it initially seems like an insurmountable task. But, as they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For this method, make a list of decluttering or organizing tasks. Your list should contain both big, time-consuming jobs (reorganize and clean the garage), and small, quick-and easy ones (clean off the entryway table). Then, tackle your list one item at a time. Have a few extra minutes? Pick something easy from your list. Got a whole afternoon to spend? Choose something more involved. Once you’re done, be sure to check it off the list so you can get the sense of accomplishment that comes with progress!
Check back soon for R&R Containers is here to help you declutter with junk hauling services, part 3!
