Thursday, July 30, 2015

Creative Ways to Reuse Your Wine Bottles

If your holidays are often graced by wine drinking, wine bottles in your home will stack up fast. You can put them in the recycle bin to rid your home of the clutter. But, these bottles possess such a nice shape and color that throwing them away would be a waste. Do you have time to spare? Here are some creative ways by which you can reuse wine bottles.

First of all, you will need to remove the label on the bottle. To easily scratch off the label, soak the wine bottles in water with low heat. When the label gets soft, it will be easier for you to remove it using dishwashing liquid and scotch brite. If you're not comfortable with this process, invest on a glass scorer because it can save you a lot of effort and time.

You can create a bottle wall with your wine bottles instead of beer bottles. A bottle wall is an architectural feature that is employed in most houses in order to allow more sunlight to come in. It helps homeowners to save money from electricity without sacrificing their privacy.

You can also use wine bottles as vases. But, don't just place a bunch of flowers inside your clean wine bottles. Paint them first with chalkboard paint. The matte finish when the paint dries will allow you to write messages on your repurposed wine bottles just like this. (photo right)

Wine bottles make wonderful wind chimes and chandeliers too. If you don't know how to start with these decorative pieces from scratch, you can always check instructional videos online. But you can always add your personal touches to make these decors look unique.




Monday, July 20, 2015

Pool Construction - How Much Does It Cost?

Researching how much it'll cost you to get a pool is like researching how much it'll cost you to build a house. Pool prices are similar in some ways to house prices. They both depend on many factors and these factors can be influenced by your personal preferences. So your neighbor’s pool might cost more or less than your ideal backyard pool.

Contacting a contractor is the best way to get an exact quote for the price of any pool project. However, there are some basic things that you can find out in advance before asking a contractor for a quote. These things will help you arrive at a rough estimation of your pool's final cost. They include the following:

Size – Size is a major factor that affects the cost of a pool construction. Pools are measured by the square foot. Obviously the wider your pool, the higher the cost will be.

Depth – Deeper pools require more labor – more digging is involved. They need more materials too. This explains why adult pools are more expensive to build than kids’ pools.

Materials –The materials used to line pools vary. Concrete, fiberglass and vinyl are three of the most common pool materials offered by contractors.  Gunite (a kind of concrete) and fiberglass cost more than vinyl.

Shape – Custom pool shapes are laborious to create. You will need to pay extra if you want your pool to have a shape that is out of the ordinary.

Area or locality – Permits are required for pool constructions to commence.  The cost of these permits will depend on the cost of living in your area.



Extras or pool accessories can add up to your pool's cost too. These items could be a 'must-have' depending on their ability to enhance your pool's function or safety. A few of these items are:

Diving boards – The prices of diving boards depend on their material, length and height. Higher diving boards require deeper backyard pools. Thus, their installation costs more money.

Fencing  – Fencing is required to enclose your pool. A pool that has no safety barrier can be dangerous for children and pets in your neighborhood.

Lighting  – Lighting arrangements are useful whenever you plan to swim at night. If you regularly swim at night, they will become a necessity.

Watch the video below about pool costs. It will give you an idea about how pool costs vary according to particular components like accessories and site differences.



Begin planning on how you're going to pay for your pool once you know about its construction cost. Preparing your budget ahead of time will allow you to enjoy the benefits of a backyard pool sooner.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Best Ways to Let Go of Your Old Stuff

Believe it or not, a huge percentage of clutter in your home is made up of the old stuff that you just can't let go. These are the things which have sentimental value to you or to your family. Therefore, they are attached to the core of your being. If you will learn to release them, you will be surprised with how organized and spacious your house could be. Do you need tips on letting go of your old possessions? Read the following insights.

























Know what you really need and what you really want - Do you own appliances, gadgets and other things which you don't use often? If yes, you most likely don't need them. For example, get rid of your coffeemaker if you drink instant coffee and not brewed coffee. You might have received decors and other stuff from friends and family as presents. Instead of keeping them out of goodwill, ask yourself whether you honestly like them. If you don't give them away to those who will appreciate and use them more.

Assess the true value of your old possessions - So, you're keeping an old stereo component that's no longer working perfectly. You keep thinking of how expensive it was when you bought it brand new; hence, it's difficult for you to donate or sell it. Think of how much it will cost today even though it cost an arm and a leg before. If it's close to zero dollars, let go of it now.

Adapt to your surroundings - Are you keeping an old car because you might need it? Evaluate the area where you live at the moment. Would it be more practical for you to own a bike than an old car when going around your area? Letting go of your could mean saved money from parking fees, repairs and gas.

Never keep broken things - We tend to keep broken things thinking that one day we'll have the free time to fix them all. If ever you get all the free time you need,  do you think you'll be able to fix them and brink them to mint condition? The sad truth is probably, you won't be able to do that. Consider giving your broken possessions away so that you can provide enough space for new ones.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

How to Keep Trash Bins Inside Your House Clean

Cleaning the trash bins inside our house is one of the chores that I really hate. It's because I always find them extremely dirty and stinky. Since I have kids who could be touching these bins  behind my back, I looked for a solution that will make trash bin cleaning much easier for me. Let me share to you my insights. Read up.

Always place a garbage bag inside your trash bins - If your bins are outlined with garbage bags, they are less likely to be dirty and stained with the dry and wet garbage you put in it. Moreover, this will ensure that no garbage will be left in your bins when the trash collectors comes. You can take your garbage out all in one go.

Do not fill your trash bins beyond their capacity - You won't be able to cover your bins if they're overfilled with garbage. This will cause the stench to fill your house. This is not only irritating. This is also bad for your health. Make an effort to check and empty to your bins when they're close to being overfilled.

To clean your indoor trash bins, follow these tips:

Step 1: Empty your trash bins.

Step 2: Rinse them out with water. It is best to clean them outside your house using a garden hose.

Step 3: Cleanse them with a liquid detergent. Rinse them well and allow them to dry.

Step 4: Once they're dry, disinfect them. You use a disinfectant available in the market or you can make your own from household ingredients.