1. Air Conditioner Tune Up- We all take this piece of equipment for granted until that super hot summer day when it decides to break down. That, or when we get the latest electricity bill! Well now is the time to have a professional come out and inspect it and give you tips on how to conserve energy and money in your wallet as well!

2. Clean your Fan Blades- For those of us that have ceiling fans or portables, now is the time to remove those dust bunnies. Having dust build up on top of dust is never healthy or wise for anyone to breathe in on a daily basis.

3. Clean & Replace Filters- Just like changing the lint trap on your dryer you should also regularly change out the filters and clean the vents on your cooling and heating system.

4. Add Window Shading- An easy and cost effective way to keep your home cool indoors is to dress up your windows with shading materials. You can find this material inexpensively at your local arts & crafts store and cut to your liking and style.

5. Don’t use the Oven- Thing of cool and refreshing Lunch and Dinner ideas instead if turning on that oven! Or better yet, crank out the grill and have some cool Summer grilling time outdoors!

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1. CDs and DVDs 

OK, I will just jump into the fray with the most controversial item on my list first: physical media. You don’t really need that CD collection or that DVD collection.

For better or for worse we just don’t need those plastic discs anymore. All of our music is in the cloud. Netflix and Amazon Prime have a wide assortment of movies and t.v. shows, and what you can’t find on Netflix you can usually find on iTunes. Another advantage to going all digital with your media is that digital media allows you to take a movie or t.v. show or album with you.

Remember you can’t play a DVD on your iPad

2. Duplicate Dishes

Does a single guy in a city like Los Angeles need ten coffee cups, twenty plates (none of them that match), a set of margarita glasses, two sets of hurricane glasses, and a half dozen mismatched salad plates? No, I don’t. But some how I have all that and more stuffed in my kitchen cupboards.

Don’t be like me (as tempting as that is). Get rid of duplicate dishes and pare down to the dish ware you need. 

3. Fad Appliances

Yes, yes there was a time and a place where we all thought Aunt Jeanie’s Cupcake Maker was the greatest idea since the counter top rotisserie machine, but that time has long past. There is no shame in buying fad appliances; we all do it and some times they actually get used (my George Foreman Grill got me through my twenties), but more often than not the Cupcake Maker goes in a pile with the egg cooker and the electric can opener. 

4. Clothes from College and High School

Yeah, you’re not going to fit into those Levis from high school, and no you’re never going to wear that stained t-shirt that you wore all through out junior year history class again. Time to say goodbye to your youth and the clothes of your childhood. 

Life gets a lot easier when you simplify your life and stop hanging on to stuff you don’t need. And if you need to get rid of some of that junk call Green Clean Junk Removal Services. 

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Green Clean Junk Removal Services isn’t just a trash removal company, we all share a passion for reducing the amount of trash we remove. Each and every one of Green Clean Junk Removal Services would love to collect less garbage, trash, and junk. Less trash means a cleaner and better planet for all of us.

When it comes to reducing our trash we should all think small. In my case, I looked in the bathroom and then looked in the mirror. I found one small thing I could change that would reduce my yearly expenses and cut my yearly trash output out drastically. Razors.

Yup.

I said, razors.

Like everyone else I know I shaved with those super-expensive disposable razor blades. I’d go through about four to five a month. I’d also burn through a can of shaving cream every five weeks. Think about the amount of trash that generates per year. Then think about how much trash that generates over ten or twenty years. Plastic housings, dull metal, and dozens of aerosol cans. And all of it completely unnecessary. 

Men have been shaving for thousands of years (unless those busts of the Emperors were wrong, they weren’t a lot of scruffy Romans running around) and up until fifty years ago we shaved in a way that didn’t generate 100s of plastic cartridges in the garbage every year. Turns out all you need for a good shave is a sharp blade, a nice brush, and lathering soap. 

This desire to stop consuming convenience and instead return to traditional ways made me seek out the art of the wet shave. I dumped my disposable razor and took up a safety razor instead. I said goodbye to my aerosol propelled shaving gels in favor of a badger brush and a lathering shave soap.

You know how much garbage my shaving repertoire generates now? One blade every couple of weeks. And that blade is biodegradable. Oh, and I get a better shave than I ever got from disposable razors.

So if you want to reduce your garbage and trash output think small. Look at the things you do every day and say, Is there a way I could do this differently? Chances are the answer is Yes, and that way of doing something may also have the benefit of being a better way of doing something.

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1. Clean Out the Cupboards

I generally start with the cupboards that hold dry foods and spices. No doubt you will find year old rice, flour, beans, and an array of spices. Anything that has an expiration date and is past its expiration date toss in the garbage. Anything that you feel is suspicious toss in the garbage. Make sure anything your keeping is sealed in bags or airtight containers, and is of course bug free.

Then its time to tackle the cupboards that hold the dishes and glasses. Take the time to sort out the dishes and silverware you are keeping from the orphan dishes you don’t need or use anymore. You don’t necessarily need to toss these dishes in the garbage. If they are in good repair take them to a local Goodwill and donate them.

2. Clean Out the Refrigerator and Freezer

Did you just scream a bit when you thought about cleaning out the refrigerator? It’s okay. But this is a task that must be done. Remember a key rule here: When in doubt, dump it. Better safe than huddle in the corner with food poisoning. Once your refrigerator is completely emptied out, pull the drawers and racks and wash them too. Avoid using chemical cleaners. Hot water, soap, and a touch of bleach is all you need.

3. Organize Your Cookware

Instead of shoving all your pots and pans back into a cupboard get a rack and hang your pots from a ceiling rack. Get a magnetic strip to mount your knives on. Not only does this saves space, it looks cool. Don’t you want to look cool in the kitchen?

4. Get Your Knives Sharpened

This is often overlooked or never talked about item when it comes to cleaning and sprucing up your kitchen is your knives. As any good chef will tell you you are only as good as your knives. Collect up all your knives and take them to a professional knife sharpener. 

5. Scrub like a Scullery Maid

Now comes the unpleasant part — time to scrub the kitchen. I really don’t have advice for you when it comes to this step. You just have to dig in and do it and don’t stop until you can eat off the floor. But don’t actually eat off the floor because you are going to gave to clean it again if you do that. 

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Shall I go on, or are you already shaking at horror think about everything packed away in your closet? OK, I’ll stop, I’ll stop. Go to to your happy place and take a breath.

There are quite a few ways to get rid of unwanted stuff, clutter, and junk you don’t need without throwing  it in the trash. 

1. Charitable Donation … This one is the most tried and true ways to get rid of old stuff, particularly old clothes. Most charities run thrift shops and donation centers that take in clothes, furniture, and some appliances. Depending on the charity they also may have a pick up service. And of course you can use your donation as a tax write-off. 

2. Thrift Shops … Your neighborhood thrift shop most likely has a “wanted items” list, clothes and collectibles are often in high demand, but many second hand store also look for more mundane items like dishes and toys in good condition. You could even make a few dollars by turning your used clothes over to a consignment shop for resale.

3. Re-Gifting … There is no shame in passing along the stuff you don’t need to friends or neighbors who do need it.

A little story to illustrate the point. By a series of odd circumstances I acquired two microwaves. No one needs two microwaves in their lives. I was about to haul the cheaper of the two microwaves down to a Goodwill when my neighbor asked me if I was getting rid of a new microwave? She didn’t even have to ask before I blurted out, “Do you want it? It’s brand new.”

A small act of kindness that began life as an unwanted, extra microwave. My neighbor got a new microwave at a time she she needed it, and I got rid of an extra microwave and earned a bit of karma. Don’t think of it as pawning off your unwanted stuff, think of it as paying it forward.

4. Donate Your Old Books … There are many specialty organizations that collect old books and then redistribute them to kids, adult learning centers, and community centers. Children’s books are particularly in demand so this is a great way to get rid of books your grown children have left behind.

5. Reuse Old Cups and Jars … One of my favorite uses for old whisky and scotch bottles is to repurpose them as change jars. Old coffee cups can make for great pen caddies.  I’ve even converted wine bottles and fancy beer bottles into candle holders. And the glass bottles you can’t reuse should go into the recycle bin or to your local recycling center. 

6. Trade-In Your Small Electronics … I used to have a box of old cellphones in a shoe box. That was before the “smartphone revolution”. Now I have a box full of old gadgets, USB Cables, e-readers, a couple smartphones, and a tablet in two shoe boxes in two closets. 

Luckily for gadget addicts like myself most major companies (Amazon, Apple) offer a trade-in programs for your old electronics. And in return for responsibly disposing of your electronics through a recycle program you’ll be rewarded with a cash (or a gift card) in most cases.

7. Repurpose Your Plastic Bottles … Ever need to put an extra quart of oil in your car and found yourself without a funnel? Slice the bottom off a soda bottle and POW! insta-funnel. You can cut down a bleach bottle and turn it into a kitty litter scoop. You can take the bottom of a bleach bottle and use it as a drip pan. Just be careful when reusing plastic bottles … never use a modified plastic bottle to as a dish for pet food. Chemicals in plastic bottles can leech into pet food and seriously harm your pet.

8. Need Garbage Bags? Use a Plastic Shopping Bag … Plastic shopping bags make for great garbage bags, especially for small wastebaskets. This cuts down on garbages in the landfill and ultimately cuts down on plastic bags in the landfill.

9. Haul Your Appliances and Furniture to a Scrap Dealer … If getting rid of a large appliance, like an oven, is high on your priority list you can haul it to a scrap dealer or metal recycler. You can also haul your furniture to a recycling center that deals in wood and wood byproducts.

10. Call a junk removal service like Green Clean Junk Removal. We’ll haul away just about any type of junk or clutter at affordable rates. We recycle between 40% and 60% of the unwanted items we collect via charitable organizations, thrift shops, and recycling centers. When you can do it yourself, Green Clean Junk Removal is there to do it for you.

The post 10 Ways to Declutter and Get Rid of Junk (And None of Them is a Yard Sale) appeared first on Green Clean Junk Removal.

No, it wasn’t a freak weather event.

You’ve just been attacked. Attacked by the invisible party monster. At least this is the operating theory I developed after four years in college. The invisible party monster that sneaks into your home and scatters bottles, plates, and other assorted sundries across the house just seemed a lot more realistic than freak weather events that rained empty beer bottles and plastic plates. 

If you’re suffering from an attack of the Invisible Party Monster today here are 5 things to help you put your life back in order.

1. Start Somewhere

The Invisible Party Monster is an indiscriminate beast that attacks every room in your house. This is why you woke to find a half eaten plate of barbecue ribs in your shower this morning. So when you clean up the next morning, start somewhere, anywhere. 

Typically I like to start in the worst rooms in the house and work from there. This generally means I start in the living room and kitchen, and then expand my cleaning range outward to other rooms in the house.

2. Bag Up Your Trash and Recyclables

Grab a fistful of trash bag and start plowing trash into them. Try to separate out your recyclables from your trash and keep them in separate bags. Then what do you do? If you had a big enough party you may have more trash than can fit in your curbside collection. If you have a lot of trash, a service like Green Clean Junk Removal Service’s event trash pick up, is an option. Another option is to haul your recyclables to a recycling center and your trash to a public landfill.

3. Tackle the Dishes

Dirty dishes are the foulest weapon in the Invisible Party Monster’s arsenal. Those dishes are spread out everywhere and seem to replicate by themselves. Alas, there really are no quick tips for cleaning dishes from a party. You just have to buckle down and wash them. My general strategy is to clean pots and pans first, then pile dishes and silverware into the dishwasher.

4. You’re Almost There, Now Grab a Rag and A Mop

Time to seek out and destroy all the party fouls. The beer spill on the coffee table. The whisky spill on the carpet. The soda sloshed on the curtains. So grab a clean cloth, a bit of lukewarm water, and a mild detergent. Remember to dab and blot stains, never rub or scrub. For really bad stains you may want to call a professional furniture or carpet cleaner. 

5. Suck it Up and Vacuum

That rug really ties the room together and everyone at your party loved it, which is why they kept stepping on it. No worries. You’re an adult and this is why adults own vacuums. Make sure you do multiple passes across a rug and avoid sucking up small objects that can ruin your vacuum over the long term.

And then you’re done. Hopefully. The attack of the invisible party monster beaten back until the next three day weekend and the next party. 

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But Green Clean Junk Removal Services can’t do it all. We need your help. Here are five simple tips for keeping your community clean.

1. Recycle

If you aren’t recycling, start recycling. Most major cities make recycling easier by providing blue recycle bins to both homeowners and apartment renters. And, depending on your waste management service, you don’t have to sort papers, cans, and bottles into separate bins. Make sure you wash out your recyclables however and don’t mix trash in with your recyclables. 

2. Don’t Litter 

We’ve been hearing this since the mid-1950s, but people still continue to litter. Stop it! Litter drives down the quality of life in your community, helps spread vermin and disease, and causes thousands of accidents a year. There is absolutely no good reason to litter.  

3. Reduce Consumption

The average person in the United States generates roughly 1,600 pounds of trash per year. Yes, you read that right. 1,600 pounds per year. And a lot of that trash is in the form of disposable plastic bags and plastic water bottles. You can reduce the amount of garbage you generate by reducing your consumption. Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it. Buy reusable grocery bags. Prepare and cook your own meals and avoid prepared, pre-packaged foods. These are small but proactive measures you can take to reduce the amount of garbage you generate through the year.

4. Don’t Dump Your Junk

This goes under the same class as littering but on a larger class. Dumping junk, whether its old appliance or furniture, is a major problem in every city in the United States. Too often people say to themselves, “Eh, I’ll just take this T.V. to the curb. Somebody will want it.” More often than not that television languishes on the side of the curb until your city’s waste management department.

So instead of dumping your furniture or appliances call a hauling service like Green Clean Junk Removal Services to haul away bulky items that won’t you don’t want.

5. Dispose of Household Hazardous Materials Properly

Never throw household hazardous waste (like paints, cleaners, automotive fluids, etc) in the trash and never dump them in a sink. Take your household hazardous waste to a licensed drop off center or call a licensed hauling service to dispose of hazardous waste.

Most of these tips are things you probably already know but we hope you take them to heart. Everyone wants to live in a cleaner, greener community and these tips can help. 

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This is a question we ask people to ask themselves all the time. When Green Clean Junk Removal professionals are called in to help declutter a client’s home we also try to offer them organizing advice to help them stay organized. One of the things we tell our clients is when you buy something ask yourself, Do you really need this? The answer is probably no.

Need and want are funny things. Even in a modern world we actually need very little. If you think about it our needs today are pretty much the same as they were in paleolithic times. Food, shelter, clothing, and companionship.

But modern life oftentimes turns wants into needs.

We convince ourselves we need something.I need that leather jacket, and that set of handmade dishes with the artisan glass bubbles, and those $400 shoes, and that juicer I don’t use.  

No, you don’t.

Advertising convinces us that we need thing something. I need those shoes to be like Mike, I need that car to look cool, I need that table top grill to make my life better, and I need a robot vacuum cleaner to make my life easier

No, you don’t.

You really don’t need sixty percent of the things you think you need. You just want them. Then when you get them you discover you have no practical use for them. 

 Learn to want less, and live more. So when you are shopping ask yourself, Do I need this? Will I use this? What am I willing to throw away  to make space for this? If the answer is no, than don’t buy it.

If you need help decluttering call Green Clean Junk Removal Services today and talk to one of our friendly junk removal specialists for advice.

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