Posted on February 2, 2012 by Ruth

When it comes to de-cluttering our houses it is often difficult to know what to do with the items that are no longer needed. Many possessions seem too good to throw away or you simply don’t know how to dispose of them. Here are a few simple ideas and tips on how to recycle your de-clutter!
Most people in towns and cities have access to recycling banks. They are quite often positioned next to supermarkets. So when you make your next trip to the supermarket for your weekly shop, load up the boot of your car with items that can be recycled there. You can usually deposit glass bottles and jars, paper, plastic bottles, textiles, tins and sometimes aluminium foil, cardboard and batteries. Start getting into the habit of separating your items and rubbish and it will be easier to get into the habit of recycling. Most local authorities now provide doorstep recycling for most of these household items including food waste.
If you have transport, another option is to take larger items including electrical, oil and paints to your local council tip. Look in the yellow pages or search the internet and you will find where your local tip is located. Usually, anything considered in a sellable condition will be on show to the public and will be sold very cheaply.
For larger, bulkier items such as furniture and mattresses, get in touch with your local council. They are often able to take these items for you and recycle them by making them available to needy families. You could also try and scrap larger items such as furniture. Steel and aluminum furniture, as well as appliances can be sold for scrap and some plastic furniture can be melted down and reused. It may well be recycled into something new and exciting.
Donating is a very valuable way to recycle your clutter. Giving items to charity shops, shelters or any non-profit organisation is a great way to help others in need. Charity bags are quite often distributed to households and it is easy to use these to donate any unwanted clothes as they will be collected directly from your home. Alternatively, drop any items you would like to donate at your local chosen charity shop.
For electrical and electronic equipment it is worth noting that all companies classed as "producers" under the UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations have to provide consumers with an option for recycling waste electronic products so when you purchase a new electrical item from a store, retailers may take back your old electrical item. It is worth asking when buying your new product whether they provide this service.
De-cluttering is a great opportunity to recycle. With our landfill sites becoming increasingly burdened and the environmental impact of waste, this can provide an excellent opportunity to kick start a new recycling way of life!

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Ruth

What better time to get into the habit clearing and organising. Keeping it simple is the key. Create a system for keeping items in certain places. Have a special place for everything. Things will slowly become clearer and tidier. Use baskets, bins, draws, cardboard boxes, organisers to put things in every time. Simple measures such as putting mail in an organiser and your magazines or newspapers in a basket every day, will keep things more in order. Switching to online billing can also eliminate a lot of paper clutter caused from monthly statements and bills.

If you are short on space, a good tip is to buy furniture with storage space included. Items such as beds with draws or coffee tables with shelves can help to organise your items and reduce clutter. Use box files to store utility bills, put up some shelves to store possessions and clear untidy mess on tables or work surfaces.

Memory boxes are a great idea. Use a memory box to keep small items close to hand. You are more likely to look through a small box of sentimental trinkets occasionally. Keep focused and store only treasured memory items. Take photographs of large items to place in the memory box before sending the item to a charity shop for someone else to get use out of them if you no longer need them.

Following these simple tips will help you start de-cluttering your home and create a more relaxed and peaceful environment.

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Ruth

£100,001 and £200,000 the fee is £200
£200,001 – £500,000 the fee is £300
£500,001 – £1,000,000 the fee is £500
Over £1,000,000 the fee is £800.

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Ruth

With Christmas fast approaching and the mad dash around for those last minute items upon us, what better time to ensure that our homes are our sanctuaries from the hustle and bustle of Christmas.

When it’s cold and grey outside, there is no better feeling than walking into a warm and cosy home where you can switch off from the outside world. Here are a few simple and easy tips to transforming your home into your perfect winter holiday bolthole.

1. De-clutter. With those extra days off work why not use that time for a good clear out? Get hold of plenty of storage boxes and be ruthless. You will feel so much better!

2. Organise your de-clutter: Have three boxes or colour coded bags at the ready! Use one for charity, one for the rubbish dump and one for items you want to keep. Start with the spaces furthest away as these items are most likely to need de-cluttering - attics, backs of cupboards, high shelves and under beds. When you open a cupboard and you cannot see what’s at the back then it’s time to get motivated and clear things out!

3. The Guest bedroom: Often overlooked and used as a dumping ground or for storage. Nevertheless it needs a good clear out at least once a year and during that pre-Christmas guest panic. Make decisions based on the reality of what you need and use regularly. Take one last long look and decide to move it on.

4. Wardrobes: Try on your clothes and decide what pieces make you feel good all the time. Throw out those items you keep ‘just in case’, if that moment hasn’t come yet then the chances are it never will! Fold clothes neatly as it creates more space whilst allowing you to see your clothes much easier. ‘Grip to me’ and multi layer clothes hangers are great space savers allowing you to hang clothes at different heights and save space.

5. Organise your Christmas decorations whilst they are out: Throw out any old or broken decorations. When it’s time to take them down package them all safely, using packing paper or bubble wrap for those precious items ready for storage and another round of use next Christmas.

6. Store cupboard clear out: When cooking over Christmas rummage through your store cupboards. It’s amazing how quickly they get over loaded and you will be surprised how many items lurk at the back of the cupboard that are close to or past their sell by date. Use up any old items and throw out any products past their use by date ready for a fresh start in the New Year.

7. Storage: Any items you are keeping in storage should be packaged in strong, robust boxes. Use packing products like bubble wrap to ensure they are safe and secure. Label the boxes clearly, that way you know exactly where everything is. And for the ultra keen, compile a list or database with details of all your boxes and where they’re kept!

When you get that niggling voice in your head saying ‘I wish I’d never started this’ remember how good you’ll feel when it’s all done! Rather than making it your New Year’s resolution, take this time now to do these few little things and make your home your haven.

From everyone here at Teacrate Packaging..... a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Ruth

A survey of 1000 households carried out by Access Self Storage has revealed that
there are certain things that most Britons simply can’t bear to part with.
Childhood toys and possessions came up again and again, along with clothes,
wedding memorabilia, and old electrical goods.

Interestingly, the survey revealed that men are more sentimental than women, with 67% of men saying that they would keep photographs of friends and family compared to just
49% of women. Men were also more likely to say they would keep a gift they were
given, 24%, compared to just 11% of women. Women can’t bear to get rid of old
clothes though, with 36% admitting that there were items of clothing that they
wanted to keep forever, compared to just 9% of men.

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Ruth

Removals companies will usually request that all your major appliances are prepared before they arrive to start your move.  Some will offer a professional service to prepare your appliances for you.  Although this may seem like a simple task, if its not done properly, then you may find that your appliances don’t work at your new home.  If you are undertaking your move yourself then it’s equally important that you prepare your appliances correctly.

Follow this step-by-step guide for appliance preparation:

1. For your major (and most expensive) appliances to be moved refer to the owners manual if you have a copy.  These will usually contain sections about shutting down the appliance and preparing it for a move.
2. Your fridge should be unplugged from the mains at least 24 hours before you move.  Dispose of all your perishable food.  Once the freezer unit has completely defrosted, carefully clean and dry all surfaces and removable containers to prevent the formation of mildew and odours.  Remove all internal racking or secure it with tape so that it doesn’t shift during the move.  If your unit has an icemaker, disconnect the water line and ensure that it’s completely drained.
3. Your cooker should be thoroughly cleaned inside and out with the racks removed or securely fastened.  If you have a gas cooker, make sure that the gas supply is turned off before you start disconnecting the pipe and be very careful.  Gas pipes can be fragile and need special handling.  If you’re unsure contact your gas supplier and seek advice.  Tape down the knobs and elements on the cooker to ensure that no parts are lost during the move.
4. Dishwasher units need to be emptied and the utensil holder/rack removed and packed separately.  Disconnect from the water supply and mains.  Tape the door closed.
5. Washer and dryer units need special handling, so its good advice to consult the manuals or contact the manufacturer.  Remove all hoses and pack these separately in a box.  Fill empty spaces in the box with bubble wrap or packing paper to prevent damage in transit.  The drum on the washing machine will need to be secured; advice on how to do this is best sourced from the owners manual.
6. For all appliances, unplug each unit and secure the wire and plug to the back using packing tape.  Don’t let wires dangle or come loose.
7. Tape all doors and lids shut.

Your appliances should now be good to go!  If you are moving appliances yourself, don’t forget to use some protective covering around the outside to prevent dents and scrapes.  Transit blankets, bubble wrap or plastic sheeting could be used here.  Be when careful when moving and lifting appliances, as most are extremely heavy.  If possible, borrow or hire some handling equipment to assist you, such as a trolley or rubber topped skate.

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Ruth

You’ve done the preparation and it’s now time to start packing up your kitchen.  Here’s some practical advice for helping you to tackle this job:

Get your packing materials ready

For an average family sized kitchen, you’ll probably need the following materials:

• 5 large boxes – for lightweight and hard to pack items like plastic kitchenware, dish racks, small appliances, baking tins and kitchen linen
• 15 medium boxes – for heavier items like small appliances, packaged food, pots and pans, drawer contents, cutlery and cleaning materials.  Also for fragiles like crockery, glassware, wine, spirits and vases.  These boxes need to be heavy duty with double walled construction for extra strength.
• Packing paper
• Bubble wrap
• Packing tape

Once you have all your packing materials, start by packing items that you don’t use on a regular basis, these could include:

• Vases/canisters
• Wine glasses/tumblers
• Mixing bowls
• Baking equipment
• Some sealed/unopened food items

Focus on the Drawers

Turn your attention to your drawers and shelves.  Start with the messiest, ‘junk’ drawer.  Get rid of old or damaged items that aren’t used.  Pack the cutlery drawer, keeping one set per family member for your essentials box.  Work on cutlery by type and wrap each piece individually with packing paper.  Tape or wrap all spoons, etc. together, so that they can be easily put away when unpacking.

Next it’s the Dishes

Take your time with this step.  It’s worth ensuring that all china is well packed.  Wrap individual plates and bowls with packing paper and stack.  Cups and glasses should also be individually wrapped, placed in boxes lined with gently scrunched paper or bubble wrap for protection.  Seal boxes securely with packing tape and label.

Pots and Pans

Keep one small all-purpose pan for your essentials box.  Pack up all the rest, packing lids separately.  Stack your pots and pans in order of size, with smaller ones fitting into larger ones.  Use packing paper or bubble wrap in between to prevent scratching.  Once up to three or four pots are wrapped and stacked, wrap them all tightly together using packing paper or bubble wrap.  Take a medium sized box and line the inside with loosely scrunched up paper for padding and place your stacked pots within.  Seal boxes securely with packing tape and label.

Finish up the Food Packing

Your food cupboards should now only have the items you wish to take with you.  Start with the smaller items, wrapping and packing your way to the larger ones.  Arrange items in medium sized boxes with smaller items fitted around and in-between larger ones.

Prepare Appliances

This is the last step, which should be done around 24 hours in advance of your move.  Rushed appliance preparation can lead to leaks, broken parts or damaged appliances.  Read the advice in manuals about disconnection and preparing appliances for moving, but if you’re unsure, call in a professional.  Many moving companies will ask for all major appliances to be prepared before they arrive and some will offer a service that prepares appliances for a fee.

A simple step-by-step guide on how to prepare kitchen appliances will be discussed in the next article.  This will help you ensure that your appliances are ready to move when you are!

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Ruth

Packing up your kitchen may seem a daunting task, with so many small and odd-shaped items, lots of breakables and fiddly appliances to negotiate.  It’s a good idea to sort, select and simplify your kitchen as a starting point.  This type of preparation will mean that the packing task itself will be quicker and less painful!!

First, decide what items need to be packed and eliminate those that don’t.  Think about where you are moving to – how much room do you have, how much cupboard space, worktop space and what’s the kitchen design and décor like?  All these things can help you determine what you need to pack.  Some of your items may be large and cumbersome, expensive to move, but relatively cheap to replace, so consider leaving these behind.

Food items are an area of contention in terms of whether to move them or not.  As soon as you know you are moving try to start eating up all those tinned and frozen foods.  Overall, think about implementing the weight/size versus cost to move ratio.  Small, light and relatively expensive food products such as spices, try to pack.  Unopened packages are worth packing.  Check all expiry dates as you pack.    Use containers for any opened and fragile food items that you wish to pack.  Obviously any perishables should be eaten or left behind, unless you are moving a short distance, in which case you could fill up a few cool bags.

Take a look at all your cleaning supplies, plan to pack any unopened containers.  Opened containers are perhaps best disposed of or carefully secured.

The planning of an essentials box is recommended, so that you’ll have access to the things you’ll need in the first few hours and days in your new home.  This should be the first box you’ll open and should provide you with what you need for basic living while you are in the process of unpacking and organising your home.  Label this box “Essentials” or “No. 1” to indicate its priority for unpacking. 

Here are some suggestions of what to include in your essentials box:

• Washing up liquid
• Dishcloth/tea towel
• Multi purpose cleaner (unopened) / cloth
• Salt & pepper
• Coffee/tea/biscuits
• Kettle
• Toaster
• Jar of pasta sauce / pack of pasta
• Jam / spread (unopened)
• Radio
• All purpose cutting knife
• Scissors
• Saucepan
• Toilet roll
• Small emergency kit
• Torch/ matches/candles
• Plate, cup, knife, fork, spoon for each family member

 So now you’ve prepped the kitchen, catch up with my next blog post which helps you tackle the big kitchen packing job!

Posted on April 19, 2011 by junowebdesign

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Ruth

Correx board really is a wonder product.  Its a heavy duty, flexible material that is used  by the removals and construction trades to protect doors, walls, stairs and floors during a moving or renovation project.  The boards supplied by Teacrate Packaging come in sheets sized 1 x 2 metres and they may be cut to suit.

We're quickly discovering that Correx has a great appreciation in the world of Guinea Pigs, with several of our customers purchasing this product for making a home-made Guinea Pig cage.

Teacrate Packaging customer and Guinea Pig enthusiast, Kate Butcher, has kindly put together this DIY guide for the construction of a fantastic Guinea Pig cage using Correx.   Build your own cage

I'd also like to point any Guinea Pig lovers out there to Kate's great website www.rodentswithattitude.co.uk, which provides all sorts of facts and practical advice for Guinea Pig owners, with a forum for discussion of all matters relating to our furry friends.