4 Types of Household Waste That Require Special Handling

When you organize to reduce clutter, you generate waste. That waste needs to go somewhere. Depending on where you live, you probably have a trash collection service that regularly picks up and hauls off the garbage to a landfill. But did you know that not all trash is the same? In fact, some kinds should never reach the landfill due to various hazards and dangers. Here are four types of household waste that require special handling.

Batteries

It never feels quite right to toss away batteries, does it? Even when they run out of power, they’re still hard little metal cylinders filled with chemicals that leak, explode, and generally cause all sorts of havoc in the environment and elsewhere. Don’t throw them away! Set up a case where you can store batteries until you’re ready to dispose of them. A plastic or cardboard box or similar nonconductive container is best. After you’ve filled it, consult your local government about special waste disposal. They may have a program that recycles batteries. Car batteries are especially easy to get rid of. Take them to a mechanic or auto parts store. Most will accept your old battery and recycle it.

Hand Sanitizer

During the pandemic, we saw an uptick in the use of hand sanitizer. That was good for fighting germs but not so great for the ecosystem. The bottles they come in are usually recyclable, but what if there’s some left at the bottom? You may be surprised to learn that sanitizers containing alcohol have the potential to ignite. Therefore, don’t pour any remaining hand sanitizer down the drain. It can catch fire or explode in the presence of other gases. It’s not good for wildlife in general either. Check to see if your town offers a household hazardous waste program, and get rid of old hand sanitizer bottles that way.

Large Appliances

If you didn’t know it already, large appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, hot water heaters, and other big appliances are called white goods (based on the fact that they’re usually colored white, naturally). Unless you have a special once-a-month trash collection in your town, you generally can’t just leave a large appliance out on the curb for pick up. White goods take up space in landfills. They can also contain mercury, freon, PCBs, and other elements and components that can seriously harm the ecosystem and water supply if they leak. Big appliances are best for scrapyards and merchants who take apart and repurpose the metal and other parts.

Grass and Other Yard Waste

Here’s the last of our four types of household waste that require special handling. Cut grass and raked leaves seem harmless, but landfills have banned them since the early 1990s. Decaying landscape waste creates methane, which can explode and catch fire. Consider purchasing a composter and saving lawn waste and vegetable scraps to create healthy soil for a backyard garden. Otherwise, you should call for specific yard waste collection.

What To Do Before You Put Your House on the Market

Selling your house can be overwhelming—there are so many things you must consider before putting your house on the market. To ensure a successful, stress-free selling process, you may have to prepare your house beforehand. Make sure you don’t neglect any of these major steps to make the process as easy as possible.

Declutter and Deep-Clean

Before you show your house to potential buyers, it’s important to declutter and deep-clean every room. This will make your house appear more spacious and inviting. Start by getting rid of any unnecessary items or furniture that may be taking up space, and consider renting a storage unit if necessary. Then, thoroughly clean your house from top to bottom, including the windows, carpets, and appliances. A clean, clutter-free house will make a great first impression on potential buyers.

Make Necessary Repairs

No one wants to buy a house with broken appliances, leaky faucets, or chipped paint. Before putting your house on the market, take the time to make any necessary repairs. This will not only increase the value of your house but also prevent any issues from arising during the selling process. Buyers can back out at many points during the selling process, and if they discover anything concerning during the home inspection, they can rescind their offer and you’ll be back at square one. Even something as simple as drywall can affect the value of your home in several ways, so make sure everything is up to par before any potential buyers come to visit.

Enhance Curb Appeal

Making a good first impression with your home’s exterior is essential. If the outside of your house looks shabby and unappealing, then potential buyers may pass on it without giving it a chance. Start by mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes, and removing any debris from the yard.

For even more visual appeal, look into adding different flowers and plants. New house numbers or a fresh coat of paint on the front door can also make a big difference. Dress up your home to entice people into stopping by.

Set a Realistic Price

Pricing your house correctly is crucial to attracting potential buyers. Research the housing market in your area and consult with a real estate agent to determine a fair, competitive price for your house. Overpricing may lead to your house sitting on the market for too long, while underselling your home will result in less money in your pocket after the sale.

This is a delicate balancing act that you’ll need to navigate even after listing your home, as the seller will likely negotiate for a lower price. Setting limits and knowing when to compromise is part of the house-selling process.

Knowing what to do before you put your house on the market means taking care of minor details as well as handling some major considerations. Maintaining your home can go a long way, and negotiating is a stressful yet critical part of the home-selling experience. Do everything you can to set yourself up for success.

3 Household Items That Can Scratch Marble Floors

If you want to create a beautiful, elegant atmosphere in your home, then you should install marble floors. Marble is a popular and durable flooring option that elevates the look of any home. Unfortunately, despite the overall durability of marble, it’s fairly easy to scratch. The following three household items can scratch marble floors, so you’ll need to adjust or remove them to protect your floors.

Heavy Furniture

Many people want to pair elegant furniture with elegant floors. While this pairing makes sense, many elegant furniture pieces are vintage and heavy. This means they can easily scratch your beautiful marble floors.

Luckily, you don’t have to throw out your beautiful furniture. Just attach furniture coasters to the bottom so that they don’t come in contact with your floor. Furniture coasters will also make it easier to rearrange your furniture as needed. Plus, they’re virtually invisible since they’re on the bottom of the furniture, so no one will see them.

Dirty Shoes

Everyone has that relative that comes inside with dirty shoes that they don’t seem to notice. While this extra dirt is annoying on its own, it can also damage your floors. Anything gritty, including dirt and sand, can grind away at your beautiful marble floors. You may not notice the effect at first, but eventually, the floor can dull.

Create an obvious shoe station near your outside doors to encourage people to leave dirty shoes behind. This will make cleaning easier and protect your marble floors.

Chemical Cleaners

Even with a designated shoe station, dirt will get into your home. Many people attack this dirt with chemical cleaners since they want to kill all the bad germs. Unfortunately, this can also damage your marble floors. Look for concentrated, acid-free cleaners with a neutral pH to use in your home instead.

Even with the right cleaners, you may notice scratches developing on your floors. Scratches are one of the telltale signs it’s time to restore your marble floors. Restoring them will fix these scratches and bring back your floor’s original beauty.

Heavy furniture, dirty shoes, and chemical cleaners are common household items everywhere, but they can scratch your marble floors. Even if you adjust or remove all these items from your home, scratches can still happen. Clean your marble frequently and hire professionals for restoration to prevent and fix scratches.