Are you a digital hoarder?

Spring has sprung, which means organizing enthusiasts naturally have spring cleaning on their minds. But there’s one area of our day-to-day that even the most detailed cleaners overlook: our digital lives. 

Especially after 2020 — a year that put us all online more than ever — it’s best we all take the time to consider the digital clutter we’ve acquired. Think of those old cell phone photos, bookmarked recipes on our browsers, and even old, broken devices. All of these considered, and you may even be teetering toward digital hoarding. Of course, it’s hard to give attention to the clutter we don’t physically see. 

Which is why downsizing your digital data — deleting those cell phone photos, erasing the bookmarks, recycling those devices, and then some — is something we must proactive about. It’s not a one-and-done deal like decluttering your whole home. 

To put you on the right track, Norton pared down some digital hoarding tendencies to consider, plus tips to spring clean your digital lives, noted in the infographic below:

How to Tell What Extra Features You Have Room for in Your Yard

When you're ready to upgrade your yard for leisure and fun activities, check out your lawn area to see what type of additions might fit within the available space. Here are some ways to consider possible alterations to your home's outdoor area.

Shed

A shed can be small or large, depending on your storage needs. Usually, it will contain lawn equipment, including a lawn tractor if needed, along with lawn maintenance tools and supplies. However, some sheds are used for hobbies or a home office. Look at your open space to see how a shed the size you need will fit and look in that spot. Will it stand out as an eyesore or fit in as an accent point?

Playground Equipment

Young children love scrambling around the yard and climbing on sliding boards or playing on swings and monkey bars. Give some thought to the type of equipment you might be able to accommodate that won't use too much of the grassy area. You could start with one or two swings, and if they work well, add more play equipment as the kids get older.

Deck or Porch

Outdoor decks and porches extend the living area of your home for many purposes. Family members may want to sunbathe, grill food, or listen to music under a beach umbrella. You can entertain guests or enjoy some quiet time alone. Measure the dimensions of the deck you would like to install in comparison to the amount of lawn adjoining your home that can be used for this purpose. Check the zoning laws in your community to see if there are any requirements or restrictions for building a deck. Also decide whether adding a deck will leave adequate yard space for other activities.

Flower or Vegetable Garden

Planting a flower garden is a great way to teach kids about the wonders of nature. They can watch butterflies and bees hover over the flowers and see which birds are attracted by the blooms to build nests nearby. A vegetable garden can supply seasonal veggies for fresh eating or canned for winter meals. Putting up a scarecrow or a fence can be a fun activity to help kids learn about boundaries and borders. Measure the amount of lawn space needed for a garden before deciding how big to make it.

Use your lawn to full potential by considering features like these. Time spent outdoors can be relaxing and entertaining, so make the most of your available yard area.

How to Get Rid of Tree Stumps in Your Yard

Why do you need to remove tree stumps?

Are you planning to cut a dead tree? Go ahead and remove it as soon as you can. A dead tree is not just about making the landscape of your property beautiful; cutting will ensure safety for your household. 

Hazard

A tree stump can be a liability. This is particularly a serious concern if you have children or the elderly. A fall or a trip can lead to hospitalizations. 

Decrease property value

Removing the tree itself might not be difficult for some people. However, removing the stump is a challenge, and leaving it open in the yard can affect your property value. Moreover, it makes your yard look unattended.

Attracts pest

A tree stump will attract all sorts of pests and fungi. Tree-eating insects can easily multiply and infect the surrounding plants in your yard. 

Property damage

Do you know the roots can grow deeper in the soil, and this can lead to pipes issues

such as leaks and contaminating your water supply? You don't usually notice this type of issue until it causes serious damage to the property. Besides that, tool damages such as mowers can get broken when you do not notice the yard's stump. 

Ways to remove tree stumps 

Basically, there are three main ways to remove a stump. Stump removal requires more effort than cutting trees because it involves a few processes to eliminate it. 

Before applying your chosen method, make sure to assess the situation properly. This will allow you to anticipate what needs to be done and what tools or materials are needed to prepare for successful removal. You wouldn't want to do a repeated removal, and this can be done when you are properly assessing the condition. 

Few factors can help you determine what types of removal to choose. First is the type of tree. Pine trees are easier to remove than others because the roots are rather shallow and flat, while the deciduous tree has deeper roots. 

The age of the tree is also a factor. A young stump is a challenge compared to old ones. Lastly, how many stamps do you need to remove in your yard? If you plan on removing it manually, can you do it with several stumps? 

Removing By Hand

The most common option to try is removal by hand. However, many failed to realize that it is not easy as it looks and ends up disappointed in the outcome. Make sure to prepare all the necessary tools such as a digging bar, chainsaw, a shovel, chains, axe, and a four-wheel drive. 

Using a chainsaw, remove any remaining trunks and branches. Leave sufficient surface that can be used as leverage. Using the remaining tools such as a shovel and digging bar, expose the roots and stump as much as you can. You can use a power washer to expose the roots further and remove dirt. 

Using an axe, cut the major roots. Then try to move the trunk to see for more roots. Cut if you notice more roots being exposed. Do it repeatedly until the trunk is loosened and uprooted. 

In the case where the trunk is still attached to the ground, utilize a wrapped chain and a four-wheel truck. Alternate the pulling and pushing until the trunk is removed. 

Chemical Remover

If you do not have the time and effort to do a manual removal of the stump, you can opt for the chemical one. For this to be successful, you'll need a chainsaw, a drill, kerosene, potassium nitrate, and an axe. 

First, cut the trunk as much as you can using a chainsaw. Then make holes by drilling around 8 inches deep for each hole around the stump. Add another hole on the sides of the stump in a 45-degree angle. Once the holes are there, pour the potassium nitrate into these holes generously. Add water until it fills the top of the holes. 

You will have to wait for a couple of weeks before the stump becomes very soft. You can use an axe to completely remove the stump or add kerosene to burn it. 

Let it rot

Another method to use is letting it rot. The process is similar to the chemical method, but this time you will use nitrogen substance and water to fill the holes. The stump will slowly soften, and you can chop off the pieces gradually until it is removed. 

Once everything is clear, fill in the area with dirt to create an even surface and avoid unwanted injury. 

When disposing of the stump, make sure to follow local guidelines for trash disposal. You can also use it as wood chips for your yard needs. However, if you find this method complicated and time-consuming, just call your local tree services for a stress-free removal. 

5 Reasons To Leave Residential Glass Repair and Replacement To The Pros

You can consider yourself fortunate if you’re a homeowner who has never had to deal with broken glass windows or doors.

Then again, going your entire home owning life without so much as a scratch on your glass window or door would be rare. After all, so many things can break glass parts of your home, from baseballs kids (your and your neighbors’) put through them to the strong winds that a hurricane brings.

If you had to deal with a broken glass window or door at one point, would you even consider going the DIY route to repair or replace it?

While some residential glass repair tasks such as dealing with minor cracks are easy enough to do, it is simply best to call professionals for the trickier jobs. Here are five reasons you should leave residential glass repair and replacement to the pros.

1. Handling Glass Can Be Dangerous

The fact that broken glass can cut through the skin easily should be enough reason never to handle broken glass yourself.

Repairing or replacing broken glass windows or doors involves taking the glass out of the frame. Doing it yourself isn’t impossible, but it could always get hairy. One wrong move, and you could end up with a cut deep enough to jeopardize nerves and tendons in your hand.

Since so many things could go wrong when handling glass, you’d be better off not taking any chances. Call residential glass specialists, and you can count on their expertise in handling glass to ensure that the job will go smoothly and without injury.

2. Glass Pros Bring Loads of Experience To The Table

It may be tempting to be hands-on when repairing or replacing broken residential glass, especially if you consider yourself a big DIYer.

However, glass repair and replacement professionals have already fixed countless glass panes for years.

On top of their rigorous training in handling all types of glass, glass pros have more than adequate experience to ensure exceptional workmanship with every job.

It’s probably safe to say that they have already seen all possible types of glass window or door damage and have dealt with them in the safest and most efficient way possible.

With their complete understanding of the glass repair and replacement process, these specialists will always produce outstanding results.

3. Glass Pros Have The Right Tools For The Job

Glass repair and replacement specialists don’t just dive into a job equipped with nothing more than gloves and their experience.

Handling glass is tricky, but glass professionals have the right tools for any job, from suction cups that help them carry large glass panes safely to cutters that ensure accurate fits when installing new residential glass.

4. Residential Glass Installation Can Be Very Difficult

It is not unheard of for some homeowners to take pride in repairing or replacing one tiny broken glass pane from a French window.

The question is, would they be able to duplicate the feat with a shattered glass door?

For one, a glass door is so much bigger and heavier, which means handling it during the installation process can get pretty tricky.

For another, glass, for all the modern technology poured into manufacturing it, remains a relatively fragile material.

One mistake in fitting that huge pane into very tight spaces, and you could break or shatter the glass, which could very well hurt you and your pocket. After all, glass can get very expensive these days, and no homeowner would want to spend more money on an extra pane of glass because they want to get their DIY fix.

When a professional does your residential glass replacement, you can be sure the fit will be perfect, and the risks of that glass breaking would be minimal.

5. Glass Pros Give Good Glass Advice

Sometimes, glass windows crack or break for no apparent reason. It could be thermal stress, or the glass could have been damaged during installation, and no one noticed.

If this happens repeatedly, it would be best to consult with a glass professional.

Since they know more about glass than most people do, glass pros can take a much closer look at the broken window and determine what could be causing them to break in the absence of any impact. They would also be able to advise you on what type of glass to use to improve your window’s chances of holding up for a far longer time than usual.

DIY glass repair or replacement is indeed possible, but you need the skills, experience, time, and the right tools to do it.

If you have none of the above, then your best bet would be calling in professional glass experts. It’s the surefire and safest way to repair or replace broken or shattered residential glass.