Category Archives: Home Improvement

Save Space and Curb Appeal with a Free-Standing Hose Holder

When we mention a garden hose holder, no doubt you might be drawn to immediately imagine the classic plastic and metal wall-mount found in countless home improvement stores around the U.S. Many of these are mass-produced and manufactured quickly by the thousands across the country.

While those may certainly be convenient, many of them are the kind that either must be stationary or must be attached to the outside of your home. Let’s be honest, after all the hard work you do to maintain your lawn, gardens, the yard, and the exterior décor, planting a hose reel or holder outside probably doesn’t sound like a great idea.

Especially for those who rent or who are concerned with the curb appeal of their home, having a free-standing hose holder is a perfect solution for many of the issues that crop up with more questionably made hose holders.

What is curb appeal and why is it important?

Curb appeal is what gives homebuyers or renters their very first impression of a property before they even step inside. The aesthetics of a home’s exterior can often tell a person what they might expect to see on the inside even from the front door. At the very least, the exterior of your home can often determine whether buyers may even want to take a look inside.

And curb appeal isn’t simply for those wishing to sell or rent a home. Curb appeal can be a boon to an entire community of homeowners. Having a beautiful and well-maintained community is one of the best ways to attract new people to an HOA. Even if not part of a community or HOA, many homeowners take pride in their property, managing it well and beautifying it with gorgeous lawns, flowers, and trees.

Curb appeal is important because as the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Curb appeal even has a direct effect on renters as well as residents’ morale, giving them the pride of ownership and increased property values.

What Curb Appeal and a Free-Standing Hose Holder Have in Common

All your yard, as well as siding, stucco, pathways, window treatments, anything on the exterior or visible on the exterior, contribute to a home’s curb appeal. This includes the lawn itself, any topiary, plants or potted plants, ornamental grasses, gardens, flowers, and more. Plants will need to be weeded and cared for by being watered.

Second, the asphalt on a homes or unit’s driveway, any cement paths should be clean and clear as well—which most likely means pressure washing.

For all aspects of curb appeal, you should highly consider a free-standing hose holder.

The Benefits of a Free-Standing Hose Holder

A free-standing hose holder provides a durable, reliable alternative to light-duty holders and plastic box-type holders. Additionally, a free-standing hose holder is smaller than a larger, more expensive wheeled model and much easier to carry or move, making it far more portable to and from storage or moving to get to another part of a lawn.

When it comes to your home’s exterior, whether it is an apartment, a home you are renting, a home you own, or one you are considering selling one day, you can completely avoid having to struggle with drilling potentially damaging holes into siding, brick, or stucco to attach a hose reel. There’s no need for such an attachment with a free-standing hose holder.

With a free-standing hose holder, there would be no unsightly exterior hose mounted, breaking the pleasant vista of the exterior. Not to mention, a portable garden hose reel means that a homeowner can neatly store the coils of his or her hoses, pick them up and completely store them hidden away in a garage or appropriate place. Thus, leaving the exterior décor and view of the home clear of clutter and any detracting visuals such as a loose coil of hoses or a garden hose reel should they desire.

There’s also the fact that, with the right free-standing hose holder, some of them are so thoughtfully designed as to be completely unobtrusive, meaning a homeowner or property owner could hide them easily within the natural ornamentation of a lawn, such as a bush or long decorative grasses.

Last, but never least, a free-standing garden hose reel saves space with its compact, well-engineered design as well. When you consider all the benefits and facts, you’ll no doubt see why a free-standing hose holder can save space and curb appeal and become a worthy investment for any home and property owner.

Low Maintenance Plants for You

Have you been thinking of collecting plants just like your friends but too lazy to care for one? Fret not. Some plants suit your personality, plants that do not need much care and attention.

Photo by Minh Pham on Unsplash

Plant experts identified Snake Plants and Arrowhead Plants as low maintenance. They only need minimal water and moderate light exposure to survive.

Snake and Arrowhead Plants are best to grow inside the house. In fact, these plants belong to the list of most popular indoor plants among growers and plant hobbyists, and enthusiasts.

Besides beautifying the home, there are also benefits to growing plants. Plants soothe the tired eyes and make you feel happy, especially if you have flowering plants. Plants also purify the air we breathe as they trap various toxins in the air.

I want a neat mini garden to create a cozy atmosphere at home. So, Snake and Arrowhead plants will definitely be on top of my list once I start my planting journey.

6 Tips for Keeping a Clean Kitchen

Nobody likes cleaning. Let’s just get that out of the way. However, depending on the room, this dislike can vary, with the kitchen being the most disliked room in the house to clean. And with good reason: it gets very messy very quickly! But it doesn’t always have to be or stay that way.

Photo by iyinoluwa John Onaeko on Unsplash

Clean as you use

When you are cooking, and you finish with a ladle, give it a quick clean and store it away as you cook. The same goes for pots and cutlery. It all works to reduce the mess of your kitchen after cooking. You can use flat poly bags to store your clean utensils before placing them in the cabinet.

Clean up spills immediately

Keep a broom and a dustbin in the kitchen and be sure to clean up any spills straight away. If you don’t have the time to sweep every day, consider a robot vacuum to lend you a hand.

Set up bowls

If you are anticipating having to keep ingredients off the heat and separate before combining them, keep a set of bowls on your countertop and use these as you prepare. Once you’re finished with them, of course, wash them out and store them away.

Speaking of bowls, the same tip goes for any cutlery or utensils that you will reuse

Set up a large bowl or even a cooking pot and fill it with warm water. In between stirring and mixing, keep your utensils in here. This is good for preventing splatters as utensils drop and move.

Keep your trash empty

Apart from smelling, a constantly full kitchen trash can is the quickest way to accumulate mess. Swap yours for a small counter top container (an old plastic container can do), and use this instead. The small size and visibility will make you more likely to keep it empty. I use poly bags on role as thrash lining for easy replacement.

Make more space

If you have appliances and utensils cluttering your countertops, then you are off to a bad start. Clear out your pantry and kitchen storage spaces of items you realistically will never eat or use, and utilize the space for storing your small appliances. Keep the items you always use in custom poly bags for easy identification.

Keeping a clean kitchen isn’t as impossible as you might think, it just takes a little time, effort, and know-how.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for plastic packaging for your kitchen needs, check out International Plastics brand because they carry ISO 9001 certified products, which means they meet all USDA and FDA requirements for food contact. They manufacture, import, and wholesale supplier of protective, flexible packaging.