What's New at Roll Off Dumpster Direct

Throughout the past decade or so you have probably gone through a few cell phones. You felt pretty cool with your original Nokia, eventually upgraded to that classy Motorola Razr, and now you find yourself constantly connected to your iPhone or Android. 

Americans on average replace their cellphones every 18-22 months, and a majority of phone users trash the phones or hold onto them. In fact, we recently blogged the benefits about cell phone disposal and the benefits of recycling.

But, what happens to old phones that get dumped?

In many impoverished nations, children pile up e-waste and burn the contents to extract metals, like gold, silver and copper. They then sell the parts to recycling centers for a minimal amount of money.

According to the World Health Organization, even a low level of exposure to lead, mercury and cadmium (all found in old phones), pose neurological and developmental risks. Children and pregnant women are especially prone to these dangers.

The DIY Network announced that Vanilla Ice will not only return for a fourth season of “The Vanilla Ice Project,” but he will also star in a new series–”Vanilla Ice Goes Amish.”

In this new show, former rapper, whose real name is Rob Van Winkle, will take on projects with ”no frills, no music and no power tools.” Ice will complete big tasks, like building a barn, in the largest U.S. Amish settlement in Holmes County, Ohio.

Van Winkle is not the only semi-celeb to hit the DIY scene and tear up the real estate market. The DIY Network also announced that a new series hosted by Reverend Run of Run DMC will premiere soon. The show “The Rev. Run Project” will feature the star, his wife and three children as they renovate their houses. In addition, Daryl Hall, best known as half of pop group Hall and Oats, is scheduled to star in another show about home renovations.

As homeowners become more inclined to make home renovations, it’s no surprise that these types of shows are increasing in popularity. For those homeowners not interested in home renovations, you can sit back and be captivated as Amish life tightly grabs a hold of Vanilla Ice. 

Tips for Keeping Your Home Spotless

Now  is the perfect time to get back into a regular home cleaning schedule, starting with that big spring cleaning. Recent research has found that homeowners are investing more money into home renovations because they feel the economy is stabilizing. Many key renovations, such as increasing energy efficiency, can add significant value to your home.

The only way to conquer these key home renovations is to first deal with the mess, which is why we have compiled some tips for keeping the most important rooms of your home clean and efficient.

1. Kitchen

The kitchen is in the center of it all. Property management experts often say that the kitchen is the most important room of the house. It’s a place for family and social gatherings, and it’s important that it stays clean for healthy and safe eating purposes.

Declutter the countertops by finding a place for appliances that you don’t regularly use. Don’t use the Keurig on a daily basis? Keep it underneath the counter for safe storage.  When it comes to dishes, use tin foil to line pans and cut down on the mess. Instead of completely scrubbing all your dishes, give them a good rinse and put them straight in the dishwasher. Many people end up over-cleaning dishes which wastes time, water, and makes the clean-up process even more overwhelming.

Every couple of weeks go through the refrigerator. If you don’t see an expiration date and you know that something has been sitting a while, throw it out. Waste disposal is much easier earlier on, plus you won’t have to worry about eating that rotten cheese later.

2. Laundry Room

This room suffers much abuse and seems to become an oversized laundry basket for the family. Instead of throwing dirty clothes all over the place, set up labeled laundry baskets to make the process a whole lot simpler.

Many homeowners complain that their washer develops an unpleasant smell. Make sure that you are using the correct detergent for your machine, as many high efficiency washers require a specific detergent. Also, don’t overstuff your laundry loads because this could be a cause. If the smell continues you can try running an empty hot water load with baking soda and vinegar or bleach.

3. Bathroom

Since the bathroom is used by many on a daily basis, it’s a good idea to give this room a solid weekly cleaning.  If you are looking to create a natural bathroom cleaner for sink and bath surfaces, try mixing 16 ounces of baking soda, 4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid, and 1 cup of warm water.

When it comes to the bath and shower, prevent mildew from building by using a towel to wipe down the surfaces after every shower. For more bathroom cleaning tips, visit the bathroom cleaning guide from TLC.

Once you take out the trash, you’ll be able to start focusing on improving your humble abode. It’s much easier to concentrate on moving forward when you reduce the household clutter.

About the Author

Your Local Leasing Company (YLLCO) is a property management company serving Delaware, Chester,  Montgomery, Bucks, and Philadelphia Counties. They provide professional and quality leasing and property management services, handling every step of the process.

A Somerville, MA student has decided to turn dumpster diving finds into healthy, free meals for locals. 

Photo credit: The Gleaners’ Kitchen

Maximus Thaler, a Tufts University senior, is the brains behind this newest “grocery store” based cafe called The Gleaners’ Kitchen, which is set to open this summer.

Thaler gained media attention when he started a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to open the cafe in his apartment. The project will receive funding tomorrow (at the end of the scheduled campaign), and The Gleaners’ Kitchen will receive more than double it’s original $1,500 collection goal. 

The Gleaners’ Kitchen is expected to open in Thaler’s apartment this summer. He and his team will serve food 24 hours a day, with a daily meal served at 6 p.m. Guests can always expect coffee, tea, and lentil soup to be available. 

While it’s certainly a controversial cafe, Thaler hopes to turn waste into wealth by offering these free meals. While people are welcome to donate, The Gleaners’ Kitchen won’t charge a fee. The money raised from the Kickstarter campaign will go towards initial opening costs.