CLUTTER. We don’t wish it on anyone. Really, we don’t. But, at OC Junk Hauling we’ve been in business for over a decade, serving residential and commercial requests to haul away cutter. In the spirit of Thanksgiving coming up in a few weeks, we would like to thank you for your past, current, and future business by sharing some de-cluttering tips for one area— your closet.

Nowhere in your house is that old saying, “out of sight, out of mind” truer than behind the closed door of your closet.

Everything Out

Remove everything from the closet. Human behavior dictates that you may not wish to go through all the trouble of putting EVERYTHING back. So, your mindset will already be in gear to look for items that you really don’t need or use anymore.

Then when returning each item, look at it. Obvious question is, “does it fit?” Everybody asks that. Less obvious is, “I know why I bought it then, but would I buy it now?” And that, of course, leads to “would I still wear it now?”

If you’re not sure if the dress, shirt, blouse or jeans even fit, then that may be an indicator you indeed have not worn it in a while. And the reason for that is…? We’ll let you think on that.

Hanger Trick

Speaking of thinking, this is a great idea that we’ve seen featured in more than a few “closet tip” posts. The “Hanger Trick” involves reverse replacing all the items on hangers with the hook facing you. As you wear & return, put them back facing away. At the end of six months, how many are still facing you? Those are the ones that have gone untouched and are prime candidates to be removed.

The same concept can be applied to shoes. Take them off the floor and put them on the door. Face shoes away from you and after use have them face you. Give it six months or a year. If certain shoes aren’t looking at you, then you surely have not been looking at them for any of your outfits.

After you have conducted a coordinated cleaning of closet clutter with these five tips, you should have a pile or two of clothes and shoes that are no longer of use to you. But don’t toss away. If they are still wearable, give OC Junk Hauling a call and we can transport to worthy community organizations that recycle them. A woman’s black pantsuit or man’s dark blue suit might not fit your needs but think of what those items would mean to someone less fortunate who is going out on a job interview.

We guarantee same day removal, a free no obligation estimate, a specific 2-hour arrival time window, and a “heads up we are on the way” phone call one-half hour before arrival.

Big or small haul, OC Junk Hauling is a phone call away at 949-424-9265.

Residential water runoff is an issue that should concern everyone in Orange County. It is a critical source of water pollution in ponds, rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs. Because of this concern, 35 communities in the OC have joined up for the H2OC initiative which is a cooperative stormwater program. As a green-themed business, OC Junk Hauling salutes these communities and their efforts to keep our drinking & recreational waters clean.

Among those communities are Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Fountain valley, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and Seal Beach.

Runoff, simply put, is rainwater that runs off your roof or driveway that IS NOT absorbed by the soil. Hard ground. Loose soil. Garbage and debris. Any and all of these contribute to the water not being properly absorbed into the ground. As runoff moves, it picks up and carries pollution. This can include trash, leaves, branches, oil, grease, antifreeze, pesticides, fertilizers and pet waste.

The sad result is contamination of water used for drinking, swimming, fishing and recreational areas.

The H2OC program offers several solutions which include rain barrels, mulch, and most interestingly rain gardens.

 

Described most efficiently by the University of California Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County, a rain garden “mimics nature: it intercepts run-off, decreases erosion, reduces pollutant transport, irrigates the plants in it, and acts as a mini-filtration system as it sends the rainwater back down into the aquifer.”

For a full description of how to build a rain garden, click here

The University of California (UC) suggests the following plants for Southern California rain gardens:

• • Creeping Wildrye: High water needs
  • Yerba Mansa: High water needs and can be used in the shade
  • NZ bush sedge: High water needs and can be used in the shade
  • Basket Rush: High water needs
  • Clustered Field Sedge: Medium water needs
  • Salt Grass: Medium water needs
  • Common/Spreading Rush: Medium water needs
  • Blue Sedge: Medium water needs and can be used in the shade
  • Mexican Rush: Medium water needs
  • Southwestern Spiny Rush: Medium water needs
  • Hummingbird Sage: Low water needs can be used in the shade
  • California polypody Fern: Low water needs and can be used in the shade
  • Common Yarrow: Low water needs
  • California Fuchsia: Low water needs

UC adds that this colorful garden will be natural-looking many months of the year and will attract birds, bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects as well.

OC Junk Hauling stands ready to assist you with your garden by taking away any trash, leaves, and bushes already on site, as well as any bags, containers, and unused supplies for the rain garden. Give us a call at 949-424-9265 and we will work with you to schedule one or several visits as you do your part to keep the OC safe from water runoff pollution.

 

 

Garage Clean Out In Orange County

Hands raised Orange County— how many of you put two cars in your two-car garage? One car in the two-car garage? One car in a one-car garage? According to Kelley Blue Book, the estimated average transaction price for light vehicles in the USA was $36,270 as of January 2018. That is a large investment to leave exposed to rain and sun just because you have shoved a lot of clutter into the garage.

As a locally owned and operated business, OC Junk Hauling drives all over Orange County. We see your garages. We see your closed-door garages; no doubt some of you are very embarrassed to let neighbors see inside. We are here to help you clear the clutter.

To begin with, you are not alone. Gladiator^® GarageWorks, a leader in garage organization and storage systems, conducted a survey in 2015. One out of four respondents admitted that his/her garage was so unorganized that not even one car could be secured, let alone two.

Everything that does not belong in the house goes there. Old lawnmower to dispose of. Bikes. Exercise equipment to dispose of. Old sofa to dispose of. Holiday decoration boxes. Tools. Craft projects started but not completed (or ever will be). Old microwave to dispose of. Toys the kids have outgrown to dispose of. See a pattern?

And in a 2017 survey conducted for Gladiator, the Kelton Global insights research firm found that “one third of homeowners don’t even know what is stored in their garage.” No doubt that sounds familiar to you.

OC Junk Hauling has two suggestions. Let us take away all those “to dispose of” items, and then let’s organize what’s left.

After a free initial consultation, and with your permission, our experienced team will visit your garage for an on-the-scene evaluation. The time to do the clean up and cost will be presented to you. You may sign up for the service or take your time to think about it. No pressure on you.

Once you’ve decided that the project is a go, we will return to work with you to clear away unwanted items, pick up items that can be recycled, upcycled and disposed of.

Dealing With What Stays

That will leave us with just the items you wish to keep. Organization is the key. Don’t just throw items to the side. Consider “finishing” the garage with shelves and storage systems. Possibly you can place cabinets into the mix.

Zones are another idea. Segmenting areas of the garage for sporting goods, lawn and garden equipment, and other hobbies will make items easier to find.

This will have ramifications beyond keeping your car safer from the elements.

According to the Kelton Global survey, not only does a refreshed garage offer new storage possibilities, it also can increase property value:

• 75% of Americans believed a  garage should be an extension of the home,
• 65% of Americans expressed that they would be willing to pay more for a new home with a storage system and cabinets already in their garage,
• 85% felt when purchasing a home, those having built-in storage systems and cabinets in the garage would impact their purchase decision-making process.

After our team has removed boxes and bags of unwanted items, helped move items into place for organized shelving, and swept up the floor, there is only one thing left for you to do.

Drive your car into your garage.

Feel free to call OC Junk Haling 24/7 at (949) 424-9265