5 Tricks for Moving Your Mattress Without Hurting Your Back

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Moving a mattress is a job best for two or more people, but in some situations, only one person can carry this item. When no one is around to help and moving a mattress by yourself becomes the only option, it is a challenge that not only adds difficulty to the day but puts you in line for injuries. Back injuries are especially common when moving a mattress improperly. Use the five tricks below when moving things alone. With this information in mind, you’ll reduce the risks of both damages and injuries when moving a mattress by yourself.

1. Fold the mattress.

As this blog post mentions, a folded mattress is considerably more manageable to move when only one person handles the task, especially for larger mattress sizes. Folding reduces both its width and height, decreasing flimsiness. It’s also smaller, so it’s easier for a single person to maneuver and hold. However, folding a mattress with coil may damage the piece, so use this technique only with foam mattresses. 

2. Lift from the knees.

Do not use your back when lifting the mattress. Bend your hips and knees, squat down, and pick it up, keeping it as close to your body as possible. Straighten your legs and lift to move the mattress. Never put it on your shoulders or above shoulder level. Using proper moving techniques is the best way to prevent back injuries.

3. Use a dolly.

Perhaps the simplest method to move a mattress by yourself is to use a dolly to get the job done. If you don’t own one already, borrow from a friend or rent from a moving company for a small fee. Dollies are beneficial for moving mattresses from homes to vehicles, especially if you’re going up or downstairs with the item. It alleviates the worry of back injuries and all other headaches you’d endure. 

4. Clear the path.

Many back injuries occur when a person moves a mattress, not due to its size or weight, but instead due to items in the pathway when they begin moving it. Avoid this worry by pre-clearing the path you’ll use to load the mattress onto the truck.

5. Maneuver the mattress.

Place the mattress on its side. Move it by rotating it left to right as you move back toward the moving truck. Wrap it up in blankets or towels ahead of time to prevent dirt and grime from destroying the furniture.

Moving a mattress by yourself should never be your first option, but when there is no other choice, keep the tips above in mind to reduce the frustrations it may bring. Moving a mattress alone is possible when you know how to do it.

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7 Proven Safety Tips to Keep in Mind When Relocating

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Relocating to a new area is a sure way to get a fresh start in life. Experiencing life through new lenses, meeting new people, and traveling to unfamiliar places can be more than exciting. However, with such significant change, you have to be equally as cautious. Here are seven proven safety tips from Cheap Movers Manhattan to keep in mind when relocating.

1. Research The Area

Your research should go far beyond googling the nearest shopping centers. When planning to adopt a residence in an unfamiliar area, you must take everything into account. Get your hands on a map and study it. If you have children, you will want to look into the nearby schools. Check out the crime rates. Look out for gang activity. Locate your nearest police station. Do your due diligence so that you don’t regret it later.

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2. Visit Ahead Of Time

Online research may reveal a lot to you, but you will never get a true feel of the area in which you are relocating to unless you examine the area with your own two eyes. Before making the official move, go survey the area in person. Check out your new home as well as the surrounding areas to be sure that you have chosen a suitable home for both you and your loved ones.

3. Talk To The Civilians

No one is more aware of an area than its civilians. Be social with those of the neighborhood and surrounding areas to gain more insight about your new neighborhood. Ask about the local hangout spots or which places you should avoid.

4. Befriend Your Neighbors

Developing a friendly relationship with your neighbors will only add to the safety of your home. Neighbors who are fond of each other are more likely to keep a watchful eye out and will report suspicious behavior. Extend a friendly gesture before your official move-in date.

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5. Secure Your Home

It’s sad to say, but you never know who is watching. When you are moving into a new space, you may catch the eye of someone who is up to no good. As a safety precaution, invest in a security monitor and visible cameras to ward off intruders.

6. Learn The Area Before Traveling Much

As silly as this sounds, it is a safe practice to have an idea as to exactly where you are going before you set out. The last thing you want to do is to travel to the wrong side of town at the absolute wrong time because you got lost. In the beginning, do most of your traveling in the daytime and always keep a map with you or a navigation system on hand.

7. Be Prepared To Protect Yourself

Always prepare for the unthinkable. Before you relocate, you may want to enroll both you and your loved ones into a few self-defense courses. As an added precaution, it is also wise to never leave the house without some form of protection like a handgun or pepper spray. Whatever makes you the most comfortable.

You can never take too many precautions when it comes to making a safe, educated transition. The safety of your family comes first and it all comes down to how well you have prepared for your relocation.

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Best Places to Donate Your Household Goods before Moving in Houston

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Whether you are moving to a smaller home or simply de-cluttering before you move, it always feels good to get rid of unusable items. Not only will this help you save time when packing, but it will also help you avoid too much money on your move. Before you purge your home, you might want to consider donating the stuff to thrift shops.

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If you are not sure about where to take your items, here are a few examples you should consider in the Houston area. Please note that you will not just be touching a few souls in the Houston area. The donations are tax deductible. This is a win-win situation for everyone.

Charity Guild of Catholic Women

Address: 1203 Lovett Blvd, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: +1 713-529-0995
Accepting: clothing, furniture, rugs, household goods, and more

The charity benefits children that are in need in the Houston area. You will need to drop off the items at the Guild Consignment. You can also call the number provided to get more details. When donating furniture, you will need to email photos and the dimensions of the items. To do this, use this email address: furniture@charityguildshop.org. This will help them determine if they have enough space.

Goodwill Houston

Address: 1140 West Loop North, Houston, TX 77055
Phone: +1 713-692-6221
Accepting: clothing, furniture, household items, electronics, exercise equipment, vehicles, and more

This organization helps to create job opportunities for the needy. They also help get job training after that, and they organize job fairs where they can get jobs. Besides that, they have a homeless veteran reintegration program where homeless people are helped to find housing and jobs.

For employers, they help employers find quality temporary employees. This organization also helps the disabled find the skills they need to get jobs. They do not offer a pickup service. To donate your items, you will have to drop them off at a store close to you. You can find a list of stores on their site.

Harbor Ministries

Address: 1625 Spencer Hwy, South Houston, TX 77587
Phone: +1 713-242-9400
Accepting: furniture, clothes, housewares, tools, appliances, food, vehicles, and more

The organization works to benefit the homeless and those in need. You may drop off the items yourself or get in touch with them to schedule a pickup.

Helping Hands Charity, Inc.

Address: 6521 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77074
Phone: +1 832-528-3133
Accepting: gently used clothing, furniture, appliances, electronics, toys, mattresses, jewelry, vehicles, and more

The organization is dedicated to helping people and families who are in need in the Houston area. They offer a free pickup service.

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Houston Furniture Bank

Address: 8220 Mosley Rd, Houston, TX 77075
Phone: +1 713-842-9771

Accepting: Gently used furnishings, refrigerators, vacuums, iron board, small electronic appliances, and more

The organization benefits families, children, and individuals that are in need. They ran a special service called adopt a family. Through this program, one can help a family in need. To donate to this organization, send a picture to service@houstonfurniturebank.org. If you want a free pickup, get in touch with them.

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Top Reasons to Move to One of Dallas-Fort Worth’s Many Suburbs

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When looking for a place to live, there are three vital considerations that you should make: location, location, and location. The importance of location in real estate investment cannot really be stressed enough. If you are a Texan looking for a first home or a new place to live in, you should think about the DFW suburbs. Some of the areas that you should be looking into include Plano, Frisco, Coppell, Allen, and even Richardson. Here are some of the reasons why these are the best places to move into.

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Security

The first and most important consideration as a homeowner is that you will want to live in a place where the crime rates are not something you have to worry about. When the security of an area begins to decline, the real estate prices start plummeting, and a few years down the line, your property could be valued at way less than what you bought it for. Besides, no one wants to move their family into places where they will have to worry about their safety at all times. If you decide to live in the DFW suburbs, you are assured that they are some of the most secure neighborhoods in the country. FBI data shows an average of fewer than 20 crimes reported per 1000 people, which is very secure.

Great school districts

You are moving to the suburbs to raise kids, and you want them to attend the best schools in the neighborhood so that they can graduate high school and get to a good college. The data from the educational services shows that the FW suburbs have some of the best school districts with graduation rates of more than 90 percent and massive academic success. The public-school management system is also very organized in Texas in general, and you do not have to enroll your child in a private school to access school amenities.

Diversity

The great thing about the greater Fort Worth metro complex is the diversity of the population. Each neighborhood will have their own age group, and you can pick the one where you fit best. There are suburbs whose main population is millennials while other places are for the baby boomers and the older population. You really are spoilt of choice when it comes to picking the people you best fit in with.

Amenities

The schools are easily accessible from the homes, the malls are a walking distance, and the hospitals and all other social amenities are really easy to access. If you are looking for the kind of place where you and your kids will not have to drive for hours before getting to a sensible amusement park or a great place where you can relax, the Dallas Fort Worth Suburbs are your best bet.

fort-worth

These are a few of the reasons to move to this area. Last but not least, the prices are really reasonable when you think about the square footage that you will be getting. Take time and learn about the real estate in DFW suburbs, you will fall in love with it. If you do decide to move to Dallas, here are some cheap moving tips to check out.

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Tips for Decluttering Your Home Ahead of Your Upcoming Relocation

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Moving into a new home signals the start of a new adventure. Your new place is there waiting for you to make it your own. However, this process will be stressful if you don’t take advantage of this golden opportunity to rid yourself of junk. With this in mind, here are a few tips from one Austin mover on how you can declutter your home before moving into a new one.

1. No More New Purchases

The best way to start the decluttering process is to cut clutter off at the pass. Commit to the stuff you already have in your home, and refuse to make any new major purchases until you move to the new home. This will make it easier for you to evaluate the utility of the things you already have. Likewise, it will reduce the amount of items you have to move.

decluttering

2. Start Early

There is nothing worse than packing in a hurry. The added stress will likely lead to disorganization and frustration. As soon as you decide to move, begin formulating a plan to clear your space.

This plan can be as simple as committing to tossing a few items from each room each day. If you favor a more detailed approach, then you can create a chore chart. On this chart, include a list of tasks you would like completed in each room prior to the move. Clearing a drawer each day, for example, will help you get rid of items that likely have been long forgotten.

3. Focus on the Little Things

You may have a magazine rack full of 5-year-old magazines and newspapers. You may even have a junk drawer full of expired ketchup packets and coupons. Focus on getting rid of these and other small items that have gradually accumulated over the years. Individually, each item may feel insignificant. However, your home will feel more spacious and less hectic without them.

4. Hit Your Storage Spaces

Closets, cabinets, and attics are wonderful for storing items that you use infrequently. Unfortunately, having these items out of sight tends to make it much easier to accumulate more of them. Once they’ve outlived their usefulness, you are likely to forget you even own them.

Make these hidden spaces a priority in your quest to declutter your home. If you find items that you actually use, then go ahead and place them in a box to take to the new home. However, any unused items should be separated into three piles: sell, trash and donate. Gently used items can be sold online, at a garage sale or a thrift store. Alternatively, you can support charity organizations by donating these items to a worthy cause. Broken or damaged items should be tossed into the trash.

clutter

Moving can be a difficult process, but it does not have to be. Giving yourself the time to follow these simple suggestions will make your move a physically and emotionally cleansing process.

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