7 Kitchen cleaning tips for moving home

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Jill Stevenson

Unfortunately the home you move into isn’t always in the same state as the one you just left. In other words, here at Moishes Moving and Storage we’ve seen examples of folks we’ve just moved having to go in and give a good and thorough clean to their new place. And the room which tends to need the most time spent on cleaning it is, of course, the kitchen.

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Here we’ve listed some quick and clever cleaning tips to make sure you get that kitchen spick and span as soon as you possibly can:

  1. Getting rid of dust. Do yourself a favor and forget about a damp cloth – simply use the vacuum instead. It’s much quicker and requires less effort.
  2. Cleaning the fridge. Hopefully the previous incumbents have at least cleaned the fridge of any food! To get rid of stains simply mix together a paste of baking soda and water then rub onto the offending area. Wipe clean with a warm cloth. If it’s just a general clean that’s needed then a mix of vinegar and hot water will often do the trick. It’s important to clean behind the fridge ie the coils since keeping these dust-free will mean your fridge will actually work more efficiently.
  3. Fixing up the microwave. Another appliance that could potentially be left with food debris. To soften leftover foods simply place a glass of water inside and microwave for a minute.
  4. Washing the windows. You can use the vacuum cleaner here for the window sills then use vinegar and newspaper to wash the glass.
  5. Rinsing out the dishwasher. Smells in the dishwasher can be tackled by simply rinsing it with a spot of vinegar. Placing half a lemon on the top shelf can give it a nice fresh aroma.
  6. Making worktops shiny and clean. A lemon rubbed on them can also be used to clean the stains off countertops and kitchen islands since the acid will break down any food bacteria. Don’t have a lemon to hand? Then use a solution of vinegar and hot water.
  7. Getting that oven pristine. We’ve left this one ‘til last because it’s often everyone’s least favorite kitchen cleaning routine. However, whether it’s the oven in your current home you need to clean or the one you’ve just moved into, it’s a job that, unfortunately, simply has to be tackled. So what’s the best way to go about it?

  • Well, if you’re lucky enough to have one of those continual-cleaning ovens then spray a special oven-cleaner inside and, using a nylon pad, simply scrub away until you feel you’re covered every corner and surface. Leave for an hour or two then rinse with a warm cloth. Put the oven on high for a couple of hours and you’re done!
  • Regular ovens can be tackled using a good quality cleaning spray and a warm cloth and lots of elbow action. Get rid of the chemicals from the cleaning spray by wiping over with a cloth dipped in distilled vinegar and water.
  • A self-cleaning oven more or less does just that – cleans itself. It will leave some ash in the bottom after its cleaned and which you can simply wipe away.

We hope you found the above tips helpful and maybe even learned something new from them. Certainly most homes you move into will have a clean oven and other appliances but you know how it is – sometimes you just have to give them a good old clean yourself (just to be sure!).

For more moving tips or to get a quote for our moving service then contact our website at Moishes.com today.

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Keep first time moving and living costs low

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Jill Stevenson

Here at Moishes Moving and Storage we help lots of young people coming to New York City for a job to relocate to their new apartment. For many of them it’s the first time they’ve left their home city or town so, understandably, it can all be a bit stressful for them (as well as exciting, of course).

We try and make life as easy as possible for first time movers (and multiple time movers of course). We’re already known as a low cost removals firm and to keep their living costs as low as possible, we recommend first time movers to this city heed the following advice.

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How to keep down the cost of living in your new apartment

  • You know those sturdy cardboard boxes you’ve just used to move your stuff in? Well, try and find a fabric sale, but some designs you love then staple the material onto the box. You can use these newly-designed boxes as attractive storage drawers or even a smart side table for a corner lamp in a dark corner of your sitting room or bedroom.
  • Can’t afford to buy cost price furniture from some of the new designer stores? Then why not opt for the shabby chic look by picking up an old dresser cheap at an auction or second hand sale, painting it then sandpapering it down to make it look ‘authentically’ old? Shabby chic is a look which has really come to the fore in recent years.
  • Clean mirrors and windows in your new home by using vinegar and newspaper. This works a treat and saves you buying expensive – and chemical-laden – cleaner.
  • Got a stuck drawer? Then simply rub the glider down with an old candle that you can pick up cheap in any hardware store. You’ll be impressed at how effective this tip is.
  • Keep utility costs down by affixing ceiling fans. They’ll help cool you down in summer without your electricity bill going sky high. And on the same subject (ie low utility bills, try to air your washing on the line as much as possible rather than use a tumble dryer (these really make the energy meter run fast). Also, never electrical goods on standby as this still uses up energy.
  • Another way to keep that utility bill low is to switch all the builds in your apartment to LED. This new form of lighting uses 80 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs and 50 per cent less than halogen. As a result your utility bill reduces by a substantial amount. LED bulbs may be more expensive than other bulbs to buy initially (although they’re coming down in cost all the time) but they more than make up for it in the long run since they last so much longer and, as we mentioned, really help keep those energy bills low.
  • Toilet or kitchen sink clogged up? Don’t waste money by calling out for a plumber. Instead, grab some baking powder and vinegar to successfully unstuck in. Simply pour a cup of baking soda down the plug hole then follow this up with a cup of vinegar. Cover up the plug hole with a cloth so that nothing bubbles over into the sink then after a couple of hours simply rinse the sink and drain with very hot water. Not only will your sink be unclogged, it’ll also be nice and shiny!

For advice on moving to New York – or even within the city itself – then do call the Moishes Moving and Storage team. We’ll be happy to quote you a price whenever you need it.

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Our Top Moishes Moving Tips

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Jill Stevenson

Being a relocation company, here at Moishes Moving and Storage we know how potentially stressful moving home and especially relocating to a new State can be. And if it’s to a city where the streets are as busy and bustling as New York then it can be quite a thing to contemplate.

Or at least it would be if you didn’t plan well in advance and consider the potential pitfalls along the way. So, if you’re planning a relocation any time soon why not take a look our Top 10 tips to help make your move a little smoother:

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Tips for easier home relocation

  1. It doesn’t matter whether you are packing up your own possessions or you’re getting us to do it, there’s going to be problems if we can’t get near to where the boxes are to be picked up. So, if you have a small yard, there’s parking restrictions or any other reason why we can’t get near your home, then please let us know about it so that we can plan what to do beforehand ie it may mean we have to turn up in a smaller van or even negotiate with the roads authorities to get access it. It definitely saves time if we’re forearmed.
  2. When packing smaller items do think about the weight of the boxes in terms of making sure it’s balanced. Also, it’s a good idea to pack things from a particular room in the same boxes ie keep all the kitchen stuff together, the bathroom paraphernalia, bedroom linen etc separate. Always label those boxes too so it’s easier to find what you’re looking for and to plan your unpacking.
  3. Pack the children or any pets you have off to their granny’s, auntie’s or a family friend so that they won’t literally get under your – and our – feet on moving day. Not only will this be less stressful for you and safer for them, but it’ll also be more fun for the little ones to be at the pool, park, watching TV etc.
  4. On the day make sure you have special documents, money, your phone, contact numbers etc with you at all times. You don’t want these to be lost in the upheaval.
  5. Accept the fact you may have to do a bit of cleaning once you reach your new abode. You’ve no idea what condition it’ll be left in and if the house has been empty for a little while then there’s it’s a sure bet you’re going to have some dusting and wiping to do.
  6. Make sure you don’t end up arguing with utility companies for unpaid bills by taking the meter readings as soon as you enter your new home. You should also check at this point that the cooker, boiler, fridge/freezer etc are all in working order – otherwise contact your solicitor.
  7. Don’t imagine for one minute that you’re going to get through moving day without plenty of snacks, drinks and at least one good nourishing meal. You’ll need these for all those extra calories spent lunging boxes everywhere.
  8. Always bring an overnight bag with you when moving. This should contain handy items such as toiletries, toothbrushes, hand wipes, contact lenses solution, a change of clothes and bed linen (unless you plan to spend the first night in sleeping bags). You might want to think about a change of clothes for next day too.

Need help on moving home in or to New York? Then contact us at Moishes Moving and Storage. We’ll be happy to avail you of our expertise.

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Drawers: to empty or not to empty during a home move?

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Jill Stevenson

Should you empty the drawers of furniture such as cabinets, bedside tables, sideboards and office desks prior to a New York home removal – or one anywhere else for that matter? It’s actually something that the Moishes Moving and Storage team here get asked a lot.

What you could do to get round the problem, of course, is avoid any form of packaging at all and simply get us to pack all your household and personal items for you – not just the fragile stuff or the bulky objects. Not only that but, if you like, we’ll also give your home a quick once over at the end to make sure it’s in a good condition for whoever is moving in next.

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If you do choose to have us do your packing for you then this will usually be accomplished around 24 hours prior to your house move, ensuring you and your family are inconvenienced as little as possible (no-one wants to have to walk around and dodge boxes in their hallway for days on end, after all). Importantly, you are also completely insured for breakages and damage if you get the Moishes team to pack your goods.

Different drawer types and how they should be managed for removal

  • Large wooden bedroom chests containing drawers. You’ll find it’s ok to leave these drawers filled with either clothing or bedding ie nothing fragile, heavy or that will fall out easily. If it is too heavy for us to move then we can always remove the drawers and take them out separately.
  • Flimsier bedroom chests (ie made from plywood) with drawers. Don’t leave these drawers filled. The chests aren’t sturdy and could easily break with the added pressure of moving.
  • Divan beds. Definitely remove the items from these drawers. That’s because the bed will be stored upright in the truck and any items still in the drawers would therefore fall out.
  • Desks. Take out all that stationery, pens and books etc and put them into a separate carrier bag. Alternatively, if the desk is going to remain upright then seal the drawers by putting a supermarket carrier round them and affixing plenty of tape.
  • Filing cabinets. Do the drawers of this come out? If so, pack them separately into the van. If not, then unless you can lock the cabinet, the items will have to be removed and stored separately.
  • Sideboards with drawers. It’s usually ok to get away with leaving the drawers here as they are. That’s because the drawers tend to be sturdy and not particularly large. They’re also reasonable easy to move and tend not to be too heavy.

Whatever decisions you make regards emptying your drawers or leaving them as they are, there are a few considerations to take into account. One is the fact that emptying drawers takes up valuable time that you could be spending on some other aspect of the home removal.

The second is the fact that unpacking drawers will lead to a larger volume of goods to be moved which in turn could increase the overall cost of the move. Keeping drawers as they are – with their contents intact – takes up far less space in the truck and looks neater too. It also means less unpacking at the other end when you’ll already have enough to do getting your new home in order.

Need advice on moving home and contents? Then give us a call here at Moishes Moving and Storage. We will always be happy to help and try our best to answer any questions you may have.

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Cutting costs when moving home

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Jill Stevenson

Moving home isn’t only stressful – it can also be pretty costly if you don’t watch what you’re doing. And when you’re probably going to have spend money doing up your new place, splashing out a fortune on moving costs is the last thing you want to be doing. And so, here at Moishe’s Moving and Storage we’ve come up with some ways you can help to curtain those costs:

  • De-clutter. Yes, it’s an obvious one – and not particularly easy; especially when you’ve lived with your belongings for years. But if they’re not essential and you reckon you won’t be using them in your new place, is there any point to them? Sure hang on to stuff for sentimental reasons if you like but try and be ruthless with the rest of the items that just sit in a cupboard most of the year round (we’re thinking that gym equipment that you bought with so much enthusiasm but that has been gathering dust in the basement for the past two years. Give the unused items to a nearby charity shop if you have the time (or call and get them to pick them up).The less items you move you see, the fewer dollar bills you’ll be handing over
  • Packing. Packing your own goods (and getting the kids to do their own) can save you as much as 25 per cent of overall moving costs simply because you’ll be cutting down on the amount of labour the moving firm will be charging. Having the kids involved in the move in a practical sense will make them feel more included and positive about that long journey in front of them.
  • Pre-pack food. With all the upheaval going on probably the last thing you want to think about is making sandwiches and packing cookies, fries, fruit etc but, if you want to save money on your move then this is the way to do it. Roadside cafés are expensive to sit and eat in and even store-bought sandwiches can add up to quite a sum if you’re purchasing for a family of four or five. Just allocate a separate bag for food then let the family help themselves at the allotted hour or during pit stops.
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  • Timing. Moving mid-week is far less expensive than going for it on a weekend or public holiday when moving firms tend to be busiest.
  • Locations. It’s less expensive for all your goods to be taken to the one place ie your new home – rather than half of them being put into storage. It can be useful to have big bulky items someone else while you’re planning a remodel but it’s only fair to point out that you’ll pay steeply for this convenience.
  • Receipts. Keep all the paperwork involved with your move in a separate folder. This isn’t just because it means you can access whatever you need quickly, but also because you’ll need those receipts for tax purposes at the end of the year – or your boss will if the company are paying for you to relocate.
  • Shop around. We hope we’re not talking ourselves out of a job here but it’s only fair to point out that when moving it’s a good idea to get at least three quotes from removal firms and compare them. Don’t just look at the basic costs though – watch out for any add-ons and look at the overall service they’ll be providing. It doesn’t do any harm to ask around for word of mouth references either. That way you’ll feel happier on moving day.

Here at Moishe’s Moving and Storage we’re intent on making your move as easy and stress-free as possible. Why not give us a call to find out how we can help you?

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