One thing that every person who moves must deal with is cleaning the home they are moving into. Packing  some specific moving boxes marked “Cleaning” will make things easier once you have arrived.

1. First, before moving in, make a mental note of everything that will need cleaning. The kitchen and bathroom is a good place to start, as they will most certainly be used early after arrival. For the kitchen consider cleaning solutions that will clean through greasy stains, like 409 or Fantastic. The cleaning box should also contain disinfectants like bleach or powdered Comet.
2. To scrub, use both an abrasive and regular sponge. An old toothbrush is a good tool to have to clean in between dirty tiles and with this in mind packing a tile cleaner would be helpful.
3. For those who have concerns about chemicals being used in their living spaces, some alternative cleaners might include baking soda for scouring, deodorizing and water softening. Other options include borax for disinfecting and cleaning painted floors and walls and wallpaper; white vinegar to cut through grease and mildew, wax and stains; and isopropyl alcohol as a disinfectant. Cornstarch can be used to clean windows and polish furniture. Even lemon, loaded with acid, is very useful in dealing with many household bacteria.

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The basement of most homeowners are often filled with all manner of packing boxes. But a good way to improve on the value of a home is by renovating the basement space into an entertainment center. Here are some suggestions.

● When the guests come over, send them to the basement for drinking and dancing. As most basements do not have walls dividing the space they automatically qualify as common areas. One great use of the space would be to build a wet bar and lay some sort of flooring suitable for dancing. A stereo system can then be brought in, as well as a disco ball and the mood is set.

● Another worthy idea is to turn the space into a movie room. Choose the appropriate size television, lay a thick, comfortable shag rug and a couple of inviting couches to curl up on too. Then consider purchasing a surround sound system to complete the project.

● Another idea is to turn the basement into a guest house. If the idea of the in-laws spending six weeks at your house terrifies you than perhaps this is a good alternative. Building a bathroom and shower as well as a modest size bed, chairs and table can make the visit that much more bearable. Alternatively, using this space as a rentable apartment can also mean financial reward.

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One thing everyone is going to need in their new home is a source of light. Here are some suggestions for safely and properly placing your lamps in moving boxes:

• Start by unplugging the lamp and then unscrewing the light bulb.
• Next, unscrew the lamp harp from the stem (the lamp harp is usually two pieces of thick, curved wire mounted below the socket and used to hold the lampshade in place as well as a sort of safety so lampshades cannot come into contact with the bulb). The harp can be disassembled usually by unscrewing the finial base at the top of the harp.
• Wrap the harp, bulb and lamp base in packing paper separately. Use different moving boxes for each if they are fragile.
• Fill spaces in the moving boxes with crumbled up packing paper.
• Lampshades are usually more fragile and should be packed separately. Moving boxes for lampshades should be lined with clean paper and light foam padding or bubble wrap before the lampshade is placed inside. When choosing cardboard boxes, pick a box that is a few inches taller than the lampshade so if the box is crushed somewhat the lampshade will not be damaged.
• For high-end lighting, like expensive tiffany chandeliers, it is best not to use moving supplies but instead, contact a moving company that specializes in precious items.

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The EPA now suggests that homeowners upgrade their fireplaces to avoid burning less efficiently. One way to do this and at the same time create a nice ambiance in the home is with pellet stoves. Pellet stoves burn much more efficiently than regular fireplaces and also release less pollutants inside and outside of the home. Additionally, with the cost of both oil and natural gas skyrocketing, it makes sense to at least consider the option.

Pellet stoves come in a wide variety of models and are run on electricity. Models include handsomely-designed standing models, which are the norm, and wall mounting pellet stoves, which can be set into the wall of an existing fireplace. Standing models are usually black, and can have a pot-bellied design or, more regularly, a square or box-like design.

Before purchasing one, it’s important to understand that most pellet stoves do have some moving parts and that regular, routine maintenance will be a part of owning one. Besides being attractive to look at, pellet stoves are used often as a primary source of heat in the home. In conjunction with an overhead fan, this is a great option for heating your home for less.

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Painting is a simple way to improve the value of a home. But reaching up to paint a ceiling can be a bit awkward. Here are some suggestions to make the job a little easier:

1. First, clear the room of everything and stow items in a few packing boxes to keep track of them.
2. Next, protect the floor with a canvas drop cloth and set it in place using blue tape, a quick release painter’s tape, which is less adhesive than normal tape and will not damage your floor.
3. Purchase a roller with suitable texture; for drywall use short nap, for uneven surfaces use a heavy nap. Also, pick up a roller extension so you can easily reach the ceiling.
4. Use a primer with some type of stain blocker before painting and less coats of paint will be needed.
5. When ready to begin painting, start with a ladder and brush to work on cut-in lines. Cut-in lines are the outermost portions of the job and include the corners and perimeters. While the cut-in lines are still wet begin painting the ceiling using the roller with the extension attached. If you don’t do this you usually end up with visible lines. This is easiest if working with someone else. One person cuts the area while the other rolls. Avoid cutting the entire perimeter at once as the paint will dry to fast. Instead, do this as you go.

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Moving boxes can also be used to package water beds and their accessories. Before packing the bed, however, drain it of all water with either an electric pump, the straight siphon method, or a drain pump and faucet adapter. When you think you’re finished, press your hand on the mattress -If a hand print appears, then there is more water to drain.

Keep the mattress plug handy so as soon as you’re finished you can seal the mattress to prevent air from getting inside. If the mattress is a motion-reducing mattress, make certain you do not shift the baffles on the inside. If they do, move them to their original place before you place it into the box.

Next, start at the top of the mattress and fold the mattress into thirds. Once this is done, fold the mattress in half. Surround the mattress with blankets before stowing it. Now the mattress is ready to be put inside the packing boxes.

Afterwards, disassemble the frame and all hardware. Put all hardware in ziplock bags and mark their contents. Wrap and tape the frame pieces in thin cardboard edge protectors to protect them during transit.

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Why spend hundreds of dollars on a medicine cabinet if you do not want to? Instead, grab a pen and some paper and design your own.

1. First, draw your idea for the cabinet.
2. Once you have a picture, measure the wall with a tape measure. Write down the width and length. Also, figure the number and width of shelves.
3. Don’t worry about using power tools –There is no need. Head to the lumber yard and ask for the cuts you want. Top, sides and back mounting. If there is a door, have these cut at the same time, this way all that’s left is assembly. Place everything in a packing box to keep track of all you will need.
4. Using glue, a drill and screws, assemble the pieces. If the door is to have a mirror then order this now at the nearest glass shop.
5. Purchase hardware such as fasteners, hinges and knobs too.
6. Once the the cabinet is built, sand everything using first a heavy, then a light grit sandpaper.
7. Next, prime the cabinet, preferably one that includes some sort of stain resistance, then paint it and lastly install any hardware and the mirror.
8. Once this is complete it is then ready to be mounted.

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Packing up the home office carries a few specific problems that should be addressed. In particular, printers and fax machines, as well as all-in-one machines like copy/printer/scanners, each have toner or ink cartridges. Improperly packing these items in a regular cardboard boxes can mean a thorough mess. The good news is that the aggravation of finding ink all over your precious files can be alleviated by removing these items from the machine and stowing them in individual plastic bags, preferably Ziplock bags.

Another concern is organization. When packing files, organize your papers beforehand so that after arrival all tax related information, for example, can be found in the same area. If books will be part of the move, choose moving boxes that are on the small side so you don’t throw your back out-books can be heavy. Also, go through your books before you pack -You might find that there are some you don’t need and these can be given away.

Basic office supplies like paperclips should be sealed in containers so they don’t spill all over the box. Likewise, pens and pencils can be wrapped in one big bundle with a rubber band.

Furniture that disassembles can be broken down, with small parts being stowed into small moving boxes and larger pieces left out for hand carrying.

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