Modern Living

Modern Living

Home and real estate topics discussed in detail

Why Should You Recycle Electronics?

Most people only use their laptops and cell phones for less than two years. Read on to learn what you should do with these old electronics. 

What’s E-Waste?

Fun fact: earth contains more phones than people. However, most people don’t think about what happens to their devices after replacing them. Most people throw them away and forget about them. Unfortunately, the devices do not simply disappear. 

Instead, they turn into e-waste: any electronic that is no longer useful to the consumer. This can include computers, keyboards, monitors, printers, phones, microwaves, washing machines, dryers, radios, televisions, and other electronic toys. In short, anything with a cord or battery can become e-waste. 

Why Should You Recycle Electronics?

Electronics are the largest growing waste product around the globe. After all, products now have a shorter lifespan, and people are demanding the latest gadgets. However, poor electronics management has left only about 20 percent of electronics being disposed of properly. The rest are disposed of in landfills or other methods, which is dangerous because of their toxic materials. These materials can harm both humans, animals, and the environment. This is why you should always recycle your unwanted electronics. 

Where Can You Recycle Electronics?

Generally, you would take your devices to your local electronic recycling scrap yard. Most of the time, a quick internet search should reveal your closest one. Some providers may even pick up your larger items. 

The only responsibility you have is to make sure the site you choose is reputable. Often, a reputable site will have a resale program to donate or sell any products that still work. This is because reuse is more environmentally friendly than recycling. If they cannot reuse these items, they should have a state-of-the-art facility to handle the harmful materials. 

The last thing you want to do is endanger yourself and the environment by improperly disposing your e-waste. Fortunately, by recycling your electronics, you can ensure that you do your part. 

4 Uses of Air Compressors

The invention of tools was a major step forward in the evolution of humankind. Tasks became easier and things that were not possible before became doable. First, there were hand tools, then as science advanced, power tools were invented. Power saws, drills, and the extremely useful power screwdriver are now common on the job and at home. The air compressor is another tool with several applications. Here are four common uses.

1. Inflating Tires

Pumping up tires is perhaps the most common use of an air compressor. Hand pumps are just not practical for car or truck tires. Fortunately, most gas stations have one that you can use for a small price. There are even small ones that you can keep in your car that run off the cigarette lighter jack. For businesses that operate fleets, buying or renting from an air compressor service is a good idea to keep your vehicles’ tires properly inflated. This improves gas mileage and helps them ride smoothly.

2. Pneumatic Tools

Compressed air can also be used to power pneumatic tools. Jackhammers are essential to construction companies. Mechanics and tire stores would be in trouble without their pneumatic wrenches. Nail guns have revolutionized carpentry. Popping in nails rather than using a hammer saves a tremendous amount of time. Airbrushes are tools that artists can use in painting cars, murals, or even people’s nails. They allow precise placement of paint, similar to using a pen.

3. Underwater Work and Exploration

When construction or other work must be performed underwater, workers obviously have to breathe. An air compressor can supply clean, fresh air through a hose. This allows the workers to labor for long periods, getting in a full day’s work. This application can also be used for underwater observation vehicles, such as bathyspheres, used by marine biologists in research sea life.

4. HVAC Systems

Air compressors can supply clean air to the control system valves in HVAC systems. These are generally the large ones used in schools and office buildings. Air compressors are effective and cost-efficient in this application. This is helpful for businesses on a tight budget and certainly to the education departments of most communities. 

Power tools are a useful invention that can make many jobs faster and easier. The use of compressed air has many helpful applications. It is supplied by air compressors. They are inexpensive, reliable, effective, and for the most part, low-maintenance. 

 

Ways to Get the Best Lawn Around

Do you have a lawn that isn’t looking its best? Are you unsure how to kill the weeds and help the grass grow? You might think that you need to hire a professional to come out monthly, but you can do the same things that they do and get just as good results. Following these simple tips, struggles with your lawn will be a thing of the past. 

Water it Properly

If you’ve been watering your grass a little bit every day, you’re doing it wrong. Experts agree that doing less frequent deeper waterings is what you need for the healthiest grass. Additionally, periodically giving the grass a long soak is an excellent way to promote roots to grow deeper, which results in stronger, healthier grass. It’s important to remember that grass needs less water in the spring and late fall than in summer. If you don’t have a system already in place, consider doing an irrigation installation Boca Raton, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to turn on the water. 

Mow it Correctly

You might not realize it, but mowing the lawn at the correct height and time is essential to its health. Mowers should typically be set around 2-3 inches high, depending on the type of grass you have. If you cut the grass too short, it will cause it to go into shock, and it could die. You want to let the grass grow tall to allow it to establish a deep root system, but you never want to let it grow out of control. Additionally, mow often enough that you don’t cut more than 1/3 of the blade at a time. Finally, don’t mow during the hottest part of the day. The heat could scorch the freshly cut grass, causing it to die. 

Weed it Consistently

Weeds are the bane of any lawn lover’s life. They can quickly sprout and seem to be a persistent problem. Sometimes you might think that the flowers on weeds are pretty, so you let them grow and figure you’ll take care of them when they die. The problem with that is you’re actively allowing the weeds to further spread in your lawn. Killing weeds before they have a chance to bloom is the quickest way to stop the problem. You can use a direct spray to kill weeds that have already grown and then use a granule that you spread over the entire lawn to help prevent future weeds from growing. 

3 Simple Ways to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger

Even though your bathroom is compact, it does not have to seem small. You may create the appearance of a more oversized bathroom with a few simple changes or remodels, all without moving a single wall. Not only do mirrors provide the appearance of more space in the bathroom, but they also reflect more light into the room; given that your bathroom currently has a mirror, try enlarging it. With a cordless drill, drill bits, and a few screws, super-sized reflectors up to 5 feet long and 3 feet high may be mounted.

If more light is preferable in a tiny bathroom, natural light is always preferable. Windows and skylights that have the ability to give light may be covered with paint, are filthy, or are obscured by curtains. Window cleaning is simple and cheap. Roof-side cleaning of moss-covered skylights is possible using a scrub brush, hot water, and a little detergent.

1. Get a Glass Shower Door that Fits the Space
Let us begin by addressing the major concerns: What is a minimalist shower enclosure, and why is it so popular?

A “frameless” shower enclosure is constructed entirely of tempered solid glass (often 3/8″ to 1/2″ thick) and does not need metal reinforcement around its outer borders. As a consequence, a clean-lined, contemporary appearance is achieved that is devoid of optical obstacles. Indeed, one of the reasons frameless shower doors have become so popular is that they allow for the display of exquisite masonry, complex tile patterns, and shining metal.

Additionally, the phrase “frameless” may refer to doors that have frames running along the upper edge and around the sides. Occasionally, but not usually, this kind of installation is referred to as “semi-frameless.”

A note about pricing: A frameless shower will often cost twice as much as a standard metal-enclosed shower.

2. Replace with Compact Appliances & Storage Solutions
Given that the restroom is where you clean, it’s only natural to make it the ideal place in your home. That means no cluttered countertops, no towels on the floor, and no stray gadgets or cables. Provide a place for everything, including cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and extra linens, and keep your daily necessities close at hand with these tiny bathroom storage solutions. While these do-it-yourself or easily-purchased solutions appeal to various styles and sizes, the majority of these space-saving techniques have one thing in common: they use vertical space to include cabinets, bookshelves, etc., and other organizers into the tiny area.

3. Consider Painting the Ceiling White for an Expanded Effect
Repainting a living room or bedroom is a typical do-it-yourself job. With little work, you may get an excellent return. However, painting the bathroom is not the same as painting other rooms in the house. Bathrooms are compact and brimming with water from various sources, and they get a great deal of heavy usage. It’s essential to pay close attention to every step of bathroom painting to get stunning results, from surface preparation and color selection to the painting process and finishing touches.

Bathrooms are moist environments, and no matter how hard you try to prevent it, water will ultimately get on your paint. Certain paint producers offer what they refer to as bathroom paint: a paint that contains mould-inhibiting chemicals and a more resistant surface to moisture.

Even if you do not want to purchase specialized bathroom paint, you may choose to spend a little extra on a high-quality brand. While some of the less costly colors include the same pigments as the more expensive paints, they contain fewer particles. Solids are the elements that dry to create your wall’s protective acrylic-latex coating. It often pays to invest in higher-quality (and often more costly) paints since they contain more solids and are more durable.

The very next time you check at shower tile, take note of how shiny the surface is. Sheens with a higher gloss tend to resist moisture and debris better than sheens with a lower glow.

TAKEAWAY
A perfectly made bathroom can save you money and ease the burden on the environment in the long term. Remodeling the bathroom allows you to replace inefficient pipes and fixtures, which will help you save money on your energy bill and water.