Unusual Cleaning Hacks that Work from Newbury Park Storage

When it comes to cleaning things around the house, we all tend to rely on standard commercial products, forgetting we may already have common household items in our home that can be turned into unconventional yet effective cleaning solutions. That’s why our Newbury Park Storage team is sharing some clever cleaning hacks to help make your home sparkle the easy way.

Baking Soda Superpowers

Unclog Your Smelly Drain

Are you sometimes greeted by unpleasant smells when you step into your kitchen or bathroom? Chances are that your sink drain is the culprit. Freshen it up and improve flow by first pouring boiling water down the drain. Next, pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of water mixed with a cup of vinegar. Cover with a drain plug and wait 5-10 minutes before adding boiling water down the drain again. Repeat this every month and say goodbye to smelly sinks!

Clean Your Hairbrushes

When was the last time you cleaned your hairbrushes and combs? Don’t feel bad, it’s not exactly at the top of our to-do list either. The good news is that it doesn’t need to be a hassle. Simply remove all the hair from your brush first, then dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of warm water. Next, dip a toothbrush into the solution and brush the bristles to remove the dust and grime. Rinse and dry overnight.

Neutralize Odors Naturally

Get rid of odors in linen and clothing the natural way! Sprinkle baking soda directly onto dirty laundry or add ½ cup to the wash load. You can also pour a small amount into shoes, trash cans, anywhere that could use freshening. And if you’re out of laundry detergent, 1 cup of baking soda will replace soap in a snap for that fresh clean laundry smell.

Coca-Cola

End Toilet Bowl Gunk

Did you know that carbonated Cola is more acidic than lemon juice? That’s why it’s great for cleaning! For those hard-to-clean rings, pour a can of the popular drink into the toilet and mix it with the water. Leave the soda in the toilet bowl for at least one hour, or overnight for harder stains. Give the bowl a little scrub before flushing. It’s that simple!

Remove Kitchen Grease

Cleaning greasy stains from cookware can be a tough process. For stubborn spots, fill a large stockpot with plenty of Cola. Completely dunk the stained pot or pan into the stockpot. Place on the stove at low heat for about 30 minutes to an hour. Finally, use a scouring brush to scrub any residue away.

Lemon Wonders

Erase Butcher Block Stains

You can erase lighter stains such as coffee rings by first covering the stain in salt. Next, cut a lemon in half and squeeze some juice over the salt.  Take the cut side of the lemon to rub the salt and juice together to make a paste, then rub that paste into the stain. Let it sit overnight, then rinse with warm water.

Darker stains like red wine may require a little hydrogen peroxide diluted in one cup of water. Use a cotton ball to apply the solution and leave it overnight. Make sure to completely dry before applying mineral oil to keep the wood conditioned.

Freshen up a Stinky Garbage Container

Cleaning garbage pails is one of the best ways to get rid of odors. You can give containers a fresher scent by wiping off any spills or sticky bits first. Then rub lemon juice around the inside before rinsing with warm water.

Polish Chrome, Floors, and Furniture

Make your chrome shine by rubbing a lemon on those water spots and drying it off with a soft cloth. Microfiber works great. Then you can give it a polished look by applying a little car wax and buffing off once the wax gets cloudy!

You can also make your own polish by mixing olive oil and half a cup of lemon juice to shine wooden floors and furniture. The best part? That lovely citrus scent is the signature fragrance of the South of France!

 

Fabric Softener Fun

Clean and Deodorize Walls

Fabric softener can make a home feel like you’ve just finished a deep Spring cleaning! Start by grabbing a spray bottle and mixing a quarter cap of fabric softener with warm water. Spray on grubby doors, overlooked walls, and floorboards, then dry with a microfiber cloth. This solution has fantastic cleaning abilities! Your home will smell fresh and clean!

We love a good cleaning hack and hope you can save some time and elbow grease using these ideas. If you’ve got unusual tips to make items around the house sparkle, we’re excited to hear them! And, next time you’re in need of a clean storage unit, drop by to see us. Our Newbury Park Storage experts are here to help you seven days a week with the Lowest Price – Guaranteed!

 

Donate Used Cell Phones at Newbury Park Storage

Did you know you can bring your used or broken cell phones to Hollywood Storage Center? They will be donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers, a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization that recycles the phones and uses the money to buy prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas. The calling cards help our soldiers stay connected with their families.

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Berqquist from Norwell, Mass. They were inspired to help soldiers phone home when they learned a deployed serviceman had an $8,000 phone bill calling the U.S. from the Middle East.

At Newbury Park Storage, we accept donations of any and all types of cell phones and smartphones from any carrier. Newer, gently-used mobile devices, including smartphones, are preferred; however, proceeds are generated from the recycling of broken and outdated mobile phones as well.

Donations are accepted seven days a week from 8:30 am to 6 pm. Just look for the bin in our lobby. We’re happy to provide donation receipts if needed. Cell Phones for Soldiers support all branches of the military.

For more information,
visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com

Updated 12/15/21

Holiday Happenings from Your Newbury Park Storage Experts

‘Tis the Season! Our Newbury Park storage experts love this time of the year. Snow may not be our thing here, but the team at Hollywood Storage Center doesn’t need a white Christmas to get into the spirit. All it takes is a list of fun winter things to do. And with plenty to offer in and around the Conejo Valley, we’re sure you’ll find a jolly good time. So pack the hot cocoa and check out these holiday happenings.

Conejo Valley

 

Now through December 21stPet Photos with Santa – Thousand Oaks

We know your fur-babies are part of the family too, so of course you want to include them in your pawliday cards! All you need to do is make a reservation, then head over to The Oaks mall with your floof (and their wish list) for a free visit with Santa Paws! Photo packages are optional and will be available for purchase.

https://www.shoptheoaksmall.com/SantaPhotos

 

December 28thMagical Cirque Christmas – Thousand Oaks

Check out this spectacular holiday production with dazzling performers, amazing cirque artists and live holiday music at the Fred Kavli Theatre. Funny magician Lucy Darling will be your hostess for a perfect evening of entertainment for the entire family.

Magical Cirque Christmas

Beyond the Conejo Valley

 

Now through December 24thChristmas on the Farm – Moorpark

We love our friends at Underwood Family Farms. Each year they offer a family-friendly experience that includes lots of farm animals, tractor-drawn wagon rides, reindeer, Elf training, arts and crafts and so much more! Weekend admission includes a visit with Santa.  Advance ticket purchases are recommended.

https://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/christmas-on-the-farm/

 

Now through December 31stHoliday Road – Calabasas

If you missed King Gillette Halloween event in October, you’re in luck. Holiday Road LA is making a stop for a month of festivities with a fun self-guided walking trail, tasty food, and gifts. You’ll find huge holiday displays, plenty of twinkling lights, and more candy canes than you’ll know what to do with! To join the fun simply pick a day and time slot to visit. Then when you arrive, treat yourself to a spiked cocktail at the Holiday Bar and take it on the trail. With so many photo opportunities along the way, we’re pretty sure your Insta reel will be a stunner!

https://holidayroadusa.com/location-la/

 

Now through January 9, 2022 – Christmas Around the World – Simi Valley

A unique collection of Christmas trees is on display now at the Ronald Reagan Library. Each tree celebrates one of the 26 countries President Reagan visited during his time in office, decorated in the traditional style of the region. Also on exhibit is a special assortment of hand-crafted Menorahs gifted to R. Reagan throughout his presidency. Admission tickets are available online.

https://www.reaganfoundation.org/library-museum/special-exhibits/christmas-around-the-world/

 

Feeling the holiday spirit? Us too!!

 

We’d love to hear about your favorite holiday activity, so please share with us when you drop by. Need a little extra room to store your seasonal décor after all the fun has passed? At Newbury Park storage, we have storage units in over 50 sizes and are sure to find one that works for you. We offer the Lowest Price – Guaranteed.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays!

6 Functional Garage Updates From Newbury Park Storage

Garages were designed to provide space for parking. But they’re also known to function as a utility room, workshop, equipment storage area, and more. If you’re like us, you might be neglecting that bonanza of a space! In order to take full advantage of your garage, our Newbury Park storage team curated 6 simple, low-cost updates that can add some much-needed useability.

Tackling the Garage:

Free up floor space!

Garage interiors often become a catchall zone, leaving the floor in a chaotic mess! We know it can be overwhelming to get started, so we recommend working with a small section at a time. Take inventory of everything that has accumulated, sorting items by category to help you determine how they should be put away. Then, when you’re done, blow out any remaining floor debris and marvel at the impact a clean floor can make!

Fix a cracked concrete floor

It shouldn’t be a surprise that concrete slabs crack over time. Small existing veins aren’t exactly something to lose sleep over. But, if those tiny imperfections become deep pits or grow larger, then it’s time to fill them. Head to your local hardware store and locate the concrete resurfacing section. Fill the cracks with mortar or use a self-leveling sealer and in just one weekend your damaged garage floor is near-new again!

Create organizational zones

Set a dedicated area for sorted items that will stay in the garage. Our favorite kind of organizer is a Slatwall panel. They give walls a clean, textured look without having to paint and leave your floor and ceiling areas clear. Add hooks, brackets, and multiple compartment bins, and you’ve got a clear, visual zone for all things utility. We adore these fun options from Amazon.

Insulate your garage door

Warm weather and extra appliances can increase temperatures in your garage. Alternatively, a chilly day or two will also move the needle in the opposite direction. That means you lose energy and still pay for it. Yuck! Reduce energy loss by filling in all those gaps to the outside. Especially if your space has windows. Then, move to insulate the garage door. We like options such as reflective insulation. These thin, rigid panels work well for doors that open and close a lot.

Install new lighting

Unless a light goes bad, we rarely think about illuminating the garage. But, depending on how you use your space, there are great ways to make improvements. For example, updating bulbs to LED will improve efficiency and lower energy bills. We’ve even tried LED strip tape lighting around the perimeter and under the steps. It provides the extra visibility you need so it’s easier to find your way around! For our DIY friends, we recommend task lighting. These fixtures are specially designed to direct light for detailed projects.

Add some tech!

Adding smart measures to your space can certainly increase convenience and boost safety. Garage door openers now include features like monitoring alerts, alarms, and support to open or close doors. The best part? Control can be operated through Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.  Smart lights are another techy choice that can be controlled through a smartphone. We love how easy it is to dim, lighten, or even schedule lights to turn on or off.

Improving the functionality of your garage doesn’t mean you have to take on a big project or spend a lot of money. With some simple, affordable updates you can become the garage genius you’ve always known you are. And, if you’re ready to move all those items off the floor and away from your home, we can offer a Place for the Things You Love. Whether you need a lot or a little storage room, at Newbury Park Storage we’re proud to offer 50+ unit sizes.