When it comes to cleaning an apartment, putting things in order and fighting for cleanliness, the enemy, as in any struggle, must be known by sight. We have already talked about the dirtiest places in the apartment, the cleaning of which for some reason never becomes a habit for us. Today - about secret places that accumulate rubbish, and how to stop storing everything on the balcony, on the mezzanine and in the garage.
Mezzanine
A place where you can find anything, from an old broken chandelier to Christmas tree decorations. Or maybe there are spare parts for the vacuum cleaner that you have been looking for for a long time? Or children's books, from which the older child has already “grown up” and which the younger one has not yet had time to grow into?
Mezzanines are important because they can be used to store out-of-season items if there is no other storage space, and for minimalists, a mezzanine is a great way to relieve a room of furniture such as chests of drawers or nightstands.
The main thing in using mezzanines is to check their contents at least once every six months and sign each box with a marker, indicating the list of things that it stores.
We use old furniture
If you keep old bedside tables on your balcony, or even better, a spacious chest of drawers, then don’t rush to throw them away. You can store anything in the depths of these interior items. The main thing is that such furniture always has shelves or drawers. Moreover, their contents will be reliably protected from dust and dirt.
In addition, old furniture can be used as a stand for pots with indoor flowers or containers with tomato seedlings.
Balcony
This is either a picturesque place with a beautiful armchair and flowering plants, or, which happens much more often, a storage room for construction waste, cans of pickled tomatoes and rubbish that no longer fits in living rooms.
There is nothing wrong with storing things on the balcony; for example, in a large loggia you can organize cabinets in which you can put all your husband’s tools, as well as household appliances and equipment for cleaning the floor. As a rule, such things never find a place for storage in the apartment and wander around, like poor relatives, in different rooms.
You can also organize a place on the balcony for drying freshly washed clothes; you just need to screw a modern version of the “dryer” to the ceiling, thereby saving space in the bathroom and getting rid of wet T-shirts and shirts hanging on the sofas forever.
Just make sure that the balcony is protected from moisture. And the cabinets on the balcony must be closed, otherwise storage will very soon turn into an ordinary mess.
"The Hanging Gardens"
Indoor flowers, which are often placed on an insulated balcony for the winter, should also find their permanent place. Small pots of flowers can be placed on special stands that are attached to the walls of the balcony, window frames or railings. And for hanging pots with hanging crops, you can use hooks attached to the ceiling.
Garage
A place of extreme clutter.
To be honest, I have only seen an organized garage in pictures from the Internet. But you can still try to put it in order using storage containers. First, divide things into categories and then put them in boxes. Naturally, the garage needs decluttering, like all areas of your living space, so be smart about storing things. If this is a “maybe it might come in handy” category, then don’t even bother picking up a separate box for it.
It is better to get rid of things bypassing the garage, and leave there only items that are directly related to car care.
First aid for mold
If you notice initial signs of fungus on the walls or ceiling of your balcony, you need to be wary. Mold appears as dark streaks, green or black spots. Don't expect the moisture to evaporate and the problem to go away.
It is worth taking active action immediately.
| Stages of work | What to do |
| Get rid of affected clothing and furniture. | If mold appears on the necessary things, take them outside, ventilate them, remove dirt and disinfect them with anti-fungal agents. Or throw it away immediately. |
| Remove damaged finishing elements of the room. | Remove and dispose of damaged wallpaper and baseboards. Throw away the unusable insulation. Remove moldy areas of plaster, paint or putty from all walls. Clean concrete surfaces from mold with a metal scraper. |
| Free frames and windows from fungus, remove it from wood or plastic. | If there are small gaps between the wall and the glass, it is better to seal them with sealant. |
| Treat the cleaned areas further. | Apply special antifungal compounds. |
Cleaning the Damaged Areas
These are the first steps to take. It is important what you use to treat the room. Only proven compounds will help eliminate mold completely.
Car
A collection of unnecessary things, especially the glove compartment and pockets on the front seats. What's not there!
It is better to collect garbage and candy wrappers in separate bags and throw them away immediately after leaving the car. Leave bottles of polish in the garage, and keep only essential tools, a first aid kit, and safety equipment in your car.
Do not leave clothes, hats or children's toys in the car, and be especially careful when it comes to food. It definitely shouldn't be stored in the car for more than a few hours. Get rid of old water bottles immediately, because storing them puts your children's health at risk.
Declutter your car at least once a week, and then you won’t lose the things you need and will always keep your car’s interior in order.
Selecting a location
In order for time spent on the balcony to be enjoyable, even if it is intended only for storage, it is necessary to properly organize the space. If the balcony combines seating and storage areas, it is recommended to separate them or place them on opposite walls. In almost any case, glazing a balcony is a mandatory step, as this allows you to use the room all year round and feel comfortable and cozy there.
It happens that the balcony itself already has niches and mezzanines. If you come across just one, then use these storage spaces. And the remaining space can be used for other purposes. If the balcony is being repaired or reconstructed, then it is possible to expand it towards the street by lengthening the slab using guides. You can build a closet into the resulting meters.
Handbag
This is a separate topic for discussion. All I take with me is lipstick, wallet, house keys and glasses. Sometimes a diary and a pen are added to the contents of the purse, but in general, I don’t consider it necessary to carry everything that I “suddenly” might need during the day. And there has never been a situation that could not be resolved with the help of those objects that are always with me.
If you work, then do not carry a comb, nail polish and other care products in your bag; it is better to allocate a separate drawer in the office for these purposes, and leave the bag free. If you're taking a bag just to get from home to work and back, then carrying extra things in it is simply not practical.
And even on a walk with a child, all you may need additionally is a pencil with brilliant green, a bottle of water and a pack of wet wipes.
Every evening, check the contents of your bag for receipts, small notes, paper clips, loose pieces of gum, and any small debris.
How to deal with condensation on windows
It is formed due to high humidity, improper heating of the space and ventilation of the apartment during the cold season. Sometimes the accumulation of moisture on glass is affected by the size of the window or a defect in the design of the glass unit. Wiping windows when condensation forms is not an option. If there is already a problem, you need to understand what causes excess moisture and fight the cause.
First of all, don’t overdo it with ventilation in cold weather. Even if there are no defects in the design of the windows, the collision of warm and frosty air will inevitably lead to the formation of a damp layer on the windows and walls. Refrain from such measures.
Balcony insulation
If moisture constantly forms, consider insulating the balcony. After all, problematic bacteria can penetrate into the residential part of the apartment. And this can lead to illnesses for the whole family. You shouldn't risk your own health.
If the balcony windows are very wide, they freeze in cold weather and when they melt, they form moisture inside the room. It is worth reconsidering the glazing design. The optimal size of one glass does not exceed 70 cm in length. If the glass spans in your home are significantly wider, a good air conditioning system must be installed. Otherwise, the window system needs to be replaced. In addition, if you live in a cold climate, you need to select three-chamber windows. They will not freeze and accumulate moisture.
Space under the sink
Another secret place that has a habit of getting cluttered. We put everything there, from the trash can to floor cleaning products and cans of canned food.
When storing things under the sink, always keep in mind that you or technicians must have easy access to hoses and pipes in order to prevent a flood in time.
Therefore, do not fill the entire drawer with foreign objects, or, if you decide to store them there, then place them in separate, tightly closed containers - this way you can quickly remove the contents of the cabinet and quickly fix the breakdown.
We store things in closed cabinets
It’s not very pleasant to go out onto the balcony and trip over some household items when you need to find something you suddenly need. With proper storage organization, you can easily solve this problem by installing a spacious closed cabinet at the end of the balcony.
Then large items will be stored on shelves, and small items will be stored there, only in drawers, boxes or containers. And at the very bottom of the “storage” you can place jars of homemade preserves, as well as heavy or large items.
Space under cabinets, especially under kitchen units
This accumulation of things is not just “just in case.” The name “in case of a zombie apocalypse” suits them better. Here are things that you will never use at all and know very well about it. Old plates, mugs, baking sheets, gifts that never found a place in the living part of the kitchen - they're all here.
The advantage of such a storage space is that it is invisible, because in most kitchens the space under it is closed with special wooden plugs, but the disadvantage is obvious - you are storing garbage at home.
Perhaps some of you have just now found out about this secret storage place and are rubbing your hands together in the hope of stuffing there what no longer fits into the drawers. Stop!
We install open shelving up to the ceiling
If you don’t want to clutter up the balcony space with massive cabinets, then you can replace them with a more elegant option. A tall rack can hold a lot of useful things without looking too bulky.
To keep things from getting dusty and dirty, use beautiful boxes, wicker baskets or colorful containers to store small items. If after all your tricks the warehouse attribute looks rather dull, try covering it with a nice curtain.
Space under the bed
Here, as a rule, replacement or new sets of bed linen, blankets, pillows and new towels are stored.
I suggest you think a hundred times before you put another pillow under the bed. Are you sure you will need it? Are you sure you can accommodate 6 guests in your home based on the number of pillows you purchased?
If you still decide to store something under the bed, then use vacuum bags - and not to accommodate more. They best protect things from dust.
Getting rid of unnecessary things
To improve the balcony, you need, first of all, to inspect all the things that are stored on it.
Sometimes an object left for a while settles there almost forever. Despite the fact that it is sometimes difficult for us to part with old things, it is advisable to take a sober approach to sorting items piled up in a heap. You may have to take something to the dacha, move it to the garage, or simply throw it in the trash without regret.
Having sorted out the rubble, you need to decide how you would like your balcony to look and how you can use the vacated area.
Setting up a recreation area
With a limited area of a small balcony, it can be quite difficult to sit comfortably, much less relax. To do this, choose compact, ergonomic furniture or make it yourself.
Plywood ottoman
The first idea that comes to mind, which almost anyone can bring to life, is a small bed made from sheets of plywood. Install several timber posts and place a couple of plywood sheets on them. Ideally, its height should be such that drawers or a table can be placed under the ottoman.
Plywood alone will clearly not be enough for convenience, so cover it with a mattress on top. For absolute comfort, add some pillows.
The softest furniture
A great idea for relaxing on the balcony is a pear chair.
- Comfort. It completely adapts to a person, taking his shape, making it incredibly comfortable.
- Mobility. Thanks to its lightness, the pear chair can be moved to another room at any time and free up space on the balcony for something more important.
- Compactness. This furniture does not take up much space and can easily fit in any corner of even the narrowest balcony.
- Economical. This chair has a pleasant price difference from its wooden counterparts. And on the Internet you can even find a master class on how to sew it yourself.
- Stylish design. The choice of materials is huge and allows you to fit the pear chair into almost any interior.
Small table
An integral attribute of any tea party is a small table. This detail will make your leisure time on the balcony even more enjoyable.
Folding models are perfect for a narrow balcony. You can create such furniture yourself. You don't need any special skills for this.
We develop the design of the room
Before you start decorating, you need to make a choice on how the interior of the balcony will resonate with the overall style of the apartment. There are two options here.
- Match it and adapt to the interior of the house.
- To be an independent object: an oasis in the middle of a city apartment.
Having decided on this, think over the idea: do you want to make a relaxation area or a study from the balcony, what functions will it perform, and in what style will it be decorated.
For the interior of a small balcony, choose compact and functional furniture, make the room as light and spacious as possible, abandoning dark finishes and bulky heavy curtains.
Use heat-resistant materials, since in the warm season on the balcony they will be subject to quite severe tests. Siding and plastic panels are suitable for modern style, wood for country style, decorative plaster for classic and romanticism, decorative tiles and stone for eco style.
Ceiling hooks and wall brackets
In a family that prefers active recreation, there will definitely be sports equipment, fishing gear, baskets for collecting mushrooms, etc. To keep all that seasonal stuff out of your way, try placing it on the walls or near the ceiling.
A bulky bicycle is not at all designed for storage on the balcony. However, it can also be placed compactly so that no one trips over it. The main thing is that the fastening devices are reliable and can withstand the load.
Creating a greenhouse
A spacious, bright loggia is ideal for creating a greenhouse, but you can also equip a fairly small balcony for it.
For this you will need
- Wide window sill. Discuss its installation with the company involved in glazing your balcony.
- Blinds on the windows. They will allow you to regulate the level of light and protect the flowers from direct sunlight.
- Shelves on the walls. You can put pots, cache-pots and souvenirs on them.
- Finishing with natural stone effect. Due to the light weight of plastic, it can be used for the design of all balcony walls.
Prevention
Preventive measures will help prevent mold from forming on the balcony. There is no doubt about whether or not mold in your home is dangerous. Of course, very much. Understanding the harm that spores and the resulting fungus can cause, it is worth thinking about the health of the family before trouble arises.
Ventilated insulated balcony
- All areas of the apartment, including the balcony, must be properly ventilated. There is no need to create a storage area from the loggia. It is necessary to regularly clean and ventilate the room.
- Carry out high-quality insulation. This solution will especially help owners of apartments in a panel house. They are quite cold, and the formation of fungus is a common problem. When insulating, you need to use all surfaces of the loggia: walls, floor and ceiling.
- If you are just moving into an apartment or have started renovations, it is important to carry out high-quality finishing work. Any cracks, crevices and holes in the concrete are covered with a mixture of cement and sand. You cannot use plaster: it will release moisture and bacteria will reappear. The loggia needs to be dried and waterproofing work carried out using bitumen mastic. After it has completely dried, apply antiseptic primer. Then you can begin the final finishing.
Sources
- https://design-homes.ru/komnaty/terrasy-i-lodzhii/poryadok-na-balkone
- https://hockey-samara.ru/hranenie/kak-ubratsya-na-balkone.html
- https://chtivopro.ru/poryadok-na-balkone/
- https://manrule.ru/lodzhiya-i-balkon/hranenie/
