March 20th, 2012
The man in this stock photo would be happier if he followed our advice
What New Yorker has time to really clean their apartment? Well, you do, probably, but that Law & Order marathon isn’t going to watch itself. We understand, which is why we’ve got the following tips to make your apartment look cleaner for company in a flash:
Clean the bathroom
This is the room everyone’s going to see, and let’s face it, it’s the most disgusting. Just pour bleach all over everything.
Stash the dishes
Take all your dirty dishes out of the sink, and hide them in the dishwasher (if you’re one of those lucky folks) or in the oven. REMEMBER TO TAKE THEM OUT LATER, or in a couple of days you’ll wonder where that weird smell is coming from.
Use low lighting
Using lamps instead of overhead lights is easier on the eyes, will make your friends look better, and will also make it harder to spot dust bunnies. Win-win-win.
Break out the wine
The wine won’t make your apartment look cleaner, but it will make your friends think it looks cleaner. In a pinch, you can substitute beer or liquor.
De-clutter
You can try stuffing all your clutter in your almost non-existent closet space. Or you can store it neatly at Tuck-It-Away. With 13 self-storage locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and New Jersey, we’ve probably got a location near you.
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March 7th, 2012
By now, we’re sure you’re sick of hearing about the usual ways to save space in a New York apartment. Build a loft bed! Try an over-the-door rack! Install shelves, shelves everywhere! Etc.
So here are five more creative ways to save space – both DIY-able and buy-able:
1. Chances are you’ve seen pallets discarded on the streets of NYC. It turns out a pallet (and several other supplies and some home-improvement skills) makes a great pot rack. (Pallets can make lots of things, actually).
2. Buckets and zip-ties can make for a colorful and inexpensive storage unit. It also kind of looks like a honeycomb, if you’re into that.
3. This folding grill is lightweight, portable, and you definitely have room for it in your apartment. It can also be quickly concealed when your landlord discovers you grilling on the roof you’re not supposed to grill on. “Oh this? This is my new laptop. I downloaded an app that releases the scent of bacon frying.”
4. Don’t show this list to your friends. Then, after you’ve installed this bookshelf, invite them over – they’ll wonder if you have magical book-floating powers. (“Can you make anything else float?” “No, just books.”)
5. This space-saving furniture is stylish, practical and… probably expensive, because the website says “request a quote” instead of listing prices. Oh well, it’s nice to look at.
Of course, you could always save space by storing at Tuck-It-Away. It’s convenient and affordable, and it means you can live like a real human person in an apartment with normal furniture. With 13 self-storage locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and New Jersey, we’ve probably got a location near you.
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February 10th, 2012
No, this isn’t one of those eHow articles that’s seemingly written for an alien pretending to be a human person (like “How to Buy a Six-Pack of Beer,” which advises “Refrain from over-thinking this process”). We assume you know the basics of using the New York City transit system. These are ten rules for riding the subway the right way, from Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx all the way to the Rockaways.
- Don’t lean on the pole. Don’t hug it. Don’t frolic around it with ribbons like it’s a maypole.
- If you’re running for a train and the doors are about to close, don’t stick your hand in there. You’re making everyone late. And you could get stuck, because subway doors don’t spring open automatically like elevator doors.
- The emergency brake stops the train. You should pull it: if someone is stuck in the subway doors. You should not pull it: any other time.
- Don’t watch a movie on your laptop with no headphones on.
- Don’t bring a giant hiking backpack on the subway. If you must, place it on the floor between your feet.
- Wear pants.
- Don’t take up two seats for any reason.
- Don’t groom yourself or anyone else.
- Don’t do anything that would make a good YouTube video.
- Hold your head high! According to Newt Gingrich, subway riders are the elite.
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January 10th, 2012
Moving can be exhausting! The last thing you want to do when you’ve got your stuff all moved into your shiny new apartment is worry about the small details. Like: Did you remember to call Con Ed and transfer your electricity? How long does it take to get the electricity turned on in a new place, anyway? Will you be living by candlelight for a week?
Relax, you neurotic New Yorker. We’ve got this handy checklist all ready. Print it out, check it off, and pat yourself on the back for being so organized.
Read the rest of this entry »
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December 21st, 2011
Well, we can’t be sure who decorates every block, but we can tell you about a little corner of the Bronx! Every year, Tuck-It-Away donates to the Burke Ave/White Plains Road Merchants Association, members of the Olinville Community Civic Association, to help decorate Burke Avenue. We hope the strands of lights and snowflakes cheer you up, whether you live near Burke Ave, or just swing by there on your way to our Bronx Boulevard location!
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December 12th, 2011
Tuck-It-Away was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal this weekend, in an article about the rising cost of storage space in New York. Residents of a new luxury condo on West 57th St are paying as much as $200,000 (yes, $200,000!) for storage space in their building’s basement. The article correctly points out that for the same $200,000, you could rent a 50-square-foot storage unit at Tuck-It-Away for 83 years.
TIA president Nick Sprayregen was quoted in the article, saying “In New York people need storage space, not just living space.” Yep! And we’re willing to bet this is one instance where paying more doesn’t get you more – unless those luxury storage spaces come with a Mercedes (also $200,000) already parked inside.
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November 23rd, 2011
As part of our commitment to giving back, Tuck-It-Away is helping out the nonprofit Mercy Center with a room at one of our Bronx locations – just like other new Yorkers, they’re sometimes short on storage space.
Mercy Center is an organization that empowers women and their families in the South Bronx to liberate themselves from economic poverty. They’ve been around for over 20 years, and offer classes in parenting and family life skills, business and job skills, and personal development. They also provide ESL / immigrant services, social services and case management, and youth programs and activities.
We’ve visited Mercy Center ourselves, and we’ve seen the good they can do. Consider donating your time or money to Mercy Center – every bit helps.
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November 17th, 2011
Hey, new customers: book a room between now and Nov 27, 2011 and you’ll get 50% off storage for 6 months! So you can make space for Black Friday goodies, holiday gifts, and more – for less.
The fine print: Rooms 5X10 and smaller. Subject to availability. And we can’t help you make space for more turkey.
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November 11th, 2011
If you book a room today – 11/11/11 – at any Tuck-It-Away location, you’ll get 11% off your monthly rent! So you can spend more money on stuff, not storage.
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November 10th, 2011
If you don’t know what color your desk is anymore, it might be time to organize your office! Get out from under that mountain of papers with these tips:
1. Take a photo
Sometimes, it’s hard to have perspective on your clutter. You may not see what the real trouble spots are. Taking a photo can help you identify what needs to be changed in a more objective way.
2. Have a place for everything
Make sure everything has a spot, either in a drawer or on top of your desk. Drawer organizers and desktop trays and bins can help here.
And as obvious as it sounds, make sure the stuff you use most is within reach! Put it on your desktop or in a top drawer.
3. Get your cables organized
One of the ugliest sources of a clutter can be computer cables. Try threading them through binder clips and clipping those onto the edge of your desk.
4. Clean up at the end of the day
If you clean up at the end of every day, clutter won’t pile up. If there are papers you won’t be using on a daily basis, but you’ll need them again eventually, file them away (or Tuck Them Away at one of our 13 locations (shameless plug)! We’ve got self-storage facilities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and New Jersey).
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