If you are one of those people who have a spacious loft that has windows and all the extras, you are very lucky since, in most English homes, loft spaces are quite small and dark. That has left the majority of homeowners in the country with little choice but to use that part of the property for the storage of rarely used (if at all) items. In case your home has one of these tiny loft spaces, you must make sure you clear it out on regular basis to:
- Gain more room
- Make some cash
- Find long-forgotten possessions and memories
- Make your home less pest-friendly
Before you roll up your sleeves and go up to the loft, there are a few important and useful tips you should follow if you want everything to go smoothly, safely and without a hitch.
Wear a dust mask
Loft spaces are usually the dustiest part of a house. When dust comes in large amounts, it can be incredibly dangerous for our health and particularly for our lungs. Clearing an entire loft, no matter how small it may be, can take a full day or even more. Imagine the consequences that you may face if you are breathing in dust particles for such a long time. You may develop a cough or an allergy or your asthma and hay fever may worsen. To prevent that from happening, wear a special dust mask. You can get one from your local hardware store. It is quite cheap and it will also protect you against mould.
Safe way up and down
If you haven’t already installed a specialised attic or loft ladder, do that now. Compared to regular ladders, these ones are safer and more stable. They will allow you carry old appliances, furniture and other bulky items out of the loft quickly and with a minimum risk.
Keep your eyes open for former or current occupants
Lofts are a favourite spot for various types of rodents, insects and birds. Be mentally prepared that you may come across such creatures and that not all of them will be dead. If the loft space has been infested, you will need to postpone the clearance until you find a solution for the problem.
Have a strict stays-or-goes policy
The hardest part of any loft clearance is choosing which things are worth keeping. Family albums and other sentimental possessions should, of course, be kept. As for the rest, be as honest and as merciless as you possibly can. Ask yourself whether you would spend money to replace the item in case it was stolen or damaged. If the answer is ‘no,’ it’s time to say goodbye to it. Also, don’t keep things thinking that you may use them someday. If that someday is not today, chuck it in the skip.
Say ‘Yes’ to help
Clearing out the loft is something you should do every six months to prevent it from getting infested or too dusty. If, however, you have not done that in a while, rely on comprehensive loft clearance services. In that way, you won’t need to worry about dust, unwanted guests, safety and etc.
