• Single-serve brewing system for gourmet coffee or tea
• Uses patented K-Cups; no messy grinding or clean up
• Brews an 8-ounce cup at a time; ready in less than 3 minutes
• 1-touch technology; variety pack of 10 K-Cups included
• Measures 11-1/2 by 10 by 13-1/4 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Description
Don’t count out compact kitchens for amazing, aromatic cups of flavorful coffee. The Kuerig personal brewer has a sleek, space-saving footprint that specializes in quick, single-cup servings in dozens of bold, eye-opening flavors. One-year limited warranty. Model B30B… More >>

Keurig B30 Mini Personal Single-Serve Brewing System, Black

• To clean, fill with hot water and a drop of mild detergent, and spray.
• 7-5/8-Inch high by 1-7/8-inch in diameter
• Satin-finish aluminum
• Spread olive oil on focaccia or spray muffin pans
• Pumps up to spray any vegetable oil

Product Description
Sleek Aluminum Design, easy to use Gourmet Olive Oil Sprayer by Misto.Amazon.com Review
For spreading olive oil evenly on bruschetta, focaccia, and grilled or roasted vegetables, and for spraying muffin and cake pans with vegetable oil, this dispenser is a nifty tool. A plastic cap underneath the sprayer’s top twists off so the sprayer can be half-filled (1/3 cup) with oil. Inside the top is a plastic tube that fits over the spray nozzle. Push the top up a… More >>

Misto Gourmet Brushed Aluminum Olive Oil Sprayer

• NSF-certified refrigerator water filter retains beneficial fluoride in water while reducing chlorine taste and odor
• Also reduces particulates, lead, mercury
• Replace every 6 months
• For use in Whirlpool and KitchenAid side-by-side refrigerators with filter access in the base grille
• Simply turn the refrigerator water filter 1/4 turn to remove and replace

Product Description
Side By Side Water Filter, Used For Whirlpool Side By Side Refrigerators With Turn Access Through The Front Base Grille, Reduces Chlorine Taste & Odor, Particulates, Lead, Mercury & More, Retains Beneficial Fluoride, NSF Certified, Replace Your Filter Every 6 Months…. More >>

Whirlpool 4396508 KitchenAid Side By Side Refrigerator Quarter Turn Water Filter, 1-Pack

• Cordless 2-speed handheld vacuum cleaner with 10-position pivoting nozzle
• Cyclonic action and EZ Clean Wheel system help maintain suction power
• 3-stage filtration; Energy Star approved; easy-empty system; folds in half for storing
• Includes upholstery brush, small crevice tool, and wall-mountable charging base
• Measures 17-4/5 by 6-4/5 by 7-2/7 inches; 2-year warranty

Product Description
Get the ultimate convenience of cordless in the 18 Volt Pivot Vac from Black & Decker. Its 18Volts of power coupled with Cylconic action and an EZ Clean filter dial to maximize suction power makes it perfect for cleaning up large & small messes in the home, cleaning underneath furniture, on top of stairs, or inside your vehicle. An exclusive 10 position pivoting extension nozzle provides extended reach in tight spaces, and a 2 speed switch – high speed for maxim… More >>

Black & Decker PHV1800CB 18-Volt Pivoting-Nose Cordless Energy-Star Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

• 26″ high,convenient carrying strap included
• 6 panels, hexagonal shape- offers 18.5 square feet of play area
• Can be used indoors or outdoors
• Sets up in seconds
• Lightweight and portable

Product Description
Whether you’re at the beach or in the backyard, make sure your child’s play area is safely enclosed. Great for indoor or outdoor use, the Superyard XT Gate can enclose an area up to 18.5 square feet. Gate includes six interlocking panels (Note: 8 panels shown pictured – 2 extra panels not included) constructed of durable reinforced plastic. Comes with built-in carry strap for transportation and folds flat for storage. Certified by the JPMA. Each interlocking panel m… More >>

North States Superyard XT Gate Play Yard

CHICAGO, GURNEE, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

As you’re tripping over paint cans and bumping into old bicycles, you may not realize that your garage could be the most functional space in the house. After all, what other room can serve as workshop, potting shed, storage locker, recycling plant, and carport all at once? A garage is also the best place to store many items that are not used on a daily basis such as holiday decorations, gardening supplies, tools and anything else that clutters the home.

Creating effective storage in the garage can be done with a bit of ingenuity and planning. The five DirectBuy clubs of greater Chicago— DirectBuy of Chicago North at 6325 North Avondale, DirectBuy of Gurnee, DirectBuy of DuPage County in Naperville, DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates and DirectBuy of Tinley Park —offer these helpful hints on creating usable working space in your garage.

When in doubt, throw it out … Clutter can take over a garage – Before you plan your storage solutions, sort through the clutter — have a garage sale, give it to charity or truly just throw it out.

Get organized … Cut down on clutter and get your garage organized by installing garage cabinets. A new set of cabinets will clear the floor of tools, supplies and athletic equipment and open new space for perhaps a workshop or potting shed. Cabinets also work well for protecting their contents from moisture and dust.

Maximize your space … Maximize available space in your garage by using narrow storage shelves or wall-mounted racks that can stack up neatly against the walls and leave room for cars.

Smart labeling … Another smart idea is to mark storage bins so they are easy to find or use clear plastic storage boxes to immediately see what you are looking for. No more wasted time searching through an unorganized mess!

“Installing effective storage solutions in your garage means you have quickly created a new room in your home. In a short amount of time and with little investment, homeowners can create a workshop, athletic storage system, potting shed, or any other working solution they may need or imagine,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates. “DirectBuy also gives members the opportunity to save a lot of money by buying storage solutions for their garage, directly from the manufacturer.”

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of garage cabinets to help you cut-down on clutter and get organized. A one-stop shop for all your home building and home remodeling projects, DirectBuy offers industrial quality and strength garage cabinets that can hold and organize a variety of items that would normally clutter your garage. These garage storage cabinets make a great addition to your home garage or auto shop business storing assorted parts, tools and chemicals, which can pose a threat when simply lying around.

Since 1971, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by buying wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. With five convenient locations in the greater Chicago area (Chicago, Gurnee, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Tinley Park), consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuychicago.com/.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting http://www.directbuychicago.com/. 

Locations of the five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Gurnee, 4081 Ryan Rd. #107, Gurnee, IL; DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 N. Stonington Ave Ste. 150 Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 Avondale, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 Highgrove Ste. 136 Naperville, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

• Eliminates 99-Percent of lead
• Reduces chlorine, bad tastes and odors
• Prevents bacteria growth in filter
• Reduces sediment and water hardness
• Each filter has a 40-Gallon capacity

Product Description
Used in all Brita pitchers and water coolers. Reduces chlorine taste and odor. Reduces lead, copper and mercury content.Amazon.com Product Description
Brita Pitcher Replacement Filters are universally compatible with all Brita pitchers, including the compact Brita Slim Pitcher. Featuring a unique design that reduces the potentially harmful impurities and unpleasant flavors found in tap water, these filters offer you the nourishment of healthy, great tastin… More >>

Brita 35503 Pitcher Replacement Water Filter Cartridges, 3-Pack

In today’s world, you hear a lot about getting organized, it is the “in” thing to make life easier. We organize our closets, our shelves, our drawers, our laundry rooms, our desks and our calendar all in hopes of straightening out our lives. There are even garage organizers to fix our outdoor, where do I put it type stuff. As technology has improved, life has become more hectic and we often feel out of control as we try to juggle so many things. So anything we can organize gives us a sense of control and accomplishment.

So, say you have every thing else organized in your life, you have probably left the garage for last. It is a bit intimidating because probably while you were organizing the house anything you didn’t know where to put, was put in the garage. Plus you have your seasonal items out there (from summer camping to winter skiing), gardening supplies and any handyman tools are all stored in your garage. But spring is finally here, so it is the perfect time to tackle getting your garage in order.

Organizing your garage is going to be a big enough project, so when looking for what type of storage system you should use, there are three things to look for:

Easy – the items in your garage organizers should be easy to access, easy to find and be organized in a systematic fashion that is easy to understand. This includes using all of your available space, not just your floor space but also your wall space, and sometimes your ceiling space. Keeping many of your items off the floor also keeps them safe and dry. Versatile – this means that the garage organizers that you choose should be able to be adapted for many different functions or activities. Your storage options should be flexible and adaptable to the many different things that you need to organize. Modular and Expandable – a modular system is made up of different modules as the basis of design. These various modules should allow your garage organizing system to expand as your storage needs or pocketbook allows.

There are a couple of different storage systems that fit all of these criteria, two of these being Flow Wall and Gladiator Garage Works. These types of garage organizers have panels (slats) that are attached to your garage walls, available in different size configurations. Onto these panels you can easily hang a variety of hooks, shelves, baskets, small cabinets and workstations.

The panels themselves are designed to be both easy to install and easy to use. All of the many accessories mentioned above easily hang on the walls. And, the various storage accessories make these garage organizers very versatile. The different hooks vary is size and configuration to hang things from bikes and skis to heavy duty hooks for ladders and wheel barrows. Along with the different length shelves and various types of baskets a cabinets, these systems are very versatile and can be adapted to anyone’s different needs.

When necessary, you can easily add more panels for additional storage space, or rearrange the hooks, shelves etc. into different configurations for different storage needs. These two options make these types of garage organizers both modular and expandable.

So, when you finally get the courage to organize your garage, remember ease, versatility and modular expandability, and if you match all of these criteria in your system, you will be happy with the garage organizers that you choose for your garage.

The Midwestern region of the United States is one of the most diversely beautiful regions in the entire country. Nowhere else can you experience hot summer, warm spring, cool fall and freezing winter temperatures all in one state except in the Midwestern region. Midwestern states include areas along the Great Lakes such as Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Wisconsin. These states are known for their proximity to the water, making them great tourist attractions during the summer months for water sports such as skiing, fishing, diving and simple sunning on some natural and manmade beaches.

Protecting your outdoor vehicles in these states during the winter requires some effort on your part. It’s not as simple as just throwing a cloth over your vehicle and hoping it will do. This is particularly true if you have a vehicle that is going to be directly exposed to snow, rain, freezing rain, ice and other hazards.

In most Midwestern states, when the winter first starts, temperatures are still mild and relatively predictable. Some days you may wake up to find a light dusting of snow or small frozen rain drops on your outdoor vehicle. This time of year is not of any significant consequence because typically what happens is that by midday the temperature has risen above the freezing point; direct sunlight is shining down on your vehicle and has melted the snow or ice and although it may still be very cold, your vehicle has probably been used and has warmed up so that no harm is done.

Once winter gets going good, around December for most states, there is snow on the ground on a consistent basis. Major roads and highways are cleared by snow removal trucks which also salt the roads making them nicely passable for traveling. But this is the time of winter that protection for your outdoor vehicles is significantly important. One of the major sources of damage to your vehicle is the very salt they put down on the roads to clear them so that you can drive.

Salt tends to adhere to the painted surfaces around the lower parts of your car, truck or SUV and, if left untreated, can eat away and erode not only the paint but the very metal of the vehicle itself, leaving damaging holes that can be expensive to repair. The best way to avoid salt damage to your vehicle is to remove it with a slightly damp cloth as soon as you notice it. Obviously this should be done only if your owner’s manual does not suggest a different way to remove items from your surfaces.

Outdoor vehicles differ greatly from those that benefit from indoor or garage storage. For starters, outdoor vehicles are exposed to the weather’s elements no matter what they may be. This is okay for vehicles that are designed to stand up to such changing conditions but to date, there are not many such vehicles which do. Meaning, if you expect your outdoor vehicle to last, you will have to invest in protecting your outdoor vehicle during harsh Midwestern winter conditions.

One of the most unpredictable and damaging weather conditions during the winter in the Midwestern states is the arrival of freezing rain or an ice storm. The more damaging of the two is an ice storm. Freezing rain can be for a few minutes or longer and usually is serious because it creates a thin layer of ice on surface streets and highways and can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. With freezing rain you can sometimes just wait for the sun to come out and because the layer of ice is a small one, the direct sun will melt it, leaving the street and other surfaces just wet.

An ice storm, on the other hand, leaves calling cards everywhere that it touches. Ice storms often happen overnight while you are sleeping and are relatively silent as they are occurring. Ice storms are very dangerous because the put a heavy layer of ice over everything from tree branches to your outdoor vehicle and more. Because the weight of this ice is much heavier, usually there are many reported instances where trees and power lines are too heavy and fall down.

This makes it important to store your outdoor vehicle in a safely covered place such as covered shed so that it will not sustain any major damage and be at least slightly protected from such elements.

A storage unit refers to the rented space provided to tenants by self storage companies. Companies that offer self storage facilities belong to real estate and personal property cargo transits. The storage facilities are divided in self storage spaces, which are then leased to tenants mostly on a monthly basis. Self storage services are usually used by individuals or businesses to store inventories, equipments, collection of records and household goods.
Storage units come in assorted sizes for residential and business tenants. The most common size is the 10 feet by 5 feet with 1.5 meters depth. Some units are larger and the largest is measured at 20 feet by 20 feet similar with the dimension of two car garages. Storage units are built with corrugated metal and are without any window. They can only be accessed through the roll up metal door.

These storage units feature secured locks for protection. Only the tenant or lessee has the sole authority in accessing the contents. The facility operator does not have the right over the contents of the storage unit. Also, the operator does not take care, control, or have custody over the contents unless in cases where the lessee fails to pay the rentals imposed. Most of these facilities provide computer controlled access to the storage units, as well. Surveillance cameras are even installed for additional security. Some self storage companies present biometric scanners to ensure that only the tenant can have access on the units.

Tenants are not allowed to store hazardous, toxic, or perishable stuffs in the storage units. Also, they are not permitted to either sleep or reside in the units. In some modern facilities, a climate-controlled system is set up in order to prevent mold and build up of moisture. The common temperature of these climate-controlled facilities is from 50 to 80 degrees Celsius.

Based on records, there are around 58,000 of self storage facilities around the world. 52,000 of these self storage facilities are from the United States. Roughly, there’s 1.6 billion square feet rentable in this country, as well. The United States is generating around $20 billion revenue every year from self storage businesses alone. In Australia, there is 22 million for storage services while in the United Kingdom there is 20 million. For the past years, customers availing of self storage services have increased and they continue to grow at an average of 10 to 15 percent. This is due to some social factors such as high rate of divorce, workforce mobility, and home improvements.

Storage facilities grant clients a secure and less expensive way of keeping their other belongings. These also free up their homes with some valuable space. This service is also especially beneficial when you are having home or office renovations or restorations. The most reputable storage companies offer their customers with added assistance such as free packaging, boxes and bubble wraps. Trucks or vans are also supplied as free service when you need to transport your things from your house to the storage facilities.

When selecting a self storage company for your requirement, it is essential to know some details before deciding to avail of their service. You must know of the unit sizes available, rental cost, safety features, distance from your house and other vital details important for your composure. When you have already chosen a particular self storage company, it is now time to pack your things and ready it for transport.

Here are some basic tips in packing your things:
i. Create some labels for each of the boxes so you can easily identify which boxes to open when looking for a particular item.
ii. Never stack boxes too high for it would be very difficult to get an item, which is beneath the stack of boxes.
iii. Ensure that you have properly locked your storage unit.
iv. Read and understand the terms and conditions set in your contract.
v. Understand whether they charge for the access of the storage unit or not so you can schedule your visit.
vi. Get the contact numbers of the storage manager. You will need it in case any problems arise.
vii. Avoid sharing your keys, access cards, or passwords with anyone.