Brilliant @MichaelinVA02 such innovative solutions … you should write a blog (perhaps you have) great tips and hacks. Thanks for sharing
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@Angela_L - no, I haven’t written a blog. When I saw the post from Mars I thought about some of the things I’ve learned from doing house and pet sitting professionally in the Northern Virginia area since July 2009. And the plastic bags to cover the bedroom windows hack was useful on my last THS sit as there were no drapes on the bedroom windows and lots of light was coming through the blinds in the morning.
And before I head out to a job or sit I’ve taken a couple of 39-gallon trash bags and already cut the seams off the bottom, cut the bag up the middle and then rolled the bag up and stuck them in a pocket of my backpack as the first thing I do when I get to a job is unfurl the plastic on a table or countertop. Then I place my belongings, food, water, computer bag, etc., on top of the plastic bag to protect the owner’s table or countertop from my stuff. And as I vacuum almost daily, especially if the cat(s) and/or dog(s) shed a lot, I have found some vacuum cleaners can kick up some dust depending on where the vent is on the vacuum cleaners so I can unfurl another 39-gallon trash bag to cover up my belongings. Not pretty… but effective… lol.
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Love that tag line
“Not pretty, but effective”
Rock on!
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@Amparo - cheap and simple solutions are usually just that… not pretty… but effective… lol!
And sometimes these little hacks can come in handy for other purposes. Was on a professional house and pet sitting job in an older house and a large air conditioning unit on the 3rd floor (where I hadn’t been) had a drip pan overflow onto the floor and then the water started dripping through the ceiling of the guest bedroom I was sleeping in on the 2nd level. The water started dripping on the guest bed so I ran downstairs and grabbed the 39-gallon bag protecting my belongings and I laid it over the guest bed to protect it while I looked for buckets to catch the water. Went and grabbed 2 other 39-gallon bags and cut them open to protect the floor. Not pretty… but effective in protecting my client’s stuff until I got help.
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@MichaelinVA02 , you are brilliant!! Thanks so much for this post. I discussed the problem of light in the bedroom with a friend a while ago and she suggested taping black fabric to the window molding or the wall above the window with tape. I nixed the idea because tape strong enough to hold the fabric might leave a residue, remove paint or wallpaper or otherwise damage the walls. But the contractor’s trash bag idea, that would work. Plain old scotch tape would probably hold it in place. I have passed so many sits by that have pictures of a bedroom with no window coverings or light streaming through what they do have.
Re. the colored toilet bowl light, I bought this for my brother a couple years ago as a gag gift and he loved it. Many bathrooms have no dimmer or night light, only a bright light. What I like is a plug-in night light that has a photo cell. And because of you (thank you again), here’s one I’m going to order. I like the idea that it has a soft amber light-- easy on the eyes: https://www.amazon.com/Green-Sensor-Energy-Efficient-M1801/dp/B07R2FJ6XD/ref=sr_1_4?crid=XDPKR3CG0XJR&keywords=amber%2Bnight%2Blight%2Bplug%2Bin&qid=1639585349&sprefix=amber%2Bnight%2Bligh%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-4&th=1 This pack comes with two; it might be nice to plug the second light outside the bedroom for a dog that likes to wander the house at night. As for the bedroom, I just put a small flashlight on the bedside table … which brings up your folding table, another fab idea. It could also serve as a night table when there is none. I think I’ll take a ride over to Walmart to take a look at it. Many thanks again.
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@MichaelinVA02 , I saw your folding table at Walmart but was afraid it might be a little too big, so I bought this one instead, at about the same price. It’s sort of like an over-bed table in that it has legs that slide under furniture. It’s a little tight for a mouse if you use it for a laptop, but I would be using it as a bedside table or for extra surface space in the bathroom.
**Mainstays Multi Adjustable TV Tray Table, Black - Walmart.com
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@Mars - thanks for the compliment! I’ve found the name-brand heavy-duty trash bags work well and stay up with scotch tape. I make sure I attach the bags to the metal blinds holder so I don’t damage the walls. I’ve even doubled up the bags for windows that have broken blinds not only for privacy but to keep the morning light out. And when I’m done the sit/job I carefully remove the tape and bags and then wipe off any residue with a disinfecting wipe.
And I like the Amber Night Light you referenced. I thought the white light from my flashlight was too bright thus I stuck it in a blue Nitrile Exam Glove.
And as I carry a laptop, keyboard and mouse and mouse pad, the folding table I’m using is the perfect size for the occasions when I need it to hold my computer. I’ve never liked the feel of the laptop keyboard so I carry an external/standalone one with me. And I checked out the TV tray table you referenced and I believe it would be a little too small for my set-up and I wonder if it would fold up as tightly as the 1 I’m currently using. Though the 1 you referenced would be great as a nightstand or in a tight bathroom.
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You’re going to need a bigger bag pack 
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On a recent sit we did the bedroom had very thin curtains so I went into the recycling area in the street, found a large empty box - took it home, cut it to size and voila! - black out blinds
As a wise one once said - “Not pretty, but effective”
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This isn’t technically an ‘amenity’ as such!!
One thing I find I can often never find is a tin opener funnily enough!!
Everyone puts them in different places!!
Ha Ha!!
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It’s the cheese grater that doesn’t have a standard home, that I can never find
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@JackieX , A cheese grater. Now that is something I never use and you won’t find one at my house, but my last HOs were gourmet cooks with all kinds of equipment. I asked them what that thing was that looked like a rotary grater and guess what it was …
Or a cheese plane to get flat slices of chunk cheese!
@MichaelinVA02 , I am using your trash bag hack at the sit I am on now. Take a look. These are high windows and the bags reach down to the window sill. I am also using my new Walmart adjustable folding table. You can see my flashlight there on the table. My water bottle and phone will go on there too. It folds flat and is actually called a laptop table. It’s about an inch or so wider than my laptop. I use a mouse with my laptop, so if I use it on this table I have to use the right side of the computer next to the keyboard as a mouse pad. Not ideal but it will do in a pinch. It’s not needed at this house. Waiting on my nightlights to be delivered.
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@mars - luckily I’ve never had to deal with long/high windows before. I do remember I once had a job early on at a house that only had sheer drapes on the bedroom windows with no blinds so I tape the plastic bag directly to the window. Otherwise, I’ve always been able to tape the bag to the medal blinds holder.
The next time I have to deal with this type of situation I’m going to tape the bag directly to the window to see if it will make the room darker rather than having the bag hang outside the blinds…
Hopefully, this works for you…
And that table looks the perfect size for a bedside table. And it does fold up flatter than I thought looking at the picture from Walmart.
Unfortunately for me, the full-size keyboard that I carry with the full-size mouse pad takes up the entire width of the black table that I have so anything smaller for me wouldn’t work.
I’m glad my suggestions have helped someone out. Enjoy your sit…
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@MichaelinVA02
@mars
PLEASE, PLEASE be careful when you use plastic trash bags for covering windows when there are cats in the house! ASK the owners first! If this isn’t possible, make sure the cats don’t have access to the plastic bags.
My cat loves plastic bags and as soon as she spots one and is able to reach it she will start chewing on it. It’s called pica-syndrome and can be very dangerous, because it can cause complete constipation.
I have this in my welcome guide underlined in red and written in huge letters but not every owner might think of telling the sitter.
As good as an idea this might seem, please make sure the pets aren’t affected! Thank you all.
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The things you learn. Just did a quick search on the interwebs and sure enough there are numerous articles that validate that plastic bags and pets do not go together.
Thanks for bringing this to the forefront @anon39388349
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Thank you for emphasizing this, @anon39388349 is a very important point. There is only one dog here.
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A corkscrew that I can actually work hands a bit arthrithic don’t speak any language other than my own.in a white village in mountains.thought oh it’s Spain they all speak English.mmm.no with aid of my I pad to get the accent right went to the local hardwear shop. Repeating it to myself all the way there. Yes! She went into the back of shop brought out a box with selection of different corksrews. So proud of myself. So decided I would speak to a Spanish looking lady next day asked her where a restaurant was that I fancied going to.ha ha she replied in a broad Glaswegian accent. Mmm.
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So many times that has happened to me. Worked myself up to ask something in French or Spanish and been answered with “ ah, away ye go, yer fe Aberdeen are ye”.
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