Dotty Deals

Top Products to Baby protect your home

Do you have a little one on the way and you’re feeling as thought your home isn’t perhaps the most ‘baby friendly’ of environments? Well, don’t worry, because there are plenty of steps that you can take to make it safer and with a gestation period of 9 months, that gives you plenty of time to prepare!

So, what can you do to baby proof your home? Let’s look at some products that you can buy now to ‘baby protect’ your home for when the time comes.

1 – Furniture Corner Guard Cushions

OK, so whilst your new-born baby isn’t going to be under much threat of banging their heads on the corner of tables, you’ll be surprised by how quickly they’ll shoot up and be on their feet, tearing around the house!

So, what better a way of protecting their delicate little noggins, than by purchasing some furniture corner guard cushions. They’re fairly discreet with a transparent finish, and they even come complete with cute little smiley faces as well!

2 – Floor Cable Tidies

Another huge problem that you will face when the little one comes along is all of the expose cables. Today, with our homes being packed full of electronics, we have cables running along everywhere, exposed to the elements. As children love to explore with their hands and mouths, you must ensure that you keep all of your cables tidied away and out of sight! So, first of all, you can buy cable-ties to keep them bunched together and well-ordered behind your computer desks and television consoles.

Another great product, is the floor cable tidy. Particularly when running cables through the house temporarily, you’ll want these rubber protectors to keep the cables tucked away and out of sight to prevent your little ones from grabbing at them, pulling on them, and more importantly, chewing on them!

3 – Soft-Close Hinges

Something that very few people remember to do is invest in soft-close hinges when they have children. Cupboard are going to be opened and tugged at, and you won’t be present in the room with them at all times to keep an eye on them. So, with these soft-close hinges, the chances of your children getting their fingers trapped in doors is going to be significantly lower. These are easy to install and they’re cheap enough so that you can replace all of the hinges in your home.

Not only that, but you’ll be protecting your ears from all of the unnecessary slamming of doors! That, and it will increase the longevity of your cupboards as well.

4 – Wooden Door Handles

Another great product is the wooden door handle. These are nice and discreet and won’t protrude quite so dangerously as other metal handles which might stick out and pose a nasty threat for those delicate heads that will be bobbing around all over the place! Nice and easy to install, these wooden door handles are an excellent choice when baby proofing the lower, ground-level cupboards that will be in teach of your little ones.

5 – Protect Your Floors from Your Children

Of course, it’s not just about protecting your children from your home, but vice versa! As your baby grows and starts walking, you’ll find them pushing and pulling and dragging all sorts of stuff around the house. If you have laminate flooring, then why not add some floor protectors? That way, if your baby starts dragging the chairs around, it won’t leave nasty scratches all over your beautiful laminate flooring!

Conclusion

And that about sums it up! With these handy baby-proof products, you can turn your home into a relatively safe haven. That way, you’ll feel much more confident looking away for 2 minutes without fear of coming back to find your baby bawling its eyes out with a nasty bump on its head!

If you would like to find out more about the various home-safety products and gadgets that we have, then please do not hesitate to contact us today!

Rubber Cable Trunking VS Cable Protectors: What’s the difference?

People often ask us, “what is the difference between cable trunking and cable protectors?” And the answer is that there is no real difference. Not really. It’s just a matter of semantics.

You see, the definition of ‘trunking’, is “having all of the electrical and communications cables bundled together and distributed throughout a building”.  This is a method of organisation that not only keeps the cables neat and tidy thus preventing tripping, but also protected from being damaged by foot traffic as well.  

Cable protectors on the other hand, is just another way of defining a cable trunking system. They both serve the very same purpose; keeping the cables organised and protected. Yes, they come in various styles and designs, sizes and materials, but functionality-wise, they are practically one in the same.

The one arguable difference between Rubber Cable Trunking and Cable Protectors

Whilst Rubber Cable Trunking and Cable Protectors are the same, cable trunking in general comes in many different forms. For example, you may notice plastic rectangular trunking systems trailing along the skirting of an office building’s interior. These are often permanent solutions for running various electronic and communications cables throughout. They are also often found in the panelled ceiling space, tucked out of the way.

Rubber Cable Trunking and Cable Protectors on the other hand, tend to be used to run across the floor of an office space, meeting room, or concert hall, as a means of protecting cables that need to be used temporarily.

For example: let’s say that you are hosting a corporate event at a venue. All of the cables for the various Audio Visual equipment may need to run across the main causeway. Naturally, having these cables exposed to foot traffic is a disaster waiting to happen. This is why Rubber Cable Protectors are so useful. They keep the cables bundled together and safely protected under a heavy-duty rubber protective ‘sleeve’. That way, people can tread on these rubber protective sleeves as much as they like without causing any unnecessary damage, or subsequently tripping over and injuring themselves.

Do I Need a Cable Trunking System / Cable Protectors?

Yes. Running cables throughout an office space or a commercial building without any form of trunking system is a lawsuit waiting to happen. If you wish to protect your interests and the health and safety of your employees and customers, then cable trunking systems and protectors are vital.

Here are the main benefits for your convenience:

  • Cheap and easy to install
  • As the cables are enclosed within the trunking system, there is no risk of the cable insulation being damaged
  • Cables are kept safe from dust and humidity
  • Alternations are possible (you can reposition them as is necessary depending on the situation)
  • Longevity (rubber trunking systems and cable protectors have a long life)

Other uses for Rubber Cable Trunking Systems and Cable Protectors

There are other scenarios in which rubber cable trunking systems and protectors are incredibly useful. Let’s say for example that you are hosting an event outdoors (e.g., a wedding or charity concert, etc.); leaving cables exposed runs the risk of moisture damaging the cables or indeed causing disastrous electrical issues. And of course, they serve the same purpose as keeping the cables organised and removing any potential danger of people tripping over the cables.

Are Rubber Cable Trunking Systems and Cable Protectors a worthwhile investment?

Absolutely. Bearing in mind that once you have purchased your Rubber Cable Trunking System and Protectors in whatever length you need, you likely won’t need to replace them for many years. In fact, even with constant use, you should be able to get at least 10 years of use out of your Rubber Cable Trunking System and Cable Protectors. Thus, spending £99.00 on ten metres of heavy duty cable trunking is without question, a worthwhile investment.

Cable Trunking is often overlooked by business owners, which often ends up as a costly mistake. As the old adage of Murphy’s Law suggests: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” The question you have to ask yourself is: is it worth the risk?

Conclusion

To conclude, Rubber Cable Trunking Systems and Cable Protectors are practically one in the same. They are incredibly useful in a commercial environment and can save you an awful lot of trouble in the long run. All in all, we would highly recommend this product.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Thanks!

Home Improvement Gadgets You Didn’t Know You Needed

Human ingenuity is a fine thing indeed. When you think about how far we have come from a technological perspective in just the last 20 years or so, it is rather astounding. But often some of the coolest inventions, are the simplest, which are often the most frequently overlooked. Or indeed, very few people actually know about them at all!

Take some of these home improvement gadgets as an example. At a glance, these items might seem unremarkable to you. However, for such a low investment, the benefits that they bring are certainly not to be snuffed at.

Here are 5 awesome home improvement gadgets that you never knew you needed!

1 – Furniture Square Corner Cushion Protector Guards

Furniture Square Corner Cushion Protector Guards

Furniture square corner cushion protector guards are the type of home improvement gadget that many people overlook until they have children, or grandchildren tearing around the home at high speed. However, you don’t actually need to have children in your life for these to be a viable home improvement gadget.

How many times have you rushed past your dinner table only to crack your hip straight into the corner? You double over in pain, ‘eff and blind’ like a crazy person, and then you move on with your life (unwittingly inching towards the next painful impact).

But for just £1.79 a pop, these furniture square corner cushion protector guards can not only save you a world of pain, but they can also keep your furniture in crisp condition (the corners of furniture are often the most prone to chipping and becoming damaged).

2 – Nail-In Felt Floor Protectors

Whilst on the subject of protecting furniture, how about protecting your floors from your furniture? Having laminate flooring installed is certainly not cheap. Nor is it a painless experience if you decide to DIY the job instead. So, why go through all of that effort, only to have chairs dragging and scratching across the floor every day? With these Nail-In Felt Floor Protectors, you can keep your laminate flooring scratch-free and looking fresh for longer. At only £2.98 for 24, it’s a no brainer!

3 – Soft Slow Close Door Hinges & Screws

Are you tired of telling your children off for slamming the kitchen cupboards? Noise aside, the consistent impact significantly reduces the longevity of the fixtures, meaning you’ll end up with faulty doors hanging offer their hinges in no time. However, there is an incredibly simple solution: Soft Slow Close Door Hinges & Screws! Swap out your standard hinges with these handy gadgets and you’ll be able to enjoy a (relatively) quiet life. That, and it is actually rather satisfying letting a cupboard door close softly by itself. It’s the little things in life…

4 – Ivy Wheelie Bin Cover

Wheelie bins: we can’t live without them, but my goodness are they are terrible eyesore. With these awesome Ivy Wheelie Bin Covers (4x Vinyl Self Adhesive Sheets for 1x Bin), you can have your bins blend in to your garden wonderfully. Granted, they won’t do much with the smell, but they will certainly prevent your neighbours from pinching them off you!

5 – Garage Door Floor Threshold Weather Seal

This is one of our favourite home improvement gadgets, one that is often the most overlooked. The Garage Door Floor Threshold Weather Seal HEAVY DUTY RUBBER Draught Excluder is an incredibly simple yet wonderfully effective item. Not only can it prevent dust, debris, rain water, and draft from slipping in under your garage door, but pests as well. This is particularly helpful if your garage is connected to your home. Keep the cold out and the warmth in with these heavy duty rubber seals and you’ll find yourself feeling far more comfortable spending time in the garage from here on out!

Conclusion

Again, some of these items may not appear at a glance to be all that exciting, but their practicality and simplicity make them all the more worth it. These cheap home improvement gadgets can effortlessly improve your quality of life and they’re all incredibly easy to install.

If you have any questions regarding the products listed in this article, or if you’d like to know more about the various products that we offer here at Dotty Deals, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

Many thanks!

5 Benefits of Garage Door Seals in the UK

If you own a garage, then the likelihood is that you also own a garage door. I know, right? I am very perceptive. The question is, however, does your garage door have Garage Door Seals? Possibly not!

If you do, then I’m not quite sure why you are reading this article. However, if you don’t, then you must continue reading because there are some handy benefits to having Garage Door Seals that you might not have considered before…

1 – Retain Heat Through Your Garage

If you live in the UK, then the odds are that your garage gets incredibly cold at the best of times, particularly during the winter months. The gap beneath the garage door might appear to be insignificant, but the fact is, it’s letting a constant draft in to your garage.

You would be surprised by how effective a seal on the bottom of your garage door can make. When you seal the garage door up, your will create a draft exclusion, which essentially keeps the wind out, and the heart it. So, not only do you avoid losing precious heat, but you’ll end up saving more money, keeping your home far more energy efficient, not having to pay for the heat that escapes through the bottom of your garage door.

Sure, it might not make the world of difference, but every little helps. It can also make spending more time in your bathroom more comfortable.

2 – Less Need to Sweep your Garage

Unless your garage doubles up as a workshop, you shouldn’t have to be sweeping and cleaning it all of the time. That’s the trouble with having a gap under the bottom of your garage door. All kinds of dirt, leaves, and other debris will make its way into your garage and litter the place. Fortunately, you can put the broom away and simply install some handy Garage Door Seals. Sure, you’ll have to clean the garage now and again, but not half as often as you would without a proper seal on the garage door.

3 – Effective Pest Control

A messy garage is the perfect place for little pests to call home. Whether it be mice, birds, or giant spiders as big as your face, having an unsealed garage is like putting a rodent-sized sign on the door that says “all pests are welcome”. This is especially the case during the winter months when the creepy crawlies make their way out of the cold and into any suitable shelter they can find. The gap underneath your garage door night not seem at all that big, but you’d be surprised by how small a gap, pests can fit through, especially mice and rats!

The good news is; you can significantly reduce the chances of having an infestation of pests by installing Garage Door Seals. Bet you didn’t see that coming? You won’t necessarily keep all of the creepy crawlies out, but you will certainly notice a big drop in nasty encounters!

4 – Protect Your Belongings from Water Damage

For most people, the garage is a handy place to store a number of their belongings, without really giving much thought to how much of a risk of damage there is, certainly if not stored properly. Unpredictable weather due to the acceleration of climate change for example, is not something that springs to mind when you store an item in your garage. However, with a greater risk of torrential rain, high winds, and even flooding in some areas, you shouldn’t leave your garage (and belongings), so exposed.

There are various types of Garage Door Seals, including weather stripping, which can prevent water from seeping (or getting blown in) to your garage and subsequently destroying your beloved bits (even if they are just collecting dust).

5 – Additional Noise Reduction (Cheeky Bonus)

OK, so adding a Garage Door Seal isn’t going to eliminate all sound coming from inside your garage, but it will certainly make a difference. This might not be too significant to most people, but for those who value their privacy, having the additional noise reduction from your garage is a nice little bonus. In addition to that, if you do decide to start tinkering in the garage late at night (because why not?) having a little extra noise reduction is a friendly courtesy to your neighbours.

Conclusion

And there we have it. Five pretty darn good reasons to invest in some seals for your garage door. Keep your garage secure, clean, dry, and pest-free. Oh, and keep the noise down!

Top 5 Cases/Reasons to Use Cable Tidies

Ah cables. The word alone paints a picture in the mind of a spaghetti-mess of cables tangled up and impossible to unravel. As crucial as cables are in this technologically driven world, they are a serious source of anxiety. Think about what it’s like to have a pair of headphones in your pocket for an hour? *shudders*

But don’t worry! In this article, we’re going to talk about an awesome solution—Cable Tidies—and 5 reasons why you need them in both the home and workplace! Read on and we will untangle the mystery before your very eyes.

1 – Health & Safety

First and foremost, safety is reason enough to get your hands on some Cable Tidies. When owning and operating a business, you are responsible for keeping your establishment up to code and safe for both your employees and customers to use. Preventing cable-related injuries, such as tripping over or getting tangled up like a rabbit in a thorn-bush, is actually quite simple. You can use floor cord covers for concealing cables that need to run across public pathways, and Cable Tidies to keep all other cords safely (and neatly) tucked away out of sight.

2 – Less Frustration & Wasted Time

When installing hardware such as a load of computers in your office, you need to plan ahead for the future. Yes, getting everything plugged in and set-up as fast as possible is important so that your employees can get to work, however, doing so without planning ahead or establishing an organised system of sorts, is asking for trouble.

Whenever you need to move a computer or troubleshoot faulty hardware, your IT guys are going to be faced with a tangled, identical mess of cables; which is not only a waste of time, but infuriatingly painful to sift through. With some Cable Tidies, you can conveniently label and order your cables, keep certain cables from getting crossed, and make the whole process a truckload easier to contend with when the times comes.

3 – Money Saving

Cables that are allowed to pile up on the floor, hang, slack behind equipment, and be subject to foot traffic are significantly more likely to suffer damage over time. When you introduce a simple cable management system, you can create a safer, cleaner, and more organised business space. Having to replace the occasional cable isn’t the end of the world, but when it can be so easily avoided, it makes it all the more worth investing a little time and money into some Cable Tidies.

4 – Keep A Clean & Clutter-Free Environment

A clean and clutter free environment is much better for keeping a motivated workforce. Nobody likes working in a mess; it fogs the mind and has a seriously negative effect on productivity. Thus, keeping your cables clean and tidy is a good investment. You see, nothing clings to cables quite like dust! If they’re all tangled up in a mess on the floor, they’re going to collect a disgusting amount of dust and will be a nightmare to clean. On the other hand, if they are conveniently organised with some Cable Tidies, you can keep them clean and tidy, thus creating a more comfortable working environment.

5 – Keeping Up Appearances

First impressions are important, especially in business. If you will have customers and potential clients visiting your premises, then something as seemingly insignificant as having your cables tidy will make a big difference in the way that they view your operation. To many people, messy cables isn’t a big deal and most won’t even notice it. However, to some, it will definitely earn you some brownie points!

Conclusion

These 5 points should be reason enough to make you want to keep your home and workplace tidy. Cables, when left to their own devices, will get themselves into all sorts of tangles! However, when you take control and keep them suitably organised, they have to play by your rules!

So, to summarise, why should you invest in some Cable Tidies?

  • Safety first (no more trips)
  • Save time (and avoid frustration)
  • Save money (no unnecessary replacements)
  • Clutter-free (great for productivity)
  • Impression count (so make a good one)