It’s springtime, and that means it’s time to give your apartment the deep clean it deserves. Soon, you’ll be having family gatherings and dinner parties with friends, and the relaxed housekeeping techniques you used during your winter hibernation will need to change.
Read on for the best ways to deep clean the rooms in your apartment.
Your living room is a notorious location for dust. That’s why dusting is priority number 1 here.
Using a duster, dust the living room from top to bottom. We mean that literally: start by dusting the corners of the ceiling, move to picture frames, tabletops and furniture, and then thoroughly dust the baseboards. After you’ve systematically dusted the room, move on to the door frames.
Next, use a rag, water, and furniture polish to scrub down any chair/couch legs and tabletops. Once you’ve cleaned all the hard surfaces, use your vacuum hose attachment to remove debris from all cushions and crevices. Next, vacuum the carpet and mop any wood flooring.
First, use the same dusting process you used in the living room.
Next, explore the refrigerator. Chances are you’ll need to throw out some expired food and clean some spills. Scrub the interior of the refrigerator thoroughly, and wipe it down with a dry towel.
Using disinfectant, scrub all appliances (stove, oven, microwave, etc.) with the same care that you cleaned the refrigerator. Afterwards, disinfect all kitchen surfaces so that you can cook in a sterile environment. Finish cleaning the kitchen by mopping the floor.
Winter coats, furry sweaters, thick scarves–these things can take up a lot of space in your closets and dressers. Fold ’em up in an air tight space bag and place them on the top shelf of your closet! Have items you know you’ll never wear again? Pack those up too and bring them to your local donation center.
Next, your bed. Let’s clear the air and admit: we’ve all shoved things under our beds right before company comes over. But today is the day you tackle that beast. Take a few minutes to climb under there and remove any items you find. You might just stumble upon that other sock you’ve been looking for or that sandwich you made a few weeks ago (we won’t tell). Trash what’s trash and re-organize what’s important.
Curtains and carpet: we hope you clean these items more than just once a year, but in the event that you don’t, it’s time to start. Give your carpets a deep vacuum to remove any pet hair, human hair, dust, and dirt. There’s nothing like fresh vacuum lines marking the trail of your cleanliness. Curtains are the next thing you will want to vacuum. Grab your handheld vacuum for this task. Then from top to bottom, bust that dust!
Dust all necessary items, just like the living room and the kitchen.
Use a glass cleaner to make your mirror shine! Disinfect the counters and sink. Scrub the shower/tub area with a mild cleaner like distilled vinegar, and use mildew spray if necessary afterward. Wash or replace your shower curtain if necessary.
Tackle the toilet bowl with toilet bowl disinfectant. Make sure to clean the handle and seat.
Last, mop the floor, and enjoy your fresh bathroom!
There are plenty of other sites that have great tips on giving your apartment a deep clean. Try Apartments.com, BuzzFeed, and U-Pack for more great cleaning advice.
Explore our list of communities today to find your ideal home today!
Sometimes a studio apartment is all you really need. But such small spaces can create bigger challenges when it comes to storage.
So we did a little digging and found four furniture staples that will make your apartment ultra functional!
Not only do floor lamps provide an additional source of mood lighting (which you can never have enough of!), but they can also be excellent sources of storage! Let those vertical lines work for you by selecting a floor lamp with one, two or three tiered shelves. By stacking toward the sky, instead of side-to-side, you will clear valuable floor space and gain essential room for books, a laptop or a cup of coffee! Like what you see below? You can snag it here.
Bed Bath & Beyond Catalina Floor Lamp
The great thing is, no matter what size apartment you live in, you have walls! By adding a few wall organizers throughout your home, you’re guaranteed to gain more storage and up your organization skills. When it comes to placement of your wall organizer, our first go-to location is right next to your front door. By placing a wall organizer near the place where you enter and exit for the day, you give yourself the opportunity to load and unload your day’s essentials in one place. No more rummaging around the house wondering where you left your keys this time. Our advice: purchase an organizer with a couple of different functions — a hook for your keys, a basket for your mail, and a shelf for your wallet. This prevents miscellaneous, yet vital items from being strewn about your home. Want the wall organizer below? Click here.
WayFair Hobbs Entryway Wall Organizer
This one makes us all giddy inside. Why? Because it’s a stroke of pure genius. For most of us, our bulky refrigerators don’t exactly scream stylish. BUT, many of us have funky, fun dish rags that do! That’s one of the reasons we love this nifty find. Just slap this magnetic towel bar to your fridge, neatly place your cutest hand towels over them… and voila! Not to mention, this tool actually keeps your valuable counter top space free for the other stuff you really need. Oh and one more thing: by having a place where your towels can hang, you also have a place where they can dry if need be. We think Wayfair hit the trifecta with this one. Find it here, if you agree! Want even more storage? Take a look at this kitchen organization rack from West Elm.
Wayfair Magnetic Wall Mount Towel Bar
West Elm Magnetic Kitchen Organization Rack
Who knew a bed could be even more than just a snuggly oasis for rest? We did! By purchasing a platform bed with built-in storage, your comfy corner of the world can double as a highly functional source of storage. Plus, these purchases can be more cost-effective than you may think. Or if the built-in drawers aren’t your thing, just simply getting a raised platform bed will give you the space to slide your own set of storage boxes under there. Want to search this bed and others like it? Here’s the link.
IKEA BRIMNES Bed Frame With Storage
There you have it! Four ultra-functional furniture pieces for your apartment!
Visit our website to find one!
Anyone else been super obsessed with rugs lately?
It seems like every time we scroll through Insta or Pinterest, there’s another rug company we want to buy from or a new design that we just need to have!
Whether you’re looking to add flare, funk or just a practical piece of foot-warming fabric, rugs will give your space an upscale upgrade. (And hint: they don’t have to cost an upscale price!)
In Joanna Gaines’ recent blog, she said the three most important things to consider when selecting a rug are your style, your space, and your lifestyle.
While rugs obviously serve as a staple design element in your home, selecting a rug goes beyond physical appearance. We can’t stress this enough. You need to know yourself to know the right rug for your home. For example, if you’re married to a mechanic who comes home a tad dirtier than a desk-dwelling counterpart, you might not want that all white shag rug. Or if you have a furry friend with muddy paws, same thought process applies. In either instance, you may opt for a natural-fiber rug. While you won’t get that soft and fluffy feel, you will get a longer lasting, life-resistant rug. Sites like Rugs USA offer chic and tough styles!
Perhaps the most basic thing you should know while rug shopping is a term called “rug pile.” The pile of a rug refers to the density of a rug’s fibers. A flat rug would be described as having short piles, while a shaggy rug would be described as having long piles. In this One Kings Lane blog , you’ll discover 5 useful tidbits to help you choose the right rug pile! In general, shorter pile rugs are longer-lasting than longer piles! Plus, cleaning and maintaining shorter rugs is much easier than maintaining your 70’s shag (mostly because your vacuum won’t get in a tug of war with those pesky long fabrics).
Photo from Rugs USA
Now, maybe you’re super clean, don’t do much playing in the dirt, and don’t have any pets. You could definitely swing that white fluffy rug. But for real, if you’re looking for that lush feel, you may want to move toward Moroccan rugs. These rugs are experts at keeping your toes toasty, while also pulling in some plushness. As you may have guessed, these are considered high-pile rugs and are usually made of cotton or wool. Check out some of these Moroccan looks from West Elm.
Photo from West Elm, Souk Rug
A rug is an important decision, so don’t take it lightly. There are virtually thousands of different styles you can choose. To make your hunt a bit easier though, here’s a great read: 10 Sources for Good, Cheap Rugs on a Budget from our friends at Apartment Therapy. So while you’re seeking the perfect piece, keep your eyes peeled for some design inspiration. Some of our favorite social accounts to follow these days are Loloi Rugs, West Elm and Apartment Therapy.
You can find Joanna’s rug buying guide by clicking here.
You can find our available ones right here!
There are tons of things to do with friends in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore. From beautiful city parks to the rambunctious nightlife scene, the options seem endless.
But, sometimes it’s more fun to stay in and have fun with your buddies at home. That’s what game nights are for!
In this post, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to host a great game night in your 1st Lake apartment. Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab those board games off the shelf, and read on to learn more!
First things first. Before hosting a game night, it’s important to make sure your apartment is in good condition.
Start by cleaning all the surfaces you’ll be using, like coffee tables, counters, and dining tables. Remember that in addition to games, you’ll need room for food and drinks.
Make sure your bathrooms are clean and fully stocked. Avoid the awkwardness of running out of toilet paper or hand soap.
Provide ample seating for your guests. De-clutter and organize your living area to maximize couch and chair space, as well as space for walking.
Wash your dishes and drinking glasses, and check to see if you have enough ice. If you’re running low, make a quick trip to the gas station or supermarket and buy a bag or two.
Overall, the lesson here is that your apartment should be tidy and fully stocked with the bare necessities.
If you want to liven up your apartment’s atmosphere, a few simple decorations go a long way. It just takes a little creativity. Try one of these fun suggestions by apartment therapy: “Make a banner out of Monopoly money, bingo cards or playing cards. Hang vintage board games on the wall or use a Twister mat as a tablecloth.”
When you host a game night, it’s important to have some snacks on hand. There’s no need to provide entire meals for your guests, but consider providing a few of the suggestions below:
It’s important to choose a game that all of your guests want to play. So, we suggest having a few options available to pick from.
Provide options that range from the classic to the contemporary. Twister, Monopoly, Life, Balderdash, and even charades are tried and true games that most people are familiar with.
Newer games like Cards Against Humanity, Settlers of Catan, and Code Names are super fun games that aren’t very hard to learn.
For more options, check out this list by Hobby Lark.
Contact us today for information on our private residential communities.
Create instant warmth in your home by streaming our cozy, crackling fireplace on your TV, iPad, or smart phone. You can stream directly from our blog or head to our Youtube channel.
Let’s get crackling!
Want your own apartment with a fireplace? See our list of apartments here: http://bit.ly/1stlakefireplaceapts.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
