Some people living on their own for the first time have to learn the hard way. If you’re new to certain household chores, there can be a big margin of error. You’ll quickly discover common rookie mistakes like washing clothes incorrectly as well as the wrong way to wash dishes. Not everything is meant to be thrown in the dishwasher. To avoid damaging your dishes and cookware, here’s what you should avoid putting in the dishwasher and the proper way to clean these items.
Cast Iron – Because of its heavy duty nature, cast iron needs a little extra care than normal dishes. Cast iron can be properly cleaned with hot water and a sponge or brush and then towel dried. Stubborn stuck-on food can be removed by scrubbing with coarse salt and water.
Good Knives – Quality, sharp knives should not be washed in the dishwasher, as they could become dull quicker. It’s better to handwash your knives and dry with a tea towel.
Crystal – Expensive, delicate crystal dishware should be given extra care and washed individually by hand. Putting in the dishwasher can cause chipping or cracking.
Wooden Utensils – Some wooden utensils can be put in the dishwasher, put others could warp, crack or lose its finish, so check the manufacturer for directions.
Nonstick Pans – Putting non-stick pans in the dishwasher may ruin their effectiveness, so it’s best to hand wash them to be safe, or check with the manufacturer on the best way to clean.
Copper Pans – The main draw for these kind of pans is their beautiful color, which may be compromised if put in the dishwasher.
Soft Plastic – Soft plastic will melt if run through the dishwasher; hard plastic can be placed on the top shelf.
Disposable Aluminum – Aluminum trays that are reusable should be handwashed, otherwise they will flake if run through the dishwasher.
Anything with Adhesives – If any of your tuperware, glass bottles or any other dishes have adhesive labels attached, they should not be put in the dishwasher as they can come off and clog parts of the dishwasher.
1st Lake Properties has over 10,000 excellent apartment options for you to choose from in the metro New Orleans, Northshore and Baton Rouge areas.
But, before you even start looking for your next apartment, make sure you are taking the proper steps.
In order to pick the best 1st Lake property, follow these guidelines:
This may seem like a no-brainer, but planning out what you can realistically afford each month isn’t easy. You need to think about all expenses such as credit card and student loan payments, groceries, car insurance and spending money. Once you’ve calculated these items, subtract them from your monthly income, find a realistic budget, and stick to it.
When you find an apartment you really love, it is easy to overlook the long commute. Don’t. Long commutes can translate into lost time with family and high gas mileage payments. Try to find a place close to your school or office.
One of the perks of apartment living is all the extra features that come along with your rental fee. What interior/exterior amenities are important to you? Do you want a washer/dryer, swimming pool, or fitness center? Many of our apartment communities have fantastic fixtures, so keep an eye out when apartment searching.
Location is one of the most important factors of apartment hunting. Some people want to be in quiet neighborhoods, while others want to be around a thriving nightlife.
If you aren’t already familiar with your future neighborhood, do as much research as possible. Consult our neighborhood guides to find the right location for you:
If you are serious about moving, even if you don’t have an exact moving date set, start getting rid of all of your excess belongings now so you’ll have less to do once the time comes.
If you found this article helpful, share it on Facebook or Twitter and ease a friend’s apartment hunting woes.
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Related posts: Renting a Moving Truck, Moving to New Orleans.
There are many creative ways to give your apartment a fresh look without violating your lease terms or causing any damage. Creating extra storage space in an attractive way is always a good idea, and adding your own pops of color will quickly and smartly enhance your interior. Here are some tips that will put you on the path to an apartment you’ll love to come home to!
Funky and Functional – If you love wooden or industrial touches in your apartment, a great way to incorporate functional style is to search for separate pieces like ladders or doors at flea markets, hardware stores or home goods stores. Placing a ladder smartly in the kitchen or bathroom can be used for hanging towels or placing appliances. Using a door with extra knobs is a funky way to hang personal items like umbrellas, scarves, bags, hats and more.
Adding Interior Color – If you want some more color in your apartment, there are safe ways to add it without painting the walls. Removable wall decals come in all sorts of designs and colors for adding fun and creative patterns that will revitalize any room and give it unique personality. A more rustic and D.I.Y. approach to adding color would be to paint wooden pieces like plywood to lean against the wall for a more layered, natural look. Another material that is a great resource that can be personalized with some painted color is pegboard, which looks cool and can act as a hanger for a number of items.
If you’re looking for a metro New Orleans, Northshore or Mississippi apartment to make and call your own, check out the available apartments right now from 1st Lake Properties!
It’s the first month of summer, which means weather is getting hotter and so are our specials this month at 1st Lake Properties! Don’t miss out on these deals and specials including reduced rental rates, deposits and move-in fees. Call today to set up a viewing on your next apartment in Metairie, River Ridge, Covington, Baton Rouge or Mississippi!
Windmill Creek North – These Metairie apartments offer beautiful landscaping with walking pathways, creeks, fountains and more, all just a short drive from downtown New Orleans. Call today to see how you can save money on a long term lease!
Hickory Creek – This River Ridge community has special June rates on two bedrooms, plus two weeks of free rent for a limited time. Can’t beat these summer deals! Speaking of summer, Hickory Creek also has a beautiful pool for lounging and cooling off.
Sawmill Creek – These spacious River Ridge apartments come with washer & dryers, patios or balconies, large closets, wood burning fireplaces and more, and this month are offering reduced rental rates on select floor plans and a discounted $99 move-in special!
Arbor Gate – This peaceful Picayune, Mississippi location are offering $99 deposits this month as well as reduced rental rates and move-in fees on select lease terms. Take advantage of these specials, plus their spacious, comfortable floor plans.
Brewster Commons – Brewster Commons offers modern, luxury apartments in a great location in Covington. Check out their variety of floor plans including one, two and three bedroom apartments with plenty of square footage, interior and exterior amenities.
Lake Towers – Enjoy living in downtown Baton Rouge in these chic loft-style apartments, now offering $99 total in move-in fees and a reduced deposit. Their accommodating one, two and three bedroom floor plans meet whatever your needs may be.
Have you got too much stuff in your apartment than you know what to do with? It might be time to consider methods for getting rid of what you don’t need and organizing what you do. Here are some tools and tricks for elimination and consolidation to make life at home cool, calm and collected.
Before you can truly enjoy your apartment, it needs to be free of clutter. Clutter takes on a lot of forms. Clutter is something you have too much of, something you no longer use, or something that makes you feel disorganized. Removing these items will make your apartment feel relaxed and open. Not sure where your clutter is hiding? Junk drawers and hallway closets are a good place to start.
After you’ve removed all of your pre-existing clutter, work to make sure it never comes back. Clean the kitchen and bathroom every time you use them. Whenever you move an item, return it back to its rightful spot. The worst thing you can do is let the clutter grow. Try to make cleaning up clutter your daily routine.
This is a smart rule of thumb, courtesy of the fine folks at Apartment Therapy, especially for those conspicuous consumers among us. For whatever number of new products you bring into your home, discard an equal amount. For example, if you come home with three new shirts, donate or give away three of your old ones. This will ensure you don’t have a collection of clothing or household items you don’t use and that you have enough space for your new additions.
Rolling cart shelves are great organizing units to keep around the apartment for multiple uses. If you don’t have enough storage for Tupperware, shoes, towels, sheets, or practically anything in any room of your apartment, keep them in these convenient and portable shelves.
Need a full length mirror? Take advantage of that used space by getting a mirror cabinet that serves two purposes in one: a mirror and storage. Keep multi-use items in your apartment is a small space hack that will create extra storage while achieving its original function.
Find a bowl, table or corner that is your designated “needs” area. Every day, place your keys, phone and wallet in that same place and you will never misplace them again! At first you will have to remind yourself to put things in your “needs” area, but after long it will be habit.
For another great way to use space wisely and keep your belongings neatly stored to avoid clutter around your apartment, check out our blog on how to best use vertical space!
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1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
