Spring is most certainly in the air, and for some that means blooming flowers and buzzing bees, and for others it means deep, detailed cleaning and taking inventory of one’s abode. Yes, it’s that time again for spring cleaning.
The spring cleaning tradition, whether or not you’re on the messy or neat-freak side of the spectrum is always a good annual practice. Spring is all about fresh starts and rebirth, so your apartment should mirror that. Besides regular chores like putting clothes or dishes away, sweeping and cleaning the bathroom; this is your chance to pay attention to detail and store, sort or get rid of extraneous clutter.
Use this guide as a checklist for items that aren’t usually on the cleaning to-do list:
If you accomplish all these tasks, you’ll be well on your way to being completely spring cleansed! Other than looking shiny and new, your living space will be rid of dirt and dust that you may have not even been aware of that can make you and your guests sick. So tie your hair back, put on those yellow gloves and spring into action!
Fresh Start In The New Year
With the beginning of yet another new year, it’s a great time to get a fresh start. After the holiday hustle and bustle, the New Year is a fabulous time to organize your life and home so that you set yourself up for a year of happiness, health, and success! Once the new year hits, think about looking at these areas of your life that tend to collect clutter so that you can start the new year off right.
1. Get rid of clothes that you no longer like or wear.
Go through your closets and drawers, and pull out any items that you no longer wear or no longer like. Toss any clothes that are stained or damaged. Then pack what is left to donate to Goodwill in Kenner or drop off at one of the many consignment shops located in Metairie – who knows, you may even make a few bucks from your unwanted items! There are many Goodwill stores throughout Metairie and Kenner.
2. Clean out your car.
If you are one of the many people whose car tends to collect things, take some time to clean it out. Toss the garbage, take unnecessary items out and put them in their proper places, and give it a good vacuuming and a wash at several Car Washes located off Veterans Highway.
3. Switch up your workout routine.
If you do the same old workout day after day (or don’t workout at all), it’s time for a change. Try something new that sounds like fun – yoga class? aqua aerobics? kettle balls? Zumba? 1st Lake Properties offers many workout facilities on site at their apartment communities. Several properties have walking tracks around the apartment community. Almost all of the apartment communities have a pool so you could think about swimming. This will work new muscles and you might just find a new activity that you enjoy
4. Reevaluate the relationships in your life.
This is something that often takes a back-burner to life’s other to-dos. The New Year is a great time to think about the relationships in your life and if they support and uplift you, or if they deplete you. If things seem off-track with your significant other, your parent, or a friend, this is a great time to seek a solution. Or, if there is someone in your life that drains you, maybe it’s time to let that friendship go.
5. Clean out your cupboards and fridge.
Just like your closet and dresser, your kitchen needs some love and attention too. Go through your fridge, cupboards, and pantry. Toss any expired items, donate canned goods at Second Harvest Food Bank that you know you won’t use, and make room for loads of fresh, healthy items that will keep you satisfied and healthy.
The kitchen is a beloved oasis in any home, yet in a shared space, the kitchen has the explosive potential of a minefield to blow relationships asunder. A grimy, funky, kitchen can divide even the closest of roomies, so it’s important to follow a few general rules of thumb when it comes to caring for shared rooms in a home. Check out a few of the suggestions below and it may just save your friendship!
The Dreaded Dirty Dishes
Mother Goose must’ve been inspired by someone like my old roommate because the pots and pans that accrued in our old sink could’ve grown legs and run off with the dish and the spoon. That is to say, unless your roommate is a mycologist, the sink is no place for experimental growth.
To address such a problem with your own housemate, it’s best to talk things out. Try to work out a schedule to share responsibility. If you prefer each roommate wash their own dishes, set a time limit of one or two hours after each meal that dishes can remain in the sink.
If problems with dishes persist, biodegradable, single-use cutlery and plates are available at just about any grocery store.
Counter Space
In most apartments, kitchen counter space is at a premium. For this reason it’s important to respectfully share space. Save space by keeping cookbooks on a separate bookshelf and keep appliance cords tucked out of the way. Lingering grocery bags and food items also take up valuable space, so put items in drawers or cupboards as soon as you get home from the store.
Odor vs. Aroma
Like so many rooms, the kitchen can smell delightful or appalling. A weekly cleaning will keep general scum at bay and will prevent creepy crawlers from foraging for leftovers in your kitchen.
Food odors are a little trickier. Badly burnt food items, for example, have a terrible odor and should be removed from the kitchen immediately after you ensure the item is not on fire. This might sound silly, but often an item can continue smoldering after it hits the trash. This is especially true of grease fires – don’t douse these in water, as it might spread the flames. Instead use baking soda to extinguish the flames.
The odor of burnt food isn’t the only off-putting kitchen smell, however. Some individuals have strong aversions to scents such as grease, popcorn, or curry; if your housemate has a sensitive nose, be considerate of their opinion. Cook the offending item when your roommate isn’t home and turn on kitchen fans to ensure plenty of ventilation.
Most renters will attest that storage space in an apartment or rental property is always a hot commodity, especially in homes shared by one or more people. For this reason, creative storage solutions are a must.
While plastic stacked bins are available at giant retailers across the nation, an overabundance of such contraptions creates an unappealing look. Before rushing out to the nearest Target or Wal-Mart to buy a collection of bins, consider trying a few of the decorating tips below to add extra storage and personality to your living space.
Desk blotters and other monstrously large calendars are fantastic for keeping dates straight at the office. A bulky item like that can be impractical for the home office, however, and can be an unwelcome reminder of work at home. For a more free-spirited scheduling system, pin up a string and hang seven clothespins, each featuring a day of the week, and hang your notes on corresponding days. The system is more visually appealing than a monotone calendar and you can add or interchange notes to your heart’s content.
Repurposing an everyday home item for another use can open up a world of decorating possibilities. A clean, out-of-use toothbrush holder can be great for holding pens on a desk, for example.
An antique breadbox can be converted into a charging station for electronic equipment. First, create a hole in the back of the breadbox. Hide a surge protector strip in the box, pulling out only enough cord for the prongs to reach the intended socket. Next, cut a piece of sturdy paper or cardboard to fit the interior of the box. Cut slits for cords for your various pieces of equipment and label each slit with the name of the tool (e.g. cell phone, Bluetooth, etc.) that will be charged. Pull only the connector through the labeled opening to leave the mess of tangled cords behind the paper and out of view.
Wicker baskets find their way into everyone’s collection of home décor items. These eponymous decorating staples have a million and one uses in the home. For example, hang a pair of baskets, labeled with monogram letters, on the back of a shared bathroom door or near the front door. These baskets will help roommates keep important items separate. Wicker baskets can also be used to organize kitchen spices, living room or bathroom reading material, laundry, and towels.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
