We believe that property management has more to do with the wonderful people that make their homes in our communities than the physical structures themselves. We strive to make every single apartment feel like a home, where our exceptional residents build memories, enjoy their lifestyles, and achieve their goals. We respect and value the trust that our residents place in us, and work hard to ensure that we exceed their expectations.

Household Items That Are Also Great Cleaners

Common chemical based cleaners can do a great job at cleaning, however, they can also be quite expensive, harmful to the environment, and potentially harmful to you and your pets. Below are some household items that can also be great cleaning products. Before cleaning your apartment with any of these items, we suggest that you do a spot test to make sure that these products will not cause damage on particular items. In addition, if you are intending to use these products on your apartment floor, walls, appliances, bathrooms, fixtures, etc. we recommend that you verify with your property management staff that these products will not damage the apartment.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Believe it or not, apple cider vinegar can work wonders on hard wood floors.

Baking Soda: Baking soda can be used in many ways.

  1. To absorb odors in carpet, leave some baking soda on the section of carpet overnight, and vacuum it in the morning.
  2. Add two tablespoons of baking soda to boiling water and pour this mixture over pans or dishes that have food stuck to them. Let this baking soda mixture sit for ten minutes before rinsing.
  3. Combine baking soda and water to rinse hair combs and brushes.
  4. Sprinkling some baking soda can reduce odors in garbage cans, diaper pails, shoes, and litter boxes.
  5. Sprinkle on a wet sponge to use on pots and pans.

 

Club Soda: Club soda is great to use after a spill to avoid a stain setting. In addition, club soda can be useful for making countertops shine.

Lemon: When wiping the refrigerator down with water, add some lemon juice to create a fresh smell. Fresh cut lemon is also great for removing light stains from porcelain sinks, and removing stuck particles from glassware.

Pine Essential Oil: When diluted, pine essential oil is a great all purpose cleaner, and works especially well on tile and linoleum floors. Use caution with all essential oils as some people may have allergic reactions to the oils.

Vanilla Extract: Put just a tad of vanilla on a cloth to add a nice scent to whatever you are cleaning.

White Vinegar: White vinegar can be used in many ways.

  1. To absorb odors, leave a cub of vinegar standing for a few hours.
  2. When added to the final rinse cycle on a dishwasher, white vinegar will help prevent and remove water spots from glassware.
  3. Dampen a cloth with white vinegar to use on stainless steel to remove water spots.
  4. To remove hard water residue from a coffee pot, run vinegar through the coffee pot and then run 3 or more pots of water only.
  5. For cleaning windows, add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 gallon of water.
  6. To remove soap residue in the shower or tub, use some white vinegar on a moistened sponge.  

Water Conservation Tips

As a homeowner who is billed by the water company for my water usage, I regularly monitor my water usage. Two months ago, I noticed that my water bill was double the normal amount, indicating that I used about 2,400 gallons of water more than I normally use per month. While I initially assumed that the meter reading was wrong, I thought a little harder and remembered two occasions during the past few weeks that I heard a toilet run unnecessarily for about 20 seconds. The toilet seemed to be functioning fine, and there were no signs of a leak at that point, so, I ignored it. After seeing this bill, I decided to stop ignoring that toilet, and my husband made a very simple repair to it. Sure enough, my next water bill reflected my normal usage, and the normal price. I was really shocked to see that this toilet malfunction that appeared to be so minor could waste so much water. If I lived in an apartment and did not have the opportunity to see my water bill, I probably would have continued to ignore this malfunction, leading my landlord to pay an extra $30 per month for my wasted water, which might have resulted in a higher rent increase at the time of lease renewal.

I am happy to say that I am now much more aware of the importance of using water wisely. In addition the expense of wasting water, using water wisely helps the environment. It saves water for fish and animals; it helps preserve drinking water supplies; It also eases the burden on wastewater treatment plants-the less water we send down the drain, the less work the plants have to do to make it clean again. Using water wisely also saves energy. It saves the energy that water suppliers use to treat the water and move it to us. It also saves the energy we use in our homes to heat the water. 

The following are just a few tips that everyone can follow to conserve water:

  1. Run the clothes and dishwasher only when they are full.
  2. For cold drinks, keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.
  3. Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.
  4. Shorten your shower by a minute or two.
  5. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Call your maintenance department to report it.
  6. When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on and adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
  7. Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or use a refillable water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
  8. Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
  9. When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of each load.
  10. Turn off faucets tightly after each use.
  11. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
  12. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
  13. If your toilet flapper doesn’t close after flushing it, call your maintenance department.
  14. Drop your tissue in the trash instead of flushing it.
  15. Listen for dripping faucets and running toilets. If you hear any potential drips or leaks, report it to your maintenance department.
  16. Turn off the water while you wash your hair, or let the conditioner soak in.
  17. Turn off the water while you shave.
  18. When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your house plants.
  19. If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
  20. To save water and time, consider washing your face while in the shower.
  21. Consider reusing your towels.
  22. When you are washing your hands, don’t let the water run while you lather.

 For additional information on water conservation, visit www.wateruseitwisely.com.