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Here are some great tips for being more “green” in your apartment home.  Save energy by unplugging your electronics and their chargers when not in use.  Clean behind your refrigerator, because you know keeping the coils free of debris helps your refrigerator work more efficiently. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs where possible and use dishwasher water to water your plants. Which green idea will you implement?

Have you ever noticed your faucet leaking and waited weeks to report it?  Take a look at this drip calculator to put it into perspective.  Wow!  If two sinks are dripping at 5 drips per minute that would come out to 14,400 drips per day!!  That works out to 3 liters a day and 347 gallons in a year.  Let us know with one quick call to our office.   Don’t waste your money!! 

You don’t have to say it twice!!  Great news for all the chocolate lovers out there who thought chocolate needed to be removed from your diet.  No such thing!!  And yes, dark chocolate is actually the better chocolate.  But who knew chocolate could help with blood pressure, tooth decay, or cholesterol?  Take a look at this for the 10 Health Benefits of Chocolate.  So if you need a reason to enjoy that box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day then here it is!!

There are best practices for using your washer and dryer to save energy and help your clothes last longer.  Using cold water to wash and the high spin to make sure the moisture is removed from your clothes can help save energy.  Also it’s better to wash a full load in the washer but be sure not to overload.  As for your dryer, be sure to clean your dryer lint filter after each load.  Take a look at this link for other ideas.

Are you always amazed at how things designed for one use can be used for another?  Take your simple jar of Mayo in the refrigerator, did you know it can fix cracks in your wood furniture or relieve sunburn pain?  Take a look at the other 8 unexpected things mayo can be used for and how it works.  Mustard may be jealous.  Any other ideas on how mayo can help?

While standing in the kitchen, have you ever thought to yourself, “Where is that foul smell coming from?”  I had a resident call me over to their apartment once because his water smelled funny.  After leaning my head into his sink to smell the water I determined it was coming from his disposal, he hadn’t turned it on for a while.  Use your disposal to keep the blades sharpened but you also need to freshen it up occasionally. Take a look at how some of the items in your pantry or refrigerator can do the trick. 

If you have ever lived with a pet of the hairy nature, dog or cat, then you know the problem that their shedding hair causes.  Check out these tips for dealing with it so it doesn’t build up.  Suggestions include using a dryer sheet for dusting, swiffering daily, but there’s more.  Number three is a great idea.  Do you have a tip you can share with us for minimizing the hair in your apartment?

Have you ever opened a refrigerator that is packed full or amazingly empty? Which one is working more efficiently?  Here are some great suggestions on how to keep it working efficiently.  When was the last time you pulled your refrigerator out of its cubby and cleaned behind it?  Don’t throw things in the refrigerator without thinking.  Make sure food is in a sealed container and also don’t place food in the refrigerator until has cooled down some.  Certain bad habits can make your refrigerator work hard. 

A popular resolution is to get organized (I know, it’s mine) but sometimes it’s hard to get started.  How does one decide if it’s a keeper or it’s a loser?  Sometimes we can rationalize why we need to keep an object, whether clothes, kitchen gadgets, magazines and more (once again, my list).  These 5 questions will help you with the process.   Not the typical question asking the length of the last time used either but it’s value and purpose for it’s use.  You might find purging feels good too.

Recently someone suggested using toilet cleaner to clean the outside windows stained from hard water and now this article suggests using Kool-Aid to clean your toilets.  Apparently lemon flavor works best.  Just don’t think about what it must be doing to your stomach.  There seem to be many products that can be used in an alternative way.  Do you have an unusual tip that is out of the ordinary? Share it with us!!