Maybe you are just now experiencing winter this year or maybe you are in an area that’s been hit several times by the freezes, ice overs and wintry mixes. There are a number of things that you can keep in mind to help make your apartment life a lot easier during these times of cold.

Drip, Drip, Drip- First off, protect those pipes! If you are expecting an overnight freeze, it is very important to leave one of your sinks dripping to prevent the pipes from freezing, busting, and your apartment building having a terrible leak.

Plants are People Too- Okay, so plants aren’t really people of course, but they are effected by freezes just as we are and can in fact be killed by being stuck out in the freezing cold. So, if you have plants on your porch, you’ll want to bring them inside if possible. If you can’t bring them inside, cover them with some bed sheets, to try and help shield them from the blistering cold. Read the rest of this entry »

Fast-paced lifestyles, hectic schedules and a lack of free time can lead one to consider hiring a maid service to handle critical house cleaning duties. But before picking up the phone to schedule an appointment, it is important to know whom you are letting into your home.

Bonding: Make sure the maid service is bonded for its house cleaning clientèle. Should a theft occur, you need to be protected. Some companies, if they are bonded at all, protect only themselves, not the consumer.

Insurance: Make sure the house cleaning company is insured. If a maid slips and falls while cleaning the shower, your homeowner’s policy might not cover the incident. The maid service should have liability and employee accident coverage and should include your home, the housecleaner(s) and the company. Read the rest of this entry »

Cut pile, loop pile, plush, shag, velvet, embroidery are all examples of some of the available carpeting, upholstery and tapestry choices, each with their own unique benefits. Unfortunately, they all come with a similar problem: the potential to cause a health hazard wherever they are installed because they all trap dust, dirt, moisture and odors, providing the perfect breeding ground for mites and various bacteria. This also includes potentially life threatening mold spores.

Routine sweeping and vacuuming definitely helps. Professional cleaning at regular intervals is essential - but only if you take heed to the recommendations below. Professional carpet cleaning, if not carried out responsibly and by a reputable firm that you have researched thoroughly, can be almost as harmful as leaving the problem unattended. Read the rest of this entry »