#LifeHacks: 10 Things People With Clean Houses Always Do!

 

Have you ever watched a television show- and no matter what their house was sparkling clean? Their rooms are always tidy, their floors are always clean, and everything seems to always have a home. Do you ever wonder how do they do it? With the help of HGTV, here are some tips on how to get started. 

• They Make Their Bed – People who maintain the clean appearance of their home never leave the house without making the bed. For many, it's the first thing they do when they get up in the morning. We get it, it probably seems like a weird, pointless habit. After all, you're going to mess it up later anyway. But trust us- you'll be thankful that you did.

• They Never Wear Shoes in the House – Even when your shoes seem clean, they are still covered in dirt and bacteria. This means that when you wear them in the house or on the furniture, you're spreading those germs around your home. Plus, if you're dragging in specks of dirt, not only are you obviously spreading it on the floors, but ay tiny rocks or material stuck in your shoes can cause costly damage to your floors. 

• They Never Leave a Room Empty-Handed– If you grew up with parents that always reminded  you to take your dishes with you as you went? Guess what? They were right! Getting into the habit of putting items away as you leave a room leads to an effortlessly clean house.

• They Open Mail Everyday – Clean houses are definitely anti-clutter zones. This means that when clutter such as mail comes into the house, it gets sorted and opened immediately. The junk mail get recycled, and the important stuff gets dealt with. 

• They Clean as They Go– We've all been there. You spend time making a great meal, enjoy a fun night with friends and family, and then everyone leaves but the mess is still there. Clean people avoid this tragedy but cleaning as they go. Done with the pans and pot/ Give it a quick wash in the sink rather than tossing it on the "dirty" pile. A little effort can go a long way.

• They Set Time to Do a Quick Clean – If your day is seeming hectic, it could be something as simple as your surroundings being out of order. In these moments, people should stay calm, cool and collected. They simply set a timer and do a quick cleaning. The reset of the environment helps your space to feel relaxed and in order. 

• They Keep the Air Fresh – If you've ever walked into a friend's house and been blown away by how clean and fresh it smells, odds are that didn't just happen on purpose. Whether they diffuse essential oils, light a fragrant candle or simply open the window every once in a while to bring in fresh air indoors, keeping the air fresh isn't just an afterthought. 
• They Make Chores a Part of Their Lifestyle- Folding clothes while watching TV, doing a quick sweep while dinner is cooking or simply organizing the fridge when you reach for your next snack are all good habits to have that will keep your house constantly clean. If folding clothes seems like last thing you want to do, pair it with the first thing you want to do, and it really won't seem so bad. 

• They Put Things Away Immediately – No more jackets on the bed, shoes on the floor or keys on the counter. If you want a clean home, you have to get into the habit of always putting things away immediately. This so imperative. Your environment will never seem clean if whenever you finally put one thing away, there are two new things waiting to be put away. Make it easier for yourself by hanging up jackets, picking up shoes and cleaning up before you leave an area. 

• They Never Go to Bed With a Dirty Sink– This may be the biggest game changer. Your home could be unorganized, but if you have a clean sink and kitchen, everything will be okay. Dishes left overnight are a haven for bugs, mice and lingering odors. If you clean one thing each day, we suggest the kitchen sink.

Making this cleaning habits become rituals in your home and improve the quality of your experience living in your home. Additionally, if you live with family members or a roommate- you can encourage them to explore these ideas to lessen the tasks for each person! 

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

#LifeHacks: Moving to Your First Apartment!

 

 With the new year brings new opportunities, goals, and adventures. A lot of people will become first time renters in 2021- yay! Before packing up your things, you should be aware that moving to a first apartment comes with a great deal of responsibilities. To get you started; we have complied a list of helpful apartment you should know when choosing your very first apartment to live in. Good luck and happy moving!

• Figure out your mail situation – Does your apartment building have a community mailbox center where you pick up your mail? Or does your individual apartment have its own mail slot in the door? Does a doorman store packages when you’re away? Or will you need to ask a neighbor to pick them up? You’ll also want to check to see if mail and packages are left outside your building. This will help when you are planning large deliveries to your home.

• Purchase new décor – Give your apartment a fresh look! Purchasing a new living room and bedroom set will give your new home  The new "home" smell will be surely to make you feel amazing.

• Change your address – When moving to your first apartment, remember to let your bank and post office know as soon as possible. Be sure to update credit card information with your new billing address. Also, don’t forget to let friends and family know you’ve moved. To ensure that you receive your mail, contact your post office and choose the date you wish to begin forwarding your mail.

• Tour the amenities – With a new apartment comes new amenities. Some apartments feature amenities that include gyms, playgrounds, computer areas etc. Touring these amenities before you move in will help you navigate where there are located and when they open/close. 

• Explore your neighborhood – Get out of the house and explore your new neighborhood! Walk, drive or bike around the area to get a good sense of where you are and what’s around you. Make a point to locate nearby grocery stores, parks, schools, museums, libraries, hardware stores, hospitals and pharmacies. Discover more about your neighborhood through your county's website or social media pages.

Please remember to enjoy this experience! Due to the global pandemic- the traditional move in process may be a little different. Continue to wear a mask social distance while moving in common spaces in your apartment building.

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

#LifeHacks: How to Celebrate Halloween this Year

 

What an unpredictable year this has been! With the concerns of the current pandemic the world is in, it is important to stay extra careful during the upcoming Holidays. Montgomery County officials are offering advice on how to minimize risks as Halloween approaches. We have gathered a list of ways to navigate during this fun filled holiday! 

Here are some fun ideas for a day and night full of celebration:

• Online parties/contests- Host a virtual costume contest or a pumpkin carving session. Invite all your friends and family to make this more enjoyable!
  
  
• Decorating homes, yards and neighborhoods with Halloween-themed decorations- Get your creativity going with this one! Hang up spooky decorations and lights for the entire neighborhood to see.
  
  
• Car parades such as:
  • Drive-by events or contests where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles and drive by “judges”.
    
    
  • Drive-in or drive-through events where individuals remain in their vehicles and drive through an area with Halloween displays. Participants can receive a treat bag (limited to commercially packaged nonperishable treats).
    
    
• Halloween movie nights- On Halloween night turn on your favorite spooky movie with the family. Make sure to pop some popcorn!
  
  

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Halloween, it is important to:

• Correctly wear a cloth face covering to prevent disease spread when outside your home and around others that are not part of your household;
  
  
• Avoid confined spaces. Actively stay away from indoor spaces that do not allow for easy distancing of at least six feet between you and others.
  
  
• Avoid close contact. Stay at least six feet away from all other people who are not part of your own household, especially while talking, eating, drinking.

• Wash or sanitize your hands often.

• Clean frequently touched items regularly.

Please remember to always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds and practice social distancing. 

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

#LifeHacks: Keeping Your Kids Busy at Home!

With the concern of the spread of COVID-19, many children of all ages have to stay at home due to schools and universities being cancelled. In order to keep your kids on a schedule and maintain their daily activeness and education, here are some tips on how to keep them busy at home:

8:00am-9:00am -  Wake up and eat breakfast. Have your children help with making a healthy and nutritious meal that will help them start their day.

9:00am-11:00am - School work. Create school activities that involve subjects your kids are currently in at school doing. Print out handout sheets, lesson plans and activities that will help them complete their work. Need help finding school work? Log on to your children's school website. 

11:00am-12:00pm - Exercise! No gym? No problem. Have your children stat inside or go outside and do some workout activities. Get their bodies and energy going and make sure you bring water! 

12:00pm-12:30pm - Lunch! Create some crafty meals for lunch that your kids can help make. Make sure to implement a fruit and a vegetable so they can get their daily nutrients in. 

12:30pm-1:30pm - Have your kids complete some daily household chores. Have them pick a room to complete- their room, bathroom or kitchen. 

1:30pm-3:00pm - This is a great time for your kids to either take a nap or have some down time by themselves. Another great way to practice self care is to allow them to do something that makes them feel relaxed. 

3:00pm-5:00pm- Finish some more activities that promote educational growth. This can also include allowing them to use electronics or to watch a show/online webinar that can teach them a new skill!

With social distancing being a concern please make sure you are staying away from groups larger than 10 people. Always sanitize and disinfect the areas and surfaces you are using. Make this time fun for your kids! Being at home can be a challenge but making each day interesting can help the days go by faster (and more fun!)

Please remember to always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds and practice social distancing. 

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

#LifeHacks: Celebrating International Women's Day

About International Women's Day:

International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8th. During the month of March we also recognized Women's History Month.

International Women's Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action- whatever that looks like globally at a local level.But one thing for sure, International Women's Day has been occurring for well over a century and continue's to grow strength. 

Internationally, purple is the color for symbolizing women. Historically, the combination of purple, green and white to symbolize women's equality originated from the Women's Social and Political Union in the UK in 1908. Purple signifies justice and dignity. Green symbolizes hope.

A well known journalist explained "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."

Decide what you can do! What activity will you undertake? You can run and event, launch a project or initiative, deliver female-focused activity, activate a marketing campaign, develop resources, conduct research, make a video, run social media posts etc. 

How will you celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month?! Let us know in the comments below. 

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.