Even if your apartment is only small, it can be helpful to keep on top of cleaning chores so that it doesn’t start to become cluttered and dirty. In fact, many times smaller apartments are harder to keep clean than bigger ones, due to a lack of storage which can lead to clutter. 

To help you keep your apartment clean, whatever its size, you can choose to hire a cleaning company who may only need to visit once a week, or on a bi-weekly basis. Or, if wanting to keep it clean yourself (or maintain cleanliness between cleaning service visits), you can try out the following chore plan:

Daily apartment cleaning chores 

Room tidying – make beds in the morning (or whenever your teenagers crawl out of them!), put clothes away (either in the closet or the laundry basket), tidy up cushions and throws, and clear clutter from surfaces such as coffee tables and sideboards. 

Dish washing – whether you load up the dishwasher or wash in the sink, try to clear dirty dishes after every meal to prevent from attracting pests, and to reduce nasty smells and unsightliness.  

Counter and table wiping – a quick wipe down of all counters and tables can reduce staining and keep everything looking tidy and hygienically clean.  

Sweeping of high-traffic areas – you can sweep with an indoor brush and pan, or run the vacuum cleaner quickly over areas of your home that typically see a lot of foot traffic. This will stop debris and dust being carried from room to room throughout your apartment. Additionally, it will keep your floors in good condition for longer. 

Weekly apartment cleaning chores

Vacuuming of carpets and rugs – a thorough vacuuming of the carpets and rugs in your apartment once a week, will keep dirt, dust and other allergens at bay, as well as keeping your floors looking nicer. Use the vacuum attachments to reach tricky to reach areas, for a comprehensive clean. 

Mopping of hard floors – once you’ve swept or vacuumed your hard floors, mop them using a good quality cleaning solution for a shine and cleanliness that will help keep your apartment looking and smelling, fresh and clean. 

Cleaning of surfaces in bathrooms – once a week, try to give all of the surfaces in your bathrooms a good clean from top to bottom. This will prevent such smelly and potentially hazardous problems as mold from taking hold, and make the entire space more hygienic and safe for use. 

Dusting of all surfaces – even if you don’t always see dust accumulating in areas of your home, you can bet it’s there. Dusting as many surfaces in your home with a microfiber cloth as you can on a weekly basis, will significantly reduce allergens. 

Monthly and seasonal apartment cleaning chores

Deep cleaning of oven and refrigerator – ovens and fridges that get a lot of use, should ideally be cleaned inside and out at least once a month. You may need to remove drawers and shelves in the refrigerator for a proper clean, along with the racks inside the oven. 

Washing of inside windows – depending on the size and number of windows in your apartment, it may not take long to give them all a clean, once a month. This can brighten spaces and make the whole apartment look more welcoming. 

Checking and cleaning of vents and filters – air filters in HVAC systems get dusty quickly, and may need to be cleaned or replaced periodically. 

Descaling of faucets and showerheads – by wrapping the showerhead in a bag filled with vinegar overnight, you can descale it successfully. The same should also work for faucets. 

To keep your apartment clean and tidy for longer (and forget all about the weekly and monthly chores!), simply hire a professional cleaning service, and enjoy a clean and tidy apartment, more of the time. 

If you’ve decided to renovate your kitchen, you’ll obviously be thinking of ways to make it as functional as possible, while also looking modern and stylish. One important consideration to make when planning such a renovation, is what cabinetry you will choose, as this can have a significant factor on both functionality, and style.

That said, with so many different types of cabinetry available, choosing the best one for your kitchen renovation may not be such a simple task.

To help you make an informed decision, here is a short guide:

Framed kitchen cabinets

With a frame surrounding the front, exterior edge of the cabinet box (known as a face frame), these cabinets are traditional in style and can give a kitchen a classic, timeless look.  With the frame offering structural support to the cabinet, it also allows for the direct attachment of hinges, helping to facilitate the installation of the doors.

Highly versatile, these classic cabinets can be made to suit any style of door and any type of finish. 

Frameless kitchen cabinets

Sometimes referred to as full-access cabinets or European-style, this style doesn’t have the face frame found in traditional, framed cabinetry, and instead, has doors that are directly attached to the cabinet box sides. 

If you’re looking for a more minimalist, ultra-modern style of kitchen, frameless cabinetry can help you achieve that, while also making the most of space inside the cabinet, and giving you easy access to anything stored inside. That said, they can also look great in a more traditional style of kitchen, or one that combines contemporary, with classic.

Inset cabinets

This type has doors and drawers that are flush with the frame of the cabinet, giving them a seamless look resembling something custom made. Although these cabinets do require specialist installation, many homeowners find this worth it for the elegant and sophisticated aesthetic that they offer. 

Often used in high-end, luxury kitchens with traditional designs, they can elevate a space and create a real sense of ambience. 

Stock cabinets

If your budget is limited or your timeframe is restricted, this type of cabinet is the ideal choice. Available in sizes and designs that are standard and pre-made, stock cabinets can be bought and installed, immediately. 

Although these are a budget-friendly, speedy option, it’s worth noting that there are often few opportunities for customization, should that be your desire. 

Semi-custom cabinets

Striking a balance between customization and affordability, semi-custom cabinets do give you the opportunity to personalize them a little, such as by choosing from different sizes, materials, accessories and finishes. 

With more flexibility than stock cabinets, while still being affordable, this type of cabinetry could be a good middle ground option. 

Custom cabinets

With virtually limitless possibilities when it comes to design, custom cabinets can be made to match your exact needs and preferences, although they do come with a higher price tag and longer waiting times, as a result.

From specialized storage solutions, and unique configurations, to high-end materials and finishes, this type of cabinetry can help truly personalize a kitchen.

Cabinetry can make or break a kitchen design, and as such, is always worth giving plenty of thought to before investing in. A great way of visualizing cabinetry before you buy it, is to visit a kitchen showroom, or ask a local renovation company for samples.  

We all know the purpose of a kitchen hood is to help remove cooking smoke, grease, and odours and therefore preserve the walls and everything else in the kitchen and adjoining spaces.

Over time, grease and odours can taint soft furnishings in a kitchen and discolour pretty much anything in the immediate vicinity that can’t easily be wiped clean, turning a kitchen into a stinky, uninviting, and unhygienic space. With a high-quality range hood surround, on the other hand, homeowners can extend the life of everything in their kitchen and make the space a far cleaner and more pleasurable one to spend time in.

If you’re planning to build your own home or renovate your kitchen and are contemplating not adding a range hood to the design, you absolutely should think twice! If you’ve already decided that you’re going to add a new range hood to your kitchen or upgrade your existing one, here are a few factors to consider:

Performance

A range hood is only ever as powerful, and therefore as effective, as the level of its fan power. The degree of power needed for the hood to perform its role successfully depends on the level of energy being produced on the stove. So when choosing a range hood, you should think about the amount and frequency of cooking usually carried out and how much smoke or grease is typically generated. If you do a lot of grilling on your cooktop, for example, a wider hood with a more powerful fan would be favourable.

Positioning

A range’s power influences the range hood’s position, which is typically between 24 and 34 inches directly above the range. But you’ll also need to think about the positioning of the ductwork. Although the hood is best vented through a run of ductwork that’s straight and vertical, this isn’t always feasible, particularly if you want the range to be positioned below a ductwork bend. Should this be necessary, the fan will not be able to perform as efficiently, and a more powerful motor may be required.

It’s also important to consider the noise when positioning your range hood and surround. A powerful fan is naturally noisier, and this may be an issue depending on where it will be positioned in the space. Be sure to hear the fan operating before you make any purchase. It is possible to have the fan mounted on the exterior of the home, which can reduce the sound by up to 40%, but this technique can be tricky and hence cost more.

Aesthetics

Many homeowners want their range hood and surround to be a feature of their kitchen and with good reason! Coming in hundreds of different shapes, sizes, designs, and colours, it’s easy to turn your range hood into an aesthetically pleasing addition to your home and turn your kitchen from drab and dull to interesting and eye-catching. Precast concrete range surrounds make customization especially simple, and in modern kitchens where a less fussy aesthetic is desired, they can be a wonderful addition.

Range hoods mainly come as one- or two-piece units, with one-piece hoods having a fan inside and an exterior shell that’s visible, while two-piece custom range hood covers give more freedom and flexibility in terms of design, performance, and style.

Choosing a precast concrete range hood surround can simplify your cleaning routine and give you a modern and stylish aesthetic. But whatever type of range hood and surround you choose, try to see it as an investment and select a high-quality, high-performing one from a reputable manufacturer.