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. 

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. 

In most legal situations, it’s advised to have an attorney to represent you no matter what. However, it’s especially important in family law matters. Dealing with family issues in the legal system can be exceptionally difficult because of the strong, emotional component.

No matter how easy a situation may seem, it’s wise to hire an attorney for the following family-related legal situations.

1. Divorce

If you’re filing for divorce, you’ll want to have an attorney on your side because divorce isn’t an easy legal matter. It’s not just a matter of filing paperwork. There are nuanced circumstances that come with divorce, and that includes dividing marital property and child custody.

2. Property division

Dividing property is one of the most stressful aspects of any case, and if you’re dividing marital property, it can be especially stressful. Chances are, you and your ex-partner both have property you’re emotionally attached to, or property you’ve invested money in and don’t want to give up to the other person.

Property division doesn’t always work as an even 50/50 split based on the monetary value of each item. It’s more of an equitable distribution that accounts for each person’s income, living expenses, and more.

Whoever makes the least amount of money will likely be awarded the most expensive pieces of marital property. It doesn’t matter if the property has sentimental value to the other party.

You can negotiate, of course, if your partner is willing. However, you may not have a say in the matter. However, being represented by a lawyer will give you a better chance at hanging on to the property you can’t see losing.

3. Child custody

Emotions during child custody cases always run high, and that’s why a lawyer is essential for this type of family law issue. Parents fighting for custody of their children don’t want to be left with what feels like an unfair custody schedule, but it happens all the time.

The best way to make sure you get fair custody of your child is by hiring an attorney to represent you in court. You won’t have to worry about your emotions getting the best of you and possibly causing you to interrupt the judge or lash out in a way that can make you get less custody than you’d like.

4. Prenuptial agreements

Nobody gets married expecting to get a divorce, but in some situations, it’s imperative to have a prenuptial agreement. For instance, if you have a lot of property before you get married, you’ll want to create a prenup to make sure your property doesn’t become marital property in the future.

Another reason to get a prenup agreement is to protect inheritance rights of your children from other marriages or partners. They can also be used to set restrictions for alimony payments. However, you’ll need an attorney to create a prenuptial agreement for you and your soon-to-be spouse.

5. Adoption

Adopting a child is a nuanced legal process that doesn’t have room for mistakes. Whether you’re adopting your stepchild or any other child, only an attorney will know how to make sure you’re following the law. For instance, if you adopt your stepchild, you’ll also need to go through the process of terminating parental rights of the child’s biological parent.

6. Restraining orders

Restraining orders are difficult to obtain sometimes because they require a certain level of evidence that you’re in the danger you claim. Most courts will grant a temporary restraining order until your hearing, but if you can’t prove your claims sufficiently, there’s a chance you’ll lose your case.

On the other hand, many abusers file for restraining orders in retaliation against people who didn’t do anything wrong. If this happens to you, an attorney can help you get the restraining order request dropped. It may not seem like a big deal at first, but having a restraining order against you can force you to move out of your home if you live in the same house or on the same property as your accuser. It can also force you to quit your job or otherwise remove yourself from aspects of your daily life.

Having an attorney will reduce your stress

Regardless of what kind of family law matter you’re facing, having an attorney will make the process easier. The situation will still be emotional, but you’ll feel less stress when you don’t have to fight for yourself in the courtroom.