Five Tips for Decorating a Girl’s Bedroom by: Melissa A. Boyd
Little girl's love to spend time in their bedrooms. It's a place all of their own. A place where they can not only sleep, but dream. What better way to help your child's dreams come true then by surrounding them with their favorite things! Decorating your child’s bedroom can be both a fun and rewarding experience for both of you. Here are five simple tips to get you started in the right direction:
Listen
The most important factor is to hear your child's ideas; after all it is "her" room you are decorating! Have her sit down and make a list of her favorite things from toys to television programs. Would she like to have a themed bedroom? Or would she like to utilize her favorite colors as a canvas for a potpourri of decor?
Children's Wall Art & Posters
Recycle
Make use of what is already in place. You will be amazed at how you can turn items already in her bedroom into something new! If her dresser has an attached mirror, remove it from the dresser base and place a new mirror directly to the wall. Change dresser knobs/and pulls. Flip posters around and let her draw her own masterpiece. Paint bedroom doors for a new bold look. Purchase a duvet cover for a quick bedding change.
Think Ahead
Like the seasons change, so does your child's likes and dislikes. As a parent you may have obtained a "feel” for this. Take this in account when decorating. Also, ask yourself if she will still love the hand painted mural of the fairy's garden a few months from now. Will she love the pink carpet when she is a teen? Explore less permanent options such as wall stick ups, framed art, and accent rugs.
Simple Impact
You can make a dramatic change by just adding splashes of color and texture. Add accent pillows and throws to bedding. Hang throws and tapestry from the wall. Change window treatments. Throw down accent rugs for quick impact.
Have Fun
Spending time with your child decorating her room should be fun. Explore each other's creative side by creating artwork, bulletin boards, and other decor crafts together. Throw a bedroom-makeover party for her and her friends. They can each make a decor item for the room.
These are just a few of the many tips and ideas to incorporate when beginning your decorating adventure. You’ll be sure to come up with plenty of your own by project’s end. Make sure and jot them down for next time. Yes, there will be next time!
Melissa A. Boyd is the creator of themes4kids.com, a comprehensive resource for decorating kid's bedrooms and baby nurseries. You will find bedroom themes, tips, articles, and much more!
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
New Renter? Decorate Your New Home on a Budget!
New Renter? Decorate Your New Home on a Budget!By Kathy Wilson
Perhaps you are just starting out in your first apartment rental home, or are starting over again and you don't know how to begin decorating your new place? Here are some easy, inexpensive, landlord friendly ideas for making a space your own!
Choose a feeling you want in your apartment or rental home. Since apartments and rentals tend to be smaller spaces, choosing a set of feelings as a theme to cover the whole space can both visually enlarge the space, and make the job much less complicated. Want a relaxed, calming atmosphere to unwind in? Choose neutrals or cool colors such as blues and greens. Want to express your colorful personality? Try using bright, energetic color combinations.
If you are in need of furniture, check out yard sales, classified ads, and even thrift shops to save yourself big bucks. Keep your choices to simple pieces that will blend with any décor, in the case of a move or a change of taste. You can make a simple platform bed with concrete cinder clocks and ¾ inch plywood or mdf board. Futon mattresses are less expensive then regular mattresses, and can offer good firm support.
Add Some Personality. Now that you have a few pieces of furniture and have chosen your color scheme to represent the feeling of the room, its time to add some personality! Throw pillows and throw blankets add color and charm, warm up the room, and disguise imperfect furniture.
Most renters can't paint the walls, so add color in creative ways. Pick up a collection of dollar store frames, spray paint them black for sophistication, then frame unusual things such as pretty pieces of fabric, cd covers, soup can labels, or even sheet music! Pick something you love, then display them as a grouping on the wall.
Don't be afraid to paint that old furniture your Aunt Rose gave you. (Unless its an heirloom, of course!) Anything can be painted these days, even cheap laminate bookcases. Clean the piece well, sand lightly, then prime with a specialty primer such as KILZ Original. Now simply paint the piece with regular semi gloss house paint! You can add stenciling or stamps to give it a custom feel. Paint all the furniture one color to tie it together and make the room seem larger, or feel free to experiment and paint all the dining chairs a different color. (Remember "Friends"?)
Just because it's a rental doesn't mean it can't be home. Add your own stamp to each and every room giving it personality. Bring out those family photos, use that rug you made in the third grade as a seat cushion, or hang your Grandmothers costume jewelry from your chandelier. Use creativity, and learn to use your home to express yourself.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you
Perhaps you are just starting out in your first apartment rental home, or are starting over again and you don't know how to begin decorating your new place? Here are some easy, inexpensive, landlord friendly ideas for making a space your own!
Choose a feeling you want in your apartment or rental home. Since apartments and rentals tend to be smaller spaces, choosing a set of feelings as a theme to cover the whole space can both visually enlarge the space, and make the job much less complicated. Want a relaxed, calming atmosphere to unwind in? Choose neutrals or cool colors such as blues and greens. Want to express your colorful personality? Try using bright, energetic color combinations.
If you are in need of furniture, check out yard sales, classified ads, and even thrift shops to save yourself big bucks. Keep your choices to simple pieces that will blend with any décor, in the case of a move or a change of taste. You can make a simple platform bed with concrete cinder clocks and ¾ inch plywood or mdf board. Futon mattresses are less expensive then regular mattresses, and can offer good firm support.
Add Some Personality. Now that you have a few pieces of furniture and have chosen your color scheme to represent the feeling of the room, its time to add some personality! Throw pillows and throw blankets add color and charm, warm up the room, and disguise imperfect furniture.
Most renters can't paint the walls, so add color in creative ways. Pick up a collection of dollar store frames, spray paint them black for sophistication, then frame unusual things such as pretty pieces of fabric, cd covers, soup can labels, or even sheet music! Pick something you love, then display them as a grouping on the wall.
Don't be afraid to paint that old furniture your Aunt Rose gave you. (Unless its an heirloom, of course!) Anything can be painted these days, even cheap laminate bookcases. Clean the piece well, sand lightly, then prime with a specialty primer such as KILZ Original. Now simply paint the piece with regular semi gloss house paint! You can add stenciling or stamps to give it a custom feel. Paint all the furniture one color to tie it together and make the room seem larger, or feel free to experiment and paint all the dining chairs a different color. (Remember "Friends"?)
Just because it's a rental doesn't mean it can't be home. Add your own stamp to each and every room giving it personality. Bring out those family photos, use that rug you made in the third grade as a seat cushion, or hang your Grandmothers costume jewelry from your chandelier. Use creativity, and learn to use your home to express yourself.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you
Thursday, May 15, 2008
How To Clutter Control Your Child's Bedroom
How To Clutter Control Your Child's Bedroom by: Sherrie Le Masurier
Kid’s clutter. What a chore. Things are put away and in no time the room is messy again.
With a little clutter control, your frustration over your child’s messy bedroom will be a thing of the past. Just think of how great it will feel to no longer take one step forward and two steps back.
With some clutter control and a personalized organizational system your child will have a solid foundation in which to build and maintain a clean and tidy room upon.
Let’s begin with your child’s clothes. Sort through everything. Start with one big clothing pile or attack things drawer by drawer. Make sure your child is available to try stuff on and share their input re: favorite items.
Making your child part of the clutter control process can lend itself to some great one-on-one-time not to mention it can also be a great learning opportunity for her.
Start piles (or boxes) of out-of-season and outgrown clothing. Once compiled remove the unnecessary clothing from your child’s room. Or, at the very least store it on a higher shelf. The same goes for clothing your child hasn’t grown into yet. Box it up and store elsewhere.
Simplify the clothing that remains. Does your child really wear all 25 T-shirts or does she just favor a few?
One of the most genuine excuses children give for not hanging up their clothes is that they can’t reach the rods. Once you have purged the excess clothing, you need to make sure your child can access what’s left. Lower the closet rod and install shelves at child-accessible heights. Also consider investing in child-sized hangers and open plastic baskets or bins for socks and underwear.
Old fashioned ‘catchall’ toy boxes may be the answer for your child’s stuffed toy collection but for small toys and books think shelves, shallow bins or carts with see-through wire baskets.
You may even want to color-code shelves and bookcases. Come up with a color scheme that matches the room’s décor e.g. blue for books, green for games, and so on. The different colors will be a visual reminder of where things go.
Label everything. You don’t need to get fancy with professionally made labels. Simply print some out on your computer and tape on.
Now put the labels everywhere on the inside and outside of drawers, on shelf edges, on the outside of the plastic bins etc.
It’s all well and good to organize your child’s room but unless you devise a maintenance plan all your work will be for not. Create a maintenance checklist and tailor the effort to your child’s age and ability. Build regular room maintenance into her daily routine.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
Kid’s clutter. What a chore. Things are put away and in no time the room is messy again.
With a little clutter control, your frustration over your child’s messy bedroom will be a thing of the past. Just think of how great it will feel to no longer take one step forward and two steps back.
With some clutter control and a personalized organizational system your child will have a solid foundation in which to build and maintain a clean and tidy room upon.
Let’s begin with your child’s clothes. Sort through everything. Start with one big clothing pile or attack things drawer by drawer. Make sure your child is available to try stuff on and share their input re: favorite items.
Making your child part of the clutter control process can lend itself to some great one-on-one-time not to mention it can also be a great learning opportunity for her.
Start piles (or boxes) of out-of-season and outgrown clothing. Once compiled remove the unnecessary clothing from your child’s room. Or, at the very least store it on a higher shelf. The same goes for clothing your child hasn’t grown into yet. Box it up and store elsewhere.
Simplify the clothing that remains. Does your child really wear all 25 T-shirts or does she just favor a few?
One of the most genuine excuses children give for not hanging up their clothes is that they can’t reach the rods. Once you have purged the excess clothing, you need to make sure your child can access what’s left. Lower the closet rod and install shelves at child-accessible heights. Also consider investing in child-sized hangers and open plastic baskets or bins for socks and underwear.
Old fashioned ‘catchall’ toy boxes may be the answer for your child’s stuffed toy collection but for small toys and books think shelves, shallow bins or carts with see-through wire baskets.
You may even want to color-code shelves and bookcases. Come up with a color scheme that matches the room’s décor e.g. blue for books, green for games, and so on. The different colors will be a visual reminder of where things go.
Label everything. You don’t need to get fancy with professionally made labels. Simply print some out on your computer and tape on.
Now put the labels everywhere on the inside and outside of drawers, on shelf edges, on the outside of the plastic bins etc.
It’s all well and good to organize your child’s room but unless you devise a maintenance plan all your work will be for not. Create a maintenance checklist and tailor the effort to your child’s age and ability. Build regular room maintenance into her daily routine.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Displaying and Storing Photographs
Displaying and Storing Photographs
Enjoying and Displaying Photos around the Home© Susan Whelan
May 4, 2008
There are many ways to display photos without increasing clutter. Take the time to display and enjoy some favourite family memories.Whether digital or film, photos are a great way to remember holidays, special family moments and other events and activities. Unfortunately, most photos end up either hidden away in boxes or photo albums or stored on a computer hard drive rarely, if ever, to be seen again.
Using Photo Albums or Photo Boxes
With large numbers of photos, a photo album or photo box is the most practical way to store and organise photos. Make sure that albums have acid-free pages to increase the longevity of the prints. Avoid storing albums in areas of high heat, damp or humidity.
Choose an album that has room for comments so that a date and a brief explanation of the people, place and/or event in the photos can be recorded. If using film photos, don’t make the mistake of putting all the photos from each film roll into the album just because they have been printed. Remove any that are out of focus and choose the best photo to display if there are multiples of a particular shot.
Photo boxes are great for those who want to minimise fuss with photos. Available at most department or discount stores, these boxes can store standard sized photos. Make sure that a date is written on the back of each photo. Many boxes have divider cards included and this is a good way to provide some order. Group chronologically or by event or location.
Keep a photo album or photo box on the coffee table so that family and guests can browse. Change the album regularly so that all photos can be viewed and shared.
Scrapbook to Record Special Memories
Scrapbooking is a popular hobby that allows people to create collages and display pages for photos.
Scrapbooking albums can easily take up as much room as a standard photo album, but only use a small number of photos. Scrapbooking pages aim to record the personality of an individual or group of people and the significance of a moment or event as much as simply being a way of displaying snapshots.
There are numerous scrapbooking how to books or computer programs to assist beginner scrapbookers. Scrapbooks make great coffee table books or gifts for special occasions. Photos can also be scrapbooked into framed pages or calendars for display.
Photo Frames
Frames are an easy way to display photos about the home, but they can result in clutter that distracts from the actual photo. Try to purchase frames with simple designs to reduce the appearance of clutter. Purchasing multiple frames in a similar style but different sizes will also help to keep collections of photo frames looking tidy.
Digital photo frames are a fantastic way of displaying a large number of photos without creating a messy, untidy home. Photos can be loaded onto the frame or a memory card and will cycle through to display each photo in turn in a continuous cycle. Frames can be purchased for as little as $60, which is significantly less than buying individual frames for each of the photos that need to be displayed.
Digital photo keyrings are also available and these make wonderful Christmas or birthday gifts as well as being ideal for Mothers’ Day or Fathers’ Day gifts.
Print Photos on Household Items
Many print and copy businesses as well as websites such as cafepress.com have facilities for printing photos onto T-shirts, coffee mugs, mouse mats, calendars and a variety of other household items. Family or holiday photos also make great computer screensavers or desktop images.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
Enjoying and Displaying Photos around the Home© Susan Whelan
May 4, 2008
There are many ways to display photos without increasing clutter. Take the time to display and enjoy some favourite family memories.Whether digital or film, photos are a great way to remember holidays, special family moments and other events and activities. Unfortunately, most photos end up either hidden away in boxes or photo albums or stored on a computer hard drive rarely, if ever, to be seen again.
Using Photo Albums or Photo Boxes
With large numbers of photos, a photo album or photo box is the most practical way to store and organise photos. Make sure that albums have acid-free pages to increase the longevity of the prints. Avoid storing albums in areas of high heat, damp or humidity.
Choose an album that has room for comments so that a date and a brief explanation of the people, place and/or event in the photos can be recorded. If using film photos, don’t make the mistake of putting all the photos from each film roll into the album just because they have been printed. Remove any that are out of focus and choose the best photo to display if there are multiples of a particular shot.
Photo boxes are great for those who want to minimise fuss with photos. Available at most department or discount stores, these boxes can store standard sized photos. Make sure that a date is written on the back of each photo. Many boxes have divider cards included and this is a good way to provide some order. Group chronologically or by event or location.
Keep a photo album or photo box on the coffee table so that family and guests can browse. Change the album regularly so that all photos can be viewed and shared.
Scrapbook to Record Special Memories
Scrapbooking is a popular hobby that allows people to create collages and display pages for photos.
Scrapbooking albums can easily take up as much room as a standard photo album, but only use a small number of photos. Scrapbooking pages aim to record the personality of an individual or group of people and the significance of a moment or event as much as simply being a way of displaying snapshots.
There are numerous scrapbooking how to books or computer programs to assist beginner scrapbookers. Scrapbooks make great coffee table books or gifts for special occasions. Photos can also be scrapbooked into framed pages or calendars for display.
Photo Frames
Frames are an easy way to display photos about the home, but they can result in clutter that distracts from the actual photo. Try to purchase frames with simple designs to reduce the appearance of clutter. Purchasing multiple frames in a similar style but different sizes will also help to keep collections of photo frames looking tidy.
Digital photo frames are a fantastic way of displaying a large number of photos without creating a messy, untidy home. Photos can be loaded onto the frame or a memory card and will cycle through to display each photo in turn in a continuous cycle. Frames can be purchased for as little as $60, which is significantly less than buying individual frames for each of the photos that need to be displayed.
Digital photo keyrings are also available and these make wonderful Christmas or birthday gifts as well as being ideal for Mothers’ Day or Fathers’ Day gifts.
Print Photos on Household Items
Many print and copy businesses as well as websites such as cafepress.com have facilities for printing photos onto T-shirts, coffee mugs, mouse mats, calendars and a variety of other household items. Family or holiday photos also make great computer screensavers or desktop images.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
An Apartment Checklist of What to Buy First
An Apartment Checklist of What to Buy First Getting your first apartment is exhilarating. That empty space is full of promise and prospects for shopping. Let your imagination wander. Depending on your shopping personality, it is easy either to get carried away and blow your money on nonessential (but gratifying) items; or to tremble at the thought of spending your hard-earned income on expensive furniture.
Below is a list of 11 essential purchases for turning your first apartment into a comfortable, functional home. My suggestion is to purchase at least the first five items before you move in.
1. Mattress / BedThis first purchase is a no-brainer, especially after you've spent a night or two on a cold hard floor in a sleeping bag.
Those first days, weeks, or months in your first apartment, your bed can be the place where you eat, read, and watch TV.
Remember to measure your bedroom, before you buy the mattress. Also, think about how much you can spend on sheets. Queen-size sheets cost significantly more than twin sheets.
Compare Mattresses
2. Trash CansI like having a minimum of three trash cans, one each for the bathroom, the kitchen, and my bedroom.
3. Shower Curtain and Shower RingsNot all apartments come with a shower curtain, and I would be suspicious of how clean one is, if it does. Shower curtains come in all different texture, colors, and can be opaque or transparent. With this inexpensive purchase, you can really add style and personality to your apartment bathroom.
Compare Prices
4. Curtains or BlindsIf you have bare windows in your first apartment, purchase curtains or blinds as soon as you can--for the sake of privacy. Blinds are more functional, but curtains have a soft appeal. Plus, the fabric of curtains is a better barrier against sound and the cold outside.
Compare Prices
5. Chest of Drawers or Hanging Closet OrganizersThere are many ways to store your clothing. As long as you have one, you're all right. A chest of drawers is great, if you have the space. A cheaper alternative to a dresser is stackable plastic drawers. You can also buy hanging shelves with hooks that sit on your closet rod.
Hanging Closet Organizers: Buy Direct
6. Dishware, Cups, and UtensilsIt's much cheaper to eat at home than at a restaurant. Acquire some bowls, cups, plates, forks, spoons, and knives--disposable or permanent.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
Below is a list of 11 essential purchases for turning your first apartment into a comfortable, functional home. My suggestion is to purchase at least the first five items before you move in.
1. Mattress / BedThis first purchase is a no-brainer, especially after you've spent a night or two on a cold hard floor in a sleeping bag.
Those first days, weeks, or months in your first apartment, your bed can be the place where you eat, read, and watch TV.
Remember to measure your bedroom, before you buy the mattress. Also, think about how much you can spend on sheets. Queen-size sheets cost significantly more than twin sheets.
Compare Mattresses
2. Trash CansI like having a minimum of three trash cans, one each for the bathroom, the kitchen, and my bedroom.
3. Shower Curtain and Shower RingsNot all apartments come with a shower curtain, and I would be suspicious of how clean one is, if it does. Shower curtains come in all different texture, colors, and can be opaque or transparent. With this inexpensive purchase, you can really add style and personality to your apartment bathroom.
Compare Prices
4. Curtains or BlindsIf you have bare windows in your first apartment, purchase curtains or blinds as soon as you can--for the sake of privacy. Blinds are more functional, but curtains have a soft appeal. Plus, the fabric of curtains is a better barrier against sound and the cold outside.
Compare Prices
5. Chest of Drawers or Hanging Closet OrganizersThere are many ways to store your clothing. As long as you have one, you're all right. A chest of drawers is great, if you have the space. A cheaper alternative to a dresser is stackable plastic drawers. You can also buy hanging shelves with hooks that sit on your closet rod.
Hanging Closet Organizers: Buy Direct
6. Dishware, Cups, and UtensilsIt's much cheaper to eat at home than at a restaurant. Acquire some bowls, cups, plates, forks, spoons, and knives--disposable or permanent.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
Monday, May 5, 2008
General Tips -- The Bathroom and Utility Room
General Tips -- The Bathroom and Utility Room© Wendy Waid Nov 4, 2001
I have been getting plenty of emails from people asking me about certain tips and hints about various topics. For my dear readers, I thought I would post some of my tips here. Feel free to put your own tips in my discussion forum or email them to me. Everyone loves tips. Thanks. This article is second in the series. Come back again for more tips and hints!
Clarifying Confusion in the Bathroom: The bathroom is one of the dirtiest and most difficult to clean quickly. I receive dozens and dozens of pleas from readers asking for bathroom tips ranging from how to clean to how to repair. For now, we’ll just focus on cleaning and other useful tips for the “throne room”.
Invest in those new sweepers with the disposable cloth covers (like Swifter). Get both the dry and wet cloths. Sweep the floor with the dry cloth to collect all the loose hair, then wipe clean with the wet cloth. Works great! Get a card at your local wholesale warehouse (like Sams Club or Costco). You can find giant-sized cloth refills really cheap there. The toilet paper bundles are usually not much cheaper than the stores. Cover the floors with bathroom rugs. Not only do they keep your feet warm in the cold and clean after showers, but they keep the floors a lot cleaner and make it easier to clean. Simply shake the rug before sweeping. Get a rug that can be washed in the wash machine. You only need to wash these occasionally. To clean the bathtub and counter, get some scrubbing powder. Personally, I found the cheaper generic brands work the same as the more expensive known brands (such as Comet). Sprinkle the powder on the surfaces and scrub with a wet sponge. Works really great on mildew-covered surfaces and those ugly orange rings around the tub. If you have too much mildew build-up or have some areas that are hard to reach (like around the base of a faucet), spray with a wipe-less mildew remover spray. These strong sprays require a lot of ventilation, especially since they have strong odors. Keep doors open and fans on to ventilate. Be sure to spray with water after a few minutes, otherwise the spray might begin to cause damage. Buy toilet paper when it goes on sale and stock up. Buy an extra package of white dish cloths or facial cloths to wipe sinks and counter tops. Use white since the dye on the colored cloths may rub off onto your surfaces. You can find large cheap packages of cloths at Kmart and Walmart.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
I have been getting plenty of emails from people asking me about certain tips and hints about various topics. For my dear readers, I thought I would post some of my tips here. Feel free to put your own tips in my discussion forum or email them to me. Everyone loves tips. Thanks. This article is second in the series. Come back again for more tips and hints!
Clarifying Confusion in the Bathroom: The bathroom is one of the dirtiest and most difficult to clean quickly. I receive dozens and dozens of pleas from readers asking for bathroom tips ranging from how to clean to how to repair. For now, we’ll just focus on cleaning and other useful tips for the “throne room”.
Invest in those new sweepers with the disposable cloth covers (like Swifter). Get both the dry and wet cloths. Sweep the floor with the dry cloth to collect all the loose hair, then wipe clean with the wet cloth. Works great! Get a card at your local wholesale warehouse (like Sams Club or Costco). You can find giant-sized cloth refills really cheap there. The toilet paper bundles are usually not much cheaper than the stores. Cover the floors with bathroom rugs. Not only do they keep your feet warm in the cold and clean after showers, but they keep the floors a lot cleaner and make it easier to clean. Simply shake the rug before sweeping. Get a rug that can be washed in the wash machine. You only need to wash these occasionally. To clean the bathtub and counter, get some scrubbing powder. Personally, I found the cheaper generic brands work the same as the more expensive known brands (such as Comet). Sprinkle the powder on the surfaces and scrub with a wet sponge. Works really great on mildew-covered surfaces and those ugly orange rings around the tub. If you have too much mildew build-up or have some areas that are hard to reach (like around the base of a faucet), spray with a wipe-less mildew remover spray. These strong sprays require a lot of ventilation, especially since they have strong odors. Keep doors open and fans on to ventilate. Be sure to spray with water after a few minutes, otherwise the spray might begin to cause damage. Buy toilet paper when it goes on sale and stock up. Buy an extra package of white dish cloths or facial cloths to wipe sinks and counter tops. Use white since the dye on the colored cloths may rub off onto your surfaces. You can find large cheap packages of cloths at Kmart and Walmart.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
How to Rent an Apartment or House
By eHow Personal Finance Editor
Rate: (35 Ratings)
The rental markets in many cities are cyclical: a few boom years with renters scrambling for any available studio followed by a glut in availability. In either scenario, the most desirable rental units are snapped up the quickest. Do your homework, then hit the pavement.
rental markets in many cities are cyclical: a few boom years with renters scrambling for any available studio followed by a glut in availability. In either scenario, the most desirable rental units are snapped up the quickest. Do your homework, then hit the pavement.';
Step1Be prepared: Create a renter's re'sume' with your current and previous five addresses and landlord phone numbers, your employer and length of employment, your current salary and other income, personal references, among other information. Include a copy of your credit report (see How to Shop for a Mortgage, Step 5). You want to look as good on paper as possible to stand out from other applicants.
Step2Look in the newspaper classifieds, apartment hunter publications, college campus bulletin boards, and online for available units to investigate. Ask friends about openings in their buildings.
Step3Consider how much you can afford to pay. A good rule of thumb is no more than 30 percent of your take-home monthly income.
Step4Enlist a rental agent to narrow your search. Depending on the market, this service may be free (paid for by landlords) or cost you a percentage of your rent when you land the apartment.
Step5Turn to a roommate service if you're looking for cheaper space to share. Be clear what qualities you desire in a roommate, as well as types of people or habits you'd prefer to avoid, such as smokers.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
By eHow Personal Finance Editor
Rate: (35 Ratings)
The rental markets in many cities are cyclical: a few boom years with renters scrambling for any available studio followed by a glut in availability. In either scenario, the most desirable rental units are snapped up the quickest. Do your homework, then hit the pavement.
rental markets in many cities are cyclical: a few boom years with renters scrambling for any available studio followed by a glut in availability. In either scenario, the most desirable rental units are snapped up the quickest. Do your homework, then hit the pavement.';
Step1Be prepared: Create a renter's re'sume' with your current and previous five addresses and landlord phone numbers, your employer and length of employment, your current salary and other income, personal references, among other information. Include a copy of your credit report (see How to Shop for a Mortgage, Step 5). You want to look as good on paper as possible to stand out from other applicants.
Step2Look in the newspaper classifieds, apartment hunter publications, college campus bulletin boards, and online for available units to investigate. Ask friends about openings in their buildings.
Step3Consider how much you can afford to pay. A good rule of thumb is no more than 30 percent of your take-home monthly income.
Step4Enlist a rental agent to narrow your search. Depending on the market, this service may be free (paid for by landlords) or cost you a percentage of your rent when you land the apartment.
Step5Turn to a roommate service if you're looking for cheaper space to share. Be clear what qualities you desire in a roommate, as well as types of people or habits you'd prefer to avoid, such as smokers.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you.
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