Make Dishwashing Easier

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Do you hate doing dishes? It ranks as one of our least favorite chores. However, this daily or weekly occurrence does not have to be miserable. Apartment Therapy has some great tips to make your dishes a little easier.


1. Start the night with an empty dish rack or dishwasher.


Tackling dirty dishes after dinner isn't a chore I enjoy. Especially if there's a dish rack to empty or dishwasher to unload first. It's easier and less daunting to tackle a sink full of dirty dishes when the dishwasher is already empty.


2. Get a head start with a bowl of soapy hot water by the sink.


When it comes to cooking, we've talked a lot about cleaning as you go, so think of this little tip as an extension of that. It's helpful to keep a large container of soapy hot water near the sink, then drop dirty utensils and tools in as you finish using them. It gives you a jumpstart on dishwashing, plus it prevents utensils from cluttering the bottom of the sink.

3. Save water by running the dishwasher instead of washing by hand.


If you're lucky enough to have a dishwasher, don't feel guilty about running it. Not only do dishwashers make cleanup a lot easier, but you're also likely to use less water than if you were washing by hand, especially if you have a newer-model dishwasher.


4. Keep a clear sink and store sponges in the dishwasher.


I love this reader tip for storing sponges in the dishwasher. It keeps your counter and sink free from clutter, and your sponges are always clean. It's a win-win.


5. Know what isn't meant for the dishwasher.


Dishwashers are a kitchen luxury that make cleanup a much faster and easier task. But a dishwasher is not a catchall for all your tools and dinnerware. There are actually a number of pots, pans, and servingware that should always be washed by hand.


6. Your dishwasher needs a little TLC once in a while.


Running load after load of dirty plates and bowls can take its toll on a dishwasher after a while. So, to keep it working well, it needs a little TLC every once in a while. Be sure to do things like clean the dishwasher trap and seals, and run an empty load with vinegar.

Keep Your Drinks Cool

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Are you entertaining family and friends this summer? Do not be afraid to take your party outside. Here are some great tips on how to keep your drinks cool all summer long. For more great entertaining tips, check out Apartment Therapy.



Summer is rolling in, and with it comes a steady flow of refreshing pitcher drinks. Whether you go for flavored water, lemonade, iced tea, or your favorite cocktail, the key is keeping your favorite drink chilled.

And the trick to longer-lasting ice lies in one simple baking tool: muffin tins.

The small cubes made in your freezer's ice maker or plastic trays are fine for filling glasses, but they just won't cut when it comes to pitcher drinks. The problem with small ice cubes is they melt way too fast in a large pitcher. So your drink gets watered down and it doesn't stay cold.

Instead what you need are large cubes of ice that can go the distance, and keep your drinks chilled longer. As a rule of thumb, the size of the ice cubes should match the size of what the drink is being served in.
The Best Tool for Pitcher Ice: Muffin Tins

Before making your next pitcher drink, reach for a muffin tin (or two). Yes, that's right — a muffin tin. It's not just for baking. Muffin tins are the ideal size to make large, long-lasting ice cubes to keep pitcher drinks cool.

Fill the cups with plain water or make the ice more fun by adding sliced lemon or small pieces of fruit. Then, to release the cubes, just run the bottom of the muffin tin under hot water for about 30 seconds.

5 Pitcher Drink Recipes
Pitcher Drink Recipe: Spiced Rye & Honey Cocktail
Pitcher Cocktail Recipe: Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria
Recipe: Spicy Ginger Lemonade
Recipe: Iced Green Tea with Mint & Ginger Drink
How To Make Southern Sweet Tea

Make Your Apartment Life Better

Have you spoken with your landlord since you moved in? Living in an apartment isn’t always a walk in the park. It could benefit you tremendously if you establish a positive relationship with your landlord. Follow these tips from Lifehacker to get the most out of your apartment living. http://lifehacker.com/top-10-tricks-for-better-apartment-living-1441257482


Apartment hunting can be stressful, and living in an apartment isn't always a picnic either. From noisy neighbors to horrible landlords and tight spaces, things can get dicey. But with the right tricks up your sleeve, living in an apartment can be awesome. Here are ten ways to make that happen.

10. Find the Perfect Pad

The first step to better apartment living is, obviously to find a good apartment to begin with. It takes a little research, but with a bit of patience you should be able to find a nice apartment in the neighborhood you want. Check our five favorite apartment search tools to get started, and be sure to bring this checklist with you toask the most important questions while you hunt.

9. Cultivate a Good Relationship with Your Landlord

When you're looking for an apartment, don't just look at the unit—pay close attention to the landlord too. Avoid future problems by getting everything in writing, documenting the condition of the apartment, and knowing your rights. Hopefully you won't have too many problems, but if something ever does go wrong, make sure you hold your landlord accountable.

8. Save on Rent (and Moving Costs)

Many landlords are willing to negotiate on price, as long as you aren't competing with a bunch of other tenants. Try negotiating on things like pet fees or parking spaces rather than the actual rent cost, which can be tricky. The easiest way to save money on rent, though? Move in the winter, rather than the summer, when there's less competition. In fact, data shows that mornings at the beginning or end of November is the best time to search. Photo remixed from originals by The Noun Project, Maurizio Pedrazzoli, and Bev Sykes.

7. Upgrade It (Temporarily)

One of the major downsides of apartment living is that you can't upgrade a lot of things that are older or not as nice as you'd like. You may not be able to redo the entire kitchen, but you can perform a lot of temporary upgrades (old school or high-tech) that will make things look a little nicer and work a little better. Plus, if you want to put in the work, try talking to your landlord—they might be okay with you making a bigger upgrade, especially it if ends up saving (or making) them money in the long run.

6. Ease Roommate Tension

If you're living with roommates, you have a whole new set of things to deal with. For example, you have to divide up all your expenses, and share a close quarters living space. The former can be easily managed with a service like Splitwise, and almost everything else just means you should have a conversation and set ground rules early on. Of course, if you just get stuck with a horrible roommate, there are ways to "evict" them, too.

5. Deal with Noisy Neighbors

When you live in a house, your neighbors are separated by...well, another house. When you live in an apartment, your neighbors are separated by what always appears to be paper-thin "walls." If your neighbor is prone to loud music, lovemaking, or dance dance revolution binges at 1am, you have options. Obviously you can have a conversation with them, but depending on the circumstances, it may pay to go to the management or send them more subtle messages. Of course, you could just fill out this complaint form and slip it under their door too. And if you don't have any noisy neighbors...make sure you're not the noisy neighbor. Image remixed from YuriArcurs.

4. Avoid the Dreaded Rent Increase

Just because you got a good deal on rent at the beginning doesn't mean you're in the clear. Landlords increase rent all the time, and if you aren't prepared, you'll end up paying more next year than you did this year. Luckily, it may be avoidable. First, make sure it's even legal for them to do so, and see if you can negotiate them down(much like you did with the initial rent). This form letter may help you out, too.

3. Save on Energy Costs

Like upgrading your fixtures, some energy-saving measures are more difficult to pull off in an apartment, but you can still do a lot. For example, you can still install window shades, install a programmable thermostat, use energy efficient light bulbs, and more. In fact, most of our best energy-saving tips should be applicable to apartment living—just make sure you check with your landlord before you start tearing anything apart or sealing up doors and windows.

2. Make It Feel Like Home

You may not be able to repaint your apartment, install new carpet, or make any other permanent changes, you can still customize it and make it feel like home. Use photos and frames creatively to keep the walls from looking too bare, and add a large rug or other floor covering to switch things up. Stick to good design principles and a little can go a long way, at least until it's time to buy your own place.

1. Use Your Space Wisely

You hear it all the time, but the most useful apartment tips we encounter always have to do with saving space. It makes sense, since apartments can be pretty tight fits—especially if you're renting in a big city. You can save a lot of space with cheap household products, though—like command hooks, bed risers, and over-the-door storage racks. Just remember: use your vertical space when you don't have horizontal space, especially where it's easily out of sight.