6 Easy Ways to Keep Every Corner of Your Apartment Clean

Neglecting to clean your stovetop on a regular basis can run the risk of burnt food building up on the coils, making it even harder to clean or repair. 

• You can remove coils from electric stoves simply by lifting the heating element up slightly, finding the attachment, and pulling directly away. 
• Coils shouldn't be soaked, but a combination of soap or baking soda and water should be able to take care of any buildup.
• If your unit has a flat surface stovetop, use a microfiber or soft sponge (never a scouring pad or scrub brush) with vinegar and water to deep clean your electric range. 

• An easy way to clean your garbage disposal in under 10 minutes is to sprinkle in a half-cup of baking soda in the drain. Then, pour over a cup of white vinegar and let sit for a few minutes before rinsing with hot water. 

• Things you should never put down your garbage disposal are grease, bones, coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit pits, potato peels, and of course, your hands! Make sure to use a wooden spoon or another similar kitchen tool to get anything unstuck.

• Maintenance Team Tip: Did you know here's a red reset button on the garbage disposals in our BPM property units? If your garbage disposal ever gets jammed or the motor overloads, press the red button to shut the disposal off. 

Yep, you read that correctly. Your dishwasher has a filter that can be removed and cleaned to keep it running efficiently.

• Most dishwasher filters need to be replaced only every 5 years, but cleaning your filter will keep that food mess being removed from your washer properly so it doesn't stick back onto your clean dishes!

The utility closet can often be overlooked when doing a deep clean of your apartment. The best way to not have a "junk drawer" style relationship with this part of your home is to make sure it stays clutter free. 

• Add removable hooks or add a pegboard onto the back of your doors for brooms, mops and dustpans.
• If your unit has a furnace accessible in this room, it's easy and affordable to check and replace the air filter to refresh your living space.

Dust bunnies might be calling your shelves, blinds and countertops home quicker than we can keep up with sometimes, but you can stay one step ahead by keeping a duster or other household items handy.

• Use a clean broom and using a rubber band attach a microfiber cloth over the bristles for hard to reach areas like ceilings, door frames, and on the side of the refrigerator inbetween the counter.
• For ceiling fans, slide a pillowcase over the blade and then pull the fabric back to keep all that dust contained, which makes it easy to machine wash!

Keeping your bathroom clean inbetween uses can be challenging, but there are many ways you can be ahead of the dreaded deep clean.

• Keep a handheld vaccuum nearby for hair and other miscellaneous debris on your floor. 
• A hair catcher in the shower drain is a great way to keep your prevent any clogging or backups.
• Keep small toiletries in baskets and boxes to keep clutter off the counter.