Stainless steel is beautiful, but it smudges easily. It can even, strangely, become stained. Don’t despair! It’s easy and inexpensive to keep your steel stainless and smudge-free. Timbercreek Communities has some great tips for how to keep your stainless steel clean.

Vinegar and Oil

Vinegar and oil is not only great for salad dressing, it also leaves your stainless steel gleaming! Don’t mix them together though, you need to apply the two ingredients separately. You can use mineral oil, olive oil or other vegetable oil. The first step is to determine to determine the direction of the grain, it will either be vertical or horizontal. Go with the grain.  Pour a small amount of oil on a microfiber cloth and polish in the direction of the grain. Next, pour a small amount of white vinegar on the other side of the cloth (or use a new cloth) and wipe off any remaining smudges, again, in the direction of the grain. You’ll be left with shiny steel!

Dish Soap and Baby Oil

For this 2 step process you’ll need a couple of soft, non-abrasive cloths, and a little dish soap and baby oil. Dampen your first cloth and apply a little dish soap. Clean the steel along the direction of the grains. Going against the grain will not damage the steel, but you won’t get the clean, gleaming shine that you’re looking for. When you’re done cleaning the steel, wipe up any water streaks before polishing (with the grain) with a couple of drops of baby or mineral oil on a cloth.

Club Soda

Is there anything club soda can’t clean? Put a little club soda in a spray bottle and spray directly onto the steel, then wipe it away with a cloth in the direction of the grain. This will remove fingerprints and residue, and give your stainless steel a nice shine.

Glass Cleaner

A big complaint with stainless steel is all the fingerprints. You can quickly remove them by using glass cleaner, such as Windex. It’s not recommended that you spray it directly onto the appliance, as you may end up with drip marks and residue. Spray a small amount onto a cloth and apply it in a circular motion. Rinse thoroughly with water and another cloth and dry with a clean towel.

Your stainless steel just wants to shine! Timbercreek Communities hopes these tips help you keep your stainless steel clean and bright.

To learn more about Timbercreek Rental Communities across Canada, please visit our website.

Simply put, minimalism is about doing more with less. Minimalist design and decor in your home can open up a room and make if feel more spacious by using clean lines, and carefully selected colours and pieces. Timbercreek Communities has 5 ways to get the minimalist living room you want.

Limit Your Choices

Minimalism doesn’t mean stark white and sterile. Choose a base colour and a few accent colours. Stick to this palette when choosing paint, furniture and decor for your space. If you choose neutral colours for walls and furniture, choose some warmer colours for pillows, rugs and decorations to soften the feeling of the room.

Create Focal Points

A well designed minimalist living room will offer an open, relaxing and calm atmosphere. You don’t want things to feel scattered or cluttered. Choose focal points to make the room feel centered and balanced. Place items such as rugs, pillows and carefully selected decorations together around big furniture. Also, limit the pieces of furniture to only what you need to feel comfortable. Place all your picture frames on a single table or shelf, rather than on any and all surfaces. If the room is feeling sparse, use single pieces of art or fabric on the walls to create and airy balance.

Balance

Minimalist design needs balance. This can mean arranging selected items symmetrically,   or asymmetrically. For example, you can flank a sofa with lamps and end tables on both sides, or guide the eye by placing items to one side, to lead the eye along and connect the room. It’s all about filling the space with care. 

Behind Closed Doors

Your living room will feel calmer when there is a place for everything and everything is in its place. Everything that you don’t love looking at should be hidden cleanly away inside cabinets or behind closet doors, in drawers or inside other storage space.

Clear Out the Clutter

When embarking on a minimalist lifestyle, it's a good idea to go through your possessions and decide what you really want to own. Clutter is the enemy of clean, minimalist design. Items that are out in the open should be arranged intentionally. For example, try to place books in order of size or colour -- this will create a harmonious feel throughout your space.

For information on Timbercreek Communities throughout Canada, please see our website.

An effective way to simplify your life is to start with your closet by building a capsule wardrobe. It’s not a physical structure -- you won’t need any tools, other than some organizational skills and the ability to let go. Building a capsule wardrobe is a way of living and dressing with less. Getting rid of everything that you don’t need can help you see what you actually do need. Timbercreek Communities is here to guide you as you build a capsule wardrobe.

Take Inventory

Before you can simplify and reorganize your wardrobe into a streamlined capsule, you’ll have to take stock of what you have. This means everything -- clothing, shoes, jewellery and accessories.  It may get a little messy, or a lot messy, but don’t worry, this is only step one. Place all of it on your bed, pile it up, if it’s all on your bed you will be motivated to get through it and when it’s all over, it's over. Really look at all of it, all that you have spent and acquired.

Sorting

The next step is to sort everything you have into categories. It may feel overwhelming but you’ll feel better once it’s done. Go through everything, piece by piece, and place it into one of four categories: love; maybe; donate and trash. The love pile is for items that fit you well and you wear frequently, because you love them! Maybe is for items you want to hold onto, even if you don’t know why. Donate is for items that you don’t wear -- they don’t fit you or your life. Trash is for items that are in poor condition and have simply run their course.

Second glance

After you have bagged up the ‘donate’ and ‘trash’ piles, it’s time to take a second pass. Go through the ‘love’ and ‘maybe’ piles again, and try on some of the remaining items. Have you worn any of these items in the last six months? Can you see yourself wearing any of them in the next 6 months? Would you buy this item today? If the answer is “no”, add these items to your ‘donate’ bag.

Choose your capsule

It’s time to choose the 30 items or so that will make it into your capsule (33 if you want to follow the Project 333 protocol). You can make a capsule for each season, and some of your favourite items may overlap across several of your seasonal capsules. Use this collection of your favourite go-to items to mix and match all season long and seriously declutter your closet. Box up the remaining items that you have decided to keep until it’s time to create the capsule for next season.

For information on Timbercreek Communities across Canada, please visit our website.

When life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade – make natural products to use around your Timbercreek Apartment! These natural lemon creations can replace store bought items that contain harmful chemicals and additives. Best of all, these natural products work just as well as their commercial alternatives.

Fridge Deodorizer

Using chemical-laden products close to your food feels like a bad idea. Thankfully, all you need for a natural fridge deodorizer is some lemon juice and cotton balls! Remove and discard all spoiled food from your fridge, transfer smelly foods (like cheese, onions and fish) to airtight containers, and then soak a few cotton balls in lemon juice and leave them in your fridge for 4 to 6 hours. That’s it! Repeat this process every few weeks, or whenever you detect unpleasant odours.

All Purpose Cleaner/Natural Bleach Alternative

Clean your Timbercreek apartment and leave a pleasant lemony scent in the air with this simple Three Ingredient All Purpose Cleaner. The ingredients for this non-toxic, natural cleaner are lemon juice, water and 3% hydrogen peroxide solution which is available from any drugstore. Hydrogen peroxide (3%) is the only germicidal agent that contains only water and oxygen. It kills microorganisms through oxidation. The lemon juice breaks down grease and grime. This homemade solution can even be used as a natural bleach alternative.

Homemade Mouthwash

It's easy to make your own homemade mouthwash. All you need is lemon juice, water and cinnamon. This mixture will freshen your breath and clean your mouth without chemicals like benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and poloxamer 407 (sounds pretty harmful).

Natural Insect Repellant

Lemons can be used as a natural insect repellent to deter uninvited guests that may have found their way into your home. Apply some fresh squeezed lemon juice along floors, windowsills, or anywhere an ant has appeared. You can also place dried lemon peels in your closets to deter moths and leave a fresh scent.

We hope this helps you find new uses for your leftover lemons and helps you replace harmful chemicals in your home.

For more information on Timbercreek Rental Communities across Canada, please visit our website.

Welcoming a puppy to your apartment can be a wonderful and exciting experience...until an unexpected injury or accident happens. Puppy proof your space to protect your little buddy. Find out how in today’s Petiquette 101 guide from Timbercreek Communities.

Start with your electronics

Make your apartment safe by taking note of any household items you have that feature cords -- this can include everything from your laptop to your bedroom lamp. Remove loose or hanging cords or wires that your pet might trip over or yank accidentally. Whatever wiring remains, cover with a standard cord protector to prevent your puppy from chewing them.

Keep toxic cleaners out of reach

Having a puppy in the house is similar to having a toddler. You have to hide your cleaning products! Equally life threatening for baby and pup alike, make sure that wherever you store your cleaning supplies, they are completely out of paw’s reach. Seeking an even safer storage solution? These Baby Proof Storage tips might be just what you need. Don’t stop with your cleaning products, the same rule applies to any medication in your apartment. Trust us, childproof lid or not, your puppy’s teeth will find a way to open that bottle.

Snag your houseplants before your pup does

Dogs love to sniff and chew on household plants. This may seem fine, but you may be shocked to learn that some household plants are extremely dangerous for animals to eat. If your favourite plant makes the caution list, make sure to move it well out of your little friend’s way. But let’s be real -- even if it wasn’t toxic, you’d want to keep that prized plant away from your curious puppy’s eager mouth.

Invest in chew toys

Your apartment isn’t officially puppy proof until you have at least half-a-dozen dog toys scattered about. As puppies teeth, high-quality chew toys are absolutely essential.

The team at Timbercreek Communities can’t wait to welcome your furry friend to one of our pet-friendly apartments. For more info about Timbercreek Communities apartments, located in five provinces and dozens of cities across Canada, please visit our website. 

Your bathroom is one of the most regularly used rooms in your apartment so why not make it your own? Adding a touch of style to your bathroom can be easy to do and completely reversible (in case you want to switch things up in the future). Get started this weekend with one of these creative bathroom decorating hacks.

(Photo: 236 Richmond Road)

Put Up a Stylish Shower Curtain

A new shower curtain can add a little personality to any bathroom, no hard hat or tools required. Pick up an affordable curtain from your local department store, or go big with a unique curtain created by an independent artist on Etsy.

Add a Statement Rug/Bath Mat

You’ll thank yourself for finally adding some style to your bathroom each and every time you walk into the room or step out of your shower. Save yourself a trip to the store, and a few extra dollars, with a fun and affordable DIY bath mat project.

Arrange Some Art

Sometimes it’s more about the arrangement than the art. Just about anything can look stylish when arranged and hung creatively. Consider a cool gallery-style display using ceramics you already have on hand, or mimic this creative arrangement made with postcards. 

Get a Plant

We recommend plants that are happy in humidity and fine without direct sunlight. Favourites include the Boston Fern, a Spider Plant or bamboo, each of which offer their own unique aesthetic and air-freshening capabilities.

Store Things in Style

What’s better than functional decor, especially in the bathroom? Create a stylish storage box that’s both full of character and completely practical, or try one of these witty ways of storing toilet paper.

Give your bathroom the love it deserves with a mini makeover. Start this weekend with one of today’s home styling tips that are easy and reversible. For more information about spacious Timbercreek Communities apartments, please visit our website. 

The holidays are a busy and exciting time. What’s fun for some can be overwhelming for others. The abundant decorations and lights can be very distracting and enticing for your cat. From tipping over the tree in an attempt to climb to the summit, to sniffing and scratching toxic plants and decorations, there is much that you need to deter you curious cat from exploring this holiday season. Timbercreek Communities has some great tips to help you cat-proof your home for the holidays.

Hang your mistletoe and holly high (it can be poisonous)

Hanging mistletoe and holly can be a happy holiday tradition (and a great way to get some free kisses) but did you know that the mistletoe berries contain polysaccharides and alkaloids that can be poisonous to your pets? To keep this tradition a happy one, make sure that these plants are kept well out of your cat’s reach.

Use cat-safe tree decorations and avoid tinsel

You may have noticed that your cat loves your Christmas tree, maybe even more than you do. What cat wouldn’t be happy to have a tree arrive, indoors, and then to have that tree adorned with all sorts of hanging ornaments to bat around?  Knowing this, it’s important to cat-proof your tree. You may want to choose ornaments that are less shiny, less dangly and therefore, less attractive to your kitty. You can also make your own cat-friendly decorations for your tree. There are some decorations out there that simply are not conducive to keeping your cat safe that should be avoided. Tinsel can be a choking hazard and even cause intestinal blockages, as can dangly ribbons. Fake snow can be toxic, and of course, real candles should not go anywhere near your tree.

Keep orange peels under your tree to repel your cat

The smell of orange peels and citrus can be delightful during the holidays, but it’s not something cats enjoy. If you are having trouble keeping kitty from climbing the tree, placing some chopped orange peels under there may be enough to keep your cat at bay. Replace the peels about once a week to keep the citrus oil scent strong.

Mist citronella on plastic trees

A citronella solution may be just the solution you need to keep your cat away from your artificial tree. Since there is no pine smell from a plastic tree, the citronella scent will be a strong deterrent for your cat. It’s important to make your solution strong enough, so be sure to use a ratio of 1 part citronella oil to 4 parts water.

Avoid poinsettias

Poinsettias, with their festive red and green colour, are a popular plant to buy and give during the holidays. Many people mistakenly believe they are poisonous for pets. The truth is they are only mildly toxic, so if someone shows up with one as a gift, there is no need to panic, but you should keep them well out of reach of your cat. Even a mildly toxic effect can cause discomfort and distress for your pet for which there is no effective treatment. Keep the plant high up and away from things your cat can climb easily.

Timbercreek wishes you a happy holiday season! We hope these tips help you cat-proof your holiday decorations this year. For information on Timbercreek Communities near you, please visit our website.

Spring isn’t the only season for cleaning. Fall is a time of transition and is a great time to start fresh with a clean and organized space. If you plan to tackle a little fall cleaning in your apartment, you need these 5 fall cleaning hacks from Timbercreek Communities. These cleaning hacks won’t just help you clean your apartment, they’ll make your life easier too.

Moving into a new home or apartment this year? Plan a faster, easier move into your new space with these amazing moving tips from the apartment-living experts at Timbercreek Communities,

1. Change Your Address

This is an easy step number one. Two weeks before the big day, contact the postal service to change your address to your new location.

2. Pack An Overnight Bag

As you begin the time consuming job of packing up all the items you have accumulated, set aside your favourite everyday essentials. Put these items into a backpack so you know exactly where they are when you unload all your possessions into the new space. You’ll thank yourself later.

3. Take A Pic

Before you invest too much time into packing, stop and snap a picture of your most complicated electronics set up. This is an easy way to remember which cord goes where without taking up any precious brain space.

4. Donate What You Don’t Need

Isn’t it amazing how quickly stuff magically accumulates? Consider donating gently-used items you no longer use or want to a local charity. If you’re truly serious about making a change, check out Marie Kondo’s best selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This is a great how-to guide for life-changing decluttering. Some charities will even pick up your unwanted items from your home. Do your research to see what local charities near you accept physical donations.

5. Next Level Labels

It's always a good idea to label your moving boxes. Make your move as smooth as possible by adding a second line that indicates which room the box should be placed in. This will save time and hassle when it's time to unpack in your new space.

6. Invest In Clear, Plastic Bins

Labeling your boxes by room means they’ll probably end up in the right place-- fingers crossed. Even with excellent labels it can still be challenging to find the towels, bed sheets or eating utensils you need quickly after a move. Pack these items in clear plastic bins so you can spot them easier on moving day.

7. Go Vertical

For fragile items like plates, pack them vertically, just like old-fashioned records. They’re less likely to break this way.

8. Vacuum-Seal Your Clothing

Reduce volume by vacuum sealing clothing, particularly clothes that are out-of-season. After your move, these compact bags will be easy to store in the closet until the seasons change.

9. Hire A Sitter

If you are moving within the same city and have little ones and/or pets at home, simplify your life significantly by arranging a babysitter for moving day.

10. Pack Up Before Help Arrives

Friends and family can be amazingly helpful during a move. Be respectful of their time and energy by packing up all your possessions before their arrival. Your aunt and neighbor are probably not going to know where and how you want your possessions packed. Save their assistance for the actual moving of boxes and furniture.

Moving doesn’t have to be stressful. Timbercreek Communities wishes you good luck as you transition into a new home.

For more information about Timbercreek Communities’ apartments, located in dozens of cities across Canada, visit our website today.

Moving into your first apartment is a thrill and it can be easy to overlook the necessary preparations. Timbercreek has a few ideas for your first apartment must haves. In addition to the basics (like food, furniture and kitchen utensils, find a full checklist here) there a few things that you need that are easy to forget about. Let’s get started.

Hallway Organization

The moment you step into your apartment you want to feel at home. If the first thing you see is piles of mail or newspapers, or you have nowhere to put your keys, then things start to feel cluttered and unwelcoming. There are many clever ways to organize the things that tend to pile up in this part of your home. An old fashioned, outdoor metal mailbox can be a stylish new best friend for your space. You can buy one for each roommate and even leave notes for them in their mailbox -- if you are on different schedules. There are usually metal hooks beneath them for keys, coats, umbrellas etc. so it’s a cute organization tool you’ll want to consider. You can find mailboxes at Home Depot (600 Fanshawe Park Rd. E. London) a 10-minute drive from Broughdale Arms Apartments (1267 Richmond Street, London).

Artwork

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to personalize your space. A few old record albums -- the covers or even the actual record in a unique but inexpensive frame is a great way to express yourself and make your first apartment feel like your home. Paramusic is a record store at 68 Dundas Street E. (just a 5 minute bike ride from Garden View Apartments at 321 Sherbourne Street, Toronto).

Emergency Kit

There are some apartment must haves that you hope you never actually use. An emergency kit is one of them. It doesn’t have to be extensive -- a simple kit will do in most situations. Make sure you have a first aid kit, a flashlight, batteries etc. Ensure that everyone who lives in the apartment knows where it is located. This video will show you how to make a DIY first aid kit from items found at any drugstore. Shoppers Drug Mart at 465 Yonge Street is a 5 minute walk from The Maitlands (36 & 42 Maitland Street, Toronto).

Cleaning Supplies

Although none of us like to think about cleaning our rooms, cleaning your first apartment can be a daunting task. If you rent with Timbercreek, our suites are cleaned before you move in but as a general rule you may want to have some supplies on move in day to clean up after the move! We recommend having 1-5 supplies on hand! Where do I buy cleaning supplies? You can find cleaning supplies at Walmart at 1280 Fanshawe Park Road West, London -- just a 12 minute drive from The Dorchester (1231 Richmond St, London).

Timbercreek Communities hopes this helps make your move into your first apartment a smooth one.

For more information on Timbercreek rental properties, including Toronto and London, please visit our website, today.