Archive for February, 2010

How to Pet Proof Your Apartment

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

At The Blairs, we recognize that your pet is an important member of your family.  That’s why we’re proud to provide a variety of pet-friendly apartments and townhomes.  Keeping your pet happy and healthy can be a big responsibility, so to ensure that your apartment is the safest it can be for your furry friends, we’re happy to provide the following pet-proofing tips for your home.

Close and Lock Cabinets

Cats especially are notoriously curious when they encounter closed cabinets and doors, although many dogs find it difficult to resist the temptation to explore.  Unfortunately for Fido and Sylvester, low cabinets are typically home to dangerous cleaning chemicals.  To keep your cats or dogs out of cabinets, a child-proof latch will typically do the trick.  These inexpensive latches are easy to install, and can be found at your neighborhood ACE or online at Amazon.

Hang Up Plants (Or Avoid Altogether)

Animals love to chew on green, leafy plants and grass, whether indoors or out.  In fact, given their love of chewing on plants, you’d be amazed how dangerous these plants are for them to eat.  Some plants are downright poisonous (click here for a PDF of plants that are toxic to domestic pets).  Even non-poisonous plants can cause vomiting and worse.  If you have a green thumb, ensure that your animals don’t run foul of your greenery by hanging your plants from the ceiling.

Unplug Cords

By unplugging electrical cords, you can ensure that if your pet does manage to chew through the cords, they won’t get a nasty shock.  You may also want to train your pets to leave these cords alone by coating them with a hot sauce or a non-toxic ointment/spray, or placing them in a cord protector.

Hide Fragile Objects

Cats loving jumping, climbing, and exploring.  Dogs routinely bump tables and shelves that are set low enough to be an obstacle.  Prevent damaged objects (and broken ceramic or glass on the floor) by either placing fragile items where pets can’t reach them, or packing them safely away until you can safely display them.

Get a Heavy Duty Trashcan with a Lid

Cats and dogs are drawn to smelly objects.  The items they find in the trash can be extremely hazardous to their health.  Make your apartment more pet-friendly by getting a heavy duty trashcan with a lid.  A step trash can works well by making the trash can more accessible for you, and less accessible for your pet.

Your apartment can be a jungle for cats and dogs, but with a little bit of planning and upkeep, you can tame that jungle to be a safe and engaging environment for your furry family member.  For more information about how to keep your pets happy and safe, visit The Humane Society of the United States.

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How to Green Your Apartment Lifestyle

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

With all the green products and techniques advertised, trying to keep a green lifestyle while renting can seem difficult.  Your best bet is to rent a green or LEED Certified apartment; however, depending on where you live, these apartments can be hard to find.  But with a few simple daily changes, you’ll find a low-key greener lifestyle while living in any apartment is truly easy.

Re-Use
With a little creative thinking, we can re-use many of the products we come across on a daily basis.  By re-sing old items and not purchasing new, we can help green efforts overall.  If you still use plastic grocery bags to carry your groceries home, you can use those bags to line small garbage cans.  Old wine bottles work well as sophisticated vases and candle holders.  Take your daily newspaper and use it as wrapping paper, or use it to wrap packages.  Use plastic butter, sour cream, and take-out containers as a Tupperware alternative.

Unplug
Most appliances continue to use energy even when turned off – this phenomenon is called “phantom load”.  By unplugging your appliances (such as TV, DVD, and computer), you can reduce this phantom load and easily make your apartment more green – and reduce your energy bills!  If you don’t think you can remember to unplug all your appliances, consider plugging them into a surge protector that you can remember to turn off when you’re not using it.

Recycle
If your apartment has a recycling program, recycling can be as easy as sorting your items into the appropriate bin.  If your building doesn’t already have a recycling program (we hope it does!) you can bring the idea up to your property manager.  Otherwise, you can pick up your recyclables (and maybe recruit your neighbors, too) and drop them off weekly at a recycling facility.

Reduce
Cut back on your overall energy consumption. Change your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter, your AC to 72 degrees in the summer. Or, let nature do its work and open a window or two.

Clean
Instead of buying highly processed cleaning agents, learn to make your own green cleaning agents.  These products will work just as well, and are a lot friendly to the environment.  As an essential, all-purpose cleaner, combine 1 tbsp white vinegar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp Castile soap, and1 tbsp Borax.  If you want to deodorize your carpet, combine 1 cup Borax, 1 cup baking soda, and 10 drops essential oils.  These will leave your carpet refreshed.

By following these simple steps, you’ll be on the road to living a green lifestyle, no matter where you live.

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