Spring Cleaning in Eco-Friendly Ways

Wellness has never been more important than it is today. Living in a tidy and organized home can have a major impact on your emotional and physical health. We have all spent 2020 cooped up at home and many of us have probably let things slip. Let’s make 2021 a fresh start with a great spring cleaning in your 20 West Apartment.

The Mental Health Benefits of a Clean Home

There are clear and measurable mental health benefits of a clean home. A clean home relieves stress. Recent studies have shown that people who regularly spend time cleaning their homes are more relaxed and happier than people that don’t. Clean homes boost productivity. Experts agree that keeping your home organized with everything in its place has a significant impact on personal productivity. Clean homes can help you stay active. Studies show that people who spend time cleaning their homes exercise more often than people that don’t.

Ways to Go Green with Your Cleaning Process

Most of us want a clean home without contributing unnecessarily to climate change, so it’s very important that we follow green practices during our spring cleaning. The good news is that there are several easy tips you can follow to do just that. First, since many products are not safe for kids or pets, make sure you are using basic safety when storing and handling cleaning products. With that out of the way, it’s important to target green cleaning products. Baking soda is great as a gritty base for scrubbing. Vinegar is great as a disinfectant and for loosening dirt. Lemon juice is also a powerful disinfectant and it’s excellent with grease. As a pro tip, you can use all three together. Adding lemon or vinegar activates baking soda with a mild acid to really improve its cleaning power.

Local Stores for Cleaning Material or Cleaning Services for Hire

Things are starting to open up in Mt. Prospect in 2021! Target and Walmart are chock full of great cleaning materials. Need a hand with your spring cleaning? Check out Empire Cleaning and their 5 Star Reviews. They are a solid local cleaning service.

Spring 2021 is going to be all about a fresh start, which starts with a clean home. Having a clean home will really help with your mental and emotional health. This year, you can have one without hurting the environment and visiting your local stores will help them get off to a strong start, too. Have a great time making that clean, orderly, and organized house a reality this year!

New Year, New Possibilities

It’s time to say goodbye to 2020 and say hello to 2021! With some planning, a little work, and a great attitude this can be your best year ever. Check out these can’t miss ideas to make the most out of 2021. This is a new year with new possibilities at 20 West.

Personal Goals to Set for the Year

Every year we tend to focus on what we can do better and that certainly is true for 2021. The New Year is a time for goal setting, for doing new things, and for making sure we improve the important things. Here are some of our favorite goals for 2021. First, learn a new skill, what could be better than investing in yourself? Money is always a challenge, so be sure to create a monthly budget.

Perhaps it’s time to stop streaming shows and movies and start reading more, so try to read 12 new books this year. Start the day off right by creating and sticking to a new morning routine. Many of us probably picked up some bad habits in 2020, so be sure to eliminate one.

We have all been separated by COVID-19, so be sure to spend less time online and more time reconnecting to friends and family. For the adventurers, travel to a new place and start a travel journal. No matter what you choose, make sure to focus on a goal that makes this version of you the best version ever! For many of us, celebrating the holidays this year will probably have to be done at home.

Apartment/Home Goals 

There are so many ways to get your apartment ready for the New Year. We all know it’s important to make a good first impression and this year that’s truer than ever. Time to throw out the old and bring in the new. Get rid of the clutter and organize your workspaces. Since you may still be working at home or your children may still be attending school from home, then it’s time to reorganize the areas around your home to help with productivity.

Organizing your living spaces and workspaces can help you to destress and we could all definitely use less stress in the new year. Take the time to clean out what you no longer use and keep only what you need. Less is more in 2021. You don’t need the stress from clutter and disorganization. Get rid of what you don’t need and keep your life and living areas simple. A clean and organized home can help you stay healthy, make it easier to clean, and help you to find what you need when you need it. 

2021 Apartment Décor Trends

With a new year, you may want to redecorate your apartment. Start with a theme. 2021 will be all about a basic modern style driven by a return to minimalism. Next, make sure the new year is bright with maximized light in your living space. 2021 will see a dominance of lighter woods combined with darker color accents. Make sure to choose design elements that elevate your own style whether that’s casual, formal, elegant, or even rustic.

A new year probably means some great new shopping. Although most shopping will likely be done online this year, you will have more options than ever. Sometimes you need to actually get out and look for yourself. Plus, most of the malls will be sure to have some new and fun things to do. If you need to pick up new decorations or gear for your great new habits, visit Randhurst Village or Canyon Park Place. They are open and sure to help you make 2021 your best year ever.

Best Ways to Celebrate National Ice Cream Month

 

There’s no better way to cool off on a hot summer day than with an ice cream cone! This July, we celebrate National Ice Cream Month. There are plenty of ways to enjoy this delicious dessert this month, so read on for the full scoop!

 

The Different Types of Ice Cream

 

When you think of ice cream, you most likely think of it in its most common form: milk and cream frozen and slow-churned to perfection. But there are so many other types of ice cream versions to try! There’s gelato, whose silky texture is made possible with the addition of egg whites to the mix. Sorbet, a water-based dessert, gets its refreshing taste from fruit juices and syrups to sweeten the deal. And frozen yogurt replaces milk with its protein-packed cousin, which has the added benefit of active cultures to aid digestion. No matter your taste palate or dietary preferences, there’s an ice cream for you!

 

Making At-Home Ice Cream in Your Apartment

 

While you will most likely find most of these ice cream types at the grocery, there’s something special about making your own batch from scratch. This DIY ice cream recipe takes just a few ingredients and two zip-up bags! If you’re dairy-free, you can still make this ice cream by replacing the half-and-half with a vegan substitute. Once you’re done making your at-home ice cream, it’s time to pile on the toppings! Try salted caramel sauce for a decadent pairing to plain vanilla, or mix in edible flowers for a gorgeous pop of color.

 

Explore the Local Ice Cream in Mt. Prospect

 

As a new resident of 20 West, you’ve made your home in a city that loves its desserts. The local scene for ice cream in Mt. Prospect is impeccable! For chef-inspired frozen delights, check out Capannari Ice Cream. With a list of rotating and set flavor options available, there’s sure to be a pick for everyone in-store. They offer convenient curbside pick-up too! Check out their website for more information on this artisan ice cream shop.

 

It’s time to celebrate National Ice Cream Month with a scoop and a smile! How are you planning on ringing in this sweet month? Let us know in the comments!

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks for Your Mt. Prospect Apartments

Spring Cleaning in Mt. Prospect

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks for Your Mt. Prospect Apartments

Sunshine months are once again almost here! We all know what that means: spring cleaning! This year, instead of getting filled with anxious thoughts of spring cleaning, we will be adopting the adage of working smarter, not harder. We have great suggestions to ensure your chic Mt. Prospect apartments look spotless, the green way!

It’s That Time Again

One of the most laborious chores in spring cleaning comes from having to scrub the toilet or bathtub. Tubs and showers can produce the toughest of grimes. To help, we have a few tricks up our sleeves that will bring huge monumental spring cleaning tasks down to an easy and breezy level.

Instead of running to the nearest convenience store for supplies, let’s first take a look in our cupboards! That’s right, this year for spring cleaning, we are going green.

Tips and Tricks for Your Bathroom

If you have an overly grimy bathtub or toilet, there is good news. Grime is no match for the cleaning power of vinegar!

To get rid of mildew, we simply spray pure white vinegar to the area and let it soak for about 30 minutes. Then, rinse the area with warm water. If the mildew does not go away with a simple rinse, a sponge will do the trick!

Another green mixture to attack mildew found in the bathroom is using baking soda with a bit of liquid castile soap. After a little scrub and rinse, the mildew will disappear.

Spring Cleaning Done Right!

If the cleaning your bathroom scares you, we hope you take advantage of our suggestion.

What are some of your all-time favorite natural and green solutions to clean your bathroom? Share with us in the comments and let us know!

A Rainy Day in Your Mt. Prospect Apartments

A Rainy Day in Your Mt. Prospect Apartments

A Rainy Day in Your Mt. Prospect Apartments

We know this time of year can host many a dreary winter days. If it’s a rainy day, why not stay in and make the most of it? When the weather is not cooperating, it is time for the much-coveted plan B. We have a great suggestion that will transform your chic Mt. Prospect apartments into a cozy game room haven! It’s time to round up your best pals, and reach for the snacks! We will make sure that staying in on a rainy day isn’t boring.

Things to Do in Your Apartment on a Rainy Day

It’s time to slip into your favorite casual attire and start the coffee. If you are looking for things to do in your apartment on a rainy day, get ready to transform a rainy day into a fun-filled afternoon! Hosting a game day on a rainy day can be the most exciting time that you’ve had in a while. Think about it. When is the last time you sat down to play a game that was not on your tablet or phone?

Let the Card Games Begin!

When the skies are overcast and drizzling, it is time to put our phones away and round up the troops. A rainy day can be a nice change of pace. Instead of being tied up on our mobile devices all day, we can enjoy the company of friends.

A few rounds of your favorite card games may be the answer to a memorable rainy afternoon. Several rounds of Poker with friends on a rainy day sounds nice. If poker isn’t your forte, you can always opt for Spades, Crazy Eights, or Black Jack. Nevertheless, spending quality time catching up with friends over drinks for a day in may be the best plan B option to consider!

Bring out the Snacks and Popcorn

If dreary winter weather has you feeling the cabin fever blues, we’ve got the perfect remedy. Overcast skies are a perfect cue to round up your friends for some much needed catching up!

What are some of your all-time favorite card games? Share with us and let us know in the comments!