#GreenLivingTips: How To Maintain Your Apartment Balcony

#GreenLiving is a major tool for families who are choosing to create a sustainable lifestyle! The balcony area of the apartment is one of the spaces we love to fix when the seasons change! Since balconies are exposed to elements such as dirt and trash cleaning is an essential part of keeping up with your space. However here are a few tips and tricks that can make your life easier while keeping your outdoor space looking its best!

Sweep the floors.  The floor surface of your balcony is likely to become extremely dirty, and because of this it requires some special attention. Sweeping and dusting the floors which will help remove trash, leafs, and any other debris that might land on your balcony floors. Routinely doing so will create an atmosphere for any occasion!

Keep it green.  Adding plants to your balcony has a lot of benefits. It creates a nice green space for pants to grow and thrive while being outside in the sun and rain. This is also a great chance to plant your herbs and greenery upwards. This will ensure that your outside space feels more spacious!

Add small furniture. A balcony is a lot easier to clean and tidy if it is clutter free. Out with the old and in with new! Removing anything from the floor of your balcony that takes up space or that is not being used. Adding furniture that can sit down while having room for standing and walking space is essential. Small pieces such as a bench or a lounge chair that provides comfort and mobility would be a great piece to include on your balcony.

Remember to keep your space neat, implement a regular cleaning schedule for your balcony to insure that it is always tidy and clean.


Grady's GreenLiving Tips was created in 2014 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

Compost 101: Facts and Advice

Several Tips on How To Compost

Want to find a creative way to eliminate food waste?  Composting is a green method to dispose of some, but not all, excess food and natural waste.

What are methods to successfully compost?  Read a few tips below:

1) Create a compost bin: Composting only works if it becomes part of the daily routine.  Much like a recycling bin or trash can, select a container that can be identified as the "compost bin".  Ensure it is a portable container and has drainage/ ventilation holes or can be altered to create drainage and ventilation (such as a plastic container).

2) Decide on a location: Will the bin be placed inside or outside?  A compost bin needs biodegraders to break down the products placed inside into compost.  This could be earthworms, or bacteria, or fungus: depending on the climate and environment.

A Green Clean, Part I: All About Lemons

A Focus on The Natural Cleaning Power of Lemons

Embracing a green life entails finding creative ways to preserve the environment.  One way could be to utilize everyday household products for cleaning supplies in lieu of buying cleaning chemicals that can be dangerous for the air and surrounding environment.

In the next few weeks, Grady's GreenLiving Tips will explore the multiple ways that common household products can be used as cleaning supplies.  This week, the blog will focus on lemons.  Easy to buy at a local grocery store or farmer's market, lemons have multiple natural cleaning powers.  Explore a few of these methods here:

1. Remove stains: Lemon juice is a powerful, natural stain remover.  Squeeze lemon juice over stains and if necessary let sit overnight, before washing off with water.

Green Tips for a Clean Car

Spring Cleaning: Car Edition

The first day of spring is only 10 days away!  It is a great time to think about spring cleaning.

Last month, we detailed some eco-friendly spring cleaning tips in a post.  This week- we are expanding on that tip to include some green cleaning tips for your vehicle!  After such a harsh winter, you might want to really clean off your car.

Green Car Tips:

1) If you want to clean your car- go to a commercial car wash. 

Car washes actually use less water than if you were to try to wash your car yourself.  Usually, people overestimate the amount of water needed to wash their vehicle, or leave the hose running when cleaning, so conserve water and head to a car wash.

Get Ahead on Your Spring Cleaning: The Eco-Friendly Way

In a few weeks, spring will be in the air!  Spring cleaning is one of the best ways to start living a green life. 

Did you know that many cleaning supplies and household cleaning agents contain a lot of harmful chemicals?  It is east to have an immaculate house by making your own, eco-friendly cleaners.

Some common supplies you can easily make effective cleaners from include:

• Distilled white vinegar (sold in the cooking section of most supermarkets)
• Baking soda
• Olive oil
• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• Newspaper

Going Green for Valentine's Day

Loving the Planet This V-Day

If you are planning a Valentine's Day celebration for your loved one- you might want to consider a few green ideas!  Share your love with the planet and environment as well.

Trying to Plan the Best Outing?

Some green date ideas are:

Registering for a cooking class

Cooking is not only fun, but a skill that can help reduce food waste! 

Hiking through a park

If you don't mind the cold, visit a state park and take a nice hike through the various trails.  Some parks even offer winter sports and seasonal activities.  Find the nearest state park by using America's Sate Parks' website.

Green Car Care For The Wintertime

Living in an apartment, you have a lot of conveniences available to you!

During the winter, some people have to shovel out their sidewalks and driveways; but you don't!  You save a lot of time and energy by being able to get to your car with ease.

If your apartment community has an outdoor parking lot, however; you might want to remember some green tips to cleaning and scraping the ice from your car:

• Natural Ways To Prevent Frost

It is easy to prevent ice from forming on your car windows without harmful chemicals.  If you know a snow storm is coming through your area, try to prevent ice and frost on your car by rubbing it with a salt-water soaked sponge or soft cloth.  The, gently pat your car dry.  A vinegar mixture with water will also prevent frost from forming.

Living Green on a Budget

Do you want to live a green life but are worried about your finances?

This is a common concern.  If you think that the only way to live "green" is to spend a lot of money- you are mistaken.  There are plenty of ways to live a green lifestyle and stay on your budget.  Here are just several:

1) Clean the green way!

Many people don't realize that their home can look immaculately clean by using natural products that already sit in a pantry shelf rather than buying cleaners in a store.  Not only are cleaners expensive, but they often are damaging to the air and water.  Here are some great natural products:

• White Wine Vinegar: vinegar is excellent for cleaning stains, especially on fabrics!
• Baking soda: baking soda is great at removing dirt and stains.  Did you know it is also good to mix baking soda with toothpaste to get a sparkling, white smile?
• Lemon and orange peels: instead of throwing fruit peels away, they are excellent to scrub dirt and grime from pots and pans.