There's a Trick To It

The first step to cleaning stainless steel: Get to know the grain. A vinyl countertop can be scrubbed and wiped in any direction you like. Straight across, zigzag, crazy circles — it doesn't matter. With stainless steel, you're going to need to get familiar with the grain. Take a close look and check the direction of the grain. Do the same for knobs, handles and other areas of your appliances as these might not match the surface. When you clean with the grain, you'll always get a better shine.

It's true that you should avoid using most off-the-shelf cleaners on stainless steel, but you may be surprised at the broad range of products you can use to clean and polish stainless steel: Baby oil, WD-40, white vinegar, olive oil, club soda — even flour. With acids like white vinegar, you can use a spray bottle and wipe the stainless steel with a cloth as many times as needed to get rid of grime. Then you can polish with oil: Apply a little to a cloth, wipe with the grain, then wipe away the product with a clean cloth. For fingerprints, a bit of window cleaner should do the job for spot cleaning.

And we weren't joking about flour. However, you may want to reserve this trick for the sink as it leaves you with a bit of a mess to sweep up after use on a countertop or fridge. Clean the sink using whatever method you choose, then, instead of polishing it with oil, wait for the surface to dry and then cover it with flour. From there you can use a circular motion to polish the stainless steel with the flour, and then rinse the sink clean.

If you'd like to see what a modern apartment looks like with all that beautiful stainless steel, get in touch with us at River North Park for available floor plans. There are a lot of apartments in Chicago, Illinois, but few are this amazing.

The post Tips for Keeping Stainless Steel Looking Fresh and Clean appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.

1) Choose a Color Scheme and Theme

The first step to decorating your apartment kitchen is to choose a theme and color scheme to work around. Common decor themes for kitchens include things such as farmhouse kitchens and Italian kitchens, though the only real limit is your own tastes and imagination. Once you have chosen a theme and color scheme for your kitchen, though, it's easy to find enough decorative items to make your kitchen complete. 

2) Work Around a Focal Point

One great idea to make your kitchen's decor really stand out is to decorate around a single focal point, such as a large piece of art that you temporarily hang on the wall. Having a focal point that goes along with your theme and color scheme can just about complete a kitchen's decor. 

3) Keep an Eye Out for Interesting Items

The final piece in your kitchen's decor is to sprinkle your kitchen with interesting items related to your theme. If your theme is a farmhouse kitchen, for example, displaying cast iron skillets on your shelves or putting porcelain figurines of roosters on your counters are two ways to make use of interesting items to go along with your theme. If you keep an eye out for items such as these that match your theme and color scheme, you'll be able to put the finishing touches on your kitchen's decor.

Decorating your kitchen is an important part of making your apartment feel like home, and at River North Park, we love seeing our residents add their own unique spin on their new home. If you are looking for a new place to move into and make your own, be sure to contact us today to learn more about our Chicago, IL apartments. 

The post 3 Ideas for Decorating Your Apartment Kitchen appeared first on River North Park Apartments Blog.