DIY Natural Mosquito Repellent

It's that time of year again and this season seems to be a bad one! Make a huge bottle of DIY mosquito spray that is super effective (reported effective in the worst mosquito regions in the world) as well as safe for use directly on skin. Here's All you need.

Pick up a Spray Bottle to use as your applicator. This one's made by Sprayco, 32 oz. and assembled by mentally and physically challenged people in Michigan. Fill with the following:

• 30 Drops Lavender Oil
• 8 Tbsp Vanilla Extract ( I think you have to use the real extract to be effective, not sure if the artificial vanilla flavoring would be effective and not willing to test on myself to find out it isn't....)
• 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
• Water to the top of a 32 oz bottle

Add some tea tree oil (30 drops) if you want to make it super effective and a tick, flea and wasp repellent as well. Spray doorways and screens to keep biting insects from entering your apartment. This spray has a pleasant smell and best of all no known carcinogens! This huge bottle will last a couple summers (depending on your family size) and in the end is much less expensive than the store bought brands. Caution if wearing white clothing, the vanilla may stain. Have a bite free summer!

DIY Drawer Organizer

Here's a fun and easy craft project that will help organize silverware and "clutter drawers". These separations are easily customized to what you have in your drawer and they are removable so they are not attached to the drawer itself.

 All it takes are a few items from the local hardware store:

Measuring tape
Coping Saw (Lowe's has one for about $7)
Sand paper
Wood glue (Titebond makes a glue that is FDA approved for indirect food contact)
Parchment paper
1/4" x 3 x 2 craft board (I used 5 pieces for the silverware drawer @ $1.46 each, and 3 pieces for the utility drawer)
Pencil
Qtips

First empty the drawer. 

Measure the length of the drawer and cut the number of vertical separations you want. After each cut you will want to sand the edges down and eliminate splintered areas. Be sure to be as accurate and straight as you can when you mark your lines. 

Line your drawer with parchment paper.

Place the vertical separations where you want them and measure the lengths you need for horizontal separations. When the pieces are positioned the way you want them it's time to get glueing....

Remember: We are not going to glue the pieces to the drawer itself, only to each other...

Use a Qtip to smooth out any beads of glue. Don't worry too much about the glue being smooth, it dries completely clear.

Let the glue dry overnight and in the morning it is ready for use! 

BEFORE :(

AFTER :)

Water is leaking into my apartment!

Water leaks are a serious problem that can cause major damage if left unchecked.  There are a number of reasons that can cause a water leak. Try to determine where the leak is coming from and at what time it occurs, if possible, then notify the office or after hours, the emergency maintenance line as soon as you can by calling 734-480-7400.

 

 

Location

The first step to solving the problem is determining where the leak is located. If the leak is in the bathroom or kitchen there are more sources to check than if in a livingroom or bedroom. A specific tell tale sign is if the leak is confined to one specific area or is spread out over a large part of the ceiling.

Bathroom Leaks

The most common sources of leaking in a bathroom are from the toilet or bathtub. Toilets have a gasket made of wax that can deteriorate and allow water to leak out mostly when the toilet is flushed. Bathtubs have a drain gasket and caulking that can deteriorate and let water out. When a bathtub area leaks, it can cause water damage on the ceiling below. If there are any damaged pipes the water leak will be constant and not related to flushing or bathing.

Plumbing Leaks

Plumbing leaks are usually from pipe joints or drains. They are usually found in a kitchen area ceiling, although they can occur in bathrooms around the sink area. Because of the fact that pipes are run through walls, if the leak is where the ceiling and the wall come together, it is probably a plumbing leak. The wall below the ceiling will show signs of water damage as the water flows down the inside of the wall.

Attic Leaks

Rain entering through a leaking roof or condensation inside the attic can channel water along beams and rafters that can deposit water anywhere on the ceiling. Condensation occurs during periods of fluctuating temperatures, while a leaking roof only happens during a rainstorm.

Ice Damming

Water can be forced into the structure of a building if it gets trapped behind a blockage of ice. You may see leaking "coming out of the woodwork" as it seeps and gathers on the top of window frames or door walls. This often happens after a particularly cold period where ice formations grow followed by a warm period when the melting begins. To minimize these leaks, try to keep porch areas and framework on top of sliding door walls and windows that you can reach free of snow and ice build up.

Please contact the office at 734-480-7400 as soon as possible if you discover water leaking into your apartment.