To Bleach Or Not To Bleach? Check The Cycle We won't wade into the argument about when it's appropriate to use bleach—that's for another article. But you should know that the Whites or Cottons cycles on most washers are designed to work with bleach, adding an extra rinse at the end of a wash to get the chlorine smell out of your clothes. If you wash your whites without bleach, you're just wasting water on a useless extra rinse. If you add bleach to a normal cycle, you might end up smelling like you just got out of the pool.

Don't Over-Soap Does your washer have the "high efficiency" logo on it? Make sure to read the manual and buy the proper kind of laundry detergent. High efficiency detergents are concentrated—usually either 2x or 4x—so you don't need to add as much soap as you would with a conventional washer. Follow the instructions on your bottle of laundry detergent and only put in the exact amount it recommends. You'll save money on detergent, and your clothes won't end up with excess soap in them. If you own one of the rare washers that dispenses soap automatically, make sure you've set the control panel for the right kind of detergent.

Lend a Hand to Bulky Loads Ever notice that bulky items like king size sheets, comforters, and towels tend to bunch up in the dryer, emerging with a knotted-up damp spot in the center of a giant laundry-cruller? That's because bulky loads need space to move around. But no household dryer is big enough to tumble an entire comforter inside out. So give your dryer a hand (or two), open up the door about halfway through the cycle and untangle your heavy-duty loads. It's a little extra work, but it'll shorten the time your largest items spend in the dryer.

Consider Damp-Drying Delicates If you live somewhere where you can air-dry your laundry, consider using your clothes dryer only to get the initial bulk of water out of a load. The stress of high heat and constant tumbling can cause delicate items to shrink and wear prematurely, so it's best to minimize the time that those items spend in a dryer. Many dryers contain a "damp dry" option that automatically stops a cycle when clothes are dry enough to hang on a line. Or you could just remove your delicate articles mid-cycle. Those few minutes spent tumbling will help to reduce musty smells and wrinkles.

Check Your Vents And Hoses This one should be a no-brainer, but a dryer with clogged vents will have to work harder to get your clothes dry, and it will also put you at increased risk for a house fire. Old hoses on a washer may burst, leaving you with a flooded laundry room. Always empty your lint trap, check your dryer vent hose for lint buildup, and replace your hoses every five years.

Read The Darn Manual! For washers and dryers alike, automatic cycles go by different names across different brands. "Regular" on one brand may be "Normal" on another and "Permanent Press" on a third. Most washers and dryers come with an owner's manual that contains a chart explaining which cycles are best for different kinds of loads, which is especially helpful for higher-end machines that feature obscure washes like "Beach Towels" and "Pet Beds." If you've lost manual, check online: Most manufacturers make them available for free download.

Source: Reviewed.com family of sites
Written By: Keith Barry

http://www.washerdryerinfo.com/Features/Break-These-7-Bad-Habits-for-Cleaner-Clothes.htm?utm_source=outbrain_recirc&obref=obnetwork

As a landlord, it is easy to overlook minor issues. Performing regular maintenance on your property can help you catch a small problem before it turns into a large expense. Here are some property maintenance tips that can help save you money in the long run.

1. Exterminate Monthly
Even if you do not currently have a rodent or insect problem, you should exterminate monthly or bi-monthly to prevent such problems from occurring. Do not limit the extermination to one apartment, as critters will simply travel to another part of the property. While it is possible to purchase exterminating supplies yourself, this task is usually best left to a professional.

Monthly exterminations will cost you money, but this preventative property maintenance is a much cheaper option than the cost of losing current and prospective tenants due to a pest problem. Shop around for the best price.

As an example, you can see that spending $25 a unit for a monthly extermination is a much better option than losing $1000 in rent because of a tenant vacancy. A complete infestation will also cost much more money because current tenants may have to temporarily leave the building and walls and ceilings will have to be opened up.

2. Check for Water Damage and Leaks
The best time to check for leaks is after a heavy rain storm, after ice and snow have begun to melt, or on very hot and humid days when pipes tend to sweat. Check for soft spots on the roofs, ceilings, and walls. Look for signs of water around windows, showers, and toilets. Check under sinks, boilers, and water heaters. It is imperative to identify a water leak early. Ongoing leaks can completely damage walls, ceilings, and a tenant’s possessions. Dangerous mold can also form, which can be a large expense, especially if it is over 10 square feet, which would have to be remedied according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Guidelines.

3. Examine Shower Caulking and Grout Between Tiles
Over time, the grout between tiles can crack and the caulk surrounding the tub can loosen. When this happens, you no longer have a waterproof seal and water can leak through and damage the surrounding walls or floor below. As soon as you notice any cracks or holes, you should replace the caulking or grout to prevent potential water damage.

4. Test All Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Regularly
Check these devices monthly to make sure they are in working order. Both battery operated and hard wired devices should be tested. Set a schedule to test them when you collect rent or at another time that is convenient for you. These devices save lives. If there is a fire or carbon monoxide leak in your building and these devices are not in working order, you could face legal action. Also, be aware that the average lifespan of a carbon monoxide detector is 5 years, so replace as necessary. Smoke alarms have a useful life of about 10 years.

5. Change the Filters in Your Forced Air Systems
You should change the filters in your heating or air conditioning unit at least twice a year. Consult the manufacturer of your heating or cooling system to determine the highest efficiency filter for your system. Dirty filters can increase your utility bill by causing the system to work harder or can lead to malfunctions in the systems, such as causing the cooling system to freeze-up.

Routinely changing the filter can help prevent the air duct from becoming contaminated. If clogged, the ducts will usually need to be professionally cleaned, and that is an expense you do not want. Even if your tenants pay their own utilities, pay proper attention to this matter because excessively high utility bills will cause you to lose tenants.

6. Flush Your Water Heater
Once or twice a year you should drain your water heaters. This is done to remove the sediment that can build up in your unit from the municipal water supply that enters your property. If too much sediment builds up, it can reduce the efficiency of your water heater or clog the drain valve. Replacing a water heater is expensive! Be cautious and follow the specific procedures for draining your water heater. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, hire someone who is.

By sacrificing a little time and money now to perform property maintenance, you can save yourself a lot of time and money in the future.  Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Source: About.com 
By Erin Gleason, About.com Guide

http://landlords.about.com/od/EmergencyPrep/a/6-Property-Maintenance-Tips-That-Can-Save-Landlords-Money.htm