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The machine in your kitchen that cleans your dishes also needs to be cleaned from time to time.

Grease, soap scum and debris build up and provide a breeding ground for germs. This also reduces the efficiency of the appliance leaving your dishes looking dirty.

Here are some simple steps for cleaning your dishwasher:

1. Clear the drain

Remove the bottom rack. Inspect the drain and remove any debris or food caught in there.

2. Vinegar Wash

Put a dishwasher-safe with one cup of vinegar on the top rack. Run the dishwasher through a hot-water cycle.

3. Baking Soda Rinse

Sprinkle baking soda across the bottom of the dishwasher. Run a short, hot-water cycle.

4. Possibly Bleach

If your dishwasher still isn’t as clean as you’d like, you may consider running a cycle with bleach (not recommended for stainless steel interiors).

The rental market moves so quickly now that you can’t really look more than about 30 days out. Typically landlords/property managers will only hold the property for a week or two once an application has been approved and a lease signed (or shortly after it’s listed as available date).

Properties come and go quickly that if you find a great property more than a few weeks before you are planning to move it may not necessarily be available when you’re ready. It is a great idea to start researching the areas where you might like to live. That way when it’s closer to the time to look, you know what areas, neighborhoods, towns/cities you are interested in and can narrow down your search.

Month-to-month lease agreements provide both the landlord and the tenant with flexibility, but as with anything they also have some down sides

Pros for Tenants:

- Flexibility to move - one of the most common reasons for a tenant to sign a month to month or opt to go month to month is so they have the ability to move quickly.

- No specific end date - unlike a long term lease agreement, month to month leases allow you to give a normal (typically 30-60 day) notice and you aren’t burdened by lease break penalties

- You can (usually) switch to a long term lease -a lot of owners give the option to sign a longer term lease if plans change

- Can look for a home - this is often an ideal option for those looking to purchase or having something built but aren’t 100% sure when that will happen.

Cons for Tenants:

- Short Notice to End the Lease - Just as a tenant only has to give a normal notice (typically 30-60 days), that is all an owner has to give as well

- Fluctuating Rent Prices - landlords often charge a premium for a month to month lease due to the risk factor

Pros for Owners:

- Can Get Tenants Out Quickly - This gives owners the ability to give a normal notice to the tenant.

- Charge Higher Rent - Month to month leases are limited, so a lot of owners will charge a premium to allow this

- Keep quality tenants - Sometimes tenants request a month to month lease for whatever reason and landlords allow it to keep good quality tenants in their properties that are worth the risk

- Can Increase Rent - another benefit is you can increase rent with just a standard 30 day notice (instead of waiting until the end of the lease term).

Cons for Owners:

- Less stable/ lack of security - You are never really sure when the tenant will give their notice.

- Prepare for a vacancies - Since the tenant can give a notice at the end each month you always have to be prepared for it