Life in Chicago moves fast. Between work, family, and trying to enjoy everything the city has to offer, finding the time for a thorough apartment cleaning can feel impossible. Your home should be your sanctuary, not another source of stress on your to-do list. Sometimes, the best solution is a little clever hack for small updates, and sometimes, it’s calling in the pros to handle the big stuff.

We love a good, affordable find that makes your space feel brand new. Recently, the internet has been buzzing about a genius and incredibly easy decor hack from an unlikely spot: the garden aisle at Dollar Tree. It’s the perfect quick refresh for your balcony or back patio that won’t eat up your entire weekend.

The $150 Look for a Fraction of the Price

The secret is in Dollar Tree’s new garden collection. They’ve stocked items that look far more expensive than their $1.25 price tag. The star of the show? A planter that has the elegant, textured appearance of stone. Paired with a couple of other simple items, you can create a beautiful, glowing focal point in minutes.

What You’ll Need:

  • The “Stone” Planter: This is the base that gives the hack its high-end look.
  • Solar Stake Light: Specifically, look for the “flame glow” style for a warm, realistic flicker.
  • Plastic Florals: Dollar Tree has seriously upped their game here. This year’s selections are surprisingly realistic.

Your 5-Second Setup Guide

This might be the easiest home upgrade you ever do. If you need fast cleaning services to prep your patio first, we’ve got you covered. Once your space is tidy, just follow these steps:

  1. Place the Florals: Arrange your chosen plastic stems inside the planter. No soil, no water, just pop them in.
  2. Add the Light: Take your solar stake light and nestle it right into the planter among the flowers.
  3. Find the Sun: Place your new creation in a sunny spot on your patio or balcony to charge during the day.

That’s it! As the sun sets, you’ll be left with a softly glowing, beautiful accent piece. The best part? You can swap out the florals with the seasons—think bright sunflowers for summer or muted berries for fall—to keep your look fresh all year round.

When a Hack Isn’t Enough: Calling in the Pros

While a new decor piece can brighten a corner, sometimes what your home really needs is a reset from top to bottom. After a long Chicago winter or a busy season of life, grime builds up in places those quick hacks can’t reach. That’s when it’s time for a different kind of refresh.

If you’re dreaming of a truly spotless home but dread the effort, it might be time to schedule a cleaning with a trusted team. A comprehensive professional home cleaning does more than just surface tidying; it revitalizes your entire living space.

Finding a reliable cleaning service near me in a big city can be a challenge. You want a company that is thorough, trustworthy, and understands your needs. As a local Chicago cleaning company, we know the specific dust and grime that Windy City living can bring into your home.

Maybe you need deep cleaning help for your kitchen and bathrooms, or perhaps you just want someone to clean my apartment regularly so you can come home to peace and order. Quality cleaning services in Chicago should give you your time back. The easiest way to clean your apartment thoroughly is often to book an appointment with experts who love to do it.

Ready for a Clean Home Without the Stress?

If you’re in Chicago and want your space spotless without lifting a finger, Jikas Cleaning is here to help.

Book Your Cleaning Appointment Now →

Welcome to Dollar Tree. You might miss this if you don’t know where to look. These are solar stake lights that are flame glow. And here’s the genius hack. Dollar Tree dropped a new garden collection. Grab this $150 planter that looks like stone, a solar steak light, and some plastic florals. These look really realistic this year. Put your florals inside of your container. This is a 5-second hack. And add your solar steak light. Just trust this. Wows on a back patio. You can change out the florals for the seasons. And like and save this video.