diff --git a/src/media-session/alsa-monitor.c b/src/media-session/alsa-monitor.c
index a79d3b234..21aca3c3c 100644
--- a/src/media-session/alsa-monitor.c
+++ b/src/media-session/alsa-monitor.c
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@ static struct device *alsa_create_device(struct impl *impl, uint32_t id,
 {
 	struct device *device;
 	int res;
-	const char *str, *card, *rules;
+	const char *card, *rules;
 
 	pw_log_debug("new device %u", id);
 	if (pw_log_level_enabled(SPA_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG))
@@ -1059,8 +1059,7 @@ static struct device *alsa_create_device(struct impl *impl, uint32_t id,
 	if ((rules = pw_properties_get(impl->conf, "rules")) != NULL)
 		sm_media_session_match_rules(rules, strlen(rules), device->props);
 
-	str = pw_properties_get(device->props, "api.alsa.use-acp");
-	device->use_acp = str ? pw_properties_parse_bool(str) : true;
+	device->use_acp = pw_properties_get_bool(device->props, "api.alsa.use-acp", true);
 	if (device->use_acp)
 		device->factory_name = strdup(SPA_NAME_API_ALSA_ACP_DEVICE);
 	else
@@ -1203,9 +1202,7 @@ int sm_alsa_monitor_start(struct sm_media_session *session)
 	if ((str = pw_properties_get(impl->conf, "properties")) != NULL)
 		pw_properties_update_string(impl->props, str, strlen(str));
 
-	if ((str = pw_properties_get(impl->props, "alsa.reserve")) == NULL ||
-	    pw_properties_parse_bool(str))
-		impl->reserve = true;
+	impl->reserve = pw_properties_get_bool(impl->props, "alsa.reserve", true);
 
 	impl->handle = pw_context_load_spa_handle(context, SPA_NAME_API_ALSA_ENUM_UDEV, NULL);
 	if (impl->handle == NULL) {
@@ -1222,8 +1219,7 @@ int sm_alsa_monitor_start(struct sm_media_session *session)
 	spa_list_init(&impl->device_list);
 	spa_device_add_listener(impl->monitor, &impl->listener, &alsa_udev_events, impl);
 
-	if ((str = pw_properties_get(impl->props, "alsa.jack-device")) != NULL &&
-	    pw_properties_parse_bool(str)) {
+	if (pw_properties_get_bool(impl->props, "alsa.jack-device", true)) {
 		if ((res = alsa_start_jack_device(impl)) < 0)
 			goto out_free;
 	}
diff --git a/src/media-session/bluez-autoswitch.c b/src/media-session/bluez-autoswitch.c
index 75ba57712..babc3641a 100644
--- a/src/media-session/bluez-autoswitch.c
+++ b/src/media-session/bluez-autoswitch.c
@@ -134,18 +134,16 @@ static struct sm_object *find_by_id(struct impl *impl, const char *type, uint32_
 static struct sm_device *find_default_output_device(struct impl *impl)
 {
 	struct sm_object *obj;
-	const char *str;
 	uint32_t device_id;
 
 	if ((obj = find_by_name(impl, PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Node, impl->default_sink)) == NULL ||
 			!obj->props)
 		return NULL;
 
-	if ((str = pw_properties_get(obj->props, PW_KEY_DEVICE_ID)) == NULL)
+	if (pw_properties_fetch_uint32(obj->props, PW_KEY_DEVICE_ID, &device_id) < 0)
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (!spa_atou32(str, &device_id, 10) ||
-			(obj = find_by_id(impl, PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Device, device_id)) == NULL)
+	if ((obj = find_by_id(impl, PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Device, device_id)) == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
 	if (!spa_streq(obj->type, PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Device) || !obj->props)
@@ -231,7 +229,7 @@ bool get_pending_save(struct impl *impl, const char *dev_name)
 {
 	char saved_profile_key[512];
 	spa_scnprintf(saved_profile_key, sizeof(saved_profile_key), "%s:pending-save", dev_name);
-	return spa_atob(pw_properties_get(impl->properties, saved_profile_key));
+	return pw_properties_get_bool(impl->properties, saved_profile_key, false);
 }
 
 void set_pending_save(struct impl *impl, const char *dev_name, bool pending)
diff --git a/src/media-session/media-session.c b/src/media-session/media-session.c
index adb823028..9cf8b4dd8 100644
--- a/src/media-session/media-session.c
+++ b/src/media-session/media-session.c
@@ -667,16 +667,17 @@ static int node_init(void *object)
 	struct sm_node *node = object;
 	struct impl *impl = SPA_CONTAINER_OF(node->obj.session, struct impl, this);
 	struct pw_properties *props = node->obj.props;
-	const char *str;
 
 	spa_list_init(&node->port_list);
 	spa_list_init(&node->param_list);
 
 	if (props) {
-		if ((str = pw_properties_get(props, PW_KEY_DEVICE_ID)) != NULL)
-			node->device = find_object(impl, atoi(str), NULL);
-		pw_log_debug("%p: node %d parent device %s (%p)", impl,
-				node->obj.id, str, node->device);
+		uint32_t id = SPA_ID_INVALID;
+
+		if (pw_properties_fetch_uint32(props, PW_KEY_DEVICE_ID, &id) == 0)
+			node->device = find_object(impl, id, NULL);
+		pw_log_debug("%p: node %d parent device %d (%p)", impl,
+				node->obj.id, id, node->device);
 		if (node->device) {
 			spa_list_append(&node->device->node_list, &node->link);
 			node->device->obj.avail |= SM_DEVICE_CHANGE_MASK_NODES;
@@ -758,6 +759,8 @@ static int port_init(void *object)
 	const char *str;
 
 	if (props) {
+		uint32_t id = SPA_ID_INVALID;
+
 		if ((str = pw_properties_get(props, PW_KEY_PORT_DIRECTION)) != NULL)
 			port->direction = spa_streq(str, "out") ?
 				PW_DIRECTION_OUTPUT : PW_DIRECTION_INPUT;
@@ -769,8 +772,8 @@ static int port_init(void *object)
 		}
 		if ((str = pw_properties_get(props, PW_KEY_AUDIO_CHANNEL)) != NULL)
 			port->channel = find_channel(str);
-		if ((str = pw_properties_get(props, PW_KEY_NODE_ID)) != NULL)
-			port->node = find_object(impl, atoi(str), PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Node);
+		if (pw_properties_fetch_uint32(props, PW_KEY_NODE_ID, &id) == 0)
+			port->node = find_object(impl, id, PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Node);
 
 		pw_log_debug("%p: port %d parent node %s (%p) direction:%d type:%d", impl,
 				port->obj.id, str, port->node, port->direction, port->type);
@@ -921,13 +924,14 @@ static int endpoint_init(void *object)
 	struct sm_endpoint *endpoint = object;
 	struct impl *impl = SPA_CONTAINER_OF(endpoint->obj.session, struct impl, this);
 	struct pw_properties *props = endpoint->obj.props;
-	const char *str;
 
 	if (props) {
-		if ((str = pw_properties_get(props, PW_KEY_SESSION_ID)) != NULL)
-			endpoint->session = find_object(impl, atoi(str), PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Session);
-		pw_log_debug("%p: endpoint %d parent session %s", impl,
-				endpoint->obj.id, str);
+		uint32_t id = SPA_ID_INVALID;
+
+		if (pw_properties_fetch_uint32(props, PW_KEY_SESSION_ID, &id) == 0)
+			endpoint->session = find_object(impl, id, PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Session);
+		pw_log_debug("%p: endpoint %d parent session %d", impl,
+				endpoint->obj.id, id);
 		if (endpoint->session) {
 			spa_list_append(&endpoint->session->endpoint_list, &endpoint->link);
 			endpoint->session->obj.avail |= SM_SESSION_CHANGE_MASK_ENDPOINTS;
@@ -1006,13 +1010,14 @@ static int endpoint_stream_init(void *object)
 	struct sm_endpoint_stream *stream = object;
 	struct impl *impl = SPA_CONTAINER_OF(stream->obj.session, struct impl, this);
 	struct pw_properties *props = stream->obj.props;
-	const char *str;
 
 	if (props) {
-		if ((str = pw_properties_get(props, PW_KEY_ENDPOINT_ID)) != NULL)
-			stream->endpoint = find_object(impl, atoi(str), PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Endpoint);
-		pw_log_debug("%p: stream %d parent endpoint %s", impl,
-				stream->obj.id, str);
+		uint32_t id = SPA_ID_INVALID;
+
+		if (pw_properties_fetch_uint32(props, PW_KEY_ENDPOINT_ID, &id) == 0)
+			stream->endpoint = find_object(impl, id, PW_TYPE_INTERFACE_Endpoint);
+		pw_log_debug("%p: stream %d parent endpoint %d", impl,
+				stream->obj.id, id);
 		if (stream->endpoint) {
 			spa_list_append(&stream->endpoint->stream_list, &stream->link);
 			stream->endpoint->obj.avail |= SM_ENDPOINT_CHANGE_MASK_STREAMS;
@@ -2430,8 +2435,7 @@ static const struct {
 
 static bool is_module_enabled(struct impl *impl, const char *val)
 {
-	const char *str = pw_properties_get(impl->modules, val);
-	return str ? pw_properties_parse_bool(str) : false;
+	return pw_properties_get_bool(impl->modules, val, false);
 }
 
 static void show_help(const char *name, struct impl *impl, const char *config_name)
diff --git a/src/media-session/policy-ep.c b/src/media-session/policy-ep.c
index e0e7b4e7e..01e442b5e 100644
--- a/src/media-session/policy-ep.c
+++ b/src/media-session/policy-ep.c
@@ -110,14 +110,13 @@ struct stream {
 static int
 handle_endpoint(struct impl *impl, struct sm_object *object)
 {
-	const char *str, *media_class;
+	const char *media_class;
 	enum pw_direction direction;
 	struct endpoint *ep;
 	uint32_t client_id = SPA_ID_INVALID;
 
 	if (object->props) {
-		if ((str = pw_properties_get(object->props, PW_KEY_CLIENT_ID)) != NULL)
-			client_id = atoi(str);
+		pw_properties_fetch_uint32(object->props, PW_KEY_CLIENT_ID, &client_id);
 	}
 
 	media_class = object->props ? pw_properties_get(object->props, PW_KEY_MEDIA_CLASS) : NULL;
diff --git a/src/media-session/policy-node.c b/src/media-session/policy-node.c
index 69423ec89..10026e27e 100644
--- a/src/media-session/policy-node.c
+++ b/src/media-session/policy-node.c
@@ -407,14 +407,13 @@ static const struct sm_object_events object_events = {
 static int
 handle_node(struct impl *impl, struct sm_object *object)
 {
-	const char *str, *media_class = NULL, *role;
+	const char *media_class = NULL, *role;
 	enum pw_direction direction;
 	struct node *node;
 	uint32_t client_id = SPA_ID_INVALID;
 
 	if (object->props) {
-		if ((str = pw_properties_get(object->props, PW_KEY_CLIENT_ID)) != NULL)
-			client_id = atoi(str);
+		pw_properties_fetch_uint32(object->props, PW_KEY_CLIENT_ID, &client_id);
 
 		media_class = pw_properties_get(object->props, PW_KEY_MEDIA_CLASS);
 		role = pw_properties_get(object->props, PW_KEY_MEDIA_ROLE);
@@ -453,10 +452,8 @@ handle_node(struct impl *impl, struct sm_object *object)
 
 		if (spa_strstartswith(media_class, "Video")) {
 			if (direction == PW_DIRECTION_OUTPUT) {
-				if ((str = pw_properties_get(object->props, PW_KEY_NODE_PLUGGED)) != NULL)
-					node->plugged = pw_properties_parse_uint64(str);
-				else
-					node->plugged = SPA_TIMESPEC_TO_NSEC(&impl->now);
+				node->plugged = pw_properties_get_uint64(object->props, PW_KEY_NODE_PLUGGED,
+									 SPA_TIMESPEC_TO_NSEC(&impl->now));
 			}
 			node->active = node->configured = true;
 		}
@@ -496,15 +493,9 @@ handle_node(struct impl *impl, struct sm_object *object)
 		} else
 			return 0;
 
-		if ((str = pw_properties_get(object->props, PW_KEY_NODE_PLUGGED)) != NULL)
-			node->plugged = pw_properties_parse_uint64(str);
-		else
-			node->plugged = SPA_TIMESPEC_TO_NSEC(&impl->now);
-
-		if ((str = pw_properties_get(object->props, PW_KEY_PRIORITY_SESSION)) != NULL)
-			node->priority = pw_properties_parse_int(str);
-		else
-			node->priority = 0;
+		node->plugged = pw_properties_get_uint64(object->props, PW_KEY_NODE_PLUGGED,
+							 SPA_TIMESPEC_TO_NSEC(&impl->now));
+		node->priority = pw_properties_get_uint32(object->props, PW_KEY_PRIORITY_SESSION, 0);
 
 		node->direction = direction;
 		node->virtual = virtual;
@@ -1410,7 +1401,6 @@ static const struct pw_metadata_events metadata_events = {
 int sm_policy_node_start(struct sm_media_session *session)
 {
 	struct impl *impl;
-	const char *flag;
 
 	PW_LOG_TOPIC_INIT(mod_topic);
 
@@ -1434,10 +1424,9 @@ int sm_policy_node_start(struct sm_media_session *session)
 	};
 	impl->defaults[3] = (struct default_node){ NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL };
 
-	flag = pw_properties_get(session->props, NAME ".streams-follow-default");
-	impl->streams_follow_default = (flag != NULL && pw_properties_parse_bool(flag));
-	flag = pw_properties_get(session->props, NAME ".alsa-no-dsp");
-	impl->alsa_no_dsp = (flag != NULL && pw_properties_parse_bool(flag));
+
+	impl->streams_follow_default = pw_properties_get_bool(session->props, NAME ".streams-follow-default", false);
+	impl->alsa_no_dsp = pw_properties_get_bool(session->props, NAME ".alsa-no-dsp", false);
 
 	spa_list_init(&impl->node_list);