Tips For Maintaining Your Apartment As A Renter

By Ashley Paskill on December 21, 2020

This article is brought to you by GradGuard. We protect college students and their families from the financial risks of college life, like providing a refund for tuition or replacing a stolen backpack when your school may not. When the unexpected happens, GradGuard’s tuition insurance and renters insurance can help you get back on track.

Moving into an off-campus apartment comes with added responsibility. You have to deal with more independence and paying for things like monthly rent and utilities. You are also more responsible for the maintenance of your apartment. Keeping your apartment nice is crucial so you and your landlord stay on good terms. It may seem difficult to handle, but keeping up with the maintenance of your apartment can be done, even on a busy student schedule.

Set a cleaning schedule

While you are in school, it can be tough to find time to clean. However, cleaning is essential. If you spill things on the carpet, it is critical that you clean it up as soon as possible so that it does not stain. Just like you schedule study time, organizations, and events, setting a cleaning schedule can help you make sure you have the time you need to clean. Cleaning as you go along through the semester and year can help reduce the amount of work you have to do when you are ready to move out. Also, if you live with a roommate or multiple roommates, split up the work so that you are not left with all of the cleaning responsibility. Just be aware of things that are happening with your roommates so that if they need extra help with their tasks, you can help out. Hold your roommates and yourself accountable for cleaning, and make it fun.

Try some maintenance hacks

Maintaining your apartment can seem impossible, but there are some easy hacks you can do to help keep your space fresh. For example, you can put pillows in the sun to fluff them up instead of taking them to a dry cleaner, which saves you money. To clean your vents, use a knife and a rag to help get dirt and lint that has built up over time. Use furniture that doubles as storage to help you stay organized yet fashionable. If you do not like your oven’s self-cleaning option, consider putting vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle to clean the inside of your oven. Baking soda can also be used to clean away grime and clean drains (when combined with hot water and vinegar). Knowing little hacks like this can help your apartment look great without too much effort.

Come prepared

When you move off-campus, there are extra things you will need to bring that you did not need to have when you lived in the dorms. Being equipped with tools to help with the maintenance of the apartment is crucial. Having things like a screwdriver, hammer, and nails, a wrench, and duct tape can help save you when things break. This will also help you when things break and your landlord cannot come out right away to fix them. Having the tools you need to help maintain your apartment is half the battle, so work with your roommate(s) to make sure you have everything you will need.

Aside from tools, it is also important that you have the cleaning supplies you need. If you do not have cleaning supplies, you may be more tempted to not clean, especially if you tell yourself you will get the supplies the next time you go shopping. If you notice you are getting low on supplies, write it down and make it a point to get what you need as soon as possible. Also, not cleaning things frequently or as soon as a mess happens will make things even more difficult to clean later, so it is better to have the supplies you need to clean up as soon as messes occur.

Image: Tekton via https://unsplash.com/photos/EcE9dFfXwwE

Invest in a doormat

Clutter is a huge issue, but more mess may come from bringing in mud and dirt on your shoes. To help fix this, have a mat by your door inside your apartment for you, your roommate(s), and guests to use to wipe your feet. You may even opt to take your shoes off when you get home, but this may be difficult to have guests do when they visit. Mud and dirt can be super difficult to clean up, especially if the main walking areas in your apartment are carpeted, so containing the mess and having a mat that can be cleaned can help save you time and hassle.

Follow your lease

While you do have more freedom in an apartment than you do in the dorms, there are still rules you need to follow in order to make sure you are maintaining your apartment to your landlord’s standards. Your landlord may not allow pets because they can cause odors and pet hair can get everywhere. Your landlord may also have specific guidelines for how to hang things on the walls to avoid damage. There may also be restrictions on painting your walls. Knowing these rules and following them will help you stay in good standing with your landlord and prolong the apartment’s appearance. These rules are often spelled out in the lease, but if you are unsure or if the lease is not clear, check with your landlord. In any case, it is best to check with your landlord before starting any major renovation project.

Declutter

One of the biggest issues with keeping your apartment maintained is decreasing clutter. If you have guests over or your landlord needs to come over, having clutter everywhere can make it super difficult to move around easily. It can actually cause a falling hazard, even with just you and your roommates. Keep walkways clear and free of barriers that can cause someone to fall. If you notice a mess when you move clutter, clean it up, especially if it can cause someone to slip. Depending on the amount of clutter, you may choose to clean one section at a time to avoid becoming too overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you have to clean. Decluttering will also help you eliminate the amount of dust that will accumulate, making the air easier and healthier to breathe in.

Make sure things work

One of the biggest things you have to pay attention to is whether or not things are actually working. Be sure to check faucets and pipes for potential leaks. Doing things like cleaning ceiling fans and air vents, changing air filters, and checking up on the general wellbeing of everything in your space is crucial for maintaining the health, safety, and functionality of space. Things work better when they are free from grime and dirt, so keeping things clean will help in this aspect as well. If you notice something does need to be fixed, be sure to alert your landlord right away so they can come out and fix it. Otherwise, you may be held accountable for something that is broken or is not working properly. You may even be able to fix a minor problem on your own, but if you are unsure, check with your landlord for guidance and tips. Err on the side of caution. Even if something seems minor, letting the problem go can cause it to snowball into a much larger issue down the line. Address issues as they arise, and keep your landlord in the loop, even if you are able to fix it on your own.

Partake in daily habits

There are things you can do each day to help make your apartment cleaner and more organized. Make your bed each day and avoid leaving dishes in the sink. Check your mail every day, and go through it. Do not leave it out on the counter. Invest in file cabinets for important papers you receive and make an effort to file them as soon as you receive them. Try to sweep your floors at least a few times a week in order to help the air stay clean and your floors look good. Run the sweeper regularly on your rugs and carpets to keep them from wearing down. These habits may seem small, but they can make a huge difference in helping to maintain your apartment and keep it looking nice.

Maintain your appliances

It is likely that your appliances were in your apartment when you moved in, and they will be there when you move out. In order to make sure they last, it is important to keep them clean so they work properly. On your fridge, when the coils are dirty, it holds heat and makes your fridge work harder to keep the contents cool. Remove the cover from under the door and vacuum the built-up dust.

To keep your heater and air conditioning in good shape, clean out the vents with a vacuum before using them for the first time each year, and do so every so often to help reduce dust accumulation. Also, instead of turning your A/C or heat when you leave, turn the heat up or the A/C down to preserve energy and lower utility costs.

In general, taking care of appliances, even doing something as simple as cleaning them regularly, can help extend the life of the appliance and help reduce utility costs.

Stop plumbing issues before they occur

Plumbing problems, such as clogged drains, are a common issue. In order to keep your drains flowing, avoid pouring oil and solids in the kitchen sink. Remove hair from the bathroom sink and tub to prevent them from being washed down the drain. If your sink and toilet drains do clog, use a plunger to unstop it. For those who get periods, avoid flushing feminine hygiene products down the toilet, even if the packaging says they can be flushed. Be mindful of your toilet paper use, and try to limit how much you use as using too much can back up the sewer.

Invest in a storage unit

As a college student, it is likely that you do not have a ton of space in your apartment. You may need to have a lot of stuff with you, including décor and seasonal clothes, especially if you live far away from home. However, having all of these extra items can really clutter up your bedroom or closets. Investing in a storage unit can help you have a space to put any extra items to help you have more room in your rooms and closets. This also has the added benefit of being able to have a place to help you move between apartments, especially if you are not graduating yet. When you go to move, you can just put décor and furniture into storage so you do not have to worry about selling the items and rebuying them at a later point. Having a storage unit will help get items out of your apartment so they are not collecting dust.

You may also choose to invest in storage that can help you organize within your apartment. You can get vacuum-seal bags for clothing that condense out-of-season clothing into thinner spaces. Optimize closet space by using plastic drawers and bins for odds and ends. In your common areas, get furniture that can double as storage to help store things such as remotes, wires, batters, and video games so they do not get lost. Label storage bins so you know exactly what is in them and do not put anything in them that does not belong. The less you have sitting out, the easier it is to clean, which can help prolong the life of flooring and furniture.

Image: Joshua Coleman via https://unsplash.com/photos/ZVkDLrXGMdw

Ask for help

It may be tempting to find tutorials online for how to fix various problems that arise, but sometimes, it is just better to get a professional involved. Get in touch with your landlord, and if they are unable to help with the issue, ask them if they have any contacts for someone who can. You may be able to fix it, but if you are unsure of what you are doing, you may end up making the problem worse and may cause longer-lasting issues than if you got a professional involved from the start.

In general, keeping your space clean and organized can help your apartment look nice while helping to prolong the life of your flooring, furniture, and appliances. While there are many steps you can take on your own, asking for help when needed can help prevent further damage down the line.

It’s no secret that college costs a lot of money. Make sure your investment in higher education is protected with GradGuard. Our affordable tuition insurance and renters insurance plans are specifically designed for college students. Customizable plans make it easy to protect your tuition, room and board, laptop, bike, and so much more.

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