How to Safely Use Bleach as a Cleaner

April 6, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When disinfecting surfaces in your apartment to minimize your chances of spreading or catching COVID-19, you might turn to bleach as your disinfecting product of choice. Bleach is a viable last-resort option if you don’t have disinfecting wipes, disinfecting sprays, isopropyl alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide on hand – and since most stores haven’t been able…

What Do I Do If My Roommate Needs to Quarantine?

April 3, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take an outsize toll on everyday life, staying at home has grown beyond just sound medical advice. In several states, it’s become the law of the land. With mandatory stay-at-home orders enacted across the country, some people living with roommates or partners may be grateful they’re not alone during…

Help! My Roommate Never Does The Dishes

March 30, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s a situation many apartment dwellers face: You want to keep your apartment clean and tidy, but your roommate’s dishes go uncleaned in the kitchen sink for days. How do you address your situation with a roommate who never does the dishes? Find the best steps to take below. We, not me When dealing with…

How to Properly Disinfect Surfaces

March 27, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

You’ve probably heard the advice ad nauseam by now: In addition to washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, you can lower your chances of catching or spreading COVID-19 by disinfecting surfaces around your apartment. Just as handwashing that lasts less than 20 seconds is significantly less effective at preventing COVID-19 transmission,…

How to Tackle Spring Cleaning With Your Roommates

March 19, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

The tradition of spring cleaning may seem overwhelming. Do you really want to take the time and put in the labor to clean your entire apartment? This concern can be less pressing when you have roommates because you can all split the work evenly. Here’s how to tackle spring cleaning with your roommates. Decide what…

Help! There’s a Mouse in My Apartment

January 28, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Picture this: You’re alone in your apartment, relaxing on your couch while watching TV. In the distance, you see something that makes you realize you’re not actually alone – a mouse sprints across your kitchen floor or countertops and disappears before you even realize what happened. Unfortunately, seeing a mouse in your apartment isn’t uncommon,…

Here’s How To Recycle Your Christmas Tree

December 27, 2019 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Apartment life often means limited space, so fitting a standard-sized Christmas tree into your living room can be challenging. Smaller trees (and many other ways to decorate for Christmas in an apartment) exist, but you might be tempted to dispose of even these less imposing trees between this holiday season and the next. While your town…

Is an Apartment Cleaning Service Worth the Money?

October 24, 2019 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Having your own apartment can give you thorough peace of mind, but keeping it clean can just as quickly bring stress back into your life. No matter how hard you try, a thin layer of dust will all but inevitably make itself at home on your dresser, bookshelf, and other surfaces that mostly go untouched…

Going on Vacation? Your Ultimate Apartment Prep Checklist

September 25, 2019 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

If you’re going away for a couple of nights, you’re probably not thinking too much about what could happen to your apartment as it sits alone and unattended for such a short time. But what if you’re taking a much longer vacation? When do you need a friend or a family member to “check in”…

Four Questions To Ask A New Landlord About Apartment Maintenance

July 26, 2019 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When your ceiling starts leaking, your dishwasher stops working, or your oven stops heating, you’ll need to call an expert to take care of your problem. If you’re renting your apartment, your landlord is likely required to schedule and pay for major repairs of this nature. While there may be a clear set of obligations…