November 1, 2020

How to Clean Your Student Apartment Before Break

Once finals week is over, university students can finally breathe a sigh of relief. But before you pack your bags and prepare to head back home, make sure that the Carleton off-campus housing you’re leaving behind is in order. 

It’s so much nicer to go back to a clean living space once the break is over. Here’s what you can do to make sure your student apartment is in top condition.

 

Clean all the rooms.

There’s a good chance that the state of your apartment is in dire straits in the days leading up to your finals. It’s perfectly understandable if your desk is buried in a ton of reading materials, and your dining table is littered with pizza boxes and coffee mugs.

If you don’t want to come back to a messy apartment, tidy things up before you leave. Give your apartment a quick dusting, including hard-to-reach areas such as ceiling blade fans, bookshelves, and blinds. Wipe down the counters and tables, mop the floor, and vacuum the carpet.

 

Clean your desk.

Going back to a clean and organized study area will energize you for the new semester. So take stock of everything that’s taking space on your desk, and reduce clutter by removing all the non-essential items to your drawers. Clean and disinfect your desk, keyboard, monitor, and mouse.     

 

Clean the refrigerator. 

No one wants to go back to a fridge with smelly, rotting food. Give any leftovers or produce to friends who are staying over during the break, then throw out the rest of the perishables. Wipe everything clean, then defrost. Wipe the excess water from the defrosting with a dry rag or paper towels.  

 

Purge your closet.

Go through all the clothes in your closet and decide which ones to toss, and which ones to keep. Get rid of clothes that no longer fit, and stuff you haven’t worn for more than a year. Also donate any of those items you think might come in handy someday, but never end up needing. 

 

Minimize the clutter.

Visit each room of your student apartment to see if there’s anything you won’t need for the next semester. Instead of hoarding the stuff you’ve used in the recently concluded semester, you can sell, give away, donate, or take it home with you. Don’t forget to store personal valuables into your room.

 

Take the garbage out. 

Empty all of your wastebaskets and dispose of the garbage in the outside dumpsters.

 

Do one final sweep.

Before you go, check all the rooms to make sure you’re not forgetting anything. If you have a fish or other pet, find someone else to take care of it temporarily, or take it home with you. If you have indoor plants, bring them home or ask a neighbor to pop in and water them for you in your absence.   

Turn down the heat to save on energy, but not too low that the pipes will freeze. Check all the fixtures and taps to ensure nothing is leaking. Finally, make sure all the windows and doors are securely locked before you leave.  

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