Apartments get dirty over time, and sometimes it’s not entirely noticeable.
Dirt, scum, and dust build up over time, so if you don’t see it right away, you may not think about it.
In order to keep it from building up and causing a bigger mess later, take time each week to clean up a few things around your place to keep it spick and span.
You likely have your own preferences for how often you should clean, but keeping up on minor things once a week can make a huge difference when it comes to taking care of larger projects later on.
Here are four things you can do at least every week to stay on top of messes and live your best student apartment life.
1. Wipe The Stove And Counters
If you or your roommates cook, you should take a moment to wipe off countertops, the stove, and other areas that may be messy in your kitchen.
Things splatter and spill on the regular, so keeping up with those micro-messes will make your kitchen stay clean longer and you won’t need to scrub as much when it’s time to do a deep clean.
2. Sweep Or Vacuum High-Traffic Areas
Places like the front entrance, kitchen floors, and bedrooms or bathrooms likely get tracked around in the most.
If you notice it getting messy, sweep up the messes before they get stuck or built up in the corners.
Keeping crumbs and other food particles off the floor also helps you avoid pests like ants and centipedes.
3. Take Out The Garbage From Each Room
Every week, if not more frequently, you should collect all the trash from around the apartment and dispose of it in the dumpster.
It’s a pesky and sometimes gross task, but it’s necessary to avoid smells and bugs from lingering in your place.
It also prevents the trash from overflowing and making a larger mess when you take it out.
4. Wash, Dry, and Put Away All Of Your Dishes
It may seem like a no-brainer, but you should make a point to clean all of your used dishes by the end of the week.
If you have a dishwasher, it’s a simple task, but if you’re going by hand it may be more time consuming.
When you’re done you should also try to put them away to free up space in your sink or dishwasher for the next round of dishes so that you always have clean cutlery!
Of course, you’ll have your own routine and rules for how and when you clean your place.
But, generally speaking, it’s better in the long run if you make a point to take care of these small tasks on a regular basis.
It reduces the amount of time you’ll spend cleaning later, and it establishes a rhythm that you and your roommates can get behind. (Maybe you can even consider setting up a chore chart!)
