For many of you this might be the first time you have had to clean your apartment without any help from family members. The person (landlord) you rent your room or apartment from expects you to keep it clean. But what you think is clean could be different from what they feel is clean.

This is a new section that will be added to the international newsletter. The “How To” section will include advice on a subject and ways to help with it. This month is “how to clean your apartment…the right way!” I am open to any suggestions or requests you may have for a “how to”. Please email me your thoughts on this and any requests of things you would like to learn more about!

Everyone knows that cleaning isn’t a fun thing to do. Whether it is your dorm room, apartment or home, it can be exhausting and, well, kind of gross! But it still needs to be done. Try to get in the habit of cleaning once a week, if not more. I have listed ways of cleaning and what you should do that will certainly get your place spotless!

1. The Kitchen

a. Always do the dishes first! Wash and put them away before doing the rest of the kitchen.
b. Wipe the countertops with a sponge! I recommend using Windex or a kitchen surface
cleaner. Be sure to wipe behind EVERYTHING. This may mean moving the toaster
and microwave around or whatever else may be on the counter.
c. Sweep the floor. Always sweep before you mop. You will need to sweep all corners of
the floor.
d. Mop (wash) the floor. You will need a bucket and either a mop or a sponge. If you use
a sponge you will put the sponge in the bucket and wash the floor. This means you will
be on your hands and knees. If you mop the floor you will be able to wash the floor
standing.
e. Be sure you do not walk on the floor while it is wet because it will be slippery and you
could fall.

2. The Bathroom

a. Clean all bathroom surfaces like the sink and toilet with a sponge and bathroom cleaner. Clorox is good for this and works really well getting it clean.
b. Clean the toilet with a toilet bowl cleaner and scrubber (you can buy that at Price Chopper or Walmart).
c. To clean the bathtub you will need a bathtub cleaner or bleach. It is actually easier to clean it while you are in there taking a shower. Make sure you get the WHOLE shower/tub…don’t miss any spots.
d. You should sweep and mop the bathroom floor.

3. Room/Other areas

a. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum!! I recommend this once a week to keep the floors/carpets from getting really dirty. Sometimes it helps to buy a carpet deodorizer as well. Usually you sprinkle this on the carpet, wait a few minutes and then vacuum.
b. Instead of throwing dirty clothes all over the place, throw them in the hamper! A hamper is a basket that you put just dirty clothes in. It makes it easier to walk around and vacuum if your floor is clear.
c. Once a month dust your furniture. This is important because some don’t realize how much dust can circulate within a week. Doing this once a month will keep your clothes, books, computer, etc. from getting dust all over it.

4. Taking out the garbage

a. If the garbage can in your apartment is full take it outside.
b. Line the garbage can with a plastic bag. This stops paper bags from ripping if it gets wet.
c. Keeping old food/food waste in a garbage can will smell and will attract bugs. This
is very bad.
d. The landlord expects you to take the garbage out regularly.
e. At Jane’s house the garbage is taken out every other day.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when being successful in your cleaning venture. If you have any questions about cleaning or if you have a “how to” you would like to see in the newsletter, send me an email!

Christina
apkarc@rpi.edu