The answer, unfortunately, is you! Being away from home for the first time and the responsibilities it entails can come as quite a shock to some students. Although most are able to make it through okay, it is always helpful to get some tips to make it easier.
The 3 top areas that challenge students in Waterloo living away from home are:
So, Rez-One had put together some tips to help you take on these new-found responsibilities with a 3-part blog series dedicated to these student challenges. This month… cleaning!
Healthy student housing are safe and clean for the people who live there. Unlike single family homes that can be left alone for months without inspections, student residences really need to be inspected and professionally cleaned on a weekly basis to ensure all is well. Ultimately, professional cleaning services are an option to students. But if you decide you want to take on your own cleaning, you need to ensure to keep up standards of cleanliness.
While traveling to and from classes, you may bring in dirt and dust from the outside that can build up over time. Busy schedules often prevent students from picking up and cleaning up on a regular basis.
However, a simple cleaning schedule that includes vacuuming and taking off your shoes before you enter your suite can ensure that extra dirt and clutter don’t accumulate. Surprisingly, it can take just an hour a week (less than 10 minutes a day) to keep your kitchen, bathroom and bedroom clean and tidy.
General cleaning schedules can be on daily, weekly and monthly schedules. Daily schedules can include cleaning counters, wiping spills, storing food in sealed containers, and taking the garbage out. Weekly schedules can include vacuuming, laundry, scrubbing sinks and showers, and dusting. Monthly cleaning activities can include cleaning out the refrigerator, window sills, and microwave oven. By making a cleaning schedule in advance, you can be prepared and have all the supplies you need. Work with your roommates to create a cleaning schedule that assigns tasks to everyone and includes a rotation of tasks so no one gets bored or stuck all the time with a cleaning task they don’t like.
Everybody deserves a safe, clean and healthy home. By keeping areas clean and dusted, air inside suites is clean and fresh which is conducive to a happy and healthy lifestyle. People living in dirty environments have higher rates of respiratory irritation and are more likely to develop illnesses, like a cold or the flu.
People and pests don’t mix. When clutter collects it becomes an ideal hiding place for pests. Improperly stored food and garbage also invite pests into your suite.
You want to modify any dirty or neglectful habits you have that can make you sick or send a negative message to your roommates and family.
Some quick tips to keep your suite clean and healthy: