After moving numerous of times, I’ve compiled a list of the most important necessities when moving into an apartment . I’m going to cut the fluff and go straight into it.
Restroom Necessities:
- A plunger
- A good toilet brush
- Ajax or anything to clean the toilet periodically
- Toilet paper
- Inexpensive plastic shower curtains and a sturdy Rod
- A comfortable shower mat
- Hand soap
- Trash can
Kitchen Necessities:
- Pots, pans, utensils, plates, cups, spatula, and knives
- If you cook, a strainer and cutting board
- If you don’t have a dish washer, a sturdy sponge and dish soap
- A trash can with a lid
- Multi-purpose lighter
- Paper towels for messes (especially if you cook a lot)
- Utensil organizers for drawers
- Fire extinguisher
Miscellaneous Necessities:
- A small toolbox. I suggest at least owning the basics (hammer, nails, screwdrivers, and a measuring tape)
- Surge protector
- Coat/clothes hangers
- Vacuum and/or Swiffer for hard wood floors
This checklist is what I use when I move to make sure I have everything I need to be comfortable. I will go into detail on why you will need them based on my experience.
Restroom necessities when moving into an apartment
The restroom is an area you should be prepared for immediately when moving in.
Firstly, you should have a plunger on hand in case of a pluming emergency. You don’t want to get caught without one when an issue occurs.
Keeping your toilet bowl clean is very important for hygiene and controlling restroom odor. Get a toilet brush from a local store. They are inexpensive and easy to use. Additionally, you should also have a cleaning solution like Ajax, to clean the bowl periodically. I like to clean the toilet once a week at a minimum. As a result, I’ve noticed that this keeps the restroom from having bad odors.
Toilet paper is a must, and I don’t have to explain why. What I would recommend is to install a bidet to help you save on toilet paper usage and get a proper clean. Let the bidet do its job and dry yourself with a ply sheet of toilet paper. It makes cleaning much easier and after owning one for over 2 years, I’m never going without one.
You should also have a curtain rod and curtains installed as soon as you move in. You most certainly will always need a shower after moving day. Additionally, you should have a shower mat placed on the floor to keep the floor clean.
Lastly, the restroom should have its own trash can in the room. There are numerous reasons why you would want it there and it’s a must.
Kitchen Necessities when moving into a new apartment
If you cook a lot or like to meal prep, you will need to make sure you’re prepared and ready for this.
I think this is obvious, but because it’s on my list, you will want to own a set of good pots, pans, and any other cooking tools that you will require.
A cutting board and strainer are items easy to miss because it’s not something you think about until you need it. Additionally, you should have a knife to use on the cutting board.
You should have a trash can with a lid in the kitchen. I noticed that I use the kitchen trash can the most. When you start adding food scraps or leftovers in it, you will want to have a lid to keep the odor trapped inside. I would also suggest not keeping the same trash in there for over a week. You should be replacing the trash bag once a week at a minimum.
If you light candles and/or have a gas stove, you should own a multipurpose lighter. Specifically, a long neck lighter that makes it easier and safer to use. If the power goes out, you can still use a gas top stove by introducing the flame from the lighter onto the gas. Additionally, I’ve found it much easier to light a candle when its very low without burning my fingers.
Paper towels should always be in the kitchen. Spills and messes are unavoidable, and you should be prepared to clean them.
I would recommend having a utensil organizer that fits in a pull-out drawer. Its much easier to be able to reach in and get the utensil you need without having to sort through them.
Lastly, you should have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen. I have mine under the sink and its ready to use if ever needed (I hope that’s never the case). Make sure you check the extinguisher’s pressure once a year to make sure its still functional.
Miscellaneous necessities when moving into an apartment
Besides the kitchen and Restroom, you should probably own general items that are just necessary to have.
You should own a small toolbox that with the most basic tools for everyday use. The toolbox should include a wrench, hammer, nails, phillip/flathead screwdrivers, and a measuring tape. Furthermore, you can add more tools into the toolbox that you know you will need or use later.
Secondly, I would highly suggest owning a surge protector over any general power chord. Surge protectors are a little bit more expensive, but they are very safe to use and can help prevent overloads that usually result in fires. In my opinion, general power cords should be illegal.
Another thing easy to miss are hangers for you closet. Unless you’re fine with folding all your dresses or shirts, you should have hangers ready to hang them.
Finally, you should have a vacuum or a Swiffer if you have hardwood/laminate floors. The floor is the one area that gets the dirtiest when you are moving in. All the dust and dirt that is generated from moving boxes and furniture gets on the floor. You will want to be prepared by having the vacuum ready once you are done moving. This is how I end my move, by cleaning all the floors.
Additional miscellaneous items that you may not need but should have
These items are not considered “necessary” but I would like to include them as I’ve seen how important they have been to own.
- Set of Tupperware containers
- Microfiber shop towels
- Scented trash bags
- Scented candles or plugins
- Food that wont perish quickly (cans, granola, etc..)
- Binder to keep all the mail/paperwork organized
- Fabric shower curtain liner that goes outside of the plastic curtain
- First aid kit (bandages, creams, etc..)
- Dinner ware set
- Emergency wine for when you’re having a bad day