Cleaning Starter: 5 Products That Actually Last a Year
A cleaning starter that fits a renter budget is five products, $30, and one shelf. What to buy, what to skip, and the weekly order that keeps a rental in shape for a full lease.
Small changes that make your home more comfortable — from soundproofing to smart lighting.
36 articles
5,112 reads
6 Dimensions of Comfort
Hover any card to flip and see what you can fix in this dimension.
Lighting
Avg impact 0.0/10Layered lighting changes everything. From ¥39.
Sound
Avg impact 0.0/10Quiet hush for noisy neighbors. Acoustic panels, weather strips.
Temperature
Avg impact 0.0/10Stay warm in winter, cool in summer. Insulation, fans, smart thermostats.
Air Quality
Avg impact 0.0/10Breathe cleaner air. Purifiers, plants, vent upgrades.
Privacy
Avg impact 0.0/10Keep eyes out. Films, smart locks, sightline hedges.
Energy
Avg impact 0.0/10Cut the bill. LED swaps, smart strips, insulation.
Can You Mix Vinegar and Oxiclean: The Chemistry, and What to Use Instead
Can you mix vinegar and oxiclean? Short answer is no — the chemistry cancels itself out and off-gasses concentrated peroxide. Three safe combinations that actually work better.
Soundproofing Mat for Walls:6 Ways I Tested Them and3 That Failed
I tested six soundproofing mats on three shared apartment walls across three apartments. Three of them failed in ways the product listings did not warn me about. Here is what worked and what did not.
Ceiling Sound Baffles:6 Ways I Tested Them in4 Different Rentals
I tested six ceiling baffle mounting methods across four rentals to find what actually works for upstairs noise. Here are the three materials that worked and the four shapes that match different ceiling heights.
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Best Solutions for Soundproofing Multi Story Apartments
I have lived in four different multi story apartments over the past five years and each one came with a different noise problem. Here is the five noise sources, the first line solution for each, and the install details for the three most effective products.
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How to Furnish a Studio (What I Did in My 350 Sqft NYC Apartment)
I furnished a 350 sqft NYC studio in 2019 for $2,335 total. Here are the 6 zones I planned, the $400 of mistakes I made, and the 5 pieces that came with me to my next apartment.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Light and Heater: 4 Buyer Mistakes
My neighbor asked me to help pick out a bathroom exhaust fan with light and heater for her renovation. Here are the four mistakes I almost let her make, and how to avoid them.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Heat Lamp: Complete 3-in-1 Ceiling Unit Buying Guide
A 3-in-1 bathroom ceiling unit costs less than three separate fixtures, dries the room while it warms, and runs quieter than most wall heaters. Here's what renters need to know.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan Cover Replacement:Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Renters
My mom's bathroom exhaust fan cover was missing for three weeks while her landlord did nothing. Here is what to do instead of waiting, and how the actual replacement takes five minutes.
How To Replace Exhaust Fan In The Bathroom (10 Steps)
My friend wanted to know how to change a bathroom exhaust fan to avoid a $280 contractor bill. Here are the ten steps we used and the two mistakes that almost cost us the new unit.
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My Bathroom Fan Was Broken — A Paper Towel Found It
Six renter-safe steps to fix a steamy bathroom, from a ten-second fan test to a humidity-sensing upgrade, with one extra option if your bathroom has no vent at all.
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Don't Replace Drafty Windows — Do This Instead
Seven renter-safe fixes for window drafts, mapped by candle and incense, that brought my December heating bill down 38 percent without touching the windows themselves.