It is your responsibility to keep your room clean, and work with your roommates to keep the shared residence hall room space or your shared apartment spaces clean as well. Taking good care of your living space on a regular basis is necessary to help prevent pests, allergens, and damage that can result from accumulated dirt. Below are our top tips on how to keep your living space clean and well maintained.
We care about your well-being and safety. Look out for yourself and your neighbors by keeping things clean and making sure the safety features in your room remain in good working order. For instance, never cover up or remove the smoke detectors.
Residence Halls
You are responsible for cleaning your own room. You may borrow a vacuum cleaner from your Resident Assistant or the Front Desk. Daily housekeeping services are provided, except on administrative holidays, for the common areas: lounges, hallways, stairwells and bathrooms. Please do your part to tidy up after yourself in common areas. It is always a good idea to do what you can to take care of your personal space and personal items, from doing your laundry regularly to taking out garbage and recycling waste.
Maintenance is included in your housing contract. When you need something repaired, submit a work order or Maintenance Request (log in with your CalNet ID).
Apartments
Many apartment buildings offer optional cleaning services that you and your roommates may choose to pay for during the academic year. (Optional cleaning services are currently available in Channing-Bowditch, Clark Kerr Apartments, Ida L. Jackson, Manville, Martinez Commons, and Wada.)
Maintenance is included in your housing contract. When you need something repaired, submit a work order or Maintenance Request (log in with your CalNet ID). Examples of some things you can submit a maintenance request for include plumbing problems, broken appliances, and evidence of pests.
Tips for a Clean Apartment
In the Bathroom
Do make sure you flush the toilet to prevent build-up which can cause the toilet to clog.
Do dispose of personal hygiene products in a trash bin and not in the toilet.
Do use non-abrasive cleaners to frequently clean sinks and bathtubs to help reduce the spread of germs and the buildup of mildew and mold.
Don’t flush any of the following down the toilet:
- Cigarette butts
- Condoms/condom wrappers
- Cotton balls, cotton swabs/Q-tips
- Facial tissues
- Gauze or any other type of cotton, cloth, wipe, pad, or towel
- Make-up removal pads/wipes
- Panty liners
- Paper towels/napkins
- Personal pre-moistened wipes (baby wipes)
- Sanitary napkins
- Tampons
In the Kitchen: Stove & Oven Tips
Do maintain the stove and oven by wiping up spills as they occur and cleaning regularly.
Do turn off the stove and oven when not in use and when no one is in the apartment.
Don’t leave cooking food unattended.
Don’t use the stove or oven as additional storage space or as a space heater.
In the Kitchen: Disposal of Cooking Grease
Do let it cool before you dispose of it. Our recommendation is to pour leftover cooking grease or fat into a can or glass jar. Once it cools, you may throw away the can or jar in the trash.
Don’t pour down the drain (It will clog your drain!).
Don’t pour grease or fat outside (it may attract pests and rodents).
In the Kitchen: Refrigerator Care
Do clean your refrigerator regularly to prevent odors and mold growth. When cleaning your refrigerator, use baking soda mixed with water to make a cleaning scrub that will help prevent odors.
Do keep food tightly covered or wrapped to help prevent odors and frost build-up.
Do place items on the shelves without overcrowding the space so that air can circulate freely within the refrigerator.
Don’t pack your refrigerator or freezer too full; it will not cool properly.
Don’t leave bottle caps and jar lids open inside the fridge, in case of spills.
Trash Removal
Do take out your trash, recycling, and compost frequently to avoid attracting pests such as ants, mice, and rats.
Do put your trash in a trash bag. Tie trash bags shut, and dispose of them in the trash room in your building.
Do take out your trash before it becomes too heavy for you to carry, or too heavy for the bag to hold without breaking.
Don’t use public trash cans or the trash cans in the laundry room to empty your trash.
Pest Control
Do submit a work order through the online Maintenance Request form (log in with your CalNet ID) right away if you notice pests such as cockroaches, ants, fleas, or mice in your apartment or building. When you submit a work order as soon as you notice the problem, it helps to reduce the spread to other rooms and apartments.
Do clean frequently to be proactive in preventing pest problems. Keep your living area and kitchens clean of leftover food and crumbs, make sure food is properly sealed and put away, and take the garbage out regularly.
Safety: Extension Cords (Don’t Use Them!)
Do use a power strip with a circuit breaker.
Don’t use extension cords, zip cords, or multi-plugs.
Safety: Smoke Detectors
Do keep your smoke detector installed and in good working order.
Do use safe cooking practices. For instance, if you cook with oil, try using less! Large amounts of oil in your cooking leads to lots of smoke, as well as grease buildup on counters and appliances.
Do use lower heat settings on your stove and oven when possible. Cooking food at a lower temperature will help to keep it from burning and causing smoke.
Don’t remove your smoke detector or cover it. Smoke detectors save lives!