Keeping the apartment neat can prevent conflicts with roommates, as well as making you more comfortable. Even if you did your own housekeeping prior to studying in the U.S., the following will give you some cultural insight into what is considered "clean" in this country. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind.

Refrigerator
A refrigerator should be defrosted when the ice ("frost") around the freezing unit becomes 1/4 inch thick. To defrost the refrigerator, turn it off, unplug it, empty it, and let the water from the melting frost drip into a tray or pan which you can empty into the sink. You can speed the process of melting the frost by putting a pan of boiling water in the refrigerator beneath the frosted area. Wipe the inside of the refrigerator with a solution of water and baking soda. Some refrigerators defrost automatically. Check with your landlord about how to take care of yours.

Trash Disposal
Ask your landlord or neighbors what the schedule is for trash and garbage pick-up in your area. Find out where to store garbage if you live in an apartment building. Laws in New York and New Jersey vary regarding the mandate to recycle cans, newspapers, glass, and other items. Make sure that you learn the requirements in your area so you avoid fines for noncompliance.

Keeping the Kitchen Clean
American kitchens are less open to fresh air than kitchens in some parts of the world. Thus grease and oil in the air tend to accumulate on walls and on the tops of refrigerators and cabinets. These areas should be cleaned to avoid the development of unpleasant odors. This is especially true if you fry food frequently. Keeping crumbs off the counters and the floors swept will avoid attracting insects and rodents.

Keeping the Bathroom Clean
People in different parts of the world often have different ideas about the appropriate placement, care and use of bathrooms. International students who share bathrooms with Americans or with students from countries other than their own should be aware of these differences.

Although Americans in general do not clean and polish a bathroom on a daily basis, as people in some countries do, they believe that bathrooms should be kept relatively clean and free of odors. This means at least weekly cleaning of sinks, shower stalls or bathtubs, bathroom floors, and toilet. It is important to flush the toilet after each use. Most tampons may be flushed in the toilet along with toilet paper, but all other materials should be thrown in a wastebasket. Men should raise the toilet seat to urinate and put the seat back down when they are finished.

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