Yeah, I figured I probably couldn’t alter the locks on the door. I’m looking for one that’s not so permanent and can be taken on and off as you go.
Something similar to this lock in the way it’s able to be taken on and off easily. I haven’t found any that are made for the outside of the door, though. Sorry, I should’ve been more specific!
There's no problem with them being old. The issue is no proper maintenance. A couple of these tablets trying through a couple washes will help a lot. Maybe a dose of vinegar during a few cycles will wash away the years of residue buildup that is funkifying your clothes.
Sorry that your maintenance isn't doing the job.
You have 2 options. Either A: buy something to add additional space like a portable island or folding table or B: use a sink cover to add a flat service. Here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-43431-Accents-Sink-Cover-13/dp/B000EDQQJW/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=kitchen+sink+cover+for+counter+space&qid=1611207062&sprefix=Kitchen+sink+cov&sr=8-5
There are different types of cupboard locks and a lot of them don't even depend on handles. There are great ones for apartments that are stick on and you can remove them without having damaged the cupboard. These, for example. Also very important is make sure you get outlet covers for for outlets as kids can reach those much sooner than they can reach the cupboards. Also very important. Secure all furniture to the wall so it can't tip over.
Yes. There are both washers and dryers you can use in apartments without hookups. The dryer will need a window for the exhaust, or if it's cold, just let it blow out directly into your apartment from some bonus heating. Here's one. For the washer you need to be able to put it close to a sink or bathtub. I had one that came with an adapter for the sink. Something like this.
You could some of these and hang curtains between the living room and kitchen
This is what worked for me. I tried everything. If they come in and spray, the roaches will go next door and come back later. This stuff is a bait that they take home with them and it kills the whole colony. Not expensive, either. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012XH8WM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
​
It puts out it's own smell, which can be a little overwhelming at times, almost like a hospital smell, but it's worked for me when I needed it.
I get teeny black window ants, and the bait sticky traps didn't work, nor did home liquid solutions (detergents, sugar, vinegar...nothing). My lifesaver has been Ortho Home Defense. Buy the big dang gallon, and spray once every 3 or so days until they're all gone, then once a month along the entire perimeter where they come in for upkeep. (In my case it was the entire window sill, but I do my entire apt along all the points of entry windows or doors). No smell, no stains, no goop. It's amazing stuff. I had what seemed like an entire colony of dead ants in less than a day after the first use. Now I spray once a month or once for preventative maintenance. A bonus is it has a little hose and handle, so it never, ever gets on you and allows you to spray in hard to reach areas. Seriously highly rec.
Drop a dowel rod in the back of the track to keep the door from sliding open. Those doors can be lifted from up from the track and pushed in but that’s pretty hard to do, especially if the door is a tight fit for the track. I don’t know if any way to prevent lifting and pushing in, but you can get security seals that will set off an alarm if broken (like this). The alarm won’t go anywhere like the police or a monitoring company, but the noise should scare someone off. Then put one of those “protected by ADT” or whatever stickers up.
WB Marvin Frost King AWS1037 Adjustable Window Screen, 10in High x Fits 21-37in Wide https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004Z13K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WYHY4ZXQP26H9HCRSJPS
These just set in your windows and are a super cheap solution!
We love this model but our landlord does not. It caused some electricity problems/ were not allowed to have a shower head that has a hose because it can cause damage to the wall/plumbing.
So make sure to evaluate where you are living and research electricity outtake. I love ours but we can’t use it until I move. When I was using it, it was hard to find a hose that would work with our sink so we just used a bucket it worked just fine.
I got this one for Christmas:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078FH587H/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_N3943MD7SQGG0RSZGKD6
I can wash and spin a set of queen sized sheets in 30 minutes and they'll be fully air dried within 4 hours. Athletic/wicking material items get 90% dry from a 5 minute spin out (ready to wear within an hour after spinning). The main cons are the water inlet tube that comes with it is flimsy and short and the drain pump doesn't work the best so the unit needs to be elevated somewhat to drain well, but I've exclusively used this to do all of my laundry since January and it's still going strong and saves me over $50/MO on laundry expenses
I’ve just recently won a months-long battle to get rid of German cockroaches. They were bad too- I woke up one morning to one crawling on my arm and decided to declare war. this stuff was my saving grace.
Buy it, pull out the bottom drawers in the kitchen and apply it down there. Apply it behind the fridge, on top of the cabinets, in the cabinets, in the drawer tracks, behind and under the stove, in the cabinet under the sink, and do the same in the bathroom. I went a step further and applied it around the baseboard heaters, windows, electronics, absolutely everywhere I could think of that the little demons could hide. It took a good 2 weeks for them to really disappear, but it did work. For the ones I did see, I just sprayed them with the plant based Raid.
Our last apartment had a wall of kitchen with counterspace the same as you described. I bought this counter height table at big lots on discount because I was able to get the floor model: https://www.biglots.com/product/raleigh-walnut-3-shelf-counter-height-dining-table/p810528479?zcp=pd_pla_go_G_Shopping_Indoor_Furniture_PLA_Div_9_est5171_New+Q3&gclid=CjwKCAiAvaGRBhBlEiwAiY-yMOjD7kP4-FBxFNeNZKPYPdMkV0VYKMKvNXvoR9lUsmZ_JSYk5ia0...
I also got this to put over the sink when not in use to maximize counter space:
Bellemain Over-The-Sink Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack, Multi-Use Drying, Draining, Trivet (Grey, Medium) Kitchen Sink Accessories https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9DR43R/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_097S5V5H7ATW7JE6X49K?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
As for the cord issue, look into "wire trak" products, or use a painters tape similar to your wall color to camouflage them.
Where are you looking for buffets? They come in all sizes and shapes. Just google.
That’s a really high bill for an apartment.
There is clear plastic kit you can get at Walmart for your windows. It does a really good job at insulating your windows. Very inexpensive too.
Duck Brand Indoor 10-Window Shrink Film Insulator Kit, 62-Inch x 420-Inch, 286216 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GKC2GW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_7792HBNZTZ68NABXE5FX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Have you ever tried Combat roach bait traps?
https://www.amazon.com/Combat-Killing-Station-780059-41913/dp/B0012XH8WM
These have worked for me in the past, in another city. You have to buy A LOT of them, preferably different sizes. Stick the regular size ones along the baseboards, every 3 feet or so. Get bigger ones and put them on the inside of the kitchen cupboard doors, reach in by the side of the refrigerator wall and put some there.
Buy as many traps as you can afford, just get an insane amount and put them everywhere. This actually worked for me when I lived in NY. Good luck.
Ok I just posted about phones not recording nuisance from next door, I have the app for you, I just posted about it, for I also could not record recorder
I was in a similar position and resorted to using a double sided, magnetic window cleaning thingy.
Not the easiest solution, but it worked pretty well.
If the kitchen/bathroom/closet are considered "north", I'd put the bed on the "south" wall and get one or more free standing privacy screens so that if you open the door for someone, they won't see your messy bed.
Not mentioned yet: wireless headphones, a fire extinguisher, secret security cameras and a handgun.
Also, don't blow all kinda money on fancy furniture. Apartments aren't suited for entertaining anyways and you'll probably get complaints from the neighbors about the noise if you have people over all the time, better to hook up with them at a bar or restaurant (or their place).
If you've got the money, one of these battery power packs might be nice to have in the event of a power outage, as keeping a gasoline generator in an apartment isn't practical.
Here is an option for small stick-on LEDs. They may be easier than what you are trying to do.
Oy, I sympathize with this. I hand to walk up 4 flights of stairs to my apartment and the first flight was incredibly long. It was hard to save face when I got to the top out of breath.
You can use those collapsing carts but you’d likely damage it sooner from dragging it up each stair. Maybe one of those stair climbing fillets would work?
Here’s a few: