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HC Wisco’s Guide to Your First Apartment

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Wisconsin chapter.

It’s freshman year. You’re packing up your tiny dorm room, and only one thought is crossing your mind: you can’t wait to come back in the fall and move into your very own apartment with your closest friends. However, an apartment is a little different than a dorm, and you may find yourself feeling lost about what exactly to get. Here are some interesting (but essential) things you probably never thought about getting for your first apartment:

1. Scrub Daddy

While a sponge may seem like a somewhat random thing to check off your list, this sponge is spectacular. With holes for easy grip and temperature activation, it’s a must have for all your scrubbing needs. It turns squishy when it’s hot and hard when it’s cold. You will never wash dishes the same way again! Watch the info video here.2. George Foreman

Say goodbye to cooking in the oven! If you’re looking for a quick and simple dinner, the George Foreman is the cooking choice for you. Easy to cook burgers, chicken, and any other kind of meat that you can think of in a short and sensible amount of time. Also, it makes for easy cleaning and easy storability. Watch an easy how-to-use video here.3. Speaker System

In your apartment, you’re going to have a lot more space, which in turn leads to a lot more space to cover when playing music. Chances are, your laptop speakers aren’t going to cut it anymore. While Bluetooth speakers can be kind of pricey, here are some pretty cheap options.4. Steamer

Clothes get wrinkly way too quickly, and sometimes you need a quick fix to blast out those wrinkles. Steamers are so nice, and most come in small sizes that are easy for on the go, like this one.5. Tool Kit

Most likely, your big, tall male floor companions no longer live right down the hall and can’t help when something needs fixing. You can put that nail in the wall girl, I believe in you!6. Printer

No longer living in the dorms will no longer give you easy access to printing off important documents 24×7, especially in a time crunch. On the bright side, you no longer have to pay for printing! (Just ink).7. Garbage Can

This may seem silly, but I moved into a fully furnished apartment and the apartment complex did not provide a garbage can. This would be a good thing to double check before moving in. 8. These fun Hangers

These hangers are a life saver because you can stack multiple hangers together, giving you maximum space in your new, (hopefully) bigger closet! They are also great for figuring out layered outfits.

9. Swiffer

Sure, Cinderella made cleaning look effortless with just a broom and a dustpan, but this is the 21st century, and the easiest way to clean a floor is with a Swiffer!Happy apartment shopping! Get ready for the most stressful but most thrilling shopping trips you will ever embark on.

Hi, I'm Abby Coppens, a junior at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. I'm pursuing a degree in Economics and Retail. In my free time, I really enjoying hanging out with my friends and family, doing homework, biking, and reading. I'm the biggest friends fanatic on the planet. Go Badgers!
Madison is a senior at the University of Wisconsin pursuing a major in English Literature with minors in Entrepreneurship and Digital Media Studies. Post college, Madison plans to complete her dreams of being the next Anna Wintour. In her free time, Madison enjoys listening to Eric Hutchinson, eating dark chocolate, and FaceTiming her puppies back home. When she isn't online shopping, or watching YouTube bloggers (ie Fleur DeForce), Madison loves exploring the vast UW Campus and all it has to offer! She is very excited to take this next step in her collegiette career as Campus Correspondent and Editor-in-Chief for HC Wisco. On Wisconsin!