Living Sustainably in Your Studio Apartment: Simple LIfe-Saving Tricks

Chloe Taylor - Contributing Writer

Posted on Monday 23rd March 2020

apartment

Living in a small apartment can be both challenging and rewarding, as it all depends on your outlook. However, since humanity has been facing environmental and health catastrophes, turning to a more sustainable lifestyle can significantly improve the environment, therefore, if you haven’t started to incorporate some green practices into your daily life, it’s recommended to start doing that soon. Still, it’s essential to point out that living in a small has its unique set of advantages and disadvantages, so here are some life-saving tricks that can help you be more eco-friendly even in a cozy studio apartment.

First of all, be sure to declutter everything

bed

If you’re struggling with the lack of space, then it’s important to make sure that there are no unnecessary clutter lying around. Even if you don’t have enough space to put everything nicely, there are various workarounds that will help you sort out your possessions and store them in a way that won’t cause you to feel anxious every time you look at them. Decluttering your space is a very liberating process, especially if you’ve never done it before, and therefore, before anything else, make sure to get rid of all the junk that has been occupying your space for some time now.

Take care of your fridge

interior kitchen

Apparently, 25% of your electric bill comes from the fridge alone, which isn’t a surprise, considering that your fridge is the only electrical appliance that is plugged in and working 24/7. Therefore, it’s important to completely clean your fridge inside out, and if possible try to vacuum and dust the back of your fridge to ensure lower energy bills in the future. Also, the more stuff you have in your fridge, the easier it is for it to cool, so if you’re not storing a lot of food at the moment, try to fill in jars with water to ensure better cooling. 

Reduce your energy consumption

lamp energy

Since your fridge needs to be turned on all the time, it would be great to reduce your power consumption when it comes to other devices. For example, be sure to plug off your toaster, microwave or computer when not using them, as it’s well-known that these devices use the energy even when switched off. However, the great news about living in a studio apartment is that, due to its compact size, there is not much room to leave all your devices on at once. That is also an excellent way to reduce your energy consumption and subsequently, pay lower energy bills every month. 

Consider using natural cleaning products

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Keeping your apartment clean is of utmost importance, and even though many commercial cleaning products have their upsides, they also contain a lot of harsh and dangerous chemicals that can seriously harm your health, so turning to more natural, DIY solutions can be a better choice for you. Using these products can be equally effective, but with fewer consequences, however, in order to achieve desired results, it’s important to carefully follow the instructions. Besides, choosing these types of cleaning solutions can be great for your budget, since many of the ingredients are probably stored in your kitchen or bathroom already. 

If possible, try to stay away from plastic 

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Using too much plastic can have serious consequences on the environment, and unfortunately, many people still use plastic products without making an effort to understand the way that can be harmful to our planet. But, due to more information available, people are getting more aware of this issue, and thankfully, there are more alternative products that can successfully replace plastic: so next time you go shopping, make sure to bring a reusable shopping bag rather than getting the plastic one at the store. Similarly, opting for reusable water bottles can drastically reduce your plastic waste and give you more space in your fridge and the rest of your apartment.

Conclusion

Living sustainable isn’t hard, and before you decide to make a switch towards a greener lifestyle, it’s essential to say that you don’t have to do all of these at once. Instead, try to do things step by step, until you figure out what works for you best. Remember that a sustainable way of living isn’t a competition, therefore, there’s no need to compare yourself to other people, however, using them as a source of inspiration can always be of tremendous help. After some time, you’ll see noticeable changes, and your tiny apartment will be much cleaner and safer for you and your friends.

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