We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets because scoring a dishwasher in an apartment is like finding gold at the end of a rainbow...but with a catch: A plethora of residents that came before you have also used that dishwasher, so you want it to be clean as can be. Just pop one of these tablets in, run a cycle, and voila! It's recommended to use monthly to maintain cleanliness!
Promising review: "I had never heard of anyone regularly cleaning their dishwasher. Who were THOSE fools? Well, my rental apartment dishwasher was gross when we moved in and just gets very smelly all the time. I am that fool now! Affresh tablets have really helped. We need to use them often, every few weeks, but I guess they don't claim to work long-term. Def buy these." —Amazon Customer
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $8.95.
2. Or a countertop dishwasher you'll definitely want to purchase if your rental didn't come equipped with the trusty appliance. Sure, you could just stick to Seamless delivery every night or...gasp...wash your dishes by hand, but those two options get expensive and annoying pretty fast.
Promising review: "Got this for an older apartment, and the only regret I have is that we didn't get a countertop dishwasher sooner. This thing is awesome. We use the top filling option, so no hook-up was necessary. Only knock is that it is loud, and the wash cycles take a long time. Quickest option is a 26-minute wash and then a regular dry cycle. Still worth it 100%." —Milt
Get it from Amazon for $287.99+ (available in two styles).
3. A magnetic, battery-powered light strip that's easy to stick under kitchen or bathroom cabinets, inside a closet, or anywhere else that's lacking some light in your apartment.
Promising review: "I got these when I moved into an older apartment with long hallways and dark corners. The motion-sensing feature works wonderfully, and it helps my child feel less afraid to walk through the hallways at night when she needs a drink or the restroom. It's amazing for closets that don't have lights and staircases at night when you don't want to turn the lights on. They are easy to charge, and I love that the base can charge three at a time. The instructions are fairly easy to follow as well." —Summer
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in four colors and multi-packs).
4. A set of peel-and-stick subway tile backsplash because not only is subway tile all the rage...but it really does look sleek!! Whether you're looking to give your 1990s-esque apartment a modern makeover, or add a pop of color to your space, these tiles are sure to impress.
Promising review: "I've used a lot of peel-and-stick, and this one was amazing. It's thick, super sticky, and legit looks real. It spruced up our outdated small apartment kitchen big time." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in 13 colors).
5. Erase-A-Hole, a repair putty to help fill holes and cracks in the drywall. The thumbtacks that held up the previous resident's favorite band posters? Unsightly but can be covered up thanks to this genius invention.
Promising review: "I have been living in apartments/rentals for years and move frequently. I use this with every move-out, and it works perfectly! I apply to the holes/chips within the walls, sand, and then paint. Afterwards, the walls look like new!" —Alicia Schrimpf
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
6. A carpet cleaning solution for giving carpeted areas a Stanley Steemer-level clean without having to recite their catchy jingle and make a call. It would be so nice and easy if apartments could just stick to wooden floors in bedrooms/living rooms, but sometimes you have no choice.
Sunny & Honey is a family-run small business that sells home cleaning products. This stuff both cleans AND deodorizes carpets. It can be used in pretty much all machines — Hoover, Bissell, Rug Doctor, Kenmore, Carpet Express. The solution works on all water-safe surfaces like carpets, rugs, furniture, and automobiles. Plus, it's biodegradable and non-toxic.
Promising review: "I’m always on the lookout for products that can clean up after my messy dog and cat, so I thought I’d give this a try. I rent a duplex, so the carpet is to be desired, to say the least, but I want to make it look as best as I can. After several months of not being able to shampoo the carpet, I had doggie prints, faded stains, and grungy, high-traffic areas that didn’t get as clean by just spot-treating them. I was able to get most of the carpet cleaned with just a half gallon. I thought it had a good clean smell to it, but it also deep cleaned like I hadn’t been able to do in the past two years I’ve lived in my place!" —Danielle Edlund
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two scents and two sizes).
7. And if carpet odor is causing a problem, a UV black-light flashlight that makes it easy to spot specific problem areas and address them directly. Ahh, the joys of lived-in carpeting.
Promising review: "While the flashlight revealed more than I was prepared for, it was good to know what I was dealing with. I rent a 60-year-old house. In looking for cat urine, I discovered previous occupants were directionally challenged. (I prefer to believe it was young boys…)" —saba
Get it from Amazon for $10.79.
8. A flexible power strip because apartments (both old and new, but especially old) tend to lack outlets. How else are you supposed to operate your plethora of kitchen gadgets and juice up your wide variety of tech items with just two or three outlets? Stock up on a few of these, and you'll be set.
iJoy is a small biz that sells a variety of tech accessories, speakers, and headphones.
This little power strip is awesome. For starters, you can choose to get it in a trendy color or just stick with black or white. I got the mint green color, and it's SO pretty. I keep several devices in my bedroom charged/powered with this strip, like my air purifier and laptop/phone charger, and the USB ports are great for allowing me to charge my Kindle and my white noise machine. Plus, the fact that it's flexible makes it easy to adjust to your own personal charging needs.
Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in four colors).
9. A wood polish and conditioner for bringing wooden furniture and floors back to installation-like condition. Did you just get your new apartment redone by an HGTV crew or are you just super good at picking out cleaning products?
Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. For use on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors and trim, etc.
Promising review: "Very impressed so far. I just tried this stuff on one of our kitchen cabinets, and it really did a nice job. The cabinets are 15-year-old cherry-stained hardwood cabinets (oak, maybe?) and are scratched deeply in certain parts from the previous owner's dogs. Twenty minutes after applying this product and wiping it off, I can't complain at all about the results. In addition to helping tremendously with the blemishes, it also leaves a nice glossy shine on the cabinets, making them look clean and fresh (not over-the-top glossy and fake). For the minimal price, I can't complain at all. Finally, I used about a 1/3 of an ounce to do the 36" double-base cabinets and the 36" wide drawer, so I believe the 16-oz bottle will last quite a while." —Patrick Gallagher
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
10. A grout pen because chances are your landlord and the residents who came before you didn't leave you grout-free tile floors in that bathroom. Maybe you don't even realize the space between those tiles needs a cleaning — but that's where this handy pen comes in. Just look at the results below.
Promising review: "We moved into our new home, and the shower had a really yellow grout. Cleaning didn’t do anything, and I saw this grout pen online. What a saver! Otherwise, I would have just hired someone to replace my shower. I used this grout pen, and my husband was so impressed :D The tip loses its shape fast, but just pull out the TIP AND FLIPPED IT OVER, and you’ll have a new tip." —jennifer
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
11. A recessed light converter kit that'll allow you to turn recessed lighting into pendant lighting or any other kind of light fixture you'd like. Why settle for boring when you can settle for fabulous?!
Promising review: "I love this thing. It took me about 15 minutes to install this. Note: Don't try to drill the screws through the can directly. You will likely need to pre-drill holes in the can for the screws. I converted a recessed light into a three-light unit that hangs above my kitchen island. The unit weighs 20 pounds, and the conversion kit handles it easily. This saves so much money instead of having to convert the recessed light to a traditional electrical box. Very simple, yet wonderful product." —Pete I.
Get it from Amazon for $24.97.
12. Soundproof door strips perfect for those who live in a studio apartment with no bedroom door separating them and a noisy hallway OR who do have a bedroom but live with loud roomies/pets. These will help reduce sound levels so you can sleep and work in peace. They can also help prevent cold air from escaping in the summer and warmth escaping in the winter, so you can save energy, too!
Promising review: "I live in an old apartment, and my door shakes whenever my neighbors let the front door slam shut (or slam their own apartment doors). I put this around my door and it stopped it from shaking. I don’t even notice when they slam the door now. It also reduced the sound of my neighbor’s TV across the hall. The door is a little harder to close, and I have to put in some effort to lock it, but it’s worth it! I also noticed that my heat doesn’t kick on as often because air isn’t leaking out to the hallway." —Sam
Get it from Amazon for $7.97+ (available in four colors and two sizes).
13. But if your walls, windows, and door are so paper thin that the strips above don't help, a white noise machine may be just what you need for drowning out loud neighbors and taxi horns alike.
Promising review: "I live in an old apartment building where it can sound like my neighbors are roommates that I just never see. The walls and carpets are thin, and all kinds of sounds travel. I need to be able to mute the neighboring noises, especially when trying to get to sleep. Even if certain types of noises only last...maybe 60 seconds...on a good night." —Kathryn
Get it from Amazon for $36.99.
14. A jetted tub cleaner if you're lucky enough to live in an apartment with a jetted tub, but the thought of all the previous residents using it gives you an ick that overpowers any desire to take a nice bubble bath. This cleaner is here to save the day!
You run your bath, add the cleaner, watch the gunk emerge, drain your bath, and then clean off the gunk! Oh Yuk is a family-owned small biz based in Minnesota that sells home cleaning products
Promising review: "The product was purchased for use in a rental apartment that has a whirlpool tub. I used the product several times (expensive, but worth it) to get a complete clean. The person who lived here before me never cleaned it, I am sure. I am not one to try many products (bleach, dishwasher soap, etc.), and I am so happy this product did the job beautifully." —Neila Bala
Get it from Amazon for $18.73.
15. A set of blackout curtains because those flimsy apartment shades do not look sleek and certainly do not prevent sunlight from seeping in and disturbing your slumber at 7 a.m. These curtains are here to help tackle both of those problems. AND! If you also buy a pack of NoNo brackets, you can just slip the curtains over those rather than drilling in rods and risking your landlord's wrath.
Promising review: "My girlfriend and I live in an apartment facing east, and it’s been the best purchase I’ve made. These blinds have been perfect, especially when we decide to sleep in on the weekends. There’s no light bleed, and it's easy to install. There is minor light bleed on the sides of our blinds, but only due to the fact that our curtain rods stick out a bit from the wall (a bit of Velcro strip does the job). My girlfriend is a nurse and works night shifts; it’s been the best investment we’ve made!" —Jose Vargas
Get them from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in 11 colors, 3 sizes, and 3 styles).
16. A pumice toilet bowl ring remover so you can easily scratch away at any yucky stains present upon move-in without leaving behind scratch marks in the bowl.
And if you want an easy way to keep your porcelain throne clean going forward, this Fluidmaster automatic toilet cleaning system is great! It only takes a few minutes to install and will clean your toilet with each flush for about three months!
Promising review: "We rented a home, and the toilets were disgusting. Someone suggested a pumice stone, and let me tell you, it was amazing!! The picture is after just five minutes with the stone. I tried bleach, every toilet bowl cleaner available, and countless hours of scrubbing to no avail...but this stone worked instantly! I will be buying several more!! The stone does dissolve when scrubbing so you need a couple. I was able to do almost two toilets completely that looked awful with one stone!!" —Crista
Get it from Amazon for $11.95.
17. Contact paper with a stainless-steel look that has the ability to make appliances from a bajillion years ago seem like they're actually from this decade.
Promising review: "I bought this to cover my refrigerator and dishwasher in a rental apartment and give it a stainless-steel look. It worked perfectly and turned out awesome. Easy to measure and cut, especially with the grid on the back. I adhered it almost a full year ago, and it has shown no signs of wearing or peeling. Easy to remove, too! (I know because I attached it crooked the first time.)" —Zack H
18. A drain clog dissolver because there's a good chance that the tub/shower/sink drains are clogged up from years of built-up hair, soap scum, and other kinds of residue from previous residents. Rather than having to snake it out yourself (gross) or spending $$ on a plumber, use this product to clear it up!
Promising review: "I rent an apartment with older pipes and the most useless hair-catchers known to man in my bathtub. I also happen to have a cripplingly large amount of hair — seriously, I'm like a 5'8" troll doll. Anyway, aside from burning out every vacuum cleaner I've ever looked at, my hair clogs drains. I needed something gentle enough not to damage the building's ancient pipes but tough enough to melt the solid hunk of head foliage that had formed a blockade against my bathwater. This was the perfect solution. Followed the directions and left it for about 45 minutes, then flushed it out with boiling water. Cleared things right up. When I inevitably have to clear the drains again, because my hair is thicc and sneaky, this is what I'll buy. No super caustic smell. Takes a bit longer than some of the harsher chemical stuff, but for me, the trade-off was worth it." —Elizabeth Topolosky
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
19. A pack of cabinet pulls to help make the hardware in your kitchen look like it belongs to this time period. Reviewers rave about how easy these are to install — just be sure to keep your old cabinet pulls nearby to put back at the end of your lease term to avoid sneaky fees from building management.
Promising review: "I live in an apartment with a bland color scheme: beige walls, beige cabinets, beige countertops. I wanted to change things up without painting or spending too much money. These handles work perfectly! They fit great, are easy to install, the handles are bigger and more substantial than I thought they would be, look great, and didn’t break the bank. I sent a picture of the before and after to my neighbor, and she was so impressed that she ordered some for her kitchen!" —Mike
Get a pack of 30 from Amazon for $26.99 (available in seven finishes and various pack sizes).
20. A garbage disposal brush for those who are #blessed enough to be moving into a rental with a garbage disposal but know that years of complete strangers sending their yucky food items down that disposal might mean some lingering smells. This brush will help you really get in there and give it the oomph it needs without having to actually stick your hands down the disposal, which is both gross and dangerous.
For maintenance of your garbage disposal, check out these Glisten garbage disposal cleaning packets. They're so easy to use and will keep your newly cleaned disposal smelling fresh with routine use.
Promising review: "I bought this because we moved into a rental duplex for a short time after selling our home. In my home, I never had black food, mold, or junk on the rubber part of the garbage disposal side until I rented. I hated sticking my hand with even a glove on and a napkin. But this I can twist it inside and all around over and over and get it clean. I then run HOT, HOT water on it and spray Lysol after I'm done. Will be buying one for my daughter." —Cyrilla B.
Get it from Amazon for $8.71.
21. A bottle of paint touch-up to quickly fix chips, cracks, stains, and signs of wear on your walls left behind by past dwellers and their pets and movers.
Promising review: "Great cover-up. I usually don't write reviews, but I had to for this. I rent, and it is common to get scratches when moving in on walls or doors. This covered everything up. Even one bottle did a lot, and I still have some left. It even covered some stains I had from black hair dye on my walls and doors." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in 22 colors).
22. And a guided gallery wall kit — because even after giving the walls a touch-up paint job, chances are, there MAY still be signs of wear. And a gallery wall is a fun and cool way to cover it up and make the most of blank wall space!
Promising review: "Wanted to mix a gallery wall in with our floating shelves. We are in a 712-square-foot apartment, and these help us utilize the vertical space perfectly! I’m sure I’ll change some of the photos out, but they look great as is, too." —John B.
Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $59.99 (available in various styles).
23. A rust stain remover spray that is basically fairy pixie dust in a bottle. That rust stain that's been living rent-free on your shower wall since you moved in? The one you always have to be sure to cover up with a shower curtain? Yeah, time to say goodbye to it for good.
It comes in an easy-to-use trigger spray and is ideal for cleaning bathtubs, showers, toilets, colorfast fabrics, vertical surfaces, and hard-to-reach spots.
Promising review: "I cannot say enough great things about this product. We just purchased a home that has a well with very high iron content in the water. I tried everything to remove the stains from our three toilets, but nothing worked. I found this product online and immediately went to Amazon. The results blew me away. I didn't have to scrub at all. I let it sit in the tank for several hours, and the results floored me!" —T-urtle
Get it from Amazon for $13.46+ (available in three sizes).
24. Peel-and-stick contact paper here to make your kitchen and bathroom surfaces look like brand-new "marble" pieces. Say goodbye to outdated and bland countertops!!! Say hello to this gorgeousness!!!
Promising review: "I used this adhesive film to turn two cheap Ikea tables into less cheap-looking Ikea tables because I'm not made of money, but I would like others to believe I am. It's super simple to use, and you get a ton of it for the price. I was really pleased overall. The pattern actually looks like marble, not a weird pixel-y repetitive pattern so that's great as well." —Spencer House
Get it from Amazon for $17.11 (available in three other styles).
25. A portable mini washing machine because having to share a few machines with the rest of your building...or worse...go to the laundromat down the block is a PAIN IN THE BUTT! Is this a small fortune? Yes. Is it worth the investment so you can enjoy the absolute luxury that is doing your laundry from the comfort of your apartment? Absolutely.
It's got heavy, gentle, normal, rapid, and soak cycle options.
Promising review: "A bunch of months of use and still working properly. I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I live in a little apartment and it makes my life so much easier. I would definitely recommend it!!!" —Gian P R
Get it from Amazon for $243.63+ (available in four sizes).
26. And if you are fortunate enough to move into a unit with a washing machine, you may wanna pick up this mold remover gel. Think of all the residents before you who have put their dirty clothes and linens into that machine and then...never cleaned it. 🤢
To use, just apply the mold to affected areas, let it sit for 5–8 hours, and then wipe it away! This also works well on kitchen and bathroom sinks, silicone sealant, tile flooring, and more!
For maintaining the cleanliness of your washing machine, check out these Affresh washing machine cleaning tablets. It's as easy as tossing a tablet into the machine and running a wash cycle each month!
Promising review: "Moved into a new rental with a washer and dryer, and the washer door had some mildew on the seals. This worked like magic. I will definitely add it to the cleaning routine. Strong and easy to use. Gel stays where you add it." —Amanda Rodriguez
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
27. A multipurpose cleaning paste to help you tackle a variety of mess-related woes around your new rental that the previous dweller didn't clean and the landlord didn't catch before your move-in. You can use this stuff on baths and showers, sinks, tiles and grout, oven and stovetops, and so much more!
Humble Suds is a small cleaning brand run by two moms — Holli Schuab and Jennifer Parnell — in Evergreen, Colorado. All of their products are made from powerful, plant-based ingredients and packaged with recyclable materials. They recommend applying a tablespoon of their scouring paste to a cloth and then scrubbing in a circular motion.
My Shopping team colleague/fellow renter Danielle Healy is a fan (she took the photos above!), saying:
"I recently moved into a new apartment, so lately, I've been cleaning A LOT. Shortly after moving in, my partner and I went to store something on the top of the kitchen cabinets only to find them caked in a thick layer of grime. 🤢 After going at it with regular multipurpose cleaner (with little success), we broke out the scour paste as a last-ditch effort, and OH BOY, did this miracle product deliver (pics above). If it can handle that grossness, it's going to have no problem with day-to-day messes like soap scum and burnt-on food. Plus, it smells delightful and comes in minimal, low-waste packaging!"
Get it from Humble Suds on Etsy for $15.95+ (available in two sizes).
28. A rainfall showerhead because you shouldn't have to settle for weak water pressure from a decades-old piece of hardware. This thing will help give you a true spa-like shower experience. It should be easy to unscrew the old showerhead and then install this new one. Just be sure to keep the old one and put it back before you move out of the apartment!
Promising review: "This showerhead is truly extraordinary! Living in an apartment with a mundane, lackluster showerhead that seemed to deliver water in a less-than-ideal manner, we were eager for an upgrade. The difference this new one makes is simply remarkable. Opting for the 12-inch version, the water streams down generously, enveloping our entire head and body with a soothing embrace. The experience is akin to standing under a refreshing waterfall — pure bliss! The water flow from this showerhead feels invigoratingly abundant, offering an unrivaled showering sensation. If you find yourself searching for an exceptional showerhead, look no further. I wholeheartedly recommend this product. It's a game changer!" —Andrés
Get it from Amazon for $24.49+ (available in available in four finishes and five sizes).
29. A faucet extender that'll come in handy if your apartment's faucet is so old it barely extends to a normal length OR if you live with kiddos who need easier access to the water when it's time to wash their hands and brush their teeth.
Promising review: "This is such a nifty gadget. I have two attachments. Both have great water pressure and versatility and make my life easier. I recently moved into an apartment where I had to bend so low to wash my face that it was just back pain. The convenience of having something swivel switch from spray to steady stream is also great for the outdated apartment sink, too." —Jenna
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three finishes and multi-packs).
30. A set of new switch plates because even if your landlord gave the old ones a fresh paint job when painting the walls, you can still see their outdated look.
31. Or a set of Snug Plugs if your main issue with your outlets/switch plates is that every time you plug in a gadget, it continuously falls out. So frustrating!
Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products.
Promising review: "These are SUCH a game-changer. We rent, so I can't do much about the loose outlets around the house. These have made several outlets usable again!" —Minerva G.
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99 (available in two colors and two sizes).
32. A pack of Magic Eraser cleaning sheets that takes all the goodness of the good ol' Magic Eraser but puts it in the form of a sheet that can better maneuver all the nooks and crannies around your apartment.
Promising review: "I live in a rental with DISGUSTING vents. Couldn't get the vent slats cleaned no matter what I did. I ordered these on a whim. One and a half sheets later, the large (two feet long by one foot wide) vent in the living room is SPARKLING clean. I am so thrilled. There are two other huge vents in the hall and by the bedroom, so I will be working on those next. I will definitely order more of these and see what other uses I can get out of them." —Charlene Roberts
Get three 16-packs of wipes from Amazon for $23.53.
33. An adjustable window screen if your new digs aren't already equipped with one. Sometimes you want to enjoy some fresh air without little buggies invading your space and now you can do just that!
Promising review: "These are excellent for people with loose screens like myself. Where I rent, they are made a hell of a lot cheaper than I remember in the '80s." —george watters
Get it from Amazon for $25.25+ (available in various adjustable sizes).
34. Peel-and-stick floor tiles so you can give old, outdated flooring a shake-up without needing a professional to come over and take your floors out.
While these are typically applied to the floor, you can totally use them on furniture, surfaces, and walls, too! Just look at the review pics!
Promising review: "I've only had these on my bathroom floor for a month or so, but they seem like they'll hold up. They were a bit of a pain in the ass to cut, but I didn't have the best tools or patience. The price is ridiculous for how good these look! They really transformed the room for cheap." —Jenascia
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $14.90.
35. Or peel-and-stick vinyl flooring that looks like wood — your guests will be so shocked to learn you purchased this from Amazon and applied it yourself.
Promising review: "This floor was easy to put down, easy to clean, and nice to walk on. It goes great with my bath vanity. It didn't take much time to put down, and I used scissors." —Kathleen Randolph
Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors).
36. A pack of smartbulbs for temporarily replacing the existing lightbulbs in your rental space. These cool lights can be controlled with your voice (thanks to Alexa) or from your smartphone. Not to mention, they feature various colors and brightness levels, which, no offense to your landlord, are a lot better than the boring bulbs they set you up with prior to moving in.
37. A pack of white caulk tape if the appliances in your apartment have reached a level of old, such that the base of the toilet/sink/bath looks cracked and unfinished against the floor. It may not be the biggest eyesore in the place, but YOU notice it. This tape is the easiest fix.
Promising review: "Since the installation of the new toilet in my apartment, the connection between the base of the toilet and the floor tile looked so unfinished. Finding this caulking tape was a godsend. It made such a difference and was easy to cut and install. The only tool needed is a good pair of scissors, plus make sure the designated area is cleaned." —Melanie Nowlin
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four options).
38. A smart thermostat with Alexa voice compatibility because the old thermostat in your old rental is bound to fail you on blistering hot summer days and icy winter nights. This thing will allow you to take more control so you can enjoy a more comfy temp at home.
Promising review: "I got tired of fighting with the pre-historic 'programmable' thermostat in my apartment. So glad I got this! The Alexa instructions were very clear, and it took me an hour to install it as it said it would. I’d never installed anything like this before, so I was pretty proud of myself. I love that I can adjust the temperature from my phone while cozy in bed! ADVICE: If you’re in a rental, take a picture of how your old thermostat was wired because when you move out, you’ll have to put it back!" —Barkley
Get it from Amazon for $63.99.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.