Top tips for student living
We know that many of our students move out of their family home and into student accommodation when they join us.
So here are a few top tips about student living that should make the change that little bit easier!
Lay down some house rules
Sharing a house or hall with a new group of people can inevitably lead to difficulties.
It's a good idea to establish a few basic rules for cleaning, tidying and paying bills to keep any potential conflicts to a minimum.
You might want to consider things like labelling your food and having an agreement about what time in the evening loud music should be turned off.
Sort out your council tax!
If you are a full time student you don’t need to pay council tax.
When moving into the private sector you must provide proof to the council that you are a student otherwise they might keep sending you bills. There are some exceptions so if you’re unsure then contact the Students' Union Advice Centre or read theStudent Services council tax factsheet and for more general information about Students and council tax then visit the UK government's website.
Learn how to wash your clothes
A sizable 60 per cent of our new arrivals admitted to having ‘rarely or never’ done their own laundry. But don't worry as our top tips tell you all you need to know.
Separate your clothes
Separate your clothes – lights from darks. These should be washed separately to avoid colours running.
Check pockets
Check any pockets to make sure there is nothing in them, such as keys, tissues and phones!
Check the labels
Some clothes are made from delicate fabrics which should not be washed in the washing machine. Check the labels to see if it says ‘hand wash only’ or ‘dry clean only’ and put these clothes to one side.
Set the water temperature
If you are washing cotton or very dirty clothes you might choose to use hot or warm water, For delicate items such as silk, choose lukewarm to cool water. The National Union of Students are supporting the "I prefer 30" campaign.
Set the time
Most washing machines will do this automatically for you but for some you may need to select it by hand. Depending on how dirty the clothes are you may wish to set it for about an hour to an hour and a half.
Don't overload
Add the clothes to the washing machine but make sure not to put too much in.
Add the detergent
Find out whether the washing machine you are using uses liquid detergent or powder and add it to the right place – this might be by placing it on top of the clothes, or in a small compartment on the top of the washing machine. Check the quantity of powder/liquid needed.
Ready to go!
Turn on the washing machine – you’re now ready to go!