Not-so-glamorous, often-overlooked essentials for the home
When we first moved into what we thought was a fully furnished apartment, I thought we had everything covered. We had the big-ticket items: a brand-new fridge (my mom’s wedding gift), a shiny La Germania vent in the kitchen, our television, a bed with complete bedsheets, and, of course, a rice cooker.
From our registry came multiple godsends, too: a microwave, toaster, water heater, serving plates, cutlery, generous bowls and cups, and even a bar cart that we stocked with surplus alcohol from our wedding. Add to that decorations like some small artwork, coffee table books, cute candelabras, plush pillows, and fluffy rugs from my family. Our space was feeling livable and, to me, looking very pretty.
But, as we soon discovered, pretty was not very practical. Within weeks, we realized there were so many random, unglamorous things we didn’t have but absolutely needed.
Somebody told me that the first three months of moving in with your significant other are the hardest. I now believe this is true. You spend half the time adjusting to each other and the other half scrambling to make your home functional. Every day, you realize that you’re lacking some practical essentials, with waiting time for the next delivery or trip to the store testing your patience.
So whether newlyweds or moving out for the first time, here’s our list of the overlooked essentials we wish we had prepared.
1. Baking soda
What can baking soda do? Everything, apparently. Every time (the many times) I’ve burned our baking pans in a panic, I have learned from the internet that you just have to mix a little bit of baking soda and water, then smother it on. And voilà! The stains easily wash away.
The miracle agent has also helped to remove stubborn burns on our stovetop and mysterious marks on our counters. To clean fruits and vegetables, sprinkling a little sodium bicarbonate helps remove pesticides from the produce. It’s also super effective for deodorizing our garbage cans, removing accumulated smells that scrubbing can’t always remove.
2. A comprehensive cleaning arsenal
Yes, we had a gorgeous rug. But did we have toilet cleaner? Nope. An all-purpose cleaner? Not yet. A vacuum cleaner that wasn’t weak and wheezy but still very loud, and stressfully noisy? That took a few weeks to buy. You never realize how fast dust accumulates until you move in.
The list grew fast with tile and glass cleaner, dishwashing liquid (we learned nothing beats Joy), rubber gloves, mops, feather dusters, and sponges. Oh, so many sponges.
3. Storage solutions
Tiny apartments test your creativity. In the kitchen, drawer dividers, pullout racks, and baskets changed our lives. Suddenly, five pans fitted neatly into a corner instead of teetering in a messy pile. Bathroom organizers and shower caddies kept toothpaste, colognes, and 10 bottles of skincare from overwhelming the sink. And in our storage room, an open rack finally tamed the chaos of reusable bags and cleaning products.
4. Closet lights
Our apartment has a weird angle where the closets are perpetually dark. I ended up ordering stick-on lights online for a pittance, and now I can actually see my clothes. Still need to head to Wilcon for better ones, though.
5. Stools
Why do stools feel like the most underrated furniture? We needed them for everything, from reaching the top of closets to seating extra guests. You can never have too many.
6. Salad spinner (and other overlooked kitchen tools)
Washing vegetables without a salad spinner was tedious. A salad spinner with a little baking soda in the wash cuts prep time in half. Later, a cheese grater brought back my morning salabat ritual with fresh ginger instead of a powdered solution.
Among many other overlooked kitchen tools are fruit peelers, measuring cups, a knife sharpener, funnels, strainers, tiny cups for milk and sugar, and finally, a sturdy pair of oven mitts.
7. Extension cords
In this tech-heavy day and age, no home ever seems to have enough outlets. Between lamps, chargers, appliances, and the Wi-Fi router, there’s always one more thing that needs to be plugged in. Extension cords, ideally with surge protectors, are quite an essential today that keeps a home running smoothly, with enough outlets for everybody.
8. A first aid kit
Probably the most important home essential is a medicine box, stocked with a thermometer, Band-Aids, betadine, paracetamol, allergy meds, and even cold meds. You never realize how unprepared you are until you’re feverish at midnight.
9. A box cutter
With all the deliveries that come in through online shopping (maybe even the items on this list), a simple box cutter is indispensable. Instead of dull scissors and knives meant for the kitchen, a small but sharp box cutter is one of those tools we use almost daily.
Other little lifesavers
While there will always be other little things you don’t think about at all (like bedroom curtains—we squinted our way through 6 a.m. mornings the first few weeks). In the end, setting up a home wasn’t just the big-ticket appliances or décor, but the unglamorous, practical doodads that made life easier.
And while we learned them the hard way, maybe this list saves you a little trial-and-error.
