Housing Tips & Tricks

Good to know when you live on your own

DRAINS AND PIPES

Regularly remove hair from the shower drain to avoid clogging.
Don’t throw food/things down the drain!
- Food goes into the brown Organic containers (use compostable bags, you'll find them at the supermarket).
- Other things go in the trash can or appropriate recycling containers.
An environmentally friendly way to clean the drains is this:
- Mix 2 parts baking soda and 1 part salt. Pour down the drain.
- Warm 4 parts vinegar and pour down on top of the baking soda and salt. It will bubble and fizz.
- Let it work for 15 minutes and then flush with hot water.

WASHING MACHINES & DRYERS

YouTube the model of your machine to understand how it works.
Check and empty your pockets to avoid damaging the machines.
There might be a water collection bin in your tumble dryer. Make sure you regularly dispose of the excess water (if it fills up, the dryer won't start).
To be environmentally conscious, avoid washing just a few clothes at a time. Washing bigger (not excessive) loads saves energy and water.
As a recommendation: jeans, shirts, blouses, and similar items can generally be washed under a 30ºC cycle. Bed linens and towels can be washed under a 40ºC cycle. Wash everything inside out to prevent some wear and tear. Always check your clothes' care label guide to avoid damaging the item.
Remember to leave the door open after each use to avoid humidity, mold, and bad smells inside the machines.

Utilities

Don't forget to turn off the lights, heating and/or AC when you leave the room/apartment. Think about our planet!
If you turn the AC or heating on, remember to close the windows and doors to avoid wasting energy.
Remember that utilities (water, gas, and electricity) are expensive in Spain and it's important to minimize the use of AC and heating.
Friendly reminder: a certain amount of electricity and water usage is allotted. If the bill exceeds this amount, students will be notified and will have to pay the difference.

Keys

Notify the Housing Team immediately if you lose your keys or they get stolen.
New keys can be expensive (between 35€ to 100€). Some agencies might charge to change the locks, too (up to 450€!). Keep your keys safe when you leave the house.
You can read more about lost and stolen keys here.

Get to know your barrio

You can find guides to nearly all Barcelona neighbourhoods here.
Speak with your friends about where they’re living. You might find out that you’re in the same neighbourhood and could share your commute to university!

Report incidents

Remember to report housing incidents straight away.
Include a picture or video in your email, that way the Housing Team and agency will be able to help faster.
You'll find more information about housing incident procedures here.

Clot Building tips

Stoves

Place the frying/sauce pan on the ring that you want to use.
Make sure there is something (oil/butter/eggs etc.) in the pan before you start to heat it.
Press/hold the ON/OFF symbol to turn on the stove.
Press the button that indicates which ring you will use.
Adjust the temperature/power level using the + and - buttons.
Start cooking your delicious meal!

Air Conditioning

Press the ON/OFF button.
Click the mode button until you see the snowflake symbol: ❄
Select the temperature (keep it between 20º - 24º).
Remember to turn off the A/C before leaving the apartment.

Remember that utilities are expensive in Spain and it's important to minimize the use of A/C. If you do use the A/C, please ensure that all windows/doors are closed.

Microwave & Oven

Some of the apartments in Clot have a combined microwave-oven. These have two controls. The left is to choose the function and the right is to choose temperature/timing.

Press the ON/OFF button.
Turn the control on the left to choose the setting.
- Microwave
- Oven
- Oven/Microwave
- Special dishes (you won't need to use this)
- Defrosting
On the right-hand side, select the temperature/timing button and adjust using the control. For the oven, there are three heat settings, 1, 2 & 3.
When you are ready, press the play button.

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