FAQ
Questions and answers
Here are the questions that come up most often for people who are starting to live together or taking on a shared renovation: what this guide is, how to split chores and space in the home, where to begin setting things up and where the do-it-yourself part ends. If your question isn't answered here, take a look at the how-to and planning sections.
A question asked before the work starts costs less than any fix afterward.
About the guide
Is Femina Maskulina connected to the previous website on this domain?
No. There used to be a different website here, then unrelated spam pages. Their texts have not been preserved or reproduced; all that remains from the past is the domain name.
Do you counsel couples?
No. We are not psychologists or lawyers and do not give advice on relationships, family or legal matters. The guide is about everyday life and setting up a home.
Do you sell anything?
No. We do not sell products, do not take orders and do not name brands, models or prices. Our job is to describe the steps and the possible options.
Why is the guide called that?
The name was kept from the domain. The guide itself speaks to any two people living under one roof: a couple, friends or roommates.
Sharing a home and setting it up
How do we split household chores fairly?
List all the chores, mark who knows how to do what and enjoys what, factor in your schedules and agree on when you will revisit the list. Fairness is not an equal number of chores but a result that works for both of you.
What if we have different ideas of tidiness?
Agree on a minimum for the shared rooms, say, an empty sink and a clear table by evening. In your own corner, each of you keeps the level of order that suits you.
What should we unpack first after moving?
The bed and bedding, toiletries, the first-aid kit, chargers, basic dishes and clothes for the next few days. Sort out the rest gradually, room by room.
How do we create personal space in a small apartment?
Even in a single room, each of you can have a corner: an armchair with a lamp, a shelf, a desk drawer. The main rule is that the other person doesn't put things there without asking.
Safety at home
Can we replace an outlet ourselves?
Electrical work is best left to an electrician. What you can do in advance is decide where you actually need outlets and mark them on a floor plan of your home.
Do wardrobes need to be anchored to the wall?
Tall furniture such as wardrobes, shelving units and dressers with heavy drawers is anchored to the wall so it can't tip over. This matters especially if children visit.
How do we work at height safely?
Together and secured: one person stands on a stable stepladder while the other holds it and hands over tools. Don't overreach to the side; move the ladder instead.
Can cleaning products be mixed?
No. When mixed, household cleaners can release harmful fumes. Use each one separately, following the instructions on the package, and ventilate the room.
Read next
- How-to
How to split household chores without arguments, combine your belongings when moving in and pick a wall color together using samples.
- Planning
Renovating together: a wish list, the order of work, one point of contact with contractors, stages and sign-off, a buffer in the budget.
- Care
Seasonal care of the home and belongings: switching wardrobes, textiles, wallpaper, floors and shoes, and who is responsible for what.
What we rely on
- Instructions and care labels from makers of clothing, furniture and appliances
- Building management rules and local rules on remodeling
- Editorial materials of the Femina Maskulina guide
Femina Maskulina's advice is written in general terms and relies on the care labels and instructions from makers of clothing, furniture and appliances, as well as on widely accepted home safety rules. Check how to wash an item or clean a surface on its care label or marking, ask your building management about remodeling, leave electrical work to an electrician and anything involving gas to the gas service.