10 Tools for Your Apartment That You Never Thought You'd Need

If you're thoroughly convinced that the only tools you'll ever need for living the city life are nail clippers and a pair of scissors, it's time to get with the program. Here's a rundown of ten tools for your apartment that you never thought you'd need.

Your plasma TV is so dusty that everything you watch looks like it's being viewed through the window of an abandoned house. Wait, put that tissue down—you're going to scratch the screen! Instead, grab a microfiber cloth. Just make sure you wash it thoroughly after each use, because the plethora of particles it collects can themselves cause scratches the next time around.

Your kitchen faucet sprays like the neighborhood bully holding his thumb over the spout of a garden hose. Too bad the fixed-size wrench you borrowed from your neighbor is too big. What you really need is an adjustable wrench. They come in various sizes, but go for one on the larger side—you can always make it smaller.

That little toy you won at the county fair as a kid can actually come in pretty handy—or claw-y. Need to fetch something from underneath your desk? Use the claw! It's also helpful when you need to adjust tough-to-reach cables behind your home entertainment system. You'll find the claw surprisingly versatile. 

The beeping of your smoke alarm is driving you up the wall—literally, because you're climbing up your new bookcase trying to change the battery. You think for a second, then drag over that old rickety wooden chair you found on the street. Now, hold on! No need to risk breaking bones. Use something a little sturdier, something made for the purpose: the good old step stool.

It's not like in the suburbs: "When the lights go down in the city...," standard generators aren't an option. Invest in a solar power generator, and you won't have to restock your entire fridge the next time the grid goes out. Just be ready for a rendition of "Kumbaya" from everyone who ends up crashing at your place.