Cleaning the room may feel tedious. Your room may be so messy that you are confused about where to start cleaning. Even though it doesn't sound like fun, cleaning your room regularly makes your room tidier so you feel more comfortable. Start by choosing fun music and setting a timer to make things more fun before you start cleaning the floors, shelves, and tables. Once the surfaces are cleaned, organize your belongings to get rid of what you don't need. With time and motivation, your room will look better and smell fresher than before!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Making Work Feel Good
Step 1. Wear comfortable clothes so that you feel relaxed while cleaning the room
Choose tops and pants that don't matter if they get dirty while you are cleaning. Look for loose-fitting clothes so you can move freely and clean hard-to-reach places in your room, like under your bed or behind your wardrobe. Don't wear tight clothing that makes it difficult for you to bend over or kneel down to reach something that needs to be picked up.
- For example, you could wear a loose-fitting t-shirt or a large long-sleeved shirt as a top, and sweatpants (both long and short) as bottoms.
- If you need to wear footwear, don't choose shoes that you can wear while traveling because you'll end up littering your room.
Step 2. Play the music you like to make work more enjoyable
Put on headphones or play music over the loudspeakers in your room so you can have fun and dance while you clean the room. Choose a playlist with upbeat music that you enjoy listening to to keep you motivated. Keep the music playing while you clean the room to get the job done quickly.
Don't let your mind be distracted or you're too busy choosing music to listen to. If not, you're just procrastinating
Tip:
Create a playlist with a specific duration. That way, you can try to get work done before your playlist finishes playing.
Step 3. Set a timer when cleaning your room so that you are encouraged to get things done right away
Having goals can help you clean your room faster so you don't have to spend all day getting your work done. Use a timer app on your phone or set a kitchen timer for 30-60 minutes and clean your room right away. Thus, you can work quickly and efficiently.
- You can set shorter times for certain jobs if you want. For example, you can set a time of 5 minutes to clean the room from dust or 10 minutes to tidy up clothes.
- Don't feel rushed if you can't clear everything before the timer goes off. Going forward, try to get the job done more effectively or give it a few extra minutes.
Step 4. Open the windows to let fresh air into the room
If there are windows in your room, sunlight and fresh air can encourage you to get things done faster so you can get out of the house. By opening the window, you can also get rid of unpleasant odors if there are items that smell bad in your room. Open blinds, curtains, and windows during cleaning.
Don't open windows if it's bad weather outside or you're turning on the heater or air conditioner
Step 5. Choose a reward for yourself that you can enjoy after completing the work
Cleaning the room is certainly exhausting. However, you can pamper yourself after finishing work to feel more satisfied. You can enjoy a sweet snack, meet friends, or spend some time outdoors. Thus, there is something to catch up on after finishing cleaning the room.
You can also determine the reward after completing certain jobs. For example, you can take a 5-minute break after you finish tidying your clothes or enjoy some candy after arranging the shelves
Part 2 of 3: Thoroughly Cleaning Furniture Floors and Surfaces
Step 1. Make the bed when you start cleaning
A tidy bed makes your room look cleaner and more comfortable to use at night. Pull the sheets and cotton blankets over the mattress tightly. After that, tidy up and place the pillows on the top of the bed.
- Change the sheets once a week so you can wash them and keep them clean.
- Make sure the ends of the sheets are loose (not wrinkled) tucked under the mattress to make your bed look tidier.
Step 2. Dispose of garbage scattered in the room
Bring trash bags into the room and look for food wrappers, unused paper, and empty containers. Browse items on the floor, workbench, shelves, and wardrobe to make sure you find all the trash you need to throw away. After that, put the trash found in a plastic bag before you throw it into the big trash can outside the house.
- Check under the bed to make sure there is no trash left underneath. If you can't see under the bed easily, use a flashlight to make your search easier.
- If you have a trash can in your room, make sure you empty it and replace the plastic or upholstery bag inside.
Step 3. Place the items scattered on the floor onto the bed
Many teenagers often leave clothes, bags, papers, and other items on the floor. These items make the room look very messy if the room is not cleaned in a long time. Therefore, take things that are on the floor and place them on the bed. Again, clean the floor of scattered items and place these items on the bed so that they are easy to choose and pick up.
By placing things from the floor onto the bed, you will be encouraged to organize and clean the room. Otherwise, you won't be able to sleep on the mattress at night
Step 4. Clean the window and mirror using a glass cleaning product.
Find a glass cleaning spray in your home and spray it on the windows. Rub the product on the glass surface in a back and forth motion using a paper towel to remove dirt and dust. Repeat the same process for cleaning the mirror in your room.
- Only use glass cleaning products on windows and mirrors as other cleaning products can leave stains or traces on the glass surface.
- If you don't have a glass cleaning spray, wipe the windows and mirrors with a damp paper towel. After that, wipe again with a dry cloth to remove any residual or traces of water.
Step 5. Wipe off any sticky dirt or spills with an all-purpose cleaning product
If there is any sticky residue stuck to it, such as a drink spill or circular traces from a drinking cup or glass, you will need to scrub it to remove it. Spray an all-purpose cleaning product on the patch until the cloth is damp, then rub it over the stain in a circular motion. Check to see if the treated area still feels sticky with your fingers, and continue the cleaning process until the area is clean.
- In the future, immediately clean up spilled drinks so as not to leave a sticky stain.
- If you don't have an all-purpose cleaning product, use a mixture of water and a little dish soap.
Step 6. Remove the dust and wipe the flat furniture surfaces in your room
Use a furniture polish or a dust-removing spray with a clean, lint-free cloth when cleaning furniture. Spray a small amount of the product on a cloth and rub it on flat furniture surfaces, such as tables, shelves, and cabinets. Use a different section of the fabric for each side of the furniture so you don't return or stick dust to the furniture surface.
- You can also use a microfiber cloth to remove dust.
- Remove items from tabletops or shelves as you remove dust so that the furniture can be thoroughly cleaned.
- If you are installing a ceiling fan, stand on top of the bed and clean the top of the propeller as that area is usually dusty.
- Wipe the top of the baseboard along the wall, as well as the top of the door leaf.
Step 7. Sweep or clean the floor with a vacuum cleaner
If your room has a hard floor (eg parquet or tile), clean the floor with a broom and dustpan. If you are installing carpet on the floor, use a vacuum cleaner. Start cleaning from the corner of the room furthest from the door, and gradually sweep the floor toward the door. That way, you won't re-contaminate the cleaned floor. Use an additional hose on the vacuum cleaner to reach tight corners so you can thoroughly clean the room.
- If you don't know how to use a vacuum cleaner, ask a parent or guardian to show you how.
- Try sweeping or cleaning the floor under the bed because dirt and dust usually collects in these areas.
- If there are stains on the carpet, ask your parents or guardian how to clean it.
Tip:
If your room has a hard floor, you can mop it with a mixture of warm water and a floor cleaning product.
Step 8. Use air freshener products to make your room smell good
If your room smells bad, try spraying an air freshener to make your room smell better. Choose a product that kills odor-causing bacteria as other products may just mask bad odors. Spray the product on the ceiling so the particles can stay in the air longer and down to the floor.
You can also use an electric air freshener or scented candle to get rid of the pungent odor
Part 3 of 3: Tidy Up Messy Things in the Room
Step 1. Group the items that have been collected on the bed into several groups
After all the things that are lying on the floor are placed on the mattress, separate them into separate piles so you know what needs to be cleaned. For example, you can place school supplies at the end of the bed, clothes in the other corner, and accessories in the middle of the mattress. Make sure each pile or group stays tidy so you can clean the items in each pile separately.
If there is no space left above the bed to store things, you can place other items on the floor or table. However, make sure that in the end you can manage the stack, and not just leave it alone
Step 2. Bring dirty plates or glasses to the kitchen
It's possible that you've had a meal or snack in your room and forgot to return the dirty cutlery to the kitchen. Find dirty cutlery or glasses in your room and pile them up. Take the cutlery to the kitchen and wash it manually (by hand) or in the dishwasher.
Don't just leave dirty cutlery in the sink because your parents or guardians may get annoyed if you don't clean them
Step 3. Sort the existing clothes to check their cleanliness
Hold a piece of clothing that is picked up from the floor and close to your nose, then sniff out the smell. If the clothes smell musty or dirty, put them in the dirty clothes basket so you can wash them. If the clothes still smell fresh, you can fold them and hang them for storage. Keep sorting clothes until you've checked everything.
- If you're not sure whether the clothes being checked are clean or dirty, just put them in the dirty clothes basket just in case.
- Examine your clothes to make sure there are no obvious stains or dirt before you put them in the closet.
Step 4. Tidy up the contents of the wardrobe so it doesn't look messy
Wardrobe can be an "allowable" place to hide things. However, your closet still needs to be managed properly. Separate hanging clothes by group (eg jackets, sweaters, dresses, and pants). If possible, use a clothes organizer to stack your shoes or clothes so they don't look like they've just been thrown in a closet. As much as possible, clear the floor of the closet so it doesn't look messy when you open it.
- Always close the closet door to make your room look cleaner.
- Look for clothes that are rarely worn and think about whether you can donate them or sell them.
- Don't just put clothes in a closet without hanging them or straightening them (or folding them). Otherwise, your wardrobe will still be a mess.
Step 5. Organize things on a small bedside table or study table
Study desks and small desks can become "nests" of various objects if you don't clean and tidy them up. Put sheets of paper and notebooks in a folder so you can store them easily, and find a place in a drawer or cabinet to place the folder. If you have a variety of knick-knacks or small items, store them in small boxes or crates that you can take out each time you need to use them.
It's fine if you want to keep a few things you use frequently (e.g. wallet, headphones, or agenda book) on your desk
Step 6. Put items that easily spill into the container so they don't make a mess
There's a good chance you have jewelry, coins, pens, or other knick-knacks that make your room a mess. Use small bowls or baskets to store these items to keep shelves and tables tidy. Put similar items in the same container so you know where to store them in case you need to use them at any time.
For example, you can set a cup on the table to store pens and pencils, or use a folder to store papers
Tip:
Shoe boxes can be a great medium for storing small items and can be placed easily in a wardrobe or shelf.
Tips
- Instead of hiding your things in a wardrobe or drawer, take the time to group and organize them.
- Clean your room once a week to keep it tidy. Thus, your room will not look dirty and messy.
- Ask your parents or guardians what you need to do when cleaning the room. They may want you to do certain things.
- If you don't know how to use a particular cleaning product, ask your parent or guardian.
