This article was co-authored by Julie Naylon. Julie Naylon is the Founder of No Wire Hangers, a professional organizing service based out of Los Angeles, California. No Wire Hangers provides residential and office organizing and consulting services. Julie's work has been featured in Daily Candy, Marie Claire, and Architectural Digest, and she has appeared on The Conan O’Brien Show. In 2009 at The Los Angeles Organizing Awards she was honored with “The Most Eco-Friendly Organizer”.
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Cleaning your room can feel like an overwhelming task, but it is likely a quicker and easier process than you imagine! Play music, write a list, give yourself rewards, and make it into a game to keep yourself motivated. Tackle the big tasks first and then move onto deep-cleaning your room by dusting, wiping, and vacuuming all of the surfaces. Before you know it, your room will be sparkling clean.
Steps
Tackling the Major Tasks
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1Move everything off your bed and make it. Making your bed helps to make your room look much cleaner and will give you a feeling of achievement to kickstart your cleaning. Move anything from on your bed into a pile in one section of your room. Pull up your sheets and blankets, tuck them in, straighten your comforter, and place your pillows at the top of your bed.[1]
- If you haven’t changed your sheets recently, place them in the washing basket and put new ones on your bed. This will help your bed to feel and smell extra fresh.
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2Organize all of the clothes that are on your floor. Pick up each piece of clothing and decide whether it is dirty or not. If in doubt, treat it as if it is dirty! If the item is clean, fold it and place it in your dresser or hang it up in your wardrobe. If the item is dirty, place it in the washing basket.
- It's always better to wash a clean item twice than to wear a dirty item. Treat items on your floor as dirty unless you are certain that they are clean. [2]
Tip: Don’t put a load of laundry on until you have finished cleaning your room, as you never know where you might find another dirty sock that needs washing!
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3Take any dirty dishes to the kitchen. This helps to prevent bad smells from forming and helps to stop ants and other pests from gathering in your room. Take all the cups, plates, cutlery, and mugs back to the kitchen. Also, throw away any takeout packages that are still in your room.[3]
- Check under your bed, on your dresser and desk, and in your bedside drawers for dirty dishes and takeout packages.
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4Toss out anything you don't want anymore.[4] This is a great way to clear space in your room and get rid of clutter. Sort through all the objects on the surfaces in your room and on your floor and decide if anything needs to be thrown away.[5] Look out for food wrappers, apple cores, random bits of paper, broken items, and things you don't use anymore.[6]
- Donate any good-quality items that you don’t want anymore to a second-hand charity store.
- Put unwanted paper and cardboard into a separate bag for recycling.
Organizing the Items in Your Room
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1Place objects back in their rightful places if they already have a home. Put everything that's on the floor away first. That way, you'll be able to move around your room without tripping over anything. Start with the bigger things, like books and pillows, then move onto smaller things, like pencils and other stationery. Find a home for all the items on your dresser, desk, floor, and bedside tables.[7]
- Try not to get distracted by the items you are putting away, as this can make your cleaning process take a lot longer.
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2Store similar items that don’t have a home in boxes. This is a simple way to organize your room and make it easier to find things. Place all your stationery in one box, your photos in another box, your beauty products in another box, craft supplies in another box, and so on. Make sure to label the boxes and store them in an accessible place so that they are easy to find and access.[8]
- Place the boxes on your shelves, under your bed, in your wardrobe, or on your desk.
- Don't go on a shopping spree buying boxes and bins before you organize your stuff. Otherwise, you run the risk of having even more clutter after finishing organizing everything.[9]
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3Display a few items that are special to you. This is a great way to personalize your room. If you find a pretty ornament or cool toy while you are cleaning, consider placing it on your desk, dresser, or bedside table as a feature. Try to only place a few items on each surface so that space doesn't look cluttered.[10]
- Using your space as a display area will help you keep the room tidier since objects that don’t belong will look out of place and you’ll be encouraged to put them away. Additionally, when surfaces have less clutter on them, they’re easier to clean and dust.
Example: Place your soccer trophy on your desk and a favorite photo on your dresser.
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4Give away any books, clothes, or toys that you don’t want anymore. This is a great way to declutter your room and will give you more space for the items that you treasure. Look at each object and consider whether you have used it in the last year. If you haven’t used it recently and it doesn’t have sentimental value, think about giving it away to a second-hand charity shop.[11]
- Make sure to check with your parents first.
Cleaning the Surfaces
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1Dust all of the surfaces in your room. Use a duster to remove all the dust from your desk, dresser, bookshelf, slatted blinds, fans, light fixtures, lamps, and any other surfaces you may have in your room. Always start high and work your way down, so that you don’t knock dust and dirt onto surfaces you’ve already cleaned. Dust before you vacuum or sweep because dust will often become displaced and then settle back on your floor.[12]
- If you don’t have a duster, use a microfiber cloth to remove the dust.
- Make sure to dust objects on your desk, dresser, etc. Picture-frames, travel souvenirs, and trophies will look much nicer when they are dust-free.
- Ensure that your fan and lights are turned off before you dust them.
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2Wipe the surfaces to remove marks, dust, and stickiness. Stickiness can attract ants and can damage your furniture. Spray a little surface cleaner onto the surfaces and wipe them with a cloth. Microfiber cloths are a great option, as they easily remove a variety of different marks. Wipe your desk, dresser, bedside table, window sills, baseboards, trims, and any other surfaces in your room at least once a week.[13]
- Disinfectant wipes also work well, as they help to kill any bacteria that may have grown on your room’s surfaces.
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3Vacuum or sweep the floor, especially under your bed and desk. These areas are often missed during quick cleans, so make sure to vacuum them thoroughly. If necessary, move furniture so that you can vacuum under it more easily. Push your vacuum back and forth over the entire floor until the carpet looks sparkling clean.[14]
- If the vacuum isn’t sucking well, check if the vacuum bag or canister is full and change it if necessary.
- Vacuum your floor at least once a week. If you wear shoes inside, consider vacuuming more often.
Tip: If your carpet has a strange smell, sprinkle some carpet deodorizer or baking soda on the carpet before vacuuming to give your room a pleasant scent.
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4Sweep and mop the floors if applicable. Use the broom to push all the dirt and dust into 1 pile and then use a dustpan and brush to scoop it up. After this, dip your mop into a bucket of soapy water and wipe it over the floors to remove any marks and dust. Rinse the mop every few minutes to ensure that it doesn’t spread dirt around the floors.[15]
- This will leave your floors feeling and looking nice and clean.
- Sweep and mop your floors at least once a week.
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5Wipe the light switches and door handles with a disinfectant spray. These points are some of the most touched spots in your room. This means that over time they collect a lot of bacteria. Spray the switches and handles with a household disinfectant spray and then use a cloth or paper towel to wipe it off.[16]
- Disinfect your handles and switches once a week to keep them fresh and clean.
- Wipe off any outlet covers, too. Since they’re not as frequently touched, they don’t build up grime as fast as light switches, but keeping them clean and bright can help the overall look of the room.
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6Use glass cleaner to wipe the mirrors and windows. Liberally spray the glass cleaner over all your mirrors and windows and then use a cloth to wipe them clean. Continue to rub until there are no marks or streaks left on the glass. This will leave your windows and mirrors looking sparkly clean.[17]
- Clean your windows and mirrors each time that they get marked to make the job as quick and easy as possible.
- Microfiber cloths work well for cleaning glass.
- Don’t forget to clean the window tracks as well. Vacuum up loose debris in the tracks with a crevice attachment or a handheld vacuum cleaner. You can use an old toothbrush and some all-purpose cleaning solution to scrub away caked-on dirt and dust.
Keeping Motivated
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1Play music to keep your spirits high. Before you start, put on an album or playlist that makes you feel energetic.[18] Music with a faster beat will help to get you motivated for your cleaning project. Stay away from more slow, dreary music, as this can make you feel tired and bored.[19]
Tip: If you don’t know what to listen to, search for an upbeat playlist online. Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora have a range of great cleaning and motivational playlists.
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2Create a reward for yourself to give you an incentive to get the job done. This extra motivation can help you to get the job done faster. Decide what you will do to treat yourself once you have finished cleaning. Maybe you will go hang out with your friends, watch a movie with your family, eat a big bowl of ice cream, or read your favorite book.[20]
- Make sure not to rush your cleaning in order to get your reward!
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3Make cleaning your room into a game if you need extra motivation. If you're having trouble motivating yourself to clean your room, make the process interesting by playing a game. See how many things you can put away for 10 minutes and then try to beat your high score. Alternatively, pretend that you are a robot while you are cleaning and only make robot movements and noises. Another option is to set a timer and see how fast you can clean your room. [21]
- Be creative and create your own games!
Tip: Start the dusting from top surfaces to the bottom so that this sequence will help you get the job done in less time and without repeating the same job.
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4Create a checklist of all the different tasks to keep your cleaning on track. Checklists are a great way to give yourself a sense of achievement and progress when you are cleaning up a big mess. Decide what you want to organize and clean, and then prioritize them from the highest priority to the lowest priority. Try to be as detailed as you can so that nothing gets forgotten.[22]
- Tick off each task once you have done it so that you can easily keep track of what you still need to do.
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5Schedule the tasks throughout the week to make it more manageable. This is a great option if there is a lot to clean. Write down when you will complete each task so that you can stay on track with your cleaning schedule. Try to be as disciplined as possible and stick to the schedule.[23]
Example: Assign the clothes sorting to Monday, sorting through rubbish and surface items to Tuesday, and dusting and vacuuming to Wednesday.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I get rid of clutter?
Ashley Moon, MAAshley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.
Professional OrganizerIt really comes down to three steps. The first step is to sort through all of your stuff and separate everything into categories. Then, go through each category one at a time and purge the things you don't want or need anymore. Finally, organize everything that's left by finding a good place for it.
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QuestionHow can I make cleaning more fun?Ashley Moon, MAAshley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.
Professional OrganizerTry to really activate all of your senses so the process is more engaging and enjoyable. Put on some music, light a nice smelling candle, and take time to touch the items in your room and be present with them.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionWhat's the best way to organize the books in my room?Ashley Moon, MAAshley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.
Professional OrganizerI recommend displaying your favorite books or the ones you're currently reading on a bookshelf or other surface. Then, consider donating the books you're not actively reading. The odds of you looking at them again are pretty slim, and you can always easily get a book again if you end up wanting to read it in the future.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
References
- ↑ http://www.rookiemag.com/2012/04/how-to-clean-your-room-in-10-minutes/
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/how-to-clean
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/how-to-clean
- ↑ Julie Naylon. Professional Organizer. Expert Interview. 18 December 2019.
- ↑ Ashley Moon, MA. Professional Organizer. Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.getorganizedwizard.com/blog/2015/02/organize-bedroom-step-step-guide-teenagers/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/in-the-home/tidying-lazy-people-make-bedroom-look-feel-clean-without-really-trying
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/in-the-home/tidying-lazy-people-make-bedroom-look-feel-clean-without-really-trying.html
- ↑ Julie Naylon. Professional Organizer. Expert Interview. 18 December 2019.
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/decorating-bedroom/decorating-tricks-bedroom?slide=580794#580794
- ↑ https://youtu.be/0cveKd6Gth8?t=514
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/how-to-clean
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/cleaning-bedroom/how-to-clean-room
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/in-the-home/tidying-lazy-people-make-bedroom-look-feel-clean-without-really-trying
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/quick-clean-bedroom/
- ↑ http://blog.eoscu.com/blog/cleaning-house-part-4-touch-points
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-your-bedroom-thoroughly-and-efficiently-a-quick-easy-guide-221947
- ↑ Ashley Moon, MA. Professional Organizer. Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.
- ↑ https://www.verywellmind.com/cleaning-can-alleviate-stress-3145185
- ↑ https://www.developgoodhabits.com/reward-yourself/
- ↑ https://www.momtastic.com/life/621855-cleaning-games-for-kids/
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/daily-cleaning-checklist
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/daily-cleaning-checklist
About This Article
To clean your room, start by clearing clutter off your bed so you can make it. If you haven’t changed your sheets in a while, swap them out with some fresh ones. You can also put some decorative pillows or a throw blanket on your bed to spruce it up a bit. Next, go around your room and toss any trash into a wastebasket or trash bag. Fold or hang up any clean clothes. Toss any dirty clothes in the hamper, or try putting them straight into the washing machine so they’re all clean by the time you’re done cleaning. Then, put away any small items that are out of place, like toiletries, accessories, or books. If you don’t have a designated space for them, put them in a bedside drawer or storage container to keep them organized. You can also put things like books and mementos on a shelf in your room. While you’re cleaning, make a pile for things to donate or give away. The less clutter you have, the cleaner your room will look! Next, use a cloth or hand-held duster to wipe down all the surfaces in your room, like your dresser, desk, and bedside table. Make sure you remove any small items first so you can dust under them. Open up your window shades or curtains, and if desired, clean the windows and windowsills. Finish by vacuuming the floor if it’s carpet, or sweeping and mopping if it’s hardwood. In general, try to clean your floor at least once a week to keep your room looking fresh. If you’re trying to motivate yourself to clean your room, try playing your favorite music and dancing as you clean! For more tips from our Cleaning co-author, including how to tackle major cleaning projects, read on!
