How To Clean Your Bedroom - A Daily Checklist
Your bedroom is the most personal room in your home, dedicated to relaxation and restoration. It’s also a frequently used space that can easily become disordered. There is evidence that cluttered or messy quarters can negatively impact your mood and well being, while a tidy and calm space can usher in a relaxed state of mind and improved sleep. As a room that’s commonly used but less commonly seen by others, it’s easy to let your bedroom settle at the bottom of your chore list. But cleaning and maintaining it needn’t be overwhelming. Here is our guide for getting (and keeping) your personal sanctuary in top shape.
THE DEEP CLEAN
Start by taking a day or two to deep clean your entire room and establish a baseline to work from. During the deep clean, you’ll tackle everything from the baseboards to the blinds, ceiling fans, and the mattress. You won’t have to do this level of detailing often, but getting it done now means your daily efforts won’t be undermined by lingering dirty details.
ORGANIZE CLOSETS & DRAWERS
Let’s start with one of the most daunting, but also most productive, tasks right out of the gate. Ensuring effective use of your storage space will help keep clothing from overflowing into your living space. Decongest your closets and drawers by taking inventory of what you have vs. what you actually want or need. Narrow down your wardrobe by donating unwanted items, then neatly organize what’s left. It’s a good idea to address your closets and drawers seasonally and experiment with drawer dividers and closet organization hacks. They may not always work out for you, but you may find one that is surprisingly helpful.
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
Make sure everything that lives in your bedroom has a home, including clothing, books, toiletries, jewelry, etc. When everything has a designated resting place things are less likely to end up left out or scattered randomly throughout your bedroom. Purchase (or make!) a bookshelf to neatly display your reading material or knick-knacks and a jewelry or trinket box to keep small tokens safely tucked away. Having enough storage is critical for simplifying your daily maintenance. Tidying up is more efficient when you can avoid having to improvise, finding spots to store everything as you go. Periodically, you can reassess and reorganize as needed.
CLEAN YOUR MATTRESS
Strip your bed and clean your mattress to remove sweat, dust, mites, pet dander, and allergens. You can purchase commercial cleaning sprays to lift stains and sanitize, or go the more natural route and clean your sleep surface using ingredients from your kitchen, like vinegar and baking soda. You can also use your vacuum’s hose on the highest suction to help extract debris from the nooks and crannies of your mattress. Aim to address your mattress every few months or so. While you’re cleaning take the time to check for signs of mold, sagging and, squeaking because any of these might be indicators that it’s time for a new mattress.
WASH YOUR BEDDING
While your mattress is airing out, wash your sheets and blankets. Refer to the care label on your linens and use the highest recommended temperature and cycle settings to thoroughly sanitize and eliminate any bacteria or dust mites. Once your mattress has aired out and dried you can redress it with your freshly laundered bedding. You’ll want to maintain a regular schedule of washing sheets and blankets every week or two.
WIPE SURFACES & GLASS
Dust and wipe ceiling fans, dressers, and tabletops with a damp microfiber cloth. Clear each surface and lift items to clean beneath them, working your way through your bedroom top to bottom. Starting with the highest surfaces first will allow any dust that falls to the floor to be picked up by the vacuum. Finish by wiping down walls, mirrors, windows, light switches, and electronic screens. Going forward, plan to maintain glass and surfaces weekly.
VACUUM
Think of vacuuming as your final touch, the endgame to your deep clean. Be sure to pass the machine in both directions, and use the crevice tool to reach around tight corners and baseboards. You can use your vacuum’s attachments to address areas that are often overlooked, like the dust on your curtains or cobwebs in corners. And don’t forget your closet floor! Vacuum at least twice a week, especially in high traffic areas, or possibly more often if you have pets.
DAILY BEDROOM MAINTENANCE
PLAN AHEAD
Set yourself up for success each evening by planning ahead for the following morning. Choose your clothing and pack for your day in advance to avoid a rushed process to get out the door. This way your bedroom is less likely to be left with disheveled drawers or piles of discarded clothing, and there will be less maintenance to tend to later in the day.
MAKE YOUR BED
Start each morning with the simple act of making your bed. A well-dressed bed is a visual affirmation of a clean space, which sets the tone for keeping order in the rest of the room and encourages you to maintain its tidiness throughout the day.
WASH & PUT AWAY LAUNDRY
Laundry tends to be an infamously challenging chore to keep up with, especially if you have multiple people in your home. Try to start a load as soon as your basket fills up, whether it’s daily, every few days, or weekly. Plan your laundry cycles according to when you’ll be available to fold and put things away right out of the dryer. Resist the urge to leave clothes folded in the basket or laid out over a chair (you know the chair) to be sorted later. This practice can easily result in clothing spilling into the rest of the room while you continue to work from the pile.
DECLUTTER
Dresser tops and other surfaces can easily become catch-alls. Take a few minutes in the afternoon or evening to square away anything that’s been left out over the course of the day. Gather any trash, tissues, napkins, papers, or clothing tags that may not have made it to the bin, and toss them in. Collect any loose change, stray jewelry, papers, or beverage glasses and put them where they belong. Since you’ve already assigned everything a home this part should be easy! Taking these small steps daily prevents things from piling up on surfaces throughout the week.
When your personal space is clean and clutter-free, it’s easier to rest your mind and unwind. Daily tidying with a simple maintenance schedule will keep your bedroom in order while helping avoid the need for frequent overhauls in the future.
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