Let’s face it, adulting is hard. Especially when you’re a busy student. Add a job onto that and you’ve officially got a crazy-packed schedule, and it’s easy to just to drop your bags by the door, kick off your shoes, flip on the TV and veg out. While there is nothing wrong with taking it easy after a long day, and we are all guilty of putting off work to take a break, it can become a nasty habit. After a rough week at school, your dorm room or apartment may end up a bit of a mess. However, with this handy guide, keeping your living space clear of clutter will be a stress-free and rewarding activity!
Before you start you cleaning journey, you’ll need the right tools. Start off with making a list of what you need to get things done: Do you have a hamper for dirty clothes? Do you have carpeting? Get a vacuum cleaner. Get a mop for hard floor. Decide if you want a refillable duster or if you’re going to shake out a dusting cloth. If you’ve got a pet, make sure to have a bottle of pet stain remover. Do you have laundry detergent and dish soap? If you have your own kitchen, get some stovetop cleaner. Do you live where you need to clean you own bathrooms? Make sure to at least have a toilet bowl brush, toilet bowl cleaner and multi-purpose surface cleaner. Have two types of washcloths or sponges: one for the kitchen area and one for wiping down grittier stuff like the bathrooms and outdoor furniture. Now that you’ve got your tools, you can tackle that mess!
Do these things daily: Make your bed in the morning, dust visible surfaces, put your laundry in a hamper, sweep your carpet, wash your dishes and wipe off your tables and counters. Of course, if you don’t have a carpet, you ate out that day, or if you live in a dorm without your own kitchen, you can disregard those particular ‘to-dos’. While making the bed seems like a waste of precious time, it gives the room a more organized look and you a feeling of accomplishment first thing in the morning! Depending on the size of you living space, dusting should take five to ten minutes once done daily. By making sure all your dirty clothes end up in the hamper, you decrease clutter while making the inevitable laundry day a little bit easier.
Do these things once a week: Wash your laundry, take out your garbage, wipe the inside of your microwave down, clean the bathroom and check up on your pantry and groceries. Like earlier, if you live in a place with a communal bathroom, you can ignore that one. By using a hamper, you can carry your dirty clothes to your washing machine in one quick trip instead of picking up scattered pieces from the floor. Don’t forget to wash your bedsheets as well! Of course, sometimes laundry piles up more quickly than usual, so make sure to keep an eye out if you need to do a load before a week has passed. Pro tip: washing your clothes in cold water increases the chances of your colors not bleeding! Same goes for the garbage; if the bin fills up fast, take it out! Take a good look at what food stuffs you have; check the expiration date on everything! Then make a grocery list of what you need if you need to.
Do these things once a month: Wipe the inside of your refrigerator and oven, scrub off the dirt on outdoor furniture, clean out the inside of your car and wash the couch blankets and pillows. These things are dependent on if you have the thing that needs cleaned, but are good habits to get into nonetheless. Another good tip would be to have some air fresheners on hand, but please don’t mistake throwing an air freshener in a room as cleaning it!
Overall, make sure that you keep a watchful eye on your cleaning supply inventory, and have a designated space for everything. By sticking to this simple plan, anyone can keep a clean home, even a busy student!