Last year, as a freshman living on campus, I was finally able to comprehend why my mom ran around our house every day frantically cleaning each surface. Obviously, I knew the importance of cleanliness, but living on my own in the dorm gave me a new understanding of why it truly is vital to frequently clean your space.
Throughout the spring semester, I had a chronic illness that would not go away. Every morning I would wake up with a cold, headache, fatigue and digestive issues. I had no idea what the root of this mystery illness was until I stumbled upon a patch of black mold growing underneath my bed and in my fridge on move out day. Disgusting, I know. This was a huge wake-up call to me on why cleaning is so important.
Even though I frequently cleaned my space, I did not clean it well enough to notice the mold growing in my room. This is an embarrassing story to share, but my hope is that you can save yourself and your health before it’s too late! It’s easy to be lazy and not want to clean your dorm or apartment after a long day of tasks, but you need to remember that this is where you live and spend so much of your time. The effort you put into keeping your space clean and tidy will pay off in the long run in terms of your mental and physical wellbeing.
So, how does cleaning affect your health?
- Cleaning your surroundings will ultimately keep your room dust-free. Dorms and apartments are small in surface size and are fully enclosed. This means that the air quality in your living space is likely worse than average. Cleaning your room by vacuuming and dusting will help get rid of allergens, toxins and germs circulating in your room.
- Having good hygiene is not enough to stay healthy. You need to ensure you are constantly cleaning your room and surroundings to get rid of germs that may be on surfaces. Keep washing your hands, but also wash your sink, your counters and your doorknobs! By cleaning, you will find yourself getting sick less often, which we all could benefit from as college students.
- There is a direct correlation between the amount of clutter in your room and your mind’s ability to focus. Picking up after clutter and taking the time to clean your room will help you feel mentally at peace in addition to physically healthier.
We know that cleaning has positive benefits for your wellbeing, so what can we do to encourage ourselves to clean more often?
Make cleaning fun
Scrubbing your sink and vacuuming the floor might not be your idea of fun on a Friday night, but cleaning does not have to be tedious and boring.
- Make a special cleaning music playlist with your favorite songs.
- Listen to a podcast.
- Play a game with your roommates to see who can clean the most in a certain amount of time.
- Light a candle and set the mood.
Make your own natural cleaning products
Cleaning + a DIY project = fun! There are many options for making homemade cleaning products that are not full of unnecessary chemicals. It’s also enjoyable to make them! Grab some of your roommates and spend the night making some of these products to clean your room.
Check out these websites for a list of DIY cleaning products you can make:
- 11 Homemade Natural Cleaning Products- DIY Recipies and Uses
- 9 Homemade Cleaners That Actually Work, According to Cleaning Experts
Add houseplants to your space
Besides looking pretty in your room, houseplants are known to improve air quality. This decoration can serve the purpose of filtering your air on a daily basis, which will help keep your room cleaner without even having to vacuum or dust.
Courtesy: Casper Blog
Check out Spoon University’s list of 7 Houseplants You Need For Your Dorm/Apartment to pick the perfect plant for your room.
Create a weekly and daily cleaning schedule
Print out a calendar or use an app on your phone to set up a cleaning routine each week. Some cleaning tasks should be done every day, while others can be done once a week. Creating a schedule will hold you accountable to ensure that you are actually cleaning your room and not just pushing it to the back burner.
EXAMPLE SCHEDULE:
Every day cleaning: Wipe off counters, clean dishes, dust surfaces, disinfect surfaces and door handles.
Weekly cleaning: Vacuum, clean sink, scrub bath/shower, clean the toilet, wash mirrors.
EXAMPLE TEMPLATE:
Courtesy: Template Lab
I urge you not to be as careless of a cleaner as I once was. I know it may seem like a time-consuming chore, but it is so important to clean and declutter your room on a regular basis. Your immune system, mental health and roommates will thank you.
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