Living in your own dorm room and being responsible for cleaning up after yourself is a significant difference from living at home where your Mom or Dad would eventually get annoyed with your dirty room and clean it themselves or at least help. Let’s not forget about having to do your own laundry, fold your clothes, and wash dishes. And some how that tiny little space never fails to get dirtier than you think is possible! When is a better time to give your dorm a thorough cleaning than at the beginning of spring-cleaning? Your dorm is due for some TLC and sprucing up, so take my tips on spring-cleaning your dorm room.
1. Make Your Bed
Making your bed is such a small thing that you can every day that can change the entire atmosphere of a room. A made bed makes a huge difference both in how clean your room looks, but also makes you feel more accomplished. I know that when my bed is made and put together, I feel like I have my life put together, kind of.
2. Organize Your Desk
A clean desk is a college student’s holy grail for success in academics. Clean off the top surface of your desk by organizing pens and pencils in a small container. You can use just about any container to hold your writing utensils, and you can even make it cute by using a mason jar, or a wooden container found at Target. Next, organize your drawers. I personally like to have one drawer dedicated to MWF classes and one dedicated TH classes, that way everything I need for that particular day is together. I like to use the extra drawer for extra paper, pens, folders, and any other supplies.
3. Get Rid Of Old Papers And Supplies
Now that your desk is clean, you can get rid of any paper or supplies not needed for your newly organized desk. If you’re anything like me, you save everything. I am pretty much a hoarder when it comes to papers and supplies. Go through all of your papers and folders from last semester that are still somehow sitting in your drawers. You don’t have to throw out everything, but if you’re a business major, you probably won’t need the notes you took for your nutrition class. While cleaning, if you come across papers from a previous class that will be helpful in the future, that’s what that extra drawer I talked about above is for. Also, it’s, unfortunately, time to part ways with your lucky pencil, but let’s face it, it’s time. It barely has an eraser and can’t write anymore. Spring is a perfect time to get yourself some nice new pens, pencils, or highlighters, and throw out all of your old ones.
4. Clean Out And Organize Your Dressers
Now that it is springtime, you probably won’t need your super heavy snow boots, and that big parka will be of no use to you anymore. Personally, one of my favorite things about spring is being able to switch over from winter clothes to spring clothes. It’s also a plus that spring clothes don’t take up nearly as much space as the thick winter sweaters do. Next time you’re home, bring your winter clothes with you and bring your spring clothes back. Now that you have your spring clothes, it is so important that you organize your closet. By this time of the year, I am going to guess that your closet isn’t as neat and orderly as it was when you arrived seven months ago.
5. Get Rid Of Unnecessary Things Lying Around
Those warm blankets that are sitting at the end of your bed that you haven’t touch in weeks, it’s time for them to go. By now, you should know what you do and do not use in your dorm. If you haven’t used the plates you brought, or that chair in the corner that is just taking up space, I say you back those things up and bring them back home along with your clothes.
6. Organize Your Cleaning Supplies
I know it may sound kind of weird to organize and clean your cleaning supplies, but trust me, it is so helpful. You’re probably out of Clorox wipes and paper towels by the time you’re finished spring cleaning, but you’re going to want to get more of those. It is so important to be continuously wiping down your furniture and picking up your room, just because it is spring time doesn’t mean that cold and flu season isn’t still around. Once you’ve got all your supplies, put them all together in one place for easy access. I personally like to keep mine in a basket on the top shelf of my closet, that way I know where everything is and can grab whatever I need quickly.
7. Add Small Spring Decorations
This step is totally optional, but I think that sprucing up your room is just the thing you need to get over the hurdle of the second half of the semester. I bought a new bright colored pillow from target to go on my bed, and a banner from the dollar section to hang on my door. One of my favorite things to have in my dorm is a Glade solid air freshener. With just an easy twist, the air freshener instantly makes your room smell amazing and hides those community dorm odors. They have lots of spring options that can make your room smell like flowers, fruits, or anything of your choosing.