Mom and Dad aren’t at school to yell at you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a few minutes every week to keep your dorm presentable. Motivation is hard to come by, so you need to make it a part of your daily life. The new semester is the perfect time to get started.
1 – Use your hamper
Tossing your dirty laundry just anywhere is going to make it a lot harder to clean up quickly. Instead, place a hamper somewhere you can easily reach it, and make an effort to put all your clothing into the hamper immidiately.
2 – Empty your trash
Don’t wait until the can is overflowing to take the trash out. Chances are you walk by the dumpster on your way to at least once class, so just grab the bag on your way out the door. Emptying it every couple days will make you room remarkably cleaner.
3 – Use daily bathroom cleaner
If you’re lucky enough to share a suite bathroom than you probably have to clean it yourself. Just use a daily shower cleaner and you may never have to scrub it down. Place the bottle right next to the shower, and simply spray it down after every use; two seconds now may save you two hours of cleaning later.
4 – Make your bed
It takes less than a minute to pull up your blankets and make your bed presentable. So do it; there is no excuse.
5 – Invest in a vacuum
If your dorm doesn’t have a vacuum you can borrow (check with your RA) then buy one. Get your roommates to chip in, because even a cheap one will make your life a lot easier. Set up an alternating weekly schedule for you and your roommate to just quickly vaccuum the room.
7 – Put your clothes back on the hangers
Everyone has those nights when nothing in your closet fits right and you can’t decide what to wear. Try not to tear your closet apart in your search for the perfect outfit; instead of discarding every rejected item on the floor or your bed, take two seconds to put it back where it belongs.
8 – Wipe everything down
Keep a roll of paper towels ready on your bathroom and kitchen counters; everytime you use the sink or whip up a meal simply wipe it all down. It only takes a second and it’s the best way to prevent dirt and hair from building up.
9 – Give everything a home
With all the different organizational tools available there should be a place for everything in your dorm. Make sure you have plenty of space with under the bed storage units, hanging shelves, and bedside storage units. Than make use of that space by putting everything away. Don’t just toss your remote on your desk, put it back in its designated spot. Not only will this help you keep track of everything; it will also help you make your room neat.
10 – Make a schedule
Last, but not least, you may want to consider making a cleaning schedule for you and your roommate. My roommates and I always designated our free time on Friday (after our last class and before we went out) as cleaning time. But beware, a schedule may sound like a great plan but it can easily cause problems. You and your roommate must communicate, and you need to make sure your plan really works for both of you.
