Face facts. Living in close quarters with someone else can get messy – emotionally and with all the darn laundry. It’s a new quarter, so let’s keep it clean!

Tips for a Clean and Classy Dorm room

(Adapted from “10 Dorm Room Cleaning Tips for College Students”, Soji Cleaners)

  1. Set an agreed schedule and stick to it. Time is not your friend in a quarter system, so time management is everything. Keep in mind certain cleanliness tasks that should be completed periodically for a healthy dorm space, such as bedlinens and throwing out any trash. It will be a challenge to balance this with studies, required sleep and social activities, but it is vital for a livable dorm space. However, keep up communication with your roommate to make sure to find times that cause the least disruption. It might require some compromise for both of you.
  2. Check out the checklist. Having a written-out checklist for you and your roommate to keep up with will be much easier than a list in the cloud of your overloaded minds.
  3. The basic materials you should keep on hand are:
  • Antibacterial wipes or cleaning spray. For an economical cleaning solution, you can fill a spray bottle with half distilled white vinegar and half water.
  • Paper towels
  • Dish soap
  • A small vacuum to conserve closet space
  • Broom and dustpan
  • An easy small space mop, such as a Swiffer that sprays cleaning liquid, is a good investment. There are disposable cleaning pads you can use, but it’s smarter to get the washable, reusable pads.
  • Air freshener
  1. Make sure to wash your bedsheets often. It prevents pest problems, and everyone sleeps better in nice, clean sheets.
  2. Figure out a method that works for you for organizing your study materials, keeping them in their place to avoid dorm room clutter and to make sure you have the right book or paper exactly when you need it.
  3. Remember to clean all surfaces to get rid of dust and grime. Dust can be an allergy sufferer’s worst nightmare. It’s normal to let cleanliness slide as the quarter goes on and assignments pile up. Still, try to occasionally wipe down countertops, furniture, walls and your fridge.
  4. Beware of Mount Dishmore. Washing dishes can definitely be a tedious chore, but letting them pile up can create nasty odors and invite bugs or worse to invade your space. Not to mention, leaving dishes can mean cemented food on the dinnerware. If necessary, leave dishes temporarily soaking in warm water and come back to them soon.
  5. A clean bathroom is a happy bathroom. If you are lucky enough to have a bathroom in your dorm room, clean it regularly. The toilet, sink and shower should be cleaned as often as possible.
  6. Don’t be trashy. Leaving used cups, bottles and plates around will attract bugs so search for left behind trash and throw it out. Take out your trash at least weekly and use an air freshener to remove lingering odors. Wash your hands after because you do not want to carry those germs around with you.
  7. You don’t have to pull a Marie Kondo, but try to keep clutter to a minimum. It will only make a small space feel smaller and can cause roommate tension if everyone is constantly tripping over old sweatshirts.

 

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