Just because you live in a dorm doesn’t mean you can skip spring cleaning. Spring cleaning is necessary for every living space, including dorm rooms. However, spring cleaning a dorm can be a bit different than cleaning an apartment or house. So, here are a few tips to help with spring cleaning your dorm.
Whether you have carpeted floors or not, you still need to clean them. Floors hold dust and other dirt that you can’t always see with the naked eye, so mopping and vacuuming is a must when spring cleaning your dorm. If you have hard floors you need to sweep and mop your floors. Sweep the floors first to get up as much dirt and dust as you can. That way, when you get the mopping part you aren’t mopping around dirty puddles. If you have carpeted floors in your door you should vacuum. Before vacuuming, trying sprinkling baking soda and your favorite essential oil all over the carpet. This helps eliminate any bad odors that may be trapped in the fibers of your carpet.
With the approach of spring comes the approach of warm weather. Where there is warm weather, there is the need for less clothing. When spring cleaning your dorm take the time to transition your closet and drawers from winter wear to spring wear. Since most dorms have very limited storage space, you don’t want to over clutter your space with unnecessary clothing. If you able to, pack up any winter clothing that you know you won’t be wearing and take it home. If you aren’t able to make it home, consider a storage unit or even donating things you know you won’t be needing ever again.
It’s very likely that your desk is still cluttered with papers and books from last semester. You also might have pens, pencils, scissors, paperclips, notebooks, and other supplies all over the place. Spring cleaning your dorm is the perfect time to declutter and organize your desk. Throw out any old assignments that you know you’ll never need again. If you’re unsure if you’ll need them or not, create a binder or folder to save them in. If you haven’t already, consider buying desk storage containers to hold your supplies. This can be a great way to keep you supplies within reach without them being in the way.
Sometimes in college you can accumulate a lot of random stuff; things that were given to you like flyers or stuff a guest might have left behind. Now is the time to get rid of those things. If you have any random items that are worth donating, do that instead of throwing them away. If someone has left their belongings in your dorm, contact them to come pick it up. However, if you’ve contacted them in the past and they’ve yet to retrieve it, feel free to get rid of it since they’ve had plenty of time to get it.
Spring cleaning isn’t just limited to the bedroom. If you live in a dorm that has a shared kitchen area, clean that area as well. Go through the cabinets and refrigerator and throw out anything that might be expired. Scrub the counters and sink and make sure to take out the trash. Also, consider mopping the floors as well since sometimes you might drop food.
Once everything is clean, consider redecorating your dorm for a bit of fresh start. Change your bed set to something brighter or add some floral decorations. You could also try lighting scented candles or, if your school doesn’t allow candles, try something flameless like solid air freshener.
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