How to clean your dorm room

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One of the best parts about living in a dorm is that you can make it your own. However, this also means you have to do all the cleaning yourself. If you don’t know where to start or what needs to be done, we’ve put together a list of 9 things every student should clean in their dorm room.

Photo by Anton on Unsplash

College dorm rooms are not always the cleanest. Between all of the food, clothes, and dirt that builds up over time, it can be difficult to keep your room spotless. Even if you’re a neat freak like me, there will inevitably come a time where you need to do some deep cleaning in preparation for something important (like parents coming to visit!). Here is my list of 20 necessary items that must be cleaned in your dorm room:

Your bed sheets
Remotes
Keyboard
Dust everywhere
Throw pillows
Blankets
Your mattress topper
Door handles
Disinfect all surfaces
Wipe the doors down
Clean your windows
Clean your mirrors
Clean the sink
Wipe down your trashcan
Wash your towels
Disinfect and clean your shower shoes
Wash your curtains
Dust the blinds
Dust light bulbs
Vacuum and mop the floor

What to clean in your dorm room

First of all, let’s start with this cleaning list. I have checked off the items which I usually clean.

Before you start cleaning your dorm room, it’s important to know when and how often should be cleaned everything in here. The following information is based on my own experience:

Bed Sheets

Bed sheets are probably one of the most common things that need to be washed after a week or two. I usually wash mine every Sunday. Just make sure you set the washing machine to a gentle cycle with warm water and don’t forget to add an extra rinse!

Add your favorite fabric softener to make your sheets smell heavenly and fresh.

Remote Controls

It’s important to keep these clean, especially if you share your room with someone else. I usually clean mine every week using a disinfectant wipe. Don’t like wipes? Use a microfibre cloth with some disinfectant spray.

Keyboard

I also clean my keyboard every week, but I use a vacuum cleaner to do so. It’s important to make sure all of the dirt and dust is gone, or it will just accumulate over time!

If you’d like to disinfect your keyboard (and whilst you’re at it, disinfect your smartphone as well), use some Chlorox wipes or any other antibacterial wipes.

Dust Everywhere

You really should dust your whole dorm room weekly. Don’t forget to dust all the nooks and crannies. I use a Swiffer duster for this.

Throw Pillows

I like my bedding soft, so I wash my throw pillows every two weeks. It’s really easy to do, just take them off and put them in the washing machine with a gentle cycle (again) with warm water. Then place them on top of your bed after they have dried out completely and fluff them back into shape.

Don’t forget to use an extra rinse and add some fabric softener (or your favorite essential oil) if desired! Also remember to clean the pillowcases weekly as well because they are almost always made of cotton material or worse: polyester.

Blankets

I usually wash my blankets every two to four weeks. I just make sure to place them in the washing machine with cold water and a gentle cycle. If you have any pet allergies, it might be a good idea to wash your blankets more often!

Your mattress topper

How to clean your mattress topper? Mattress toppers can be a little tricky to clean because they are usually made from different materials. If you’re not sure how to clean your mattress topper, I suggest checking the manufacturer’s instructions.

Here’s how I clean mine: I use hot steam from my clothing steamer to steam all of those nasty bacteria into oblivion. If you can throw your mattress topper into the washing mashine, that would be great too.

Door Handles

These should be cleaned every week with a disinfectant wipe!

Desinfect All Surfaces

I usually do a deep clean of my dorm room every two weeks. During this deep clean, I disinfect all of the surfaces in my room using a Clorox wipe or any other antibacterial wipe. Be sure to pay special attention to your desk, bed, and bathroom!

Wipe The Doors

You should always wipe the doors in your dorm room. Not only will this make them look amazing, but it will also help to remove those pesky greasy fingerprints.

Clean your windows

Windows should be cleaned every week. You can use an all-purpose cleaner spray or a vinegar and water mixture to clean them. If you want your windows to sparkle after cleaning, just add some rubbing alcohol!

What about the furniture?

You shouldn’t forget that dust accumulates on furniture too, especially if it’s wooden (which is pretty common in dorms). Use a vacuum cleaner to remove all those dust bunnies. If you have any upholstered furniture, just use an anti-bacterial wipe or spray it with an essential oil like Lavender!

Clean your mirrors

Mirrors should be cleaned every week with a glass cleaner and a paper towel. Be sure to clean the entire mirror, not just the surface!

Dust your blinds

Blinds can easily become dusty, so it’s important to dust them every week. I usually use a feather duster for this.

Clean the sink

Do you have a sink in your dorm room? If so, it’s important to clean it every week. I usually use a diluted bleach solution to do this. Just be sure to rinse the sink afterward!

Cleaning your dorm room can seem like a daunting task, but if you break it down into smaller tasks and do them on a weekly basis, it will be much easier! And don’t forget to have fun while you’re doing it! 🙂

You should also clean your mini-fridge every week. just take out all of the food and wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe or spray. Don’t forget to do the same for your microwave!

Wipe down your trashcan

It’s a good idea to wipe down your trashcan on a weekly basis, just be sure that you use an all-purpose cleaner or vinegar and water.

If there are any other dorm room cleaning tips that I’ve forgotten about please let me know in the comments! 🙂

Wash your towels

You should wash your towels every week. I usually just use hot water and a detergent like Tide. You can also add bleach if you want them to be extra clean!

Disinfect and clean your shower shoes

Shower shoes should be disinfected and cleaned every week. I usually just use hot water and a detergent like Tide. You can also add bleach if you want them to be extra clean!

Wash your shower curtain

Your shower curtain should be washed at least once a month. I usually just wash it in the washing machine with some detergent and bleach.

Wash your curtains

Curtains can easily get dirty, especially if you have pets. You should wash them every month to keep the dust and pet hair away! I usually just use hot water with a detergent like Tide.

Dust the blinds

As I mentioned before, blinds can easily become dusty. You should dust them every week to prevent this from happening!

Clean your desk

Your desk is a breeding ground for bacteria, so it’s important to clean it on a weekly basis. I usually just use an antibacterial wipe or spray. Be sure to pay special attention to the keyboard and monitor!

Dust light bulbs

It’s a good idea to dust light bulbs on a weekly basis. I usually use an anti-static cloth for this, since it’ll get rid of all that excess dust!

Dust your bookshelf

If you have a bookshelf in your dorm room then be sure to dust every week or two. You can do this with a feather duster or an anti-static cloth.

Vacuum and mop the floor

The floor should be vacuumed and mopped at least once a week. I usually use a Swiffer WetJet for this, but you can use any type of mop that you want!

That’s all for now! Be sure to clean your dorm room on a weekly basis to keep it looking and smelling fresh! 🙂