Five Steps to a Clean Bedroom in ONE Day!

Do you have a messy bedroom or guest room in your home?  Most people do for one reason or another.  I happen to have several since my kids are slowly leaving the 'nest' their bedrooms have become a medley of their belongings and things that have been 'temporarily' stored in there over time.  It is easy for this to get more carried away than anyone ever expected. One day when  you're adding to the pile you actually stop and really look at it and you're like "Oh My Gosh! How on Earth did this happen?"  If you're like me or my daughter whom this post is actually dedicated to, the thought of cleaning is overwhelming so you kind of just keep the door shut.  Out of sight, out of mind, right?  Well that only lasts for so long.  Eventually, for whatever reason, you need something in there, or, like me, you actually have a need to use the room for something other than a bedroom so it's time to clean it!  

We have our new online store starting up (coming soon) so with all the stuff piling up we really needed a room to keep everything together and organized.  My daughter hasn't officially lived (or slept) in her bedroom for a few years so I mentioned to her that I really could use the space.  She completely understood but is overwhelmed by the amount of stuff she has accumulated over the years. She asked me for help and I told her I could have it done in a day if she really wanted me too.  I think she was afraid for me to do it without her, so she's been working on her room a little at a time (the picture above is a work in progress).  But, naturally the fact that I said I could do it in one day is based on experience as I have accomplished this very task several times in the past and this, of course, is what inspired me to write this post!  If you are disciplined and on task, you too can clean a messy room  in one day and if you follow the step-by-step process it should be as simple and painless as possible!
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So here we go....

STEP 1

• Gather several large garbage bags or several large moving boxes.
• Empty the room.  Yes, completely and totally empty if possible.  If you can't remove the large furniture like beds and dressers, then at least empty them completely and move them.
• This also includes emptying the closet if there is one AND it includes taking all pictures, etc. off of the walls.  NOTHING SHOULD BE LEFT (unless you can't move the furniture).
• Do your best to put all clothing in a bag, all accessories in another, etc. If you come across stuff that belongs in another room, make a separate bag or box for it or put it in that room immediately (such as dishes and glasses). This is very basic simple sorting and should not take a long time.  You will do a more thorough sorting later.
• If you know something is garbage, then throw it out!  If you think something is garbage, but aren't sure, then it is probably garbage so THROW IT OUT (or save it in a special bag to be donated or sold).
• When I empty a room to clean top to bottom, I put the stuff in the hallway and in another room - remember this is only temporary!  However, if you think there is a chance that you will not finish in one day then be sure not to block any exits or rooms that you will need to get into!

STEP 2:

• ​Clean the room!
• Dust around the ceilings, walls, hanging lamp fixtures, windows, etc.
• Wash the windows.
• Clean the floor (vacuum, mop, etc.)
• Great chance to re-paint if necessary but note that this will add additional days to the cleaning process!

STEP 3:

• Put the furniture you want to keep back in the room (if you took it out in the first place) and clean it!
• Dust and polish the surfaces, vacuum drawers, mattresses, cushions, etc.

STEP 4: 

• Eat lunch or have a snack!  You are halfway there ;-)
• This is where you start to put the rest of the 'stuff' back into the room.  This can also be the hardest part....we don't like to let things go but remember the saying "Less is More"?  It is so true!  Most of the stuff we keep just takes up space and causes us stress (hence the reason the room got so messy in the first place).  
• Doesn't the room look great with nothing but furniture?  This makes it a little easier to get rid of some stuff - you won't want to put it back in and clutter up the room again!
• Do clothing first - go through it one piece at a time.  If you haven't worn it in 6 months or more, it needs to go.  Anything that you will continue to wear  regularly, hang in the closet or fold into a drawer.  If not, add it to the donation bag!
• Do the same for accessories like jewelry, knick-knacks, pictures, wall hangings, books, etc.  Most of the stuff has to go (we don't want clutter anymore) so try making it a rule to only keep 15 pieces or less of special jewelry or other special knick-knacks or books (you pick the number).  
• Remember, everything must have a specific place that it goes in the room!  If it doesn't have a place, then it doesn't belong so 'by-bye' it goes.

STEP 5:

• Your room should be done and you should be left with a bunch of boxes or bags to get rid of! You need to get rid of it as soon as possible.  You could simply throw it out. That would be the simplest solution, however it is not environmentally friendly and it doesn't help others.  So please, consider either donating the items or, if you think they have a decent amount of value, sell them for some extra money! Check out Recycling Part III: Selling & Donating for more information.

The bottom line: get rid of as much stuff as you can.  Less really is more!  Less stuff to clean, manage, and take care of means less stress and more happiness :-)

Enjoy your clean room!
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Thanks for visiting!  

Check our our Minimizing and Organizing pages and our Organization board on Pinterest for other ways to help simplify your life!

​Sincerely,