Cleaning
Cleaning your space may feel like a neverending task, a necessary evil. But you don't have to be a super-clean freak to keep your living space habitable during college! It just takes reminding yourself to do these little tasks throughout the week and month. (This helps soooooo much when it's time to move out, I'm telling ya!)
Every day:
- Put trash and recycling strictly in their bins.
- Make a sweep of your room once a day for bottles, wrappers, boxes, etc.
- Keep your trash cans lined with bags. Unlined trash cans now means YUCK and GROSS later.
- Throw away any food or drink that has been exposed to unrefrigerated air for more than 2 hours.
- Hand-wash the dishes you used today (if you don't have access to a dishwasher).
- Put the day's clothes in their appropriate hampers; spritz trousers with Febreze and hang them up if you're wearing them on alternate days.
Every 3 days:
- Check the food in your fridge, especially stuff in takeout containers. Throw out anything that's past its date or smells expired.
- Wipe down hard surfaces with sanitizing spray--doorknobs, drawer pulls, alarm clock buttons, light switches, etc.
- Use electronics-safe wipes on computer keyboards, cell phones, TV remotes, game controllers, etc. Unplug electronics before doing this, and don't get them TOO saturated. Allow to dry completely before using again.
Every week:
- Prop open your door (if in a dorm) or open a window (if in an apartment) for about an hour.
- Point a small fan toward the open door or window to speed stale air out.
- While the door/window is open, sweep/vacuum the visible floor space.
- Take out all trash.
- Wash a full load of dishes (if in an apartment with a dishwasher).
- Change your sheets.
- Wash your towels and sheets (hot water!)
Every two weeks:
- Do at least one load of laundry, minimum.
- Clean your sink, toilet and shower if in an apartment. (I use sanitizing wipes for my sink and old shampoo to scrub my toilet--cheap and effective!)
Every month:
- Dust seldom-touched surfaces, such as blinds, tops of ceiling fan blades, shelves, tops of wardrobes, desk carroll, bookcases, etc.
- Take any small rugs outside and shake/beat dust out.
- Sweep/vacuum under furniture.
- Check through your closets and other storage for unneeded items and donate them. (TRUST ME, I wish I'd done this!)