Deep Clean: Bedroom

I’m back! I know it’s been a few months since I last posted - the end of 2018 got unexpectedly busy. In an attempt to post on a regular schedule without turning this blog into an additional life stressor, I am planning to post monthly in 2019.

Over the last two months of 2018, I did a deep clean of my entire apartment, methodically working through the space room by room. In my posts this year, I am going to detail my deep clean methods and suggestions, alternated with posts about other subjects.

I approached each space in two stages: a cleaning stage and an organizational stage. Also, keep in mind that I spent at a least a week doing each room, so I tackled one to two tasks a day.

First up is the bedroom.

Cleaning:

- I examined the walls closely and scrubbed away any noticeable spots, scuff marks, or dirty areas (around the light switch is always a good one). I usually just use a wet paper towel and it seems to do the trick pretty well!

- I vacuumed and dusted the vent as best I could. My apartment building paints the vent screws shut so I can’t remove them for a thorough cleaning, but I have put in requests for my building maintenance to clean them in the past and they did a pretty good job. If you are able to remove your vent covers, I suggest you do to really clean them and the inside of the vent. Dust collects in there so easily, and then it blows around your living space when your heat or AC is on.

- I cleaned my full length mirror and the window. I not only cleaned the window glass (inside only - I don’t have access to the outside of my windows), but I also disinfected the windowsill and all of the window trimming nooks and crannies - turns out a lot of dirt and dust likes to collect in those places!

- I treated the hanging blinds by wiping down both sides of each blind and scrubbing at places where there were stubborn spots.

- Full room dusting, and I mean full room. Every surface that could collect dust was dusted. I paid special attention to the baseboards and the tops of doors/door frames, which are places that are easy to forget about as they aren't at eye level!

- After dusting, I went back around the room with disinfectant wipes, treating all surfaces, especially ones I touch a lot like door or drawer handles and light switches.

- I vacuumed the entire room, including the floor of the closet. I moved whatever I could completely out of the way and reached as far as possible under things I couldn’t. I also used a dustbuster to vacuum around the edges of the room, between the carpet and baseboards, where dust collects.

- I have been using the same duvet cover (which my mother made for me) since I went to college… that’s 13 years. As it has sentimental value and I would like to preserve it, it seemed about time I retired it from use, so I got a new comforter and sheets.

- I washed all of my stuffed animals, 2-3 at a time, using the tried and true pillow case method.

- Finally, the trash can in my bedroom was one from the childhood bedroom I shared with my sister. It was definitely about time for that to go, so I replaced it!

Organization:

- First of all, I sorted through everything in my bedroom, from clothing and jewelry, to junk and memory drawers, to storage space, in order to weed out things to donate or throw away. I tend to use a “when was the last time I used (or even thought about) this item” method, but there are tons of ways to go about deciding what needs to go.

- When putting clothes back in my drawers, I used a file fold method, which I recently learned from @lifeinjeneral on Instagram. It’s amazing how much space it saves and it makes it so easy to see all of your options, as opposed to when you stack items.

- The clothes in my closet are arranged by type, and then roughly by color. Makes it way easier to put outfits together.

- I try to keep the floor of my closet pretty bare, since stuff down there can impact the hang of the clothes (this of course depends on the height of your closet rungs & length of your clothes). In the one back corner, I keep my suitcases - nested to save space.

- Things that go on the top shelf of a closet (which requires a step ladder) or under the bed should be seldom used items or long term storage. You don’t want to need a ladder or to drag a box from under the bed with any regularity. The top shelf of my closet is where I keep games, doll accoutrements, a sleeping bag, and boxes for the decorative plates that hang on my wall. The box under my bed has a lot of bubble wrap (with a future move in mind) and technology related cords and accessories that are still useful, but rarely needed.

- I bought plastic storage bins for the lower shelf in my closet, where I keep holiday decorations, gift wrapping stuff, and costume pieces. I also use plastic stackable drawers to store all of my life memorabilia and photos, as well as crafting materials.

- Additionally, I have a coat rack hanging on the back of my bedroom door where I hang all of my hoodies, two laundry baskets so clothes sorting can happen as I go rather than on laundry day, and earring & necklace racks on my dresser so I can see all of my options and they keep from getting tangled.

What part of your bedroom do you find the most challenging to keep clean or organized?