How to Clean a Bedroom

My bedroom was a mess. I do "gut it out" at least twice a year. Being the 3rd of May, I decided this morning that today was the day. I hate the fact that my mother-in-law, God rest her soul, was right. She always used to say "You have to make a mess to clean a mess."


When I am about to do some major, heavy duty cleaning, I always follow a few simple ritual procedures before I start.


1. Put on some sweats.

2. Put on a pot of coffee

3. Crank up so rockin 80s tunes


The best place I find to start is in the closet. Don't hesitate. Just haul everything out. Once it’s out, you really have no choice. You have to clean it then. Have a bucket of hot soapy water on hand, and wash the walls, ceiling and floor of the closet.


Now, as you start to pack it back, decide if you want to:


A. Keep it.

B. Pitch it.

C. Donate it.


Stuff you want to keep, pack back neatly. I you smoke in your house, you may want to consider running your clothes through the washer first. Make 2 piles for the other stuff, and don't stop until the closet stuff is all done.


Next, I would suggest that you take down your curtains, and grab all your bedding and wash it. Throw an old sheet on your bed, and use it to empty and sort your dresser drawers, one by one - same 3 piles. Have a can of Pledge and some soft rags and clean the drawer fronts before you put them back. After all of the dresser drawers are put back, Pledge the remaining surfaces on the dressers. Pull the dressers out clear of the wall, and clean the floors under them, and the walls above and behind them.


Now, haul your bed and night stands clear of the wall. Clean the floor and wash the walls before putting them back. If you have drawers in your night stand, clean these out as well.


The next thing you should do is grab the Windex, and thoroughly clean your windows. Use newspapers if you have some, and don't use round motions. Clean them horizontally first, and then polish them vertically. This way, if you miss a spot or leave a streak, you won’t see it when the sun's rays are pouring into the room in the morning or evening.


If you have hard floors and a rug, vacuum the rug, and put it over a rail outside to let it air out.


With all the furniture back in its place, wash the remaining walls with hot soapy water. I like to use pine sol or Lestoil because the clean smell lasts for days. Make sure not to forget baseboards, door facings and window ledges. Any wall hangings or artwork should be dusted and cleaned as well.


Now you should clean your floors. Carpeted floors should be vacuumed, and hard floors swept and mopped.


You are just about done. Rehang your curtains and make your bed. With the exception of vacuuming and dusting on a weekly basis, your room is good until you tackle your Christmas cleaning in the fall.