One of the biggest differences between living on your own in college and living at home? In college, your mom isn’t there to pick up after you. Here’s a few tips and tricks for keeping your dorm room or apartment clean that you might need to know if you don’t want to be living in a dump. Nobody is taking care of you in college, so it’s your responsibility to keep your living space clean and neat.
Set up a cleaning schedule early
One of the first things you should do upon moving into your new dorm or apartment, or even before move in day, is set up a cleaning schedule. This is probably the most important part of keeping your new home clean. Putting a schedule into writing designating who will keep what clean and when will make sure that no one forgets their duties and will make is easier for everyone to do their chores. Having a structured plan for cleaning will be a lot more effective than simply telling people that they should clean the bathroom or take out the garbage.
Take responsibility: put things back where they belong and clean things when they’re dirty
Keeping things neat and clean as you use the room will lessen the workload when cleaning day comes. Just because Saturday is your day to vacume the floors doesn’t mean you should leave a spill on the carpet until then. It’s good to have a designated “cleaning day” for cleaning the bathroom and neatening the room, but cleaning as you use the room in addition is much more effective. Putting things back after you use them and having a set place for everything (always put the remote on top of the TV when you’r e done, for instance) will lessen the chance of items getting lost and will keep your room neat and clutter free.
How to… clean scuff marks
Use 3 tbsp. of trisodium phosphate (found in the paint department of hardware stores) to clean scuff marks caused by those cute black party heels, or anything else that might leave marks on the walls or floors. Make sure you wear gloves and be careful using the solution on glossy surfaces.
How to… remove blood from fabric
Gently rub hydrogen peroxide into a blood stain on clothing or furniture to remove the stain. Corn starch can also be used to remove blood stains. Rinse the stain in cold water then rub in moistened cornstarch and leave the item to dry naturally.
How to… get rid of gum
Gum stuck to surfaces can be removed using ice to harden it and a dull knife to remove.
How to… remove smoke odor
If your roommate smokes and leaves an odor in the room, or you have friends over that leave behind a smoky scent, place a bowl of vinegar out to absorb smoke odor. For a quicker but perhaps less effective fix, spray some Febreze or Oust around the room.
How to… remove beer or pop stains
If the stain is still wet, blot it with a paper towel, don’t rub. Then mix one teaspoon of detergent with a cup of water and blot that on the stain. Give it about five minutes and then rinse. If that still doesn’t get the stain out, mix one part vinegar with two parts water and repeat the process.
How to… dust hard-to-reach places
Use a paintbrush to get into cracks and small places that you can’t dust with a rag or a paper towel. Either that, or invest in a set of Swiffer dusters supposedly designed to reach anywhere.
Sources: www.allabouthome.com, www.walmart.com, www.doityourself.com
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