A Clean Bedroom: A Guide For Boys

Keeping a clean room is an important habit to develop from a young age. While it may seem like a boring chore, there are ways to make cleaning fun. For teenagers, a messy room can be a way to exert their independence, but it's important to remember that cleaning their room will help them develop essential life skills. Here are some tips to help keep a boy's bedroom clean.

Make your bed

Making your bed is a simple task that can make your entire room look and feel better. It's also a great first step in the cleaning process, as you can use your bed as a surface to organise your belongings.

First, pull your sheets and comforter tightly over your mattress, ensuring that any loose sheets are tucked in neatly. Then, place your pillows flat against the headboard. If your sheets haven't been washed in a week or two, be sure to strip them off and take them to the laundry room with any dirty clothes.

Once your bed is made, you can use it as a sorting area for your belongings. For example, you can group together all your books or school supplies on the bed, making it easier to put them away later.

Put away clothes

Putting away clothes is an important part of keeping a boy's bedroom clean and tidy. Here are some detailed instructions to follow:

Step 1: Separate the Clean from the Dirty

Begin by picking up any clothing items thrown around the room. The easiest way to sort through them is by smell—if they smell musty or dirty, they go straight into the laundry basket. If they still smell clean, you can hang them up or fold them neatly before putting them away.

Step 2: Hang Up Wearable Clothes

Some clothes may not need washing but could use a quick refresh. Hang these items up to air out, ready to be worn again.

Step 3: Make Your Bed

Once you've sorted through all the clothes, it's a good idea to make your bed. This will give you a clear space to organise the rest of your belongings. Plus, a made bed instantly makes the room look tidier! If your sheets haven't been washed in a while, strip the bed and take the linens to the laundry room with your dirty clothes.

Step 4: Group Similar Items

Use your bed as a sorting station. Group together items like books, school supplies, and toys, so you can put them away efficiently. For example, you can gather all your books and school supplies on the bed and then put them away in their designated spots.

Step 5: Create a Designated Space

If you come across items that don't seem to have a permanent home, create a new spot for them. This will help you stay organised and ensure you know where to find things in the future.

Step 6: Wash Your Sheets Regularly

Remember to wash your sheets, blankets, and pillowcases at least once a week to keep your bed fresh and bacteria-free. This will also help prevent pimples and blackheads, which can be caused by dirty linens.

Take care of clutter

Taking care of clutter is an important step in cleaning a boy's bedroom. Here are some detailed instructions to tackle the clutter:

Identify the Clutter:

First, identify what constitutes clutter in the room. This can include toys, books, dirty dishes, video game controllers, clothes, and other items that are out of place.

Sort Items:

Start by sorting items into categories. For example, you can have separate piles for books, school supplies, clean clothes, and dirty clothes. This makes it easier to put things away and ensures that similar items are stored together.

Put Items Away:

Once you have sorted the items, it's time to put them back where they belong. Hang up clothes that can be worn again, and place dirty clothes in a laundry basket or hamper. Put away toys, books, and other items in their designated spots. If you're unsure where something belongs, assign it a new permanent spot to avoid future clutter.

Create a System:

To prevent clutter from building up again, create a system for organizing items. Ensure there is enough storage, such as bins, containers, or shelves, to accommodate all the items in the room. Label storage areas or use color-coding, especially for younger children who can't read yet. This way, everyone knows where things belong, and it's easier to maintain a tidy space.

Regular Maintenance:

Encourage daily habits to minimize clutter. This can include putting away items after use, wiping down surfaces, and hanging up clothes. By doing a little each day, the room will stay cleaner for longer, and future cleaning sessions will be less daunting.

Incentives and Involvement:

Involve the boy in the cleaning process and explain the importance of keeping a clean space. Offer incentives, such as a weekly allowance or a point system, to motivate him to take responsibility for his room. You can also create a chore chart to track progress and provide a sense of accomplishment.

By following these steps, you can effectively take care of the clutter in a boy's bedroom, creating a neat and organized space.

Clean surfaces

Cleaning surfaces is an important part of keeping a boy's bedroom clean and hygienic. Here are some detailed instructions to achieve this:

Dusting and Polishing:

Start by dusting all the flat surfaces in the room, such as tabletops, shelves, and dressers, and windowsills. Use a furniture polish or dusting spray with a clean, lint-free cloth. Be sure to use a different part of the rag with each wipe to avoid redistributing dust. You can also use a microfiber duster to pick up dust from surfaces and hard-to-reach areas.

Cleaning Windows and Mirrors:

Clean windows and mirrors with glass cleaner to leave them streak-free. Apply a few squirts of glass cleaning spray and use paper towels or a soft cloth in back-and-forth motions to wipe away streaks and dust. If you don't have glass cleaner, a damp paper towel followed by a dry cloth can also do the trick. Newspapers or coffee filters are great alternatives for achieving clean, streak-free windows and mirrors!

Tackling Sticky Messes:

For sticky spills or stuck-on residue, use a multipurpose cleaner. Spray it onto a rag and work it in circular motions to scrub away the mess. Continue until the surface is no longer sticky. If you don't have a multipurpose cleaner, a mixture of water and a squirt of dish soap can be used instead.

Vacuuming and Sweeping:

Vacuuming or sweeping is essential for keeping floors and upholstered furniture clean. If there are crumbs or dirt on furniture, use the brush attachment of the vacuum to clean it up. For hard floors, use a broom and dustpan to sweep up any dirt or debris. If there is stuck-on dirt, use a mop or a towel dipped in a cleaning solution to wipe it away.

Freshening the Air:

To get rid of any unpleasant odours, use air fresheners. Choose an air freshener that kills bacteria rather than just masking the odour. Spray it towards the ceiling so that it can float down and freshen the entire room. Plug-in air fresheners or candles are also great options for eliminating strong smells.

Vacuum the room

Vacuuming is an important step in cleaning a boy's bedroom. Here is a detailed guide:

Prepare the Room for Vacuuming

Before you start vacuuming, it is essential to remove any clutter from the floor. Pick up any loose items, such as clothes, toys, books, and put them aside, preferably on the bed, to ensure they don't get in the way while vacuuming. This step will also help you identify any small objects that could be accidentally vacuumed or swept up, such as coins, small toys, or other valuables.

Vacuuming Technique

When vacuuming, it is recommended to start in the corner of the room furthest from the door and work your way towards the doorway. This approach ensures that you don't vacuum over areas that you have already cleaned. Pay extra attention to tight corners and crevices by using the hose attachment of the vacuum to reach these areas effectively. If you have a bedspread or upholstered furniture, use the brush attachment to vacuum off any crumbs or dirt.

Frequency of Vacuuming

The frequency of vacuuming depends on the level of foot traffic and the amount of dirt that accumulates. It is generally recommended to vacuum a boy's bedroom at least once a week, or more often if needed. For upholstered furniture and bedspreads, vacuuming with the brush attachment should be done about once a month to maintain cleanliness.

Vacuum Maintenance

It is important to maintain your vacuum cleaner to ensure optimal performance. Regularly check the vacuum bag or container and empty it when it becomes full. Additionally, clean or replace the filters as per the manufacturer's instructions to avoid a decrease in suction power. Refer to the user manual for specific instructions on maintaining your vacuum model.

Choosing the Right Vacuum

Selecting the right vacuum for the job is crucial. If you have a mix of hard floors and carpets, a versatile vacuum with different settings for each surface is ideal. Look for a vacuum with a range of attachments, such as a crevice tool for tight spaces and an upholstery brush for furniture and bedspreads. If you have mostly hard floors, consider investing in a robotic vacuum that can help maintain a consistently clean floor with minimal effort.

Frequently asked questions