Whenever we clean the house, our bedroom always comes last. Why? Because we usually start with the more visible areas of our house then move on to the other rooms. You guessed right, we sometimes end up not cleaning our bedroom at all because we either don’t have the time anymore or we’re just too tired to do it. It’s the no-one-else-will-see-it-anyway thinking. But soon I realized that getting rid of clutter and cleaning it regularly do make a difference since our bedroom is the place where we love to hang out on weekend mornings. There was a time where I felt that the chaos and the dust are slowly invading our private space. That’s when my husband and I took some action.
Here’s what we do everyday:
1. Unclutter (2 minutes)
The moment Phoebe opens her eyes in the morning, she would climb out of bed and start rummaging inside her toy box. She would play with one toy for 2 seconds, drop it on the floor and move on the next. In just a matter of 10 minutes, she would empty the toy box and start opening drawers, looking for other things to tear apart. Being the only one left in the house with a very active toddler, it’s very difficult for me to catch up with all the mess Phoebe is making in the course of the day. Cleaning up while she is taking a nap is also an impossible task for she has become very sensitive to sounds when she’s sleeping. So when my husband comes home, I let him get into his “Daddy” clothes then I start with the daunting task of cleaning up our bedroom.
Start with collecting all misplaced items into one basket and all the toys into their container. Redistribution of all items (except the toys) should be last.
2. Shake it (1 minute)
After you have removed all unwanted items off the bed (box of wipes, dirty/clean clothes, toys, books), shake out the sheets. If no one is allergic to fabric sprays, you may also want to use one to freshen the bed. Set a certain day of the week where you will change the sheets. Do this at least once a week. There’s nothing more relaxing than fresh and crisp bed sheets.
3. Dust off (2 minutes)
Using a microfiber cleaning cloth, wipe dust off the furnitures and window panes. Be sure to do this in one direction so it’s easy to remember what you have already cleaned.
4. Redistribute (3 minutes)
This step depends on how organized your bedroom is. If all the items have designated homes, redistribution should not take longer than 2 minutes. Take the basket and toss the items into their proper containers. Don’t forget the close the containers to finish up – this makes a huge difference when you come inside the room.
5. Vacuum
As I’ve said in a previous post, my husband and I decided to buy an automatic vacuum cleaner (IRobot). So far, it has been an enormous help to us. I just need to push the “clean” button and it will make its rounds for half an hour. I usually do this last while I warm up our food for dinner. This way, when we get back to our room, the room is free from dust from top to bottom – and Phoebe gets to play wherever she wants to. And because of its size, the IRobot also covers the area under the bed. Call it illusion or not but we do feel that it is easier to breath knowing that the entire room flooring has been cleaned.
The traditional vacuum cleaner will work too but depending on the size of the room, you may not be able to cover the entire area in 5 minutes. Before we got the automatic vacuum cleaner, I would concentrate on the areas where Phoebe likes to play. If I have more time (and energy), I would tackle the other areas on the same day or the following day.
What can you do with a few more minutes?
Clean the windows with a microfiber cloth and a glass cleaner. Grab a disinfecting wipe and clean the light switches, doorknobs and closet handles. If you have a little Van Gogh at home who likes to draw his masterpiece on the walls, you may want to use water (if the paint is water based) or eraser (if he used chalk or pencil) to clean the walls.
What now?
Enjoy an ice cold soda before your little one comes in to get you.
Photo by ooh_food
