How to Clean and Organize Your Room

Cleaning and organizing a room in your house will give you a tremendous sense of accomplishment and make it easier to find things. You're probably bothered by a messy, disorganized room and nothing will make you feel better than getting it orderly and neat. Whether you need to tackle a bathroom or the family room, the strategy is the same--sort, store and clean.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Trash bags
• Boxes
• Plastic storage bins
• Magic marker
• Vacuum cleaner
• Cleaning supplies
• Vinegar

How to Clean and Organize Your Room

1. Sort through everything in the room. Gather some trash bags and boxes so you can separate everything. Remember the saying "a place for everything and everything in its place." Now empty out closets and cabinets. Spread a big pile of everything out on the floor or some other large surface. Things that are definitely trash go right into the trash bag. Be brutal. Seasonal items or those you don't often use can go into a plastic storage bin to be labeled with a magic marker and stored back in the closet or some other out of the way place. Items for donation go into a cardboard box.

2. Put everything that isn't remaining in the room aside. Now you have everything that stays in the room in a pile. Clothing gets sorted out; clothes that needs drycleaning, washing or ironing goes to the laundry room. Magazines and papers can be filed and organized by date. Toys go into a designated toy box. Books and DVDs back on the shelves.

3. Vacuum and dust the closet before putting things back inside. Wipe down baseboards. If you have emptied cabinets, clean them inside and replace shelf liner if necessary.

4. Clean window coverings and windows. Blinds and shades can be easily removed and cleaned in the bathtub, hanging them outside to dry. Drapes and fabric window coverings are dust magnets. Either clean them yourself or run them down to the drycleaners. Clean your window glass inside and out. Vinegar makes a wonderful, streak-free, ecologically friendly glass cleaner. If the window screens are dusty, vacuum those.

5. Clean all surfaces. Remove everything from counter-tops and furniture and clean thoroughly with appropriate cleaner. Polish wood surfaces with good furniture oil. Clean stove tops, sinks and the top of the refrigerator. Take the cushions from the couch and vacuum everything thoroughly. If your upholstery looks dingy, arrange for a cleaning service to come in and professionally clean it.

6. Dust and clean everything. Hangings and wall art, knickknacks, along the tops of door and window frames. Wipe down or wash whatever needs attention, whether it be china displayed on shelves or the lids of spice bottles in your kitchen. Wipe down all woodwork like door jambs which can get grubby from little fingers or pets passing through. Clean switch-plate covers and chrome fixtures. Wipe the refrigerator door and cabinet doors and drawer fronts.

7. Move all furniture and clean both floors and baseboards. You may be amazed at the long-lost items you find behind the refrigerator and under the couch.

8. Put everything back in an organized way. Hang and fold clean clothing and put it back in the drawers and closets. If you find yourself with piles of papers or magazines that you have no place for, buy expandable file folders, pretty baskets or mesh storage drawers to keep them in. For odds and ends that you truly can't find a place for, set aside a drawer or storage container for miscellaneous items.

9. Involve the whole family. Tell everyone in your household that you are all going to keep the room more organized from now on and encourage everyone to put things back in their proper place after use.

Tips & Warnings

• Involve the whole family. Tell everyone in your household that you are all going to keep the room more organized from now on and encourage everyone to put things back in their proper place after use.
• Set aside an hour every week to tidy things up so your house doesn't become a disorganized mess.