Things You'll Need:
- Garbage bags (several)
- Empty laundry baskets
- Bucket
- Sponge
- Soapy water
- Disinfectant
- Rubber gloves
- Vacuum
- Carpet Shampoo
- Carpet Shampooer
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Step 1
Enter the teen's room wearing rubber gloves, a handful of empty garbage bags and several empty laundry baskets to begin cleaning.
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Step 2
Line up the empty laundry baskets in a row so you can toss dirty clothes into one or two, dirty dishes in another, and in another, place movies and other household items that really do not belong to your teenager. Remember to check the pockets before washing the dirty clothes, or you could end up with chewing gum dried to a whole load of laundry.
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Step 3
Throw almost everything else into the garbage bags unless it seems valuable or looks like homework. If any of your dishes contain unrecognizable, smelly substances, go ahead and throw those dishes away if you're comfortable parting with them. It is OK to pocket any change you find on the floor; it probably came from you anyway.
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Step 4
Look under the bed, in the closet and dresser drawers for dirty dishes, empty food wrappers and rotting and dried food that may be causing unpleasant odors so you can throw them away.
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Step 5
Vacuum and shampoo the carpet while you can still see it; waiting until tomorrow might involve picking up again.
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Step 6
Wash the sticky dresser top, tables, bed frame, doorknobs, windowsills and walls, if necessary, with hot, soapy water. You may want to add an odor-eliminating product or disinfectant to the water.
