How to Clean a Messy Room in 30 Minutes
Cleaning a messy room doesn't have to take hours of sorting through papers, clothes and clutter. Often it's easy to get distracted by what appears to be an impossible task. By breaking the work into small jobs, you can make a room presentable for company, or more comfortable for yourself, in 30 minutes. To make the work even quicker and more efficient, enlist family members or friends and delegate jobs to each. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Gather some empty containers. Cardboard boxes, paper bags or large plastic storage bins will all do the trick.
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Work on one area at a time. It’s easy to get distracted if the room is especially messy, so complete each section before moving on to the next. For example, clear clutter off your dresser or coffee table before moving on to the nightstand or sofa.
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Place clothes in one container and papers in another container. Don’t worry at this point whether or not the clothes are dirty or clean—you can sort that out later. Use the same tactic with papers. Don’t suddenly become interested in balancing your bank statement; throw the mail, notebooks and receipts into one box or bag. This step can be the biggest time drain for some people. Give yourself a maximum of five minutes for this task and set a timer if need be.
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Stash the containers in another room that company won’t see, or set them in a closet out of view. Unless people are overly snoopy, they will have no idea what you have behind closed doors.
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Pick up dirty dishes, coffee mugs or silverware and take them to the kitchen. Put them in the dishwasher or in a sink full of soapy water to soak. Turn on the dishwasher or return after the rest of the room is clean to wash the dishes.
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Go back through the room and straighten up any stray items. Fold blankets, fluff pillows and straighten magazines on the coffee table. Superficial orderliness works well in these situations, and a quick, two-minute adjustment gives the appearance of overall tidiness.
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Wipe down the surfaces with a damp cloth to get rid of dust. Pay attention to tables, windowsills, lamp bases and bookshelves. A couple of minutes with the dust rag make a world of difference in the overall appearance of the room.
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Run the vacuum quickly if you have time. Despite the effort it seems to take lugging the vacuum out of the closet, a vacuumed room always looks better for the effort.
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Return to the kitchen to wash dishes and wipe down countertops. The kitchen is often the most forgivable messy place in the house, particularly if guests stop by around meal time.
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Tips & Warnings
Set the timer on your stove or cell phone to go off every 10 minutes to help you stay focused.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tavolo image by giovanni cardinali from Fotolia.com
