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College is all about independence and becoming an adult and self-discovery but…it’s also a lot of related tasks that aren’t nearly as inspiring or glamorous. One of them is budgeting. Another one is cleaning. Oftentimes, these overlap.
I know, I know. Finances and cleaning sound absolutely awful, but there are few things more satisfying than getting a good deal on something and entering a very clean home. Here’s plenty of tips, tricks and product suggestions for crafting the perfect college cleaning routine for spring.
1. Split the Tasks Among Housemates
The best thing to do is to create a rotating system, so no one is stuck cleaning the toilet every week. If you’re a bit stumped on which tasks to delegate, here’s what my housemates and I typically share:
– Toilets & Sinks
This typically includes using Clorox® Toilet Bowl Cleaner, a toilet brush and Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes to wipe everything down.
– Bathroom Counters & Door Handles
Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes are such a quick and easy way to get this done.
– Shower
– Kitchen Counters & Table
We do this task often (whenever there’s a spill), but we also make it a weekly task. Sparkle® Paper Towels work well for this task, especially when paired with Formula® 409.
– Floors & Steps
This includes sweeping, vacuuming and sometimes a deep clean. Pine-Sol® works well for hard floors, like the tiles we have throughout our house. STAINMASTER® High Traffic Cleaner is perfect for any area with a rug, especially if you’ve got a rug in your living room area or bedroom.
– Mirrors
– Stovetop & Microwave
Again, Formula® 409 is great for this task, especially when it comes to cleaning the outside of a greasy microwave.
– Wash Dish Towels/Bath Mats
Usually, if someone’s doing laundry they’ll throw these in, too. It doesn’t require much extra effort and is usually a passive task we do. all® Laundry Detergent works well for this. Snuggle® Scent Boosters keep my laundry very soft and fresh.
We make the trash and recycle schedule separately because it seems fairer to rotate after each time someone takes it out. Usually, we put our names on sticky notes and stick them on our task for the week, moving it to the next task once that one has been completed. It sounds complicated, but it’s fairly simple.
2. Split the Cost
Dollar General is an excellent place to hit up for cleaning supplies, especially on a college budget. They offer plenty of name brand cleaning products that I trust but for less. Usually, if everyone splits the cost of putting together a cleaning kit, it isn’t very expensive at all, and it can last a while.
Personally, I try to always purchase cleaning supplies when they’re on sale. Dollar General currently has a Spend $15, Save $5 deal, so I ended up really stocking up on my college cleaning supplies while I was there.
3. Make it Fun
Cleaning may not ever be super fun, but it can certainly be more fun. Last year, my housemates and I would exclusively clean to “Hard-Knock Life” from Annie (1999). It was fun and it made cleaning into more of a hang out time than anything else.
And, when it comes to cleaning floors, it’s a lot more fun to attach paper towels or Clorox wipes to your shoes and to kind of skate around the kitchen. Maybe it’s not the most efficient, but it’s pretty fun.
I was actually mid-laugh in this picture because I spilled my water in the middle of taking photos. Luckily, I had just purchased paper towels. Look how fun cleaning is! Also, don’t leave your drink too close to your elbow. It will spill.
4. If Necessary, Set Aside One Time For Everyone to Clean
A friend of mine and her housemates would make Sunday at 2 PM their official cleaning time where they’d blast music and everyone would complete their task for the week. This can be an excellent method but it’s not always realistic. Coordinating schedules can be tough and so is assuming everyone wants to be jamming out and cleaning together. When in doubt, make a rotating schedule so everyone can clean what they need to clean on their own time.
5. Hang Up A Checklist
This should be agreed upon by everyone and hung somewhere that’s visible to all. My housemates and I keep ours in the kitchen, right next to the pantry. The tasks on this should be checked off or moved around as they’re completed. It all depends on what works best for you.
Also, making it pretty doesn’t hurt. Here’s a free printable college cleaning schedule for spring that you’re welcome to use or even hang in your house.
6. Get Some Gloves
This sounds like such a minor hack, but let me tell you, cleaning the gross things (especially the toilets!) becomes a lot less gross when you’ve got a solid pair of rubber gloves. Make sure you replace them or clearly label them once they’re used. You don’t want to use the gloves you cleaned the toilet with to also clean the oven with.
7. Decide The Frequency Everything Needs to be Cleaned
For example, tables and counters need to be wiped down more often than the toilet needs to be scrubbed. Everyone has different standards of clean, which means it bears discussing. What does cleaning the floor mean? Is it sweeping or is it busting out the Pine-Sol® and a bucket?
The cleaning frequency might also change with the seasons or the weather. In the winter, that tiny carpet near our entryway gets cleaned a lot more often since it gets covered in our snowy, slushy footprints!
8. Set Aside a Place for Cleaning Supplies
Whether you put all of the supplies in a bin or set aside a shelf in the closet, having a set place for your supplies is key. This organizational step makes the cleaning process a lot more streamlined and saves time when you’re trying to hunt down the Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes.
All in all, cleaning isn’t that bad. It’s part of growing up and being an adult. There’s also nothing like sinking into clean sheets to watch your favorite shows.
What is your best cleaning hack?
