Q&A for How to Clean Your Room

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  • Question
    What's the best way to organize the books in my room?
    Ashley Moon, MA
    Professional Organizer
    Ashley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.
    Professional Organizer
    Expert Answer
    I recommend displaying your favorite books or the ones you're currently reading on a bookshelf or other surface. Then, consider donating the books you're not actively reading. The odds of you looking at them again are pretty slim, and you can always easily get a book again if you end up wanting to read it in the future.
  • Question
    How do I get rid of clutter?
    Ashley Moon, MA
    Professional Organizer
    Ashley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.
    Professional Organizer
    Expert Answer
    It really comes down to three steps. The first step is to sort through all of your stuff and separate everything into categories. Then, go through each category one at a time and purge the things you don't want or need anymore. Finally, organize everything that's left by finding a good place for it.
  • Question
    How can I make cleaning more fun?
    Ashley Moon, MA
    Professional Organizer
    Ashley Moon is the Founder and CEO of Creatively Neat, a virtual organizing and life coaching business based in Los Angeles, California. In addition to helping people organize their best life, she has a fabulous team of organizers ready to de-clutter your home or business. Ashley hosts workshops and speaking engagements at various venues and festivals. She has trained with Coach Approach and Heart Core for organizing and business coaching respectively. She has an MA in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.
    Professional Organizer
    Expert Answer
    Try to really activate all of your senses so the process is more engaging and enjoyable. Put on some music, light a nice smelling candle, and take time to touch the items in your room and be present with them.
  • Question
    I have tried games to motivate me to clean my room a lot of times, but it does not work and I get distracted very easily. What should I do?
    Michelle Driscoll, MPH
    Founder, Mulberry Maids
    Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
    Founder, Mulberry Maids
    Expert Answer
    Aim to break up the individual tasks - for example, spend time picking up all of your dirty clothes and washing them. At another time, try to go through your room to find things to donate, which will help to declutter. Tackling one task at a time will help you get things done without overwhelming yourself.
  • Question
    What do you do if you just have a lot of stuff and don't know where to put it?
    Community Answer
    Place it all into the center of the floor. Then sort it into piles. As you sort, decide what is useful and what produces a sense of joy for you, then donate or discard the remainder. You'll find plenty of space for it after sorting.
  • Question
    How do I decide which items to keep or discard to declutter my room?
    Community Answer
    Evaluate whether you love the item, if it brings you happiness, or if it is frequently useful. If the answer is yes, keep it; if not, consider discarding it to make room for something you truly value.
  • Question
    Where should I start when cleaning a cluttered room?
    Community Answer
    Begin by sorting your clothes into piles and organizing them. Next, move on to books, followed by toys and board games. Finally, deal with any remaining items. Set a deadline and try to complete the task in one go.
  • Question
    How should I handle garbage when cleaning my room?
    Community Answer
    Keep a trash bag in your room for easy disposal of waste. For larger amounts, use a bigger bag. Once it's full, take it out promptly. It's also helpful to have a small trash bin in your room for everyday use.
  • Question
    How can I tidy my small bedroom when I have a lot of belongings?
    Community Answer
    Start by decluttering and removing items you no longer need. Ask yourself if you have used the item recently, would repurchase it, or if it still holds meaning for you. Then, use organizers to maximize your space and keep your remaining belongings tidy.
  • Question
    How can I clean my room without throwing away any items?
    Community Answer
    You can clean your room by temporarily moving items out to clean the space and then placing them back neatly.
  • Question
    How do I clean my room if I have a lot of things and not much space?
    Community Answer
    Buy lots of containers and store your things in these. If you have a bed, put them under there or if you have a desk, put them under there. If you don't have any of those things or they are occupied, find a spot on the floor where you can stack them on top of each other to save space, they may not be pretty but you sure can save space. You can throw a pretty cloth or sheet over them to hide them nicely.
  • Question
    How do you alphabetize a double bookshelf with books in the front, and not-visible books at the back?
    Community Answer
    Separate your books into groups, such as comedy, science, texts, etc. Put all the small books in the front and all all big books at the back, in alphabetical order. That way you will see the top of the large books still and know where they are.
  • Question
    How can I get crayon off the wall?
    Littlehootin123456789
    Community Answer
    Mix very hot water with soap and a little rubbing alcohol. Dip a sponge in the solution and clean the walls.
  • Question
    What if I have no more space in my room? I have no other rooms to put items.
    Community Answer
    At this stage, it's time to clear out what you don't need. There is no point in living with so many objects that you don't have space to keep them, as this will drag down your energies and make cleaning hard work. Make a donation pile of things you're happy to give away because they've done their time at your house, say thank you to them for serving their purpose, then donate them.
  • Question
    Where should I place my hamster cage while cleaning my room if I can't use my desk?
    Community Answer
    If space is limited, place the hamster cage on the floor away from the radiator, or temporarily relocate it to a spare room until you're finished cleaning.
  • Question
    How should I deal with a spider near my messy items if I'm afraid of spiders?
    Community Answer
    Use a broom to sweep the spider away, so you don't have to touch it, allowing you to access your items.
  • Question
    How do you get and stay motivated?
    Emma Hall1
    Community Answer
    Put some music on, give yourself a reward, and tick things off your list as you go!
  • Question
    What if I have a lot of half-finished craft projects in my room? I don't want to throw them away.
    Littlehootin123456789
    Community Answer
    You can put them in a storage bin and put the bin somewhere like under your bed, in your closet, or on your bookshelf.
  • Question
    I have tidied my room five times in two weeks, any quick tips on how to reduce this? How often should we clean our rooms? Can it get serious if we don't?
    Community Answer
    It is suggested that you read the books by Marie Kondo about tidying up. These may well change the way you look at tidying up and help you to feel less frustrated. There are also other great books on such topics as Zen housekeeping and minimalist living that will help you to learn tricks for cleaning less and living more.
  • Question
    Where should I get rid of the dishes and trash I got rid of?
    Community Answer
    Dirty dishes go in the sink or dishwasher to clean. Put in your trash bin/local dumpster outside for pickup.
  • Question
    I have tidied my room. However, I cannot keep it tidy. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Throughout the day don't do things you would normally do to make it dirty. Don't throw your clothes on the ground. Throw away trash. Put dishes in the kitchen. Put things beck after you use them. That way, you save yourself work when you decide to clean your room next time.
  • Question
    Instead of buying some boxes could I make my own and if I can, what should I make?
    Community Answer
    A quicker and easier option would be to source the boxes you need for free. Ask stores you know regularly receive shipments (e.g. supermarkets, fast food restaurants, department stores - anywhere you can think of) to hold their boxes for you, as most will crush the boxes as they unpack stock. If you need a lot of boxes you should ask a week or a few days in advance of when you need them to guarantee you get enough.
  • Question
    I'm a kid. How can I be tempted to clean my room?
    Hailee Meredith
    Community Answer
    Everyone is different and some people are tempted in many different ways. And, you will understand when your parent unlock that potential to clean your room. All you have to do is find out what motivates you the most and do it.
  • Question
    How do I clean up my charger area?
    Community Answer
    Consider using a power bar so you can have everything plugged into one place. When you're not charging anything, you can turn the power bar off. Keep your charging area near your electronics and clear of anything else. It may also be a good idea to label your cords so you do not get them confused.
  • Question
    What if my friends come over?
    Community Answer
    Tidy up your room, but make sure you know that they are coming over at least a week in advance!
  • Question
    My room is small, and despite decluttering, I still lack space. What can I do to maximize storage?
    Poppybear071
    Community Answer
    Use clear storage boxes, label them, and place them under your bed, in your closet, or on top of your closet to optimize space.
  • Question
    How do I keep it decorative and neat?
    Community Answer
    Find a style you like, and arrange your things according to that theme. If that doesn't work, try clearing out some things and arranging the rest by color. Bedrooms usually look good this way.
  • Question
    How can I reward myself healthily and within the house?
    Community Answer
    The easiest reward would be a marathon of your favorite movies or TV show. Another idea could be simply taking a nice, quiet nap while listening to your favorite music.
  • Question
    Why do I cry when I have to clean my room, and what can I do about it?
    Community Answer
    Identify what triggers your emotional response and address it step by step. If the task seems overwhelming, start by cleaning one category at a time, such as gathering and washing dirty clothes. This can make the job feel more manageable. Ensure each item has a designated place, and consistently put items back in their spots to reduce clutter. Regularly discard items you no longer need to maintain a tidy space.
  • Question
    How can I clean or access the top part of my closet if I'm short?
    Community Answer
    1. Use a chair or step stool to gain the extra height needed to reach the top. 2. Store items you rarely use, like seasonal gear or keepsakes, on the top shelf. 3. Declutter by donating or discarding items you don't need, saving sentimental items for last.
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