Apartment cleaning is the task that many people dread the most. Who wants to take time out of their day to clean, especially after a busy week? No one. But there is a way to clean your apartment quickly and efficiently.
Apartment Cleaning – Step 1
An easy way to begin cleaning is to pull out all of the cleaning supplies you may need. This can include:
- A swiffer & the swiffer pads
- Vacuum cleaner
- Pledge
- Broom
- Duster
- Windex & paper towels
- Soap & sponges
- Multipurpose cleaner
- Disinfectant wipes
With all of the items out, you can quickly organize them and come up with a game plan. It’s helpful to keep the cleaning supplies in one spot, just in case you need to go back and reuse one of them.
Apartment Cleaning – Step 2
Walk around the apartment and see what doesn’t belong. Is there clothing on the floor? Shoes in disarray? Blankets thrown on the couches or chairs? Dishes on the coffee table? Pick up anything that doesn’t belong and put it in the right place. It may seem tempting to pick up the loose items and just throw them on your bed, but eventually you’ll have to put things away, so it’s best to do it right at the start. Either hang up the clothes or put them in the hamper, fold the blankets or put them in the laundry, and move your shoes or organize them neatly if they’re by the front door.
Apartment Cleaning – Step 3
Now, clean your apartment from room to room. Sometimes it may seem easier to clean everything at once and sometimes it is, but it depends on what cleaning you’re doing. By going room to room and doing room specific cleaning, you’ll be able to stay more organized and move more efficiently.
Kitchen
The kitchen is a good place to start because most of the time dishes are the worst task. Since you’ve already walked around and gathered dirty dishes, everything should be in the sink. Now all you have to do is wash them or put them in the dishwasher. After this, you can clean the microwave and wipe down the countertops with Clorox or other disinfectants. While you’re at it, wipe down any of the surfaces that people touch regularly such as the refrigerator, oven handle, microwave handle and cabinet door handles. From there, just go from room to room and clean as you go.
Living Room
When it comes to the living room, make sure to wipe down any surfaces such as coffee tables and lamp shades. Lamps can collect a lot of dust so it’s good to wipe those down every once in a while, especially if you have a pet. It’s also a good idea to wipe down the baseboards, if there are any, since dust can collect down there. If your couches or chairs are on hardwood, don’t forget to sweep and vacuum underneath them.
Bathroom
Bathrooms can be one of the worst places to clean. It’s good to start with the mirror and vanity. Wipe down the mirror and countertop to remove any toothpaste or water stains that may have been sitting for a bit. Next, it’s time to clean the toilet. Dust the back part of the toilet and then work your way down the seat and toilet bowl. There are great toilet cleaners out there, so just find one that works best for you and begin cleaning. You do not have to clean your shower as often as the rest of the bathroom, but it’s always good to take a quick peek to see how it looks or to see if you need a new shower liner, etc.
Bedroom
Once you’ve arrived at the bedroom, the easiest thing to do first is to make your bed. If you make your bed every morning then you’re all set, but if you don’t, make it or change the sheets. Having a tidy bed will make the room look cleaner and will prompt you to clean the room the rest of the way. Hang clothes up, fold clothes and put them in drawers, or throw the dirty clothes in the hamper. After this, straighten up your bedside table and your dresser. Moving things and making them more organized can actually help your mental state. It frees up clutter in your room and in your mind, which is always beneficial. After this, look around and see if there are any additional things that look out of place that need to be put away or straightened up.
After each room has been cleaned, that’s when you can begin swiffering or dusting and then vacuum as the finishing touch. Additionally, take out the trash when everything is done. You can start fresh with your apartment clean and all the trash taken out.
Additional Notes
If you walk around your apartment and see items on countertops or tables, take a moment and assess if it needs to be there. If something can be put in a drawer or in a cabinet, put it away. This can help to further clean and declutter your living space.
Cleaning can be time consuming, but if you have a plan in place, it can make the process go much smoother. Furthermore, once you’ve done a good cleaning like this, clean as you go so you don’t leave it all for one particular day. This will lead to less work later on. When you’re done in the bathroom, wipe down the countertop and mirror. In the morning when you get up, make your bed. When you’re changing out of clothes, put them where they should go. Cleaning as you go can make a huge impact on the daily cleanliness of your apartment.
Side note: No one said cleaning had to be boring, so put on some of your favorite music and jam out while you clean your apartment. Just make sure it’s not too loud so you don’t disturb other tenants.
Do you want more tips for apartment living? Check out the rest of our blog!
