How To Clean A Very Messy Room In 10 Minutes

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If you have someone coming over and you haven't tidied up your room recently, you may not know where to start cleaning. It can feel overwhelming if you have a lot of things, but there are many ways to make your room cleaner in just a few minutes. While decluttering will instantly give your room a clean look, using cleaning products will really freshen up your space if you have the time. With a little bit of motivation, you can quickly transform your room from messy to clean!

1
Make your bed. Your bed is usually the focal point of your room, so just making it will help your room look cleaner. Straighten out your sheets and blankets and pull them tight so they don't have wrinkles. Then fluff your pillows and lay them out neatly. Make sure your sheets are tucked under the mattress so they don't hang down.^[1]
- If you have things on your bed, temporarily move them to the floor or in a laundry basket to sort through later on.
2
Throw old food and trash in the garbage. Start in one corner of your room with a garbage bag and work toward the door. Walk through your room and throw away any wrappers, empty packages, or food scraps cluttering your space. Check under your bed and behind furniture to make sure trash didn't fall on the floor. When you finish going through your room, take the trash to the kitchen or outside.^[2]
- Cleaning up trash will also keep unpleasant odors and pests out of your room.
3
Take dirty dishes back to the kitchen. Old dishes can have old food and germs stuck on them and clutter up your room. Look for any dirty plates, bowls, cups, and silverware you brought into your room and stack them up. Put the dishes in your sink or dishwasher so you can clean them later.^[3]
- Dirty dishes and crumbs may also attract unwanted pests, so always wash them as soon as you can.
- Don't worry about washing the dishes right now if you need to finish cleaning your room. If you have time later, go back and wash them.
4

Hide all of your clothes in a laundry basket. Since you're in a rush and don't have time to sort through your clothes, fill up your hamper or a laundry basket. Scoop all of the clothes off of your floor or on your bed into the basket to clean up. Once you get all of your clothes in the basket, put them in a closet or the laundry room so they don't take up space in your room.^[4]
5
Put any other loose items in drawers and closets. Start by clearing the things off of your floor and bed since they'll make your room look the messiest. If you have time, put the items back in their proper places.^[5] Otherwise, try to fit your things into your closet, desk drawers, or shelves. Try to keep your things as neat as possible. If you don't have space in your room for your things, put them in a laundry basket or box so you can sort through them later.^[6]
- Try setting a timer to finish organizing. For example, you may set a 2- or 3-minute timer for sorting through your things before you put what's left in the basket.

1
Open windows to let in some fresh air. If you have windows in your room, keep them cracked open so a breeze can come through. The fresh air will blow out any unpleasant odors that may have built up inside. Leave your window open the whole time you're cleaning so your room has time to air out.^[7]
- If you don't have a window, try running a fan or air purifier in your room to help keep air circulating.
2
Use an air freshener to make your room smell better. If your room smells bad, try spraying an aerosol air freshener in your room. Choose one that also kills bacteria, or else you'll just mask the odor and it may come back. If you don't have a spray air freshener, use one you can plug into an outlet for a longer-lasting scent.^[8]
- Aim the air freshener spray at a ceiling fan if you have one to help spread it throughout your room.
- You may also light candles or incense in your room to get rid of unpleasant odors.
3
Wipe any flat surfaces with a damp cloth. Wet a cloth with water and wipe across the surfaces in your room to get rid of any dust and dirt. Focus on the most visible surfaces, like your desk and nightstand.^[9]
- Alternatively, put a sock on each of your hands. Get one of the socks damp and wipe the surface with it. Then follow up with the dry sock to wipe the surface clean.
4

Vacuum or sweep dirty spots on your floor if you have time. If you have hard floors, use a broom and dustpan. If you have carpeting, then use your vacuum cleaner instead. Focus on areas that have crumbs, dust, or dirt. Don't worry about doing a thorough cleaning here—just try to sweep or vacuum up the most noticeable debris on the floor.^[10]

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Question

Where do I start when cleaning a messy room?

Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

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Try to start with whatever it is that is bothering you the most. Spend a few minutes to tidy up that area. I would also definitely get rid of any piles that are present. Piles have a tendency to manifest themselves into larger piles, so if you have anything that's horizontally piled on top of each other, get rid of it.
Question

How do I organize my room if I have too much stuff?

Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

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Keep a donation bin in your house. Anytime you find anything that you don't want, just go throw it in that bin. When it gets full, take it to a charity. If you're looking to declutter, start where you will have a win. That could include your bedside table or your sock drawer, for example. You want to start with anything that will make you feel accomplished and ready to move on to bigger tasks.
Question

How do I keep my room clean?

Kathi Burns is a board certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Organized and Energized!, her consulting business with a mission to empower people to master their environment and personal image by assisting them in taking control, making change and organizing their lives. Kathi has over 17 years of organizing experience and her work has been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, NBC News, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur. She has a BS in Communication from Ohio University.

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If you have a really messy room and don't have time to clean everything, just make your bed and try to pick up as much off your floor as you can. It won't look as cluttered if there are only items on your desk, nightstands, or dresser.
Turn your phone on silent to avoid getting distracted.^[11]
Tidy up your room for a few minutes every day to keep it looking fresh and clean.^[12]
Play your favorite music while you're cleaning so it feels more fun. Just don't take too long trying to find the right song.^[13]
Give yourself something to look forward to when you're finished so you're motivated to work faster. Pick something like eating a snack, playing video games, or going out with friends.^[14]

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