How To Clean A Bedroom

We all know by now that good sleep hygiene is extremely important for our physical and mental well-being. And, the hygiene of your bedroom — maintaining a clean, relaxing space — is also extremely important. So, here are our top tips on how to properly clean a bedroom, and how to keep it clean going forward.

Before getting to the minute details of cleaning your bedroom, you need to declutter: Pick up your clothes, discard any trash, and put away books, bags, shoes, and other items that may have accumulated on (or around) your bedroom furniture. (Need help? Here's how to tackle your bedroom storage woes and finally get organized.)

Ceiling lights and fans accumulate a lot of dust, so they should always be cleaned first. This way, any fallen dust will get cleaned up when you vacuum (which is the last step in the cleaning process). Use a dusting wand to wipe dust off of your light fixtures. To keep too much dust from falling on your bed, furniture, or floors, place a large sheet over them before you start dusting.

To clean ceiling fan blades with less mess, place a pillowcase over the fan blade and press down as you pull the pillowcase back, removing any dust and allowing it to accumulate inside of the pillowcase.

Remove bedding and wash your sheets, blankets, and coverlets. Do not remake the bed yet. Note that you should wash your sheets at least once a week — that's a minimum. And, skip the heavy duty cycle on your washing machine — it can just cause more tangling and wrinkling. Just be sure to shake out your sheets before drying. For more tips, here's how you really should be washing your bed sheets.

Every few months, it's a good idea to freshen up your mattress, then flip it around. To clean your mattress, sprinkle with baking soda and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then vacuum it. The baking soda will help absorb any odors and vacuuming will help remove hair, dead skin, dust, and dust mites. If you don't have a pillow top mattress, you can completely flip the mattress over, but if you do have a pillow top mattress, just turn it around. This helps to keep the mattress from forming divots and keep its shape. You should clean and flip your mattress at least once every three months.

Add clean sheets, blankets, and covers after cleaning the mattress. You should change your bedding at least once per week.

PRO TIP: Get in the habit of making your bed every day. A clean, made bed will help you keep the rest of your bedroom clean as well. As Admiral William H. McRaven said in his now famous commencement address, "If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another."

Here are seven ways that might make dusting easier, including using a lint roller on lampshades.

Finally, the last step! When vacuuming bedroom floors, don't forget to vacuum under the bed and the closet floor too. If you have wood or tile floors in your bedroom, mop them as well.