How To Clean Your Room Fast But Good

A messy bedroom can add to everyday stress, cause anxiety, and even interfere with your quality of sleep. A clean, organized sleeping space, on the other hand, helps encourage relaxation and restfulness when you hit the sheets at night. A few simple housekeeping tasks can turn your bedroom into a more inviting environment that leaves you feeling calm and well-rested for the day ahead. So when life starts to feel hectic, bring some tranquility back to yourself by dedicating just an hour to cleaning your bedroom.

By dividing your chore list into quick, efficient tasks, you can cover all your bedroom bases, including surfaces, linens, and even your floors. This bedroom cleaning checklist helps you get the job done quickly and efficiently, meaning you can spend more time relaxing and less time stressing about the mess. Use this deep-cleaning checklist to create a schedule that works for you. As a general rule of thumb, aim to complete this list of cleaning tasks about once a week. When you're done with our bedroom cleaning checklist, your space will be neat, tidy, and prepared to give you a good night's rest.

master bedroom with blue tufted headboard bed

Step 1: Take Out Trash

Perhaps the easiest task on your bedroom cleaning checklist, start by taking care of simple, everyday messes. If you don't already have a small wastebasket in your room, we recommend getting one. Whether it's from tearing tags off clothing, tissues, or late-night snacking, small trash can easily pile up. Throw away any trash around the room first, then empty the wastebasket.

Editor's Tip: Keep extra trash bags in the bottom of your wastebasket. When it's time to empty it, you'll have liners handy after you've removed the existing trash bag.

slate walls bedroom with midcentury modern nightstand

Step 2: Pick Up Dirty Clothes

Find your floor again by picking up any articles of dirty clothing and placing them in a hamper. If you can fit a hamper in your closet, opt for an open bin, which is easier to use during rushed mornings when it's tempting to drop clothes on the floor.

walk in closet storage space clothing and shoes

Step 3: Put Away Clean Clothes

While your mind is already on laundry, take some time to fold and put away any clean laundry you have lying around. A few minutes is all it takes to clear your floor space and tuck shirts and pants into dresser drawers. For an organized bedroom closet, make sure to hang blouses and sweaters facing the same direction. This will also make choosing outfits in the morning easier as you file through your clothes.

mattress pad and beige tufted headboard

Step 4: Strip Your Bed

Even if you shower before bed every night and keep food out of the bedroom, your sheets need to be washed and changed regularly. Take the time to strip the bed as you clean the rest of your room. Remove the comforter, sheets, and pillowcases. If you have a duvet with a cover, remove the cover and wash it with your sheets. The comforter should be washed occasionally, but it is not necessary to include in the laundry each time you wash your bed linens.

Bedroom with bedside lamps and wooden nightstands

Step 5: Clear Surface Clutter

Halfway through your bedroom deep-cleaning checklist, most of the bigger tasks are complete and it's time to focus on the details, starting with surface clutter. Nightstands, dressers, vanities, and desks are all prone to becoming drop zones for small daily objects that accumulate over time. Take a few minutes to put these items back in their rightful homes. If you notice a daily habit, such as commonly picking up keys, applying cosmetics, or choosing jewelry, consider creating an organization system for these frequently-used items. A small, decorative tray on the dresser is a no-fuss way to corral jewelry, while a small box in a nightstand drawer stays at the ready for tucking away reading glasses and other accessories.

photographs above bed

Step 6: Wipe Surfaces Clean

Now that your bedroom is free of clutter, the next step is to wipe down all surfaces. Choose the appropriate cleaner, whether that be a dusting spray, glass cleaner, or antibacterial wipes, for your surface and get to work. Wiping down the tops of tables is obvious, but also pay attention to the legs of chairs, fronts of dressers and nightstands. If you have a four-post bed, take some time to clean the posts and your headboard, as these rarely-touched features are prone to dust bunnies.

bedroom with large cloth light fixture

Step 7: Dust Curtains and Light Fixtures

Curtains need dusting, too. Lampshades, window treatments, and light fixtures collect dust as fast as the other furniture pieces in your room. You can lightly dust these features with a duster, or you can use your vacuum on a low setting to get them clean. This important bedroom cleaning checklist item helps clear your space of allergens as well.

white bedroom with velvet throw, flokati stool and ornate silver frame

Step 8: Wipe Down Windows and Mirrors

Let the light shine through your windows without any smudges or scratches disrupting your view. With a streak-free cleaning agent, wipe down all windows or glass-paneled doors in your bedroom. While you're at it, wipe down mirrors as well. If you have young kids or dogs in the house, be sure to wipe down low, as there are probably tiny fingerprints and nose smudges at the bottom of the windows.

neutral-colored bedroom with red flower painting hanging above beige and blue bed

Step 9: Vacuum or Sweep

A bedroom that's spotless from top to bottom isn't possible without cleaning the floors. If you have hardwood floors, remove and vacuum any rugs before sweeping the entire floor. Sweeping should get the job done; save mopping for a deep seasonal clean. For carpeted bedrooms, clear out the dust bunnies with a vacuum.

For either method, reach as far under the bed and heavy furniture as you can. If you have a lightweight side table or chair that can be moved easily, put it in the hallway as you clean your floors.

sheepskin draped over bed in gray bedroom

Step 10: Remake Bed

Is there anything better than slipping under the covers with fresh sheets? To save time, make your bed using a spare set of sheets while your original linens wash. Once your laundry is ready, replace the duvet cover over your comforter and finish making your bed.

Now that you know the steps, make your bedroom tidying routine run smoothly with this easy-to-follow room cleaning checklist. Consider printing it out to keep it handy when it's time to clean up.