Your Hall

Top hacks for cleaning your room before moving out

By EllenComms 14 Jun 2023

Want to make cleaning easier and avoid getting that fine? Here are some top tips!

It's true that cleaning your room before moving out of Halls can be time consuming and a bit stressful, but it's a must for Halls students who want to avoid getting charged for leaving behind a mess in their accommodation. That's why we're giving you our top tips to make cleaning your room quicker, more effective and less boring, so you can save that money and leave your room looking spotless!

1. Make sure you have the right equipment

To clean your room to the correct standard, you're going to need the right kit!

Here is a list of what you'll need:

Hoover
Microfibre cloths
All purpose spray
Bin bags
Recycling bags
Rubber gloves

Most students will be able to find a hoover accessible in their accommodation. With the other items on the list, to save money, try pooling resources with your flatmates and sharing the items.

2. Make a schedule

Checking out can be stressful, and a way to minimise stress is to make a clear schedule of when you're going to clean your room. It's important to put aside enough time to get everything done. First, you need to know which day you're going to set aside the hours to clean. If it makes it easier for you, and to ensure everything gets done, try dividing the cleaning tasks up, thinking about how much time each of them will take and writing down a schedule to follow.

3. Pack your things away

Cleaning your room will be much easier if you can get all of your belongings out of the way first. Doing this will make it easier to clean every part of your room and will save you time as you won't have to move things out of the way or clean items that won't be there during inspection.

4. Make sure to recycle and donate!

For those things that you don't want to take with you, make sure you separate them into 3 categories:

1. Items that can't be recycled or donated and need to go in the bin.

2. Items that can be recycled, which should be put into recycling bags and taken to your hall's recycling point.

3. Items that someone else could get use out of which should be donated. Make use of your local British Heart Foundation donation points! Find more information about them here.

4. Follow the correct steps

Here are the correct steps that you need to follow to make sure you clean every part of your room to the right standard!:

1. Clean top to bottom- you don't want to ruin your hard work by, for example, dusting onto freshly hoovered floors.

2. Start by dusting- wipe down your walls, then any surfaces with your all purpose spray and microfibre cloths. Make sure you dust back to front so that any dirt is completely removed! At the bottom, remember to dust the skirting boards and the corners of your room.

3. Make sure to clean inside any drawers or other furniture that isn't visible from the outside- you don't want to miss a spot!

4. Clean your mirror with hot water and your microfibre cloths.

5. Hoover the floor- make sure to get in every corner and under all of the furniture.

5. Play some music

Playing music will make the time go faster while you're cleaning your room. It doesn't have to be boring, put on your favourite songs and get in the mood while you go! If you need song recommendations, you can check out the LSE Residential Life Spotify here.

6. Reward yourself!

A good way to motivate yourself while you clean is to create a reward for yourself that you can work towards to get you through. Maybe arrange something with your friends for afterwards or treat yourself to your favourite takeaway or snack.