How to Keep Your BYU-Idaho Housing Clean as a Busy Student

Life as a college student is notoriously busy. If you have a packed schedule of classes, work, and social commitments, it’s understandable to want to find simple, efficient ways to keep your apartment clean. 

Finding the time to maintain clean living spaces as a busy student in shared housing can be challenging, but having access to tidy workspaces and living areas is essential for your health, well-being, and productivity. Working in organized spaces can boost your productivity significantly, which is necessary as a student. 

Below, we share tips for how to keep your BYU-Idaho housing clean–even as a busy student.

Develop a Cleaning Routine

Developing a cleaning routine is one of the best ways to minimize hassle and promote fast, efficient cleaning. Here are some simple steps to establish a regimen that works:

Assign daily tasks

Determine which chores you will do each day of the week to prevent clutter from collecting and make cleaning up swift and stress-free. For example, instead of dedicating several hours to cleaning on the weekend, you could break up tasks like vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, and doing laundry throughout the week.

Use reminders to stay on track

With so many other things going on, it can be easy to forget to clean. Use your phone or tablet to set reminders to ensure you’re on track for daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.

Implement everyday habits

Get into the habit of checking off simple jobs daily, like making your bed, wiping down the counters, and washing your dishes. Keeping a tidy space is much easier when you stay on top of daily tasks.

Building these habits can take time and discipline initially, but the time and energy you save will be well worth the effort.

Use Time-Efficient Cleaning Methods

Efficiency is crucial when you don’t have much free time. To make the most of your time when tackling cleaning jobs, here are some helpful hacks:

Embrace the 15-minute rule

The 15-minute rule is a popular cleaning concept, which involves setting aside 15 minutes per day to focus on maintaining the basics. This small block of time should be divided into three areas: your kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Spend five minutes in each zone doing essential tasks. Rotate through the areas you clean so that you can maintain the space as a whole.

Prioritize high-traffic areas

Most of us find that the parts of our home we use most are the messiest areas. Prioritize high-traffic areas when you’re cleaning. Examples include hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms. 

Spot clean

Spot cleaning is a fast, effective way to deal with cleaning issues on the go. It involves targeting specific areas or problems rather than cleaning an entire room or apartment. For example, if you spill something on the carpet, you can remove the stain without cleaning the whole floor. 

Carry out simple, one-minute jobs

If you’ve got a spare minute, there are many things you can do around your apartment to make your space look tidier. Examples include:

• Cleaning kitchen surfaces
• Making your bed
• Putting clean clothes away
• Sweeping the floor
• Taking the trash out
• Tidying your desk
• Washing the dishes you’ve just used
• Wiping down your bathroom mirror

Set aside time every few weeks for deeper cleaning

Cleaning your space throughout your week will simplify more intensive cleaning. Every couple of weeks, take time to declutter your space. Consider donating items that you no longer need or use. 

Give Each Item a ‘Home’

Is your apartment so cluttered that it takes ages to find what you’re looking for? If so, it’s time to establish a designated spot for each of your possessions. 

Tying up is much easier and faster when you know where to put everything. Being organized will also save time and stress when you’re rushing out the door.

Get Your Roommates Involved

Cleaning should be a team effort if you share an apartment with others. Get your roommates involved and share the load. 

For the best possible outcomes, we recommend:

• Using the cleaning checklist provided by NorthPoint as a guide
• Assigning tasks fairly
• Asking for input and ideas (some people may be more likely to participate if they can do their preferred tasks) 
• Sharing responsibilities and rotating chores between people
• Setting clear expectations
• Communicating openly and honestly to maintain positive relationships and prevent misunderstandings
• Working as a team (and being prepared to take on additional jobs when others are unusually busy or out of town) 

Maximize Your Time

Being a student means you don’t have much time for cleaning. To make the most of your time, here are some easy steps to follow:

Embrace habit stacking and multi-tasking

Multi-tasking is a hugely valuable skill when you’ve got a hectic schedule. This ability is not only beneficial for cleaning but can also be used in other areas of life. By combining activities, you can gain motivation to complete undesirable tasks, like chores. You can wash dishes while you listen to a podcast or an audiobook, fold laundry while you watch TV, or clean the bathroom while tuning into a lecture. 

Use breaks in your schedule

You can achieve a lot in a very short time when it comes to keeping your home tidy. Use the breaks in your schedule to keep up with basic tasks and freshen up your living space. Even if you only have a few hours between classes and extracurriculars, you can accomplish much more than you might think.

Find Student Housing Near BYU-Idaho

It’s essential to keep your apartment clean despite having a full schedule. Tidy, organized spaces help to promote well-being, reduce stress, and increase productivity. Keeping your living space tidy when you are busy can be challenging, but there are plenty of ways to save time and improve your efficiency. Try them out to see what works best for you.

If you’re looking for student housing near BYU-Idaho, contact NorthPoint for more information or to schedule a tour. Our availability and application are available online!