The Less Mess Bedroom Fast Blast!

Are you a kid who wants to clean up your room (or your parents want you to clean it) but you don't know where to start? Are you a parent who wants their child to clean up their bedroom but you find it overwhelming for everyone when you try to get the child to do or help with the job?

I have been at both ends of this problem. There is an easy way to solve this. You don't even have to buy anything g special. This post will give you some step by step help using tools you probably have in your house now!

My kids call it the Less Mess Bedroom Fast Blast. It's a fun, fast, and easy, way to get a kid's bedroom in order! We've put together tips others have given us and our own experience to make a step by step plan that isn't overwhelming. You could be finished in as little as 15 minutes!

This is geared at a room that is already messy and needs a tidy. We'll look at how to keep it from getting that bad in future.

Older kids can do this themselves or for younger kids (or older kids who may need a little hand) this can all be done with an adult. 


Okay! Let's get started.



GET READY:

• Get dressed in something comfy but not slobby! You'll feel better and work better. No PJ's. If you have lego or other toys on your floor put on some shoes or slippers to so you don't step on their sharp corners!

• Get a drink and use the bathroom before we start. Once we get started we are going to get this done- fun and fast! Not stopping and no excuses!

 
GET SET: 

Get the following tools together before you start. These are all things you probably have in the house. If you don't have something just find the best substitute you can.

• A timer. If you have a timer you can use it really makes things easier! We can break things down into smaller jobs that are easy to stay focused on. Someone in the house probably has a timer on their phone if you don't have a kitchen one. If you have to use a clock for now.

•  Garbage bag, bin bag or another container for trash (just get a few shopping bags if you have to.)

•  Clothes basket or another container for dirty clothes. (If you have dirty and lots of clean clothes spread around your room you might want a container for clean clothes too.)

• Damp cloth and dry cloth. (We have some microfiber sponge cloths we love, but a couple wash cloths will work too!) Make sure you ring the damp one out well, it should not be dripping! Even a couple old rags are fine. If all else fails grab some paper towels.

• A couple empty plastic boxes. If you don't have these just find an old carboard box or bucket.

• Vacuum or broom and dustpan depending on what kind of floor is in the bedroom.

• Good but don't worry if you don't have it: a safe spray cleaner or spray bottle of water. (We like Method's multi-surface spray. )

• If you have something you can play some music you like on that's great too! 

 No TV or DVD's allowed while we do this. 

It will just distract us and we won't get done as quickly!

 GO:

We are going to break this down in to small, easy to manage jobs! We'll stay focused and it will be fun! You can probably get this done in just 15 minutes. I'm serious! You can do a lot in a short time if you stay focused on the job. If your room is really really bad (don't worry, you can still sort it!) it may take longer than 15 minutes but you'll be surprised how much you can get done in that time!

Let's aim for 15 minutes though. We'll have more time to play later!

If you really get to the end of Job #3 or #4 and don't think things are tidy enough for the next job (wiping or sweeping) and you have plenty of time then just go back to #1 or #2 and start again.

If you only have 15 minutes just do what you can as fast as you can. Something is better than nothing!

Let's turn on some music and dance this place tidy!


JOB #1: SURFACE SURFING

Set the timer for 3 minutes. We are going to do some "surface surfing".  We are going to tidy up all the "surfaces" in your room. Do you have a desk? A dresser? A bedside table? A shelf? Quickly clear all these off. Put the trash in the bag. If you have music on dance while you do it. Put books on their shelf or in a box. Are there dirty cups? Put them in a pile outside your door to take the the kitchen later. Do this all quickly! Put any pens, cars or toys on top quickly where they go. (If you don't have a place to put things that is something we can sort out later. Do the best you can right now.) We aren't organising our postcard collection or separating our lego into colors right now! Don't get distracted. For 3 minutes just focus on making the tops of all the surfaces in your room look nice and tidy! Can we beat the timer? When the timer beeps stop.


JOB #2: THE GREAT BED, ANIMAL, CLOTHES AND TRASH DASH

Set the timer for 3 more minutes. Look at your duvet or comforter and pillow. As fast as you can put the pillow at the top of the bed and spread out the duvet. Bed done! How quick was that! Now as fast as you can grab all the clothes and put them in the clothes basket. Do you have a good song on? Dance as you tidy! If you have clean clothes on the floor quickly put them away or use another clothes basket for them. Next grab all the stuffed animals and put them where they go. FAST FAST FAST! Well done! This room is looking better and better! Now for the trash. Take your bag and as fast as you can grab all the trash all over the room and put it in the bag. Look how great things are looking! When the timer beeps stop.


JOB #3: TOY AHOY!

Set the timer for another 3 minutes. We are going to get everything else off the floor now. That is probably toys but it might be books, magazines or anything else you've left around. Get all the big toys and put them in a toy box or on a shelf where they go. (Again if don't have a great place right now just do the best you can.) Now get all the books etc and put them away. Keep that music playing! Next do the small things, like Lego. Put them in their box. If you find you have a lot of funny little toys you don't know what to do with, like things from party bags, gumball machines and fast food restaurants, then use one of the plastic or cardboard boxes we got  for that. We can find a better place for them later. When the timer beeps, stop.


JOB #4: DIRT AND DUST WIPEOUT!

Set the timer for three more minutes. Get your damp and dry cloth and your spray bottle (if you have one). We are going to wipe those surfaces we cleared! (Check with a grown up what is wipable before you start). Wipe down your desk or table. Fast, fast, fast! Dance as you go. Wipe off the bedside table. All those surfaces we cleared earlier. Just a quick wipe, don't waste time! Do you have a mirror? Use your spray to wipe that as fast as you can. Do you have a window you can reach. Fast wipe! Is your door grubby? Wipe wipe wipe! Hand prints on your wall? Fast wipe! You are doing a fantastic job! When the timer beeps stop.

JOB #5: CLEAN SWEEP

We are going to vacuum or sweep and get it done in 3 minutes. Your room isn't a huge area and we can get it done. Quickly go around the edge with your hand or your cloth and quickly push the little bits by the wall out to the middle. As fast as you can! Now sweep or vaccuum the middle of the room. Very quickly. Well done!



FINISH UP

Now all you need to do is take out the trash, put your dirty clothes where they go, put your dishes where they go in the kitchen and put the vacuum or broom away!

If you are really happy with how great your room looks it may inspire you to organise some other parts of it or start a daily routine to keep it nicer. We'll have more info on that in future.



COMING SOON:

• Less Mess Bedroom Fast Blast Checklist
• Less Mess Bedroom Fast Blast Podcast Coaching! We'll coach you through cleaning your room!