Deep cleaning dorm rooms regularly and upon moving in are a must. Between living alone for the first time and busy class schedules, it's easy for grime to pile up.
But cleaning your dorm room isn't just about appearances – it can improve your focus, your mood, and even your health. With our clear checklist, the process will be quicker and less overwhelming.
Our experts and professional cleaners have also shared their tips for sanitizing the space when you move in with your best mattress topper for dorm beds, right up to the last week of finals.
How to deep clean a dorm room
It might not be as exciting as planning out your dorm room ideas, but stocking up on essential cleaning supplies and cleaning tips is the practical reality of moving away from home.
Here's how to keep it manageable as you fly solo.
Cleaning supplies for dorm rooms
Using natural supplies where you can is better for your health, an reduces the risk of damage and chemical-related accidents.
Of course, when you think of packing for college, you’re probably thinking of all the necessities, like a mini fridge, microwave, and plenty of spiral-bound notebooks. But Jill Koch of Jill Comes Clean points out that the same thought and care should go into packing your cleaning supplies.
For a comprehensive starter kit, we recommend stocking up on the following:
- Essential tools:
- Microfiber cloths, available in packs of 25 from Walmart, that can be used for every task from dusting to cleaning the bathroom and are reusable.
- Optional: A handheld vacuum cleaner from Best Buy, to make cleaning up crumbs and messes quicker.
- Empty spray bottles, available at Walmart, to decant vinegar for easy application when killing mold or deodorizing naturally without harsh chemicals.
- A cleaning caddy with a handle, available at Walmart, makes moving and organizing cleaning supplies easier.
- For dusting:
- An electrostatic duster, such as the Swiffer extendable duster from Target, for high-up spots.
- OR a Scrub Daddy Damp Duster, from Target, which is perfect for collecting dust, rather than spreading it around.
- For disinfecting:
- A non-toxic disinfectant spray, such as Attitude All-Purpose Spray from Amazon, to tackle high-touch points.
- To clean bedding:
- Baking soda, such as Arm & Hammer from Target.
- Hydrogen peroxide from Walmart, to kill bacteria and remove stains.
- A quality laundry detergent, such as Tide Free & Gentle Tiles, from Walmart, which comes in pre-portioned doses to avoid common laundry mistakes and is soft on skin and fabrics.
- To clean hard floors:
- A Swiffer Sweep and Mop, from Walmart, for quick cleaning in between deep cleans.
- A spin mop and bucket, such as the O-Cedar system, from Target, if one is not provided.
- To clean carpets:
- A stain remover, such as Dr. Beckmann carpet stain remover and applicator, from Amazon.
- If one is not provided, a cordless vacuum, such as the budget-friendly Ultenic U12 Vesla, from Ultenic.
- For bathrooms:
- A non-toxic bathroom spray, such as Attitude's bathroom cleaner, from Walmart.
- Rubber cleaning gloves, such as the O-Cedar gloves, from Target.
- Toilet cleaner, such as The Pink Stuff Toilet Gel from Walmart.
- A toilet brush. Silicone brushes, from Amazon, are easier to keep clean.
- Disinfecting wipes, like the Seventh Generation wipes from Walmart, for quick cleaning.
- A squeegee, from Walmart, to prevent marks on the shower glass. Use it after every shower to reduce limescale buildup.
- Distilled white vinegar, from Walmart, to kill mold on grout, sealant, and shower curtains, and remove odors.
- For deodorizing:
- Baking soda.
- White vinegar.
- A non-toxic room spray, such as Attitude Scented Room and Air Freshener from Amazon.
Dusting a dorm room
Dusting and disinfecting your dorm room is a must for general hygiene.
It might be tempting to run a cloth over all the surfaces and call it a day, but Jill Koch says that just like cleaning a bedroom at home, it’s worth it to do a more thorough clean on the places in your dorm room that you can’t see to remove dust properly, limiting odors and allergens.
‘People probably overlook cleaning shelves and the inside of drawers, but I would just get rid of any dirt and dust from the previous tenants,’ she says. ‘Also, if there is a mini fridge in the room, check that. Those can get pretty messy and may not have been thoroughly cleaned.’
After dusting, vacuum the entire room (avoid vacuuming first, as this is a common dusting mistake making your room dirtier). Don't forget to vacuum underneath furniture, including desks and beds, and use the crevice vacuum cleaner attachment to clean out drawers, closets, and storage nooks.
When deep cleaning a dorm room after moving in, use decluttering methods regularly to stay on top of the mess. This will make cleaning ten times easier while curating a space more conducive to relaxing and working.
How to clean a dorm mattress
Deep cleaning the bed before your first night can make you feel more comfortable.
If you’re a little skeeved out by the dorm mattress, we totally get it. Luckily, all isn’t lost, and there are a few ways you can clean the mattress before your first night away from home.
Jill shares, ‘I would bring a bottle of hydrogen peroxide [available at Amazon] and a vacuum. The best you're going to be able to do is vacuum it and spray the hydrogen peroxide all over... and especially on any yellow stains.’
Spray down the mattress, being careful not to oversaturate the material, before letting it sit to dry. Opening a window to improve air flow can encourage this process.
For added freshness, you can also sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the uncovered mattress and leave it for at least 20 minutes (or several hours if you have time) while unpacking and cleaning the rest of your room, says Jill. Vacuum it all up before putting your best mattress topper and best bed sheets on.
Laundry in a dorm room
Keep a laundry basket in your room to make moving laundry to the machines easier.
A key part of deep cleaning a dorm room is knowing how often to wash bed sheets to keep your sleep space sanitary.
We suggest changing your sheets every one to two weeks at least, depending on whether you are a hot sleeper or not. When you first move in, you may also wish to clean curtains, if they are included in your room, to really freshen up the space. Be sure to check the laundry symbols on the care tag first to avoid damaging them.
When I was a student, I used a split lights and darks laundry hamper, available from Amazon, to make sorting clothes for laundry simple. When one of the baskets was approaching full, I knew that it was time to lug it down to the washing machines.
How to clean a dorm carpet
Dorm room flooring needs particular care to freshen up the space.
How you clean your dorm room floors will depend on the material.
- For hard floors: for example, cleaning laminate floors (or, rarely, cleaning hard wood floors), Steve Leasure, VP of operations for Rainbow Restoration says, 'For the regular cleaning and mild disinfection of sealed wood, tile, laminate, and linoleum, a solution of equal parts white vinegar and hot water swabbed on with a mop works well, and no rinsing is required.'
- For carpets and rugs: Assuming that, as a student, you will be cleaning a carpet without a machine, Will Cotter, cleaning expert and COO of FreshSpace, suggests, 'Sprinkle baking soda over the carpet, let it sit for a few hours or overnight, and then vacuum it up to absorb odors and refresh the fibers. It is effective in cleaning carpets due to its absorbent qualities and odor-neutralizing properties. Also, its mild abrasiveness allows it to gently scrub away grime without damaging the fibers, and its alkaline pH can help neutralize acidic stains.'
If there is any staining, use a carpet stain remover such as Carbona Oxy-powered carpet Cleaner with a built-in brush from Walmart, directly on the stain (if you have spilled something, use the golden rules of stain removal and treat the stain ASAP).
How to clean a dorm bathroom
If your bathroom is included, cleaning it is your responsibility.
It’s possible you have a shared bathroom for your floor, so if that’s the case, you won't be required to clean a bathroom yourself. Hopefully, your college or university is on it!
But if you're lucky enough to have your own bathroom, the weekly cleaning comes down to you, especially if you want to avoid dorm room pests.
- For showers: To clean a shower, start at the top and work downwards, spraying the walls and flooring with a bathroom cleaning spray, such as the Method Eucalyptus Mint Spray, from Target and buffing with a cloth, such as a sponge cloth, also from Target. Rinse using the shower head, and finish with a squeegee to prevent water marks. If there is any black mold, spray the area thoroughly with plain white vinegar and allow to sit for an hour before rinsing and drying to kill spores.
- For sinks: Cleaning a bathroom sink is simple. As with the shower, spray the sink with your bathroom cleaning spray and wipe down with a damp cloth (use a different cloth from the shower to prevent cross-contamination). To clean a bathroom drain and banish bad bathroom smells, tip half a cup of baking soda in, followed by a cup of white vinegar, and leave to bubble away.
- For toilets: Having to clean a toilet is one of the worst parts of moving out. To make the process easier, start by pouring toilet cleaning solution, such as Molly Suds Bleach-free Toilet Bowl Cleaner from Amazon, around the bowl and let it sit as you wipe down the exterior of the toilet and the seat (not forgetting under the seat) with a disinfecting wipe. Throw the wipe in the trash, then use your toilet brush to scrub the inside of the bowl before flushing. You can leave the brush under the toilet seat to drip dry before putting it back in the holder.
- For grout: Cleaning grout takes some elbow work, but I recommend using the Pink Stuff Paste, from Walmart, with an old toothbrush. The paste is mildly abrasive, taking some of the effort out of scrubbing, while lightening grout and killing bacteria. It also works wonders to remove limescale from shower glass and faucets.
- Bath linens: When cleaning a dorm bathroom, don't forget to put towels and bath mats in the laundry each week to prevent musty odors and mold. The Arm & Hammer OxiClean Laundry Detergent, from Target, helps to beat musty odors on fabrics.
How to deodorize a dorm room
Candles are often banned in dorm rooms.
Many dorms ban candles to mitigate common fire risks.
In this instance, people with nice-smelling dorm rooms will use non-toxic ways to make a room smell nice, such as fresh flowers, linen sprays, or essential oil diffusers, available at Amazon, with natural essential oils (also from Amazon) to customize the fragrance.
Besides this, improving ventilation and regularly opening windows and doors can help to air out musty odors and prevent stale air in a dorm room.
FAQs
How often should I deep clean my dorm?
You should clean a dorm room just as often as you would a regular home. Dust and change sheets every two weeks or so, clean a bathroom every week, and disinfect high-touch points when needed (especially in the first few weeks when illness tends to spread easily).
Of course, a clean room is about more than just aesthetics. Decreased clutter can improve concentration, focus, and stress levels because there are fewer distractions.
Seeing as a dorm room serves multiple functions and is where you’ll spend a lot of your time in college, a tidy room most definitely means a tidy mind.
Can I use bleach in a dorm?
Although bleach is not typically banned in dorm rooms, it is best to avoid to be safe. Bleach is not an effective cleaning agent, and can stain, damage surfaces, and produce dangerous gases when used incorrectly.
As such, we recommend switching to bleach-free or non-toxic alternatives, such as the Method Lime & Sea Salt spray, from Target, or the Attitude all-purpose cleaner, from Walmart.
How do you clean dorm room air?
The quickest and most affordable way to clean and freshen up dorm room air is to open windows for half an hour and allow fresh air to circulate. Opening your dorm room door at the same time can aid this.
Otherwise, if it is within budget, consider one of the best air purifiers (or even the best air cleaning indoor plants) to help keep the air indoors clean. This small HEPA filter air purifier, from Amazon, comes in at under $40.
Meet the experts
Jill Koch is an expert in all things organizing and cleaning. She’s a mom, wife, nurse, and former news reporter who never lost the sharing side of reporting, and thus her blog, Jill Comes Clean, was born.
Steve Leasure is the Vice President of Operations for Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly company. Their restoration services cover fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, mold removal, smoke damage restoration, and more.
Will Cotter is a cleaning expert and owner of several cleaning companies across the states, including FreshSpace and Happy Cleans.
Your cleaning tools and supplies are only part of your college dorm room checklist. Don't forget your favorite comfort items and top study essentials, too, for a great start to a new semester.
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