Spring is in the air and you know what that means – it’s time for some spring cleaning! Here are a few tips to help you clean and organize your small space.
Clean the Closet
Send Back Winter Clothing
Closet space in a dorm is very limited. You don’t want heavy winter coats taking up room if you’re not going to need them anymore. Pack up all your winter clothes and send them home, or donate anything you’re not going to wear again. Trust me, the more you can clear out your room now the easier move-out will be.
Bonus Tip: If you’re not sure which clothes to keep, a good trick is to hang all of your hangers backwards in the closet. After you wear the item, rehang it with the hanger facing the correct direction - this will let you see what you haven’t touched recently! After a few months, donate anything you haven’t worn!
Tension Rod Shoe Rack
A shoe rack keeps shoes off the floor and the area looking neat and organized. Check out this quick blog for some more tips on how to make the most of your small space.
Hanging Hamper
Whenever possible in close quarters, use your vertical space! Hanging your hamper on the back of your closet door will open up more floor space. You might also hang baskets or hooks in your closet or on the wall to hold purses, scarves, jackets and other accessories.
Declutter the Desk
Get Rid of Old Papers
You can toss any old assignments from last semester. If it’s notes or something you think you’ll need again, you can scan it to your computer. If you don’t have a scanner in your room check to see if there’s one at your closest library, or try a free pdf converter app.
My recommendation is Adobe Scan available in the App Store and Google Play.
Bonus tip: Designate a folder for all important documents such as class registration info, textbook return dates, usernames and passwords, and anything else you need to find quickly and easily.
Keep Only Used Items Within Reach
The best way to keep a clear working space is to only have frequently used items on the top of your desk.
Clear Off Your Electronic Desktop
There’s no better feeling than closing all the browser tabs after a project or looking at a nice clear desktop. Saving items to your desktop is quick and easy, but it can fill up your desktop fast. Clearing off all but your necessary shortcuts gives you a fresh start.
Happy spring cleaning!
Goodwill is always happy to receive items from your spring cleaning. With a location on 17th Street right by UTK’s campus, drop off is easy! Proceeds from the sale of your donations will help fund job training and employment opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment in the Knoxville area. Learn more about how Goodwill works!
About the Author:
Caitlin is a senior at the University of Tennessee majoring in Retail and Consumer Sciences and the current marketing intern at Goodwill Industries-Knoxville. She loves spring even if it means cleaning.