We all tout the importance of keeping our kitchens and baths super clean, and free of toxins and harsh chemicals. But what about the place we spend a third of our day: the bedroom? To get a restful night's sleep, and keep allergies at bay, it's important to keep your bedroom free of irritants, dust and debris. Here's our ultimate guide to cleaning your bedroom, the green way.
Declutter: Before you can even begin to start the task of cleaning, declutter and organize your bedroom. In general, it's my preference to keep objects in my bedroom to a minimum. You don't want a bunch of stuff strewn about to distract you and stress you out when it's time to relax. Less is more for a serene bedroom space.
• How To: Declutter the Bedroom
• A Guide to Slow Home Principles: The Bedroom
• Slow Home Space Planning & Organization: The Bedroom
Change Your Linens: You wrap your body in your sheets, every night, so these should be super clean. It's a good idea to have multiple sets of sheets (natural and organic, of course), so that you can change and clean them often without them getting worn down. And when we say clean, we mean without bleach. Use a homemade or eco-friendly laundry detergent to keep irritation at bay.
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Don't Dry Clean Your Pillows & Comforter: These fluffy bedding components not only provide comfort, but also a place for dirt to get trapped. To keep down comforters and pillow clean, skip the dry cleaners and try these DIY cleaning methods — at least once a year:
• How To: Wash a Down Comforter
• How To Wash a Pillow
Clean All Surfaces: Get rid of dust and dirt: tops of dressers, window sills, light fixtures and even trim. Try to avoid introducing any new chemicals or fragrance by simply using a damp microfiber cloth, but you might need a basic eco-friendly cleaner for particularly dirty areas.
• Microfiber cleaning cloths?
• 25 DIY Green Cleaning Recipes For the Whole House!
• Green Cleaning Products Roundup
Say Goodbye to Dust Bunnies: Sweep, swiffer, mop and vacuum the floor. This is probably one of the more problematic areas for a bedroom: dust gets itself into every corner, nook, cranny and worst of all — under the bed. Also, we really recommend against carpeting — even thought they're soft under foot, they're huge dirt collectors.
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• How To Deep Green Clean Your Carpets
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Clean The Windows: Sure, at night a dirty window won't really hurt anyone, but once it's time to rise and shine, the first thing you should see is a nice clear view, not cloudy, smudgy windows. Forget the blue cleaners — all you need is some newspaper, water and vinegar:
• How To Clean a Window with Newspaper
• Best Window Cleaner is a Non-Toxic DIY
• How To Clean a Window
• Tips for Washing Dirty Windows
Use An Air Filter: If you have bad allergies, or even just a not-so-great HVAC system, you might want to take that extra step and keep an air purifier in your room. They can help keep allergies at bay, and minimize polluted air from city life or smoking neighbors.
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• How to Shop for an Air Purifier
MORE CLEAN BEDROOMS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
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• No Excuses: Sleep In a Clean Bedroom Tonight
• 5 Steps to a Permanently Cleaner Bedroom
• 8 Ways to Keep Your Bedroom Clean Once & for All!
• 12 Steps to Deep Clean the Bedroom
• How To: Clean the Bedroom in 10 Minutes
• Green Clean Makeover: The Bedroom
• Clean Your Bedroom: Inspiration from Real Homes
(Image: Aaron Kreiswirth/Apartment Therapy)
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I don't understand why we need a post telling me how to clean my bedroom.
Thanks though. x
Anybody know which bed that is in the featured bedroom?
Why do people feel the need to put so much negativity out into the world ?! Thank you for this post! I always learn something new!
The window washing tips sound great... Thanks for sharing!
I would also like to know the name of the bed. I am looking to buy a new bed soon. I like this one a lot.
Um, what's the logic here: "It's a good idea to have multiple sets of sheets (natural and organic, of course), so that you can change and clean them often without them getting worn down." They're going to get worn down after X nights of use, period. You can keep them on the bed most of the time and replace them sooner, or keep them in the closet most of the time and replace them later, but you get the same amount of "wear" either way. And people with apartments usually aren't blessed with lots of storage space.
And is it ironic to show a photo of a wooden bed on the same day AT prints an article on bedbugs? Any self-respecting bedbug would much rather hide in a wooden bed frame than a metal one.
Does anyone know the name of that type of wooden slat chair in the photo?
@ TROLLOPIAN: Actually, there are no self-respecting bedbugs. Thus, they're just as likely to be found on metal or wood.
Sweet post. The bedroom is the most important room to keep clean for people with allergies. I keep reading conflicting reviews of cleaning windows with newspaper. One commenter recently wrote on AT that that strategy stopped working well many years ago when newsprint production was changed somehow--I forget the details. Handling newspapers just to read them soils my hands, so rubbing newspaper on wet glass to clean the glass is counterintuitive.
The name of the chair is the Appalachian chair. I originally saw them here on Apartment Therapy a few years ago and fell in love, and then randomly saw them for sale at a stand on the side of the road in Honduras, so I brought two home with me.
@michaelas and @sassyladie - thank you!
If you have allergies you shouldn't use real down pillows and comforters. Use a pillow and comforter with synthetic filling. You can (and should!) wash those on a regular basis and even put them in the dryer. Make sure to wash them as hot as possible, I read somewhere that water temps greater than 140 F will kill dust mites (not sure if I remember that correctly, you'll have to do your own research to confirm).
Ikea is a great source for inexpensive washable comforters.
@MIAMI'S ELAINE
Re:...conflicting reviews of cleaning windows with newspaper. One commenter recently wrote on AT that that strategy stopped working well many years ago when newsprint production was changed somehow--I forget the details...
You are correct. Long gone are the times when the black print ink contained led; which, in turn, made those windows shine.
Water mixed with wine vinegar is the next best ... (more) natural ... thing.
I was just in Belize and that type of wooden slat chair was everywhere. It's called a clam chair made out of mahogany. http://www.orangegifts.com/clam.html
The wooden slat chair has no particular name, but it can be found all over the American continent, usually available at roadside vendors.
But if you are not planing on traveling to Mexico, Honduras or Belize any time soon, you can get it at http://www.industryofallnations.com/Panamericana-Chair-made-to-PID11102-47101.aspx
I'll be #3 in the line begging for details on that gorgeous bed. Looks like some of MASH Studios's work with the PCH series but that's not exactly right...
Anyone?
The bed is custom made with reclaimed cypress wood, its a house tour.
what house tour was it from?