This Is the Most Neglected Spot in Your Bedroom — Now Here’s How to Clean It
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Welcome back! It’s day two of the Spring Cleaning Cure and we’re going to tackle the bedroom. But not all of it! Just one very specific and slightly controversial spot: the space underneath your bed.
For some people (including my partner), the space under the bed is a bonus storage area to put all sorts of stuff: extra blankets and sheets, out-of-season clothing, luggage, and (just for example) decades of personal mementos dating back to childhood. For others (including myself), the space is nearly as sacred as the bed itself — i.e. very — and you should be selective about what, if anything, you store there.
I’m not alone in this belief. The rules of feng shui suggest that keeping stuff, especially stuff with negative vibes, under the bed can obstruct the flow of energy. “Ideally, you want to have the chi, or life-force energy, flow around you,” explains feng shui educator Anjie Cho. “When you have a lot of things under your bed, your chi can’t flow.”
For optimal feng shui, Cho says you should keep that space totally clear. If that’s not possible, she suggests keeping soft, sleep-related items under the bed and avoiding anything emotionally charged like personal mementos, letters from an ex, or even luggage or shoes, which signify movement. “The time you spend in bed, you’re in a passive yin state, which makes you susceptible to bad energy,” she says.
That’s why, today, we’re going to clear out that space and any bad energy that might be lingering there. When we’re done, I hope you’ll rest a little bit easier and breathe a little better, too, with all those dust bunnies out of the way.
Day 2: Clean under the bed.
If the space under your bed is already clutter-free and feng shui-approved, you can skip ahead. If not, it’s time to pull everything out and assess what you’re keeping there.
De-clutter the space under your bed. Ask yourself: Are these things you actually need or can they be tossed or donated? Is there another place to store these items? Is there a better storage system that I could use to make this area feel less cluttered?
If you have a lot to go through and it feels too daunting, try sorting your items into piles: items to keep, items to toss, and items you’re not sure about. You can always save those on-the-fence items and sort through them another time.
Clean out the space under your bed. Next, we’ll attack the dirt and dust bunnies. If you have enough clearance under your bed and a long-handled vacuum (ideally with a bright light so you can see what you’re vacuuming) or even a floor duster, this task is relatively straightforward. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum until the space looks and feels clean.
If your bed has low clearance or you don’t have the right tools, you can use sliders to move the bed out of the way. Again, if this starts to feel like a lot, take a deep breath and just do the best you can.
Extra credit! Slide the bed over and give the area a good wet mopping after you’ve vacuumed for an even more refreshing finish. This extra step will add a few more minutes of cleaning here, but if you have the time to spend, the reward will be even greater.
Throughout this task, think about how good it will feel to get into bed tonight. Sweet dreams!
More ways to participate in the Spring Cleaning Cure:
- Sign up for email updates
- Visit the 2022 Spring Cleaning Cure page and follow along with the daily assignments
- Join the Apartment Therapy Cure Facebook group