As a parent, I generally let my kids handle their own room cleaning. It’s a great way to teach responsibility, nurture independence, and, let’s be honest, I’d rather not deal with their chaos myself. However, there are those rare moments—perhaps once a year—when I must step in and take control. You know it’s time to act when:
- I can’t find half of my silverware or any of my bowls.
- The smell wafting from their room is so potent that we’ve given it a nickname—“Odor Central” is a household favorite.
- We’ve arrived late to school or appointments too many times because I’m rummaging through the clutter to retrieve a missing item.
If you’ve managed to keep your tween on top of their room cleaning, kudos to you! But if you find yourself facing a similar dilemma, here’s how to tackle the situation:
- Wait until your tween is occupied—at school, camp, or visiting the grandparents. You’ll need uninterrupted time, trust me. You don’t want to deal with a dramatic tween lamenting their lost rights.
- Gather your cleaning arsenal: trash bags, recycling bins, cleaning spray, rags, a vacuum, gloves, and maybe a shovel or hazmat suit for good measure.
- Open the door and all the windows. Regardless of the weather outside, fresh air is essential for your survival during this mission.
- Locate and eliminate the source of the odor. This might mean washing moldy socks, disposing of rotten food, or tossing out suspect shoes and “crusty” clothing. Just a heads-up: there might be multiple sources of stink.
- Collect all clothing from the floor—yes, even if you think some of it is clean. If it’s been on the floor, it definitely needs a wash.
- Next, tackle the trash. You might find only used tissues and candy wrappers, but brace yourself for the worst. If anything is stuck to the floor, use scissors to cut it away, or move furniture to cover it.
- Reclaim any kitchen items. Assess whether the crusted cups are salvageable. If they aren’t, toss them. For those that are, soak them first, then run them through the dishwasher.
- It may be overwhelming, but pull everything out from under the bed, desk, and bookcase all at once. After you resist the urge to set the pile ablaze, repeat steps 4 through 7.
- Find your tween’s secret candy stash. Feel free to indulge guiltlessly, but wash your hands first!
- Sort the remaining items into two categories: necessary and unnecessary. Put away the ones you’re keeping, and stash away the rest until you can donate them—just hide them well.
- Wipe down all surfaces, including doors and walls, and dispose of the cleaning rag afterward.
- Vacuum the floor and relish the moment of rediscovering the original carpet color.
- Snap some photos to remember this pristine state before it inevitably returns to its usual chaotic condition—likely by the next day.
When your tween returns, put on headphones and blast your favorite tunes. And make sure you’ve arranged for the neighbors to go out—no one should have to hear the inevitable outcry of “MY ROOM IS UNRECOGNIZABLE! I CAN’T STAND THESE CONDITIONS!”
Important Note: If you stumble upon your tween’s journal, resist the temptation to peek inside. Respect their privacy—some things are better left unread (not that I have any personal experience…).
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In summary, tackling a messy tween’s room can be daunting, but with a plan in place, it can be manageable. Just remember to give yourself plenty of time and prepare for the unexpected.
Keyphrase: Tidying a Tween’s Room
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