We’ve all been there. You’re working, you’re studying, you’ve got social plans, and you need a minute to rest. Before you know it, the 24 hours that make up the day are completely gone. Things that aren’t super essential get pushed back and pushed back until you’ve got a pile of dirty dishes and clothes all over the floor. Welcome to the mess that is the busy student’s apartment.

You don’t need to carve out a whole day to clean your apartment, however. For me, that’s a daunting challenge that pretty much screams “procrastinate!” Doing a little cleaning each day to keep things under control can make a big difference in your home life. 

Come on, you have five minutes to spare, right? Just follow this list and do a five-minute activity each day for seven days. Your place will be noticeably better in no time.

Table of Contents

Day One: Get Everything Off the Floor

It doesn’t even need to go in the right place. But hang the clothes that most need it, fold the rest and put them on shelves, and pick up any shoes/backpacks/books. You’ll stop stepping on and damaging your most valuable items, and you’ll at least feel like you’re organized.

Day Two: Clean the Dishes

You don’t even need to put them away right now! Anything that’s in the sink goes straight into the dishwasher if you have one (and then hit start). You can worry later about taking them out. If you’re like me, and have to hand wash, try to get through as many items as you can. Or you can make sure everything is at least cleared off and rinsed. Because week-old food residue is gross.

Day Three: Scrub your Sink

Cleaning the bathroom takes so long. Quickly scrub makeup residue off your vanity and do a quick touch-up on your sink and you’ll feel a lot better while brushing your teeth. Bonus points if you use a wet towelette to clean your mirror.