9 Home Care Tips Every College Student Needs

Home-Care

A college student’s role may be quite difficult. The transition from living with your parents to living afar can be terrifying. It may also cause you to be initially timid for a few months or so. With different responsibilities to fulfill, college life can get overwhelming. Apart from attending to classes and attempting to budget your allowance, you also need to take care of your space.

Whether you’re about to transition to university or are already in your junior year, space maintenance will always be a priority. The independence that accompanies living alone comes with its own set of its pros and cons. The more you learn to navigate your way through, the better you’ll be at managing and balancing your responsibilities.

Living With a Roommate

Some college students live together with a roommate. Tackling chores is a lot more doable and convenient when you have someone else to share them with. This encourages both of you to split and designate tasks. 

Additionally, having a roommate may make you feel accountable to do your chores. Regardless, whether you’re living alone or with a roommate, it’s still your duty to maintain a comfortable, stress-free environment.

The New Normal: Taking Online Classes

Currently, a lot of students are now taking online classes at home. This is why it’s crucial to create a conducive space for learning. Unfortunately, a filthy space not only causes illnesses or repulsion, it may also disrupt your mental stability and sharpness.

With a well-maintained home, you can easily manage your productivity and energy as you study. It also allows you to prepare for potential stressors that may come as you live independently. Significantly, a neat environment facilitates sound health and well-being.

Home Care Tips to Every College Student

As a college student, home care may be overwhelming and tricky; however, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some useful tips on how to care for your home.

1. Designate a prime day every week

As a college student, you may need to establish a cleaning routine. A routine provides you with structure. This prevents procrastination and clutter to pile up in your space. 

To define, a prime day is a designated day in your week where you clean, check, wash, and tidy up things in your space. It’s basically priming up your space for the week ahead. This can usually be done on a weekend or whenever your free day is. With this cleaning system, you may be able to prepare and do tasks like wiping off counter tops or simply ironing your clothes on that certain day. Likewise, when you schedule your cleaning day ahead, this may potentially encourage you to stop pushing past to-do list. 

Notably, you don’t need to wait for your prime day to start cleaning up. You may set and stick to an hour or so every day to quickly attend to urgent chores. Another suggestion is to have cleaning ideas or to-do list at hand. In this way, you may not need to spend time wondering what to clean on your prime day since you already have a list to lean on. To avoid overwhelming yourself with all the chores, identify what’s important and/or urgent and what’s not. This allows you to manage not just your time, but your energy as well.

A prime day does not have to be dramatic. It may just be a day of keeping things in place and maintaining the appearance of surfaces. It’s the small, incremental tidying that makes the big difference.

2. Clean as you go

This is such a simple tip but it may be difficult to do for some. The act of cleaning up after a task helps you not only in clearing out your space, but your mind as well. This allows you to check off another chore ahead, rather than adding it to your list. 

Likewise, this habit teaches you to take initiative to clean up during your downtime. For instance, when you just completed an art project, immediately return the tools to their shelves or storage bin. Do not wait for another time to clean them or you may tend to forget or get lazy. This habit encourages you to practice a consistent attitude towards tidying not just your space, but other areas as well.

3. Try out minimalism

Minimalism varies for each person. The idea does not have to be polarizing. When you go minimal, it does not have to be in an extreme mode. Minimalism does not have a standard definition or rigid rules to follow. The lifestyle generally suggests to choose simplicity and intentionality over excess and clutter.

A smaller living space in college (such as a dorm room or apartment) may result to a crowded and condensed area with all your belongings. This is not an ideal situation to have especially if you need to concentrate and excel in exams. Hence, if you find yourself in this situation, it may be best to consider living minimally.

Notably, students who welcome minimalism in their homes don’t just prevent physical clutter, but mental distractions as well.

It may be challenging to maintain your home, especially if there’s limited space and you’re sharing it with another person. With the narrow space, dirt and dust may start to accumulate quickly. Nonetheless, with fewer things to organize and clean, your cleaning time will also be reduced. When you own just a few essential items, this makes periodical deep cleaning less overwhelming and intimidating. Moreover, when it is time to move out, you’ll have far fewer items to bring and transport.

4. Stock up on cleaning supplies

The presence of cleaning supplies is essential and may become a total life-saver when it comes to home care. As a student, you may need to have some cleaning supplies on hand. Don’t just purchase when they’re already empty. Have a spare one in your shelves. In this way, you’re more prepared to attack and clean dirty laundry and stinky sinks immediately.

Cleaning supplies such as all-purpose cleaners, disinfectant wipes, toilet cleaner, a mop, broom, and the like are all so important when tending to your space. An old toothbrush, old socks, vinegar, and baking soda are DIY tools that you can also rely on. 

5. Declutter every end of a semester (or whenever you can)

There are a lot of things to avoid in order to keep a perpetually clean home. One of which is to stop waiting for spring to start cleaning and decluttering your space. Every end of a semester, form a habit of evaluating if items are still of practical use. Then, decide whether you want to sell or donate them. For instance, you may need to sell or share your old textbooks because they’re no longer useful. 

On another note, if you’re about to transfer to a new space, donate some old items that you’re no longer using. This habit will allow you to discover the items that you deem still important and those you no longer use. This may also help you purchase items wisely the next time you go out and shop.

Questions like “When was the last time I used this?” or “Does this serve a practical purpose?” may be helpful as you assess what needs to be kept or sold. Notably, you cannot make space for the new when you continue to hold on to the old. Hence, learn to declutter your closet, your storage area, and your school supplies.

6. Keep your space cozy

Tending to your home is not limited to keeping it clean. It also is about making it livable and comfortable. As a college student, you may need to add some items that keep your home fresh and vibrant. This may likewise promote a wholesome, conducive environment for studying and learning.

If you’re fond of studying in cafés, you may want to supplement accents in your home that allows you to feel that you’re in that setting. As you study, set up that jazz playlist and make yourself your own coffee. In this way, you may be encouraged to just study at home and rarely opt for café shops. This saves you not just time, but money as well.

Likewise, select and decorate your home with items that add up to its coziness. Examples of which may be aromatic candles, memorabilia, flowers, and the like. If you have extra space in your living area, you may allocate some collapsible dorm-sized furniture to perk up your place.

7. Invest in house plants

Significantly, indoor plants may add a lot of benefits in your home. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology claimed that plants in your home or office can induce a soothing and comfortable feeling. Plants may also serve as a replacement to your humidifier. It naturally manages the humidity levels in your space which may in turn, improve your health.

Moreover, studies have reported that indoor plants enhance focus and productivity by up to 15%. With the pressure and tension due to major exams, indoor plants may help minimize stress levels and boost your mood. The right plants may also help optimize your sleeping patterns. Plants like succulents, orchids, bromeliads, and snake plants release oxygen in the evenings, making them an ideal addition to bedroom side tables.

With their aesthetic appearance, plants may be a convenient and lovely way to style up your living space. Succulents and other small potted plants may also be a cute addition to your dorm décor.

8. Check and clean appliances

Each appliance has basic systems that allow it to execute a particular task. If these systems become filthy or clogged, they can’t perform properly. This is why it is relevant to check if your appliances are still in good condition. 

When you make an effort to keep your appliances clean, they’ll be more energy efficient. This may not directly be noticeable; however, when you attempt to compare your electricity bills, you may be surprised with how much you have saved. As a college student, this is totally a plus especially if your budget is limited. 

For instance, if your microwave has acquired bacteria due to leftover crumbs, then this may affect your health. Hence, always keep your appliances clean. When appliances are not restricted by contaminants, they’ll deliver better results. Additionally, a pristine appliance operates better and lasts longer. It’s worth your time and energy if you want to make the most out of your investment.

9. Organize your items

A habit of organizing allows you to practice not just orderliness, but discipline as well. Organizing your items facilitates a well-maintained space. It creates more room to move and enhances your mood, relaxation, and clarity. Find a home for your belongings so you know where to put things back and prevent clutter. It’ll also save you time and energy when looking for them.

Additionally, an organized space can be a tool that may help you with stress management. When your belongings are in order, you’ll be more efficient and sharper when studying. Remember, a cluttered space may overwhelm you and invite procrastination. As a college student, this is definitely not the goal.

The Importance of Home Care

Home care may lead to self-care. A well-tended environment positively affects your behavior and provides you clarity when working on your class notes or when you’re studying for a big exam. You may also be more encouraged to maintain the cleanliness and coziness of your space. 

Your home is where you spend a lot of your time. Its current state impacts the way you think and behave. Your mind cannot completely function independently from your environment. Thus, caring and keeping your space clean and tidy is important. 

The Takeaway

As a college student, learning to care for your home may take a while for you to get used to. With exams and assignments piling up, it may be quite challenging to carve out time to clean. However, with willingness and time management, you can definitely incorporate cleanups into your routine. The suggestions mentioned above will help guide you in caring for your home. Start small, move your way up, and enjoy the process.