This Is Exactly Where to Clean When You Move into Your Dorm Room (Avoid Major Ick!)

Okay, confession: When I was a freshman in college, I thought I only had to clean my dorm once it got dirty. However, I quickly realized the importance of cleaning your room before you settle in. Amidst the hustle of unpacking and decorating, it’s crucial to start with a clean slate — literally! 

Although colleges typically clean their dorm rooms prior to your move-in date, dust and dirt can still collect between when someone sweeps through the rooms and you arrive with your boxes. It’s also nice to clean yourself to make sure no area is overlooked and you’re paying close attention to detail. 

With all that in mind, here are my essential areas to clean when you first move into your dorm to make sure you set yourself up with a clean and bright living environment.

One of the first places I recommend tackling is the window tracks. Dust and dirt love to hang here — you’ll be surprised by just how much! 

To clean this area, open the window and clean in between the crevices of the frame. I prefer to dust off the area with a duster or a dry rag, then follow behind with disinfectant wipes or disinfectant spray to thoroughly clean. Another window track cleaning method, courtesy of @gocleanco, is to spray with an all-purpose cleaner, scrub with a sponge to loosen up all that dirt, and then lift the dirty water from the tracks with paper towels (in this particular situation, paper towels are better than cleaning rags).  

Baseboards are one of those room features that always get overlooked! But baseboards can accumulate dirt, grime, and dust so easily (which is particularly not good if you have allergies!), and clean baseboards will give your dorm room such a burst of freshness. 

There are tons of baseboard cleaning methods out there; some easy ones include using a duster, a cleaning wipe, and/or a cloth with cleaning solution. In a TikTok video, Brandon of Clean That Up showed that you can even rubber-band a damp microfiber cloth to a broom as another baseboard-cleaning hack.

When I lived in my dorm room, I would always forget to regularly clean my air vent — and inevitably, I’d wake up with a runny or stuffy nose. Once I got into a routine of cleaning my vents, especially when first moving in, I legit felt a difference health-wise! I recommend cleaning every air vent in your dorm, including the one in the bathroom (unless you’re in a communal bathroom). 

For this type of dusting, you can either use a regular handheld duster, which is my personal favorite, or, as Apartment Therapy points out, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a dust-brush attachment. Of course, make sure you can clean safely before you start if your vents are up high and you need to use a sturdy step ladder or stool. 

Have a bathroom in your dorm room or suite? Cleaning your showerhead occasionally is vital to keep it free of mineral deposits and buildup. Having a clogged showerhead can not only reduce water flow, but it can also irritate your hair and skin. Personally, I try to tackle my showerhead regularly because I have sensitive and acne-prone skin. 

To clean it, Irina Nikiforova, owner of the Los Angeles-based cleaning company Rocket Maids, previously told Apartment Therapy you can either fill a plastic bag with white vinegar and secure it around the showerhead with a rubber band and leave it overnight, or you can wipe it down with a microfiber cloth and shower-safe cleaner. You can also do both! Don’t forget to let the water run for a bit after you clean the showerhead. And if you remove the showerhead to clean it, of course, make sure you’re careful so you avoid hurting yourself or damaging college property. 

I hate to tell you, but you should probably give your shower a serious clean before you use it. And if you have a little ledge where the top of your dorm shower panels meet the walls, don’t forget that hidden spot, too.

Find expert-approved step-by-step instructions for cleaning a shower here. This way you’ll help ensure your bathroom stays fresh and hygienic all year long!

1. Disinfect all knobs, light switches, and other high-touch surfaces.
2. Deep clean that toilet seat (ick).
3. Wipe down the insides of any drawers or cabinets.
4. Clean closets and any spots that’ll be harder to reach once you unpack.