College Life

13 Spotify Playlists to Make Cleaning Your Dorm Room More Fun

Morgann Rhule
Morgann Rhule
Morgann Rhule is a writer and journalism student at Florida Atlantic University. She loves everything about fashion, music, and culture, which you will hear her talking about on her podcast, Art School Dropout. She also writes about it as a contributor for the student-led…read more
published Oct 13, 2023
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Woman with wireless headphones holding a basket with cleaning products and singing in living room at home.
Credit: Jecapix / Getty Images

Whether you have your dorm room cleaning schedule down to a science, or you just realized you haven’t touched a broom since move-in day, there’s bound to come a time when you need to dedicate at least a few hours to tidying your space. You’ll grab your disinfecting wipes and pile clothes into your laundry basket (and you may even borrow a mop if you’re feeling extra motivated), but there’s one element that’s probably missing from your cleaning routine: a good playlist.

Cleaning your dorm room isn’t exactly the most exciting activity, but trust me — music can make these chores go by a lot quicker by boosting your mood and taking your mind off the task at hand. Dare I say, you might even find yourself having fun. 

But what makes a good playlist for cleaning? In my opinion, it has to be long enough to last the entire duration of your cleaning session. That way, you won’t have to interrupt your progress by searching for more songs once your chosen playlist ends. While I’m not partial to any specific genre, I highly recommend picking a playlist that matches the vibe you’re going for, whether that’s something high-energy and motivating, calm and soothing, or a mixture of both to keep you on your toes.

There are a wide range of apps to choose between, but Spotify is my go-to. (Like many music streaming sites including Apple Music and Pandora, it has a generous student discount.) I love using it to curate my own playlists, but if you don’t have the time (or confidence in your DJ abilities) to put together your ideal cleaning session soundtrack, there are hundreds of thousands of ready-made playlists at your disposal to thumb through.

Here are some of my favorite playlists, spanning all kinds of genres and vibes, to jam out to while you clean your room. 

For when you want to dance while you clean: “busting moves

Pop music from the early 2000s is full of iconic bops that are still popular on dance floors to this day. This playlist, created by Spotify user Natalia P., has songs from Timbaland, Sean Paul, Lady Gaga, and more and is filled with bouncy beats and catchy melodies that will have you dancing so hard, you won’t even notice how much time has passed. 

For a room-cleaning rager: “the ultimate college party playlist

Cleaning all day, or partying all night? At 61 hours long, this genre-transcending playlist, shaped by Shelby Aukerman, has enough songs to let you do both — and more. It’s full of mood-boosting bangers like “No Hands” by Waka Flocka and “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. 

For chill cleaning vibes: “POLLEN

Here’s a calm playlist with tunes that will make you sway as you clean, giving you a vibey rhythm to stick to as you complete all your tasks. Curated by the powers that be at Spotify, this is a genreless playlist with indie bands like Neil Frances and R&B musicians like SZA and Brent Faiyaz. 

For when your whole life feels messy: “Lara Jean cleaning her room

Lara Jean Covey said it best in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: “My life was a mess … but I could always clean my room.” This playlist, curated on an account called barbie, features some songs from the Netflix original movie, like “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears for Fears and “You’re Not Good Enough” by Blood Orange,” as well as non-soundtrack songs that just fit the rom-com vibes super well, like “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls and “Are You Bored Yet?” by Wallows Ft. Clairo. 

For fans of old-school hip-hop: “Gold School

Taking it way back, this Spotify-created playlist is filled with rap from the late ‘90s and early 2000s. If you grew up listening to Lauryn Hill and Outkast while cleaning, you’ll feel right at home.

Have you ever yearned to live in a time period you weren’t even around for? For me, it’s all about neon colors and boomboxes. This playlist by Natalie Nguyen is filled with ’80s rock from bands like the Cure and the Smiths, giving you a high-energy escape as you jam out in your room.

Credit: Carol Yepes / Getty Images

For rainy days: “do not disturb

In my opinion, rainy days are perfect for staying inside and cleaning for hours — and this playlist on kinners83’s account nails that vibe. These songs from artists like Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish are slow, dreamy, and atmospheric, matching the moody scene created by the weather outside. 

For the daydreamers: “Fairy in the woods

This whimsical soundtrack is for those who’d rather be sweeping a picturesque garden cottage instead of a disorganized dorm room. The playlist, made by evecquinn1795, includes artists like the Lumineers and Bon Iver, promising emotional lyrics and a folksy vibe. 

Whether you’re a dedicated country music lover or you just get random urges to stomp your proverbial boots, this playlist by Nalini.p is for you. It includes iconic songs by Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, and Thomas Rhett, perfect for a singalong as you clean your room. 

For your main-character moment: your lifes an A24 film

Nothing is more motivating than feeling like the center of attention, right? Or am I just being a stereotypical Leo? Either way, this playlist by Spotify user franksnotdead is excellent for those who want to feel like the main character of an indie film while they check off their cleaning chores, with tracks including “EARFQUAKE” by Tyler, The Creator and “The Less I Know The Better” by Tame Impala.  

Folklore and Evermore are two incredibly poetic Taylor Swift albums that, when combined, tell a rich story. This playlist by cece1028 weaves these songs together to create a captivating narrative that you’ll immerse yourself in, allowing your chores to fly by. If you loved Swift’s introspective, folk-pop era, you’ll love this playlist.

For when you miss having no responsibilities: “after school club

This Spotify-curated playlist has music from the shows that defined our generation, like Disney’s Hannah Montana and Nickelodeon’s Victorious. Play it when you want to sing along and think back to a time when you weren’t the one in charge of keeping your space clean. 

For sunny Saturdays: “weekend mornings

After a long and tiresome week of classes, I made this playlist to help myself start my weekend with high vibrations, pleasant feelings, and positive energy. It’s great for cleaning because it’s full of songs with fun melodies, catchy hooks, and good vibes, mixing in rap, R&B, and pop. Don’t be surprised if One Direction plays right after a Mariah Carey hit, followed by a Fleetwood Mac classic.

Morgann Rhule

Contributor

Morgann Rhule is a writer and journalism student at Florida Atlantic University. She loves everything about fashion, music, and culture, which you will hear her talking about on her podcast, Art School Dropout. She also writes about it as a contributor for the student-led fashion publication Strike Magazines Boca. Her best friends describe her as a shopaholic bookworm who gives the best advice. Born in Jamaica, she shows her pride with a beaded red, green, and gold necklace she never takes off.

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SchoolFlorida Atlantic University '25
MajorJournalism
FavesFashion, reading, making playlists, pop culture, the MCU
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