Cleaning 101: How to Deep Clean Kids’ Rooms

Parents know how fast a child’s bedroom can go from tidy to mayhem. Most of us don’t have endless time to maintain the chaos. That's why we’ve created an easy-to-follow cleaning guide for cleaning kids' rooms. 

Checklist for Cleaning Kids’ Rooms

Before you take on cleaning a kid’s room, here’s a handy checklist to keep you organized and on track as you go about your task. Want to instill a love of cleaning in your kid? Print it out and have your child help you check things off as you go along to get them involved as well.

• Picking Up & Sorting
• Toys
• Books
• Take out any misplaced items
• Take out any trash
• Bedding
• Change Sheets
• Make Bed
• Clothing
• Take Dirty Clothes to be Washed
• Put Away Clean Clothes
• Cleaning
• Windows
• Furniture
• Clean & Disinfect Toys
• Vacuum & Clean Floors

How to Clean Your Kid’s Bedroom in 7 Steps

Want to learn how to clean a kid's room? You're in luck: We’ve broken the process down into seven simple steps. 

1. Pick Things up & Put Them Away 

Start by picking up toys, books, and clothes and putting them back where they belong. Children of all ages can participate – be sure to include them in the process. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and see if they can “beat the clock.”

Pro Tip: We recommend turning this into a routine, like just before dinner or right before kids brush their teeth.

Get Organized

Putting things away is infinitely easier when everything has a place, and drawers, buckets, and baskets make organizing straightforward. As kids grow, their needs and tastes change. Avoid investing a lot of money in an elaborate storage system they may outgrow in a few years.

Here are some of our favorite budget-friendly options:

• Vessla Bin on Casters: Ideal for smaller toy and rolls around the room to make cleanup a breeze.
• Snidad Rattan Basket: Perfect for storing blankets, plush toys, and other cuddly things. 
• Lexington 3-Tier Rolling Cart: Available in a variety of fun colors, this easiliy transitions from toddlers to teens. 
• Over-the-Door Hanging Organizer: Great for storing socks, shoes, hair accessories, and other small items.
• Fabric Book Rack: Kids can store & display their favorite picture books on this child-size unit.

Pro Tip: Consider using labels with images and/or text with customizable chalkboard labels and a chalk marker. Children of all ages will quickly be able to match the right item with the corresponding bin or tub.

2. Change and Wash Bedsheets 

Without frequent washing, your child will be sleeping among dead skin cells, sweat, bacteria, pollen, food crumbs, and even animal dander. Frequent washing of bedding is important to reduce allergens and bacteria that can cause unpleasant health issues.

We recommend washing bedding every 1-2 weeks. If pets sleep in your child’s bed, your child snacks in bed, or they’re prone to allergies, once a week is preferable.

Pro-Tip: If bath time is right before bedtime, you'll quickly cut down on the amount of linen changes you need.

3. Tackle Dirty Laundry 

Gather dirty clothes off the floor and into a hamper. Next, have kids sort laundry by colors before throwing them into the wash. A laundry basket with multiple compartments makes it easy (and even fun) for kids to separate light clothes from brights. Just be sure to check for red socks!

Pre-Treat Stains

Puracy Stain Remover uses powerful plant enzymes to break down dirt, blood, sweat, and hundreds of other messes without fading or damaging fabrics. 

For tough stains, spray and massage the enzyme formula into the fabric using a gentle brush. Let it sit anywhere from 8 hours to 2 days. Launder in the warmest water your fabric will allow and select an extra rinse setting.

Launder Clothes

Weekly washing should be enough to keep you from getting buried under a mountain of laundry. Puracy Natural Laundry Detergent was developed with kids in mind. Our formula is gentle enough for the most sensitive skin but tough enough to deal with gross odors and stains.

Once clothes are washed and dried, neatly hang or fold and put them away. This is a great chore for kids of all ages to handle! 

4. Clean Corners, Windows, & Mirrors

Starting from the top-down, focus on corners, light fixtures, and other tough-to-reach areas. We've put together a window cleaning guide for lighter, brighter rooms!

5. Clean Furniture

Wood, laminate, and other hard-surfaced furniture should be wiped down with surface cleaner and a clean microfiber cloth. 

How Should I Clean Mattresses? 

To clean mattresses (and other upholstered furniture), start by vacuuming to remove dust and dirt. While many types of vacuums can release particles back into the air, a HEPA-filter vacuum is recommended because they trap them.

Spot-treat stains with Puracy Natural Stain Remover before deep cleaning soft surfaces with a steam cleaner or carpet-cleaning machine with attachments. Use a clean microfiber cloth to blot these treated areas and remove excess moisture. Allow the fabric to dry completely before recovering/using (consider opening windows on a warm day).

Pro Tip: Protect your pillows and mattresses from stains and allergens with washable, waterproof, zipped covers.

6. Clean & Disinfect Toys

We’ve put together all of the expert tips you’ll need to quickly clean and disinfect different types of toys. As you’re cleaning toys, toss any that are irreparably broken or donate ones that your child has outgrown. It’s especially important to consider disinfecting kids toys during flu season.

Pro Tip: Online neighborhood groups & marketplaces are great for rehoming unused items – and finding some new-to-you toys!

7. Vacuum/Clean Floors 

After everything is put away, surfaces are dusted, and toys are cleaned, it’s time to focus on the floors. Be sure to get behind and underneath furniture. Attachments can help you get into hard-to-reach areas.

Pro Tip: Consider renting or purchasing a home carpet cleaner. Our favorites include heated drying components that let kids back to playing faster.

Simplify the Cleaning Process: Limit the Products You Use

Choosing multi-purpose cleaning products and tools doesn’t just simplify your cleaning routine: It saves space and money, too.

1. Deep cleaning caddy (that can be easily transported between rooms)
2. 1-2 microfiber towels
3. Plant-based Natural Surface Cleaner 
4. Distilled white vinegar 
5. Natural Dish Soap 
6. Gentle brushes (e.g. auto detailing brushes, old toothbrushes)
7. Fabric-safe stain remover
8. Extendable microfiber duster
9. Garbage bags
10. Extra basket for items that don’t belong

When Should a Child Start Cleaning Their Room?

Children as young as 20 months old can learn to put things away – and they should! Sharing household duties not only frees up some of your time, but it also has far-reaching benefits, including:

• Pride in a job well done
• Sense of contributing the greater good of the family 
• Gratitude for the things family members do for each other 
• Appreciation for all others do for them 
• Independence from tackling new responsibilities
• Understanding of the importance of cleaning

How to Get Your Kid to Clean Their Room

Teaching kids that cleaning their bedroom can be rewarding – and even enjoyable – can inspire them to become more involved on their own. Here are some tricks and techniques that we use to motivate our own children:

Pump up the Jams

Create a playlist of your child’s favorite tunes and make it your cleaning “soundtrack.”

Be Specific

Offer specific recommendations like, “Place dirty clothes in the hamper” or “Put your Legos away so Mommy doesn’t step on them in your bedroom.”

Make a Cleaning Caddy

Since children tend to mimic their parents’ behavior, why not provide them with a basket of plant-based, child size cleaning supplies? 

Set the Timer

Make cleaning the bedroom a game by racing to “beat the clock.”

Scavenger Hunt

Hide stickers, small toys, or other treats in places throughout their bedroom for kids to find while tidying up. 

Rewards

These might be a favorite snack, special time with mom or dad, or even allowance money. 

Help Them Out

Children can quickly feel overwhelmed by tasks, so step in to help keep them motivated as they clean their bedroom.

Use a Deep Clean to Find a New Life for Old Items

Aside from using natural, plant-powered cleaners, another way you can add a sustainable element to your deep clean of a child’s bedroom is by using it as a chance to sort old books, clothes, or toys. Make a pile to giveaway or donate – afterall, participating in the second-hand economy is just one way we can cut down on waste.

Don’t forget to involve your kids in this step by bringing them to the thrift store or charity location to see how their old toys and clothes will go on to someone else. They’ll appreciate that they can see the second-hand cycle in action!

Deep Cleaning for Kids with Allergies

If your child has allergies or other sensitivities, cleaning takes on an even greater importance. Not only should you use hypoallergenic cleaners with natural fragrances, but you also have to target your deep clean to get rid of certain allergens. 

Dust Effectively

Whether your child has asthma or dander allergies, dusting is incredibly important when cleaning for a kid with allergies. First, skip the feather duster and rag, which often just spread dust around the room, and opt instead for a microfiber towel to properly trap dust.

Then for dust-free surfaces, we recommend using our Natural Surface Cleaner. This, along with the microfiber towel, is an unbeatable combination for ridding rooms of dust.

Get a HEPA Vacuum

Along with dusting, vacuuming is another must for an allergy-friendly household. You'll need a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA), which removes most allergens, no matter how tiny. Check out our Guide to Cleaning with Allergies for our recommendations for the best HEPA vacuums.

Look Out for Hidden Mold

Mold and mildew can trigger allergies, and though they are commonly found in warm, damp places, they can also pop up where you least expect it. If your kid has toys that often get wet, such as at the pool or in the bath, check their insides to make sure they haven't developed mold. Also watch out for any forgotten spills that have also gotten moldy over time.

If you find mold in your kid's room, after you clean it, be sure to turn fans on to keep air circulating. You may also want to invest in a humidifier if your house has high moisture levels.

Check Mattresses for Dust Mites

Though dust mites are tiny, their effects are highly visible. If you notice your kid suffering from sudden sneezing, eczema, or watery eyes, there could be dust mites in their mattress. Check out our Guide to Removing Dust Mites for the best strategy for ridding your home of these pests.

Get a Deep Clean with Puracy Products

You’re choosy about the cleaning products you use around your kids – and that’s exactly why we started Puracy. From our best-selling Natural Surface Cleaner to our Natural Dish Soap, we work with biochemists and physicians to ensure that Puracy products are safe for all family members (and surfaces).

And if you’re not totally thrilled with the results, we’re happy to refund your purchase. What do you have to lose (other than dirt, grime, and goop)?