Clean Up Your Room Day: Tips To Get It Done (PHOTOS)

For many, it's a dreaded chore. For others, it's a lot of fun. Wherever you fall, you should know that today is Clean Up Your Room Day. It happens every May 10 (and yes, this is a real thing).

There are cards you can send to remind loved ones and friends to celebrate. And for those who don't clean their room often, there are how to's on the Web.

For your convenience, HuffPost Living is compiling some of the best tips to get the mission accomplished below. We want your suggestions too, so please feel free to add a slide, tweet us a suggestion @HuffPostLiving or leave a tip in our comments section.

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SisterAnn said on 10 Tuesday 2011 pm31 8:11 pm: I have been organizing papers for the past 2 years. At first I was sick. Now, I plan on doing it all day each time I come in here, but then I get on the computer and never get back to the organizing. I usually spend about 8 hours a week organizing papers and I am about 80% done. I look up organizing papers each time I get on here. I could write a book about organizing.

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Comments

[knnpott]

01:35 PM on 05/13/2011

I have always found the hardest part is just getting started. Once I get started and see the progress of the clutter being picked up, and then move to cleaning off counter tops and tables; then I do vacuuming and sweeping/mopping floors. After all of that, all of those little meticulous things that seem so time consuming are much easier to do, knowing that once they are done, you have a perfectly clean place. But for me, just getting started is the big thing. If I don't physically make myself get up and get started, the place may stay a mess. This has happened before, when I neglect it, and do things like play computer games, or go out or whatever. So, maybe it can help some of you, just getting started and seeing actual progress, and as it progresses, make you want to keep going, like it does me :-)

[cameoz]

07:47 PM on 05/16/2011

One way I've found that helps me get started is to use a timer set to 15 minutes. When it goes off, I have the option to continue or give myself permission to do something fun for 15 minutes. I'll do this for a whole afternoon -- 15 on, then 15 off -- and it's amazing how productive it makes me. Sometimes, when I'm in the middle of a chore and the timer goes off, I'll finish it anyway. Or I'll give myself another 15 minutes.

The only rule is that I don't get to do that for the fun 15 minutes. I make it a policy to get right back to work.

I also don't set any limits about what kind of work I do. Just as long as it's productive. So I basically look around and do the first thing I feel motivated to do.

Works for me.

[Alicia Westberry]

11:59 PM on 05/11/2011

I can't believe there's actually a day for this. I guess that having a particular day set aside for it, helps people to buckle down & clean their rooms. My teenage sister could certainly use these tips to clean hers.

[Colette SullivanLedoux]

08:52 AM on 05/11/2011

Tried and true way to accomplish any task you dislike is to approach it as a game/challenge. Visualize an audience watching you on your wildly popular television show; you can explain to your admiring fans how you plan on tackling this particular episode; then get busy with the task at hand by starting to clear one area at a time. As you move along and can see the organized area getting bigger, you'll be encouraged to move items to their rightful place, or toss. Oprah would never dare have a nap during the taping of an episode, and neither would you.

[Pink birrd]

04:17 AM on 05/11/2011

Telling people to toss useless papers seems pretty obvious to me...but what is more obvious is RECYCLE them! Also, what is needed one day, 4 years later is useless, like old taxes.

The garbage bag with all that stuff in it makes me cringe. I say have a giveaway box, a bag for actual garbage and a recyclable box. Sometimes that kind of system helps when someone else is there, since they can help sort some of the stuff that is obvious crap (like used tissues, ripped socks, etc.)

DONATE OLD CLOTHES. You might think they are crap but its better to donate them and let them decide since they can sell the surplus and that way it DOESN'T END UP IN A LANDFILL!! :)

[SisterAnn]

06:56 PM on 05/15/2011

It doesn't bother me to throw away trash, but I can' throw anything in the trash that someone may use. I was raised to 'waste not, want not".

I have a 'garage sale' box. I put things in it that I don't want. I never have a garage sale, though. I give it to one of my daughters when they decide to have a garage sale. Things that won't fit in a box I set in a certain corner of the garage. They probably throw a lot of it away. Sometimes I see things from 'my box' that they have taken for themselves. Two chairs are in my daughter's house from my garage sale items.

Sometimes my husband takes them to a good will box.

[hubbardlake]

06:53 PM on 05/16/2011

I sometimes think I would do a garage sale because I go to them. But the thought of sitting around hoping someone will buy my junk just doesn't appeal to me. I would have to pack stuff up a second time, so I just donate the stuff to charity. Plus, if my kids saw their stuff on a table, they'd probably try to sneak back into the house.

[Jokergirl]

02:47 AM on 05/11/2011

Why should I clean my room today? Because I can only see sections of floor, the cat won't even lay on the floor and it is a fire trap with paper obstructions everywhere. Books are stacked where they shouldn't be and my shelf is slowing sinking having exceeded the maximum capacity of books on it. Mostly though because I can only see part of the floor.

[styrofoam]

10:04 PM on 05/10/2011

i like to pretend like i am a robot and i work very quickly. bruising is a bit of an issue but totaly worth living in a clean organized space. also being a minimalist is helpful. less stuff = less mess

[SisterAnn]

08:43 PM on 05/10/2011

What helps me the most is to make a list of 6 things 'to do'. I set the timer for 20 minutes and start at the top of the list. By the time I have done it for twenty minutes, I am usually interested in it or finished.

6 things 'to do' is right for me, since that is two hours all together. Then I have plenty of time to finish any I didn't finish.

[Craig Kanalley]

11:21 PM on 05/10/2011

Great strategy!

[SisterAnn]

08:11 PM on 05/10/2011

I have been organizing papers for the past 2 years. At first I was sick. Now, I plan on doing it all day each time I come in here, but then I get on the computer and never get back to the organizing.

I usually spend about 8 hours a week organizing papers and I am about 80% done.

I look up organizing papers each time I get on here. I could write a book about organizing.

[ghee99]

06:27 PM on 05/10/2011

i agree with most of the tips

but (personally) i prefer to listen to podcasts of rush and glenn when i clean

just makes the time more enjoyable, and pass effortlessly

and i (otherwise) hate cleaning

anyway, i know rush and glenn aren't everybody's thing

but for those that like 'em

try cleaning your room/house while listening to either one

(or alternate back and forth)

before you know it, you'll actually look forward to cleaning 

granted, as i mentioned, i know this method isn't for everyone

but i just wanted to share what works for me

[Craig Kanalley]

11:20 PM on 05/10/2011

Thanks for sharing your tips!! Glad you liked these ones too.

[lylbeth]

06:19 PM on 05/14/2011

I liked alot of the tips and responses on this article; however I have a question for you, Craig. As an EDITOR did you use the phrase "these ones too" seriously? I am now going to research use of "these ones", because I have always thought it incorrect use, and I may be wrong.

[bungerman]

06:23 PM on 05/10/2011

gah, I just find out about this too late into the day to finish! I might still try...

[SisterAnn]

08:05 PM on 05/10/2011

Me too. It should have been on the front page.

[ecotopian]

05:43 PM on 05/10/2011

Yeah, I probably should. But the sun is shining here in Oregon for the first time in days, so I'm going out to enjoy it. The room will still be there later.

[Craig Kanalley]

11:20 PM on 05/10/2011

Yes, it will! Enjoy that sunshine.

[Taper123]

05:06 PM on 05/10/2011

Ice cream for a reward??? Heck no... I need a beer after cleaning my closet!

[darthmaul]

05:28 PM on 05/10/2011

Maybe you will get lucky and find a six pack in the closet!

[Craig Kanalley]

11:21 PM on 05/10/2011

That works too!

[sunmocker1970]

04:54 PM on 05/10/2011

Without music, it's not happening..

[knnpott]

01:42 PM on 05/13/2011

Yeah, music helps a whole lot! Totally agree!

[bopjo1]

04:42 PM on 05/10/2011

Attention all hoarders: this is your chance to make a dent...

[Zuzka Wilson]

04:35 PM on 05/10/2011

... and recycle all you can :-)