Moving to college is a significant transition that demands a range of life skills. You’ll encounter new people, embrace diverse experiences, and navigate independent living for the first time. While this period is thrilling and offers a valuable opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth, it also requires careful attention to areas that may have been less prominent in your previous routine.
One important aspect of college living is keeping your living space clean and organized. Regular clean checks are mandatory in many BYU-Idaho-approved housing complexes, but there’s no need to worry about them. When handled properly, they can significantly benefit your overall living experience.
Throughout the semester, apartment staff will periodically inspect different areas of your apartment. Sometimes, clean checks may focus on specific areas, while other inspections might assess the overall tidiness of your living space. While it may seem daunting to stay on top of these clean checks, doing so can greatly enhance your life as a student.
A Tidy Living Space
Taking the time to maintain your apartment despite your busy schedule has many benefits. At the most basic level, living in a clean environment is good for your hygiene and overall health. Regular cleaning can help to prevent mold, mildew, allergens, and pests. It also allows you to be aware of any damages in your apartment so you can have it taken care of. Maintenance crews are there to assist with such issues, and it will prevent you from having to pay damage fees at the end of the semester.
On top of the physical benefits, tidy spaces can enormously impact your mental health. A clean home can increase productivity, reduce stress, and improve concentration. Cleanliness helps to combat common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression; it gives you an element of control in your life.
Keeping your apartment tidy also leads to better social opportunities, as it is easier to host your friends spontaneously if your apartment is clean and well-kept.
Increased Personal Responsibility and Accountability
Taking personal responsibility is key to becoming independent and self-reliant. While this can be a tricky skill to learn, clean checks are an excellent opportunity to hold yourself accountable. They encourage you to build good cleaning habits that will last the rest of your life.
Clean checks also provide a valuable opportunity to learn how to accept feedback and improve. Whether coordinating with roommates on shared tasks or redoing chores after a failed inspection, this low-stakes practice helps you build essential skills beyond just maintaining a tidy home. These lessons can be applied to many other areas of life, setting you up for long-term success.
Keeping up with your home is a way to show respect to those that you are living with. Being mindful of shared spaces can help to prevent conflict between roommates and build stronger friendships.
Cleaning Tips for Busy Students
It’s no secret that life as a student is busy. Not only are you trying to juggle your academics, but also your social life and mental and physical health. With all these different priorities, it can be challenging to find time for cleaning.
If you are struggling to find time to prepare for your clean checks, here are some options you might consider trying:
Prioritize your time
When you have free time, even if it’s just a few minutes, utilize it to its fullest. Set a timer for 15 minutes and see how much you can get done. Make a schedule for cleaning so you know what needs to be done and when. This can help you keep track of what has already been cleaned and what still needs to be accomplished.
Spot clean
Instead of tackling large areas all at once, break up your tasks into smaller ones and approach them gradually. For example, if you’re low on time, wash the dishes in the sink instead of cleaning the entire kitchen. This will save you time in the long run and make deep cleaning less stressful.
Divide chores among roommates
Part of living in shared housing is knowing how to divide chores among roommates. It may be worth having a meeting with all your roommates at the start of the semester to set expectations and come to an agreement on the division of household chores. Creating clear boundaries between roommates will ensure that the work gets done on time and that everyone remains happy.
Rotate regular cleaning jobs
To keep things fair and prevent one person from feeling weighed down by the tougher cleaning tasks, try periodically rotating the cleaning jobs among everyone in the apartment. Mixing up the assignments will not only distribute the workload evenly but also encourage teamwork and a sense of shared responsibility. Plus, it can be a great way for each of you to better understand what goes into keeping your home tidy.
Clean Checks at American Avenue
At American Avenue, we are dedicated to creating an environment that supports our residents’ success at BYU-Idaho. As part of this commitment, we conduct regular clean checks to ensure that our apartments remain in excellent condition and that students’ well-being is prioritized.
We follow a consistent schedule to make the process seamless so residents always know when to expect these checks. Each month, we assign different cleaning tasks to each set of roommates. You can find detailed descriptions of these tasks on our website.
Some key areas to double-check before the scheduled inspections are as follows:
- Living spaces and floors
- Kitchen dishes and microwave
- Kitchen stove and refrigerator
- Bathroom
- Bedroom
- Front porch
BYU- Idaho Student Housing for You
College is an exciting time. Even with the new responsibilities that come with living on your own, you can find opportunities to enjoy your time. Keeping your living space tidy will greatly enhance your experience.
If you are looking for quality housing near the BYU-Idaho campus, contact American Avenue today. We’re committed to creating an environment that supports your academic journey and empowers you to thrive. Let us help you find the perfect place to call home!