How to clean a child’s bedroom

First, remove all items from the tops and shelves of dressers, bookshelves and nightstands. Next, give each piece a thorough dusting, top to bottom. Don’t forget the sides and feet. Use a thin cloth moistened with cleaner appropriate to the furniture’s material (wood, glass, plastic) to wipe away fingerprints. For a deeper clean or to maintain fine wood furniture, rub lemon oil or other polish onto the surface of the piece. Use small, even strokes. Wipe and buff with a dry, soft cloth for a final shine.

Extra tip: It is best not to use cleaners or polishes inside drawers. Instead wipe them out with a dry cloth or use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner.

Clean the mirrors and windows.

Get a sparkling clean finish by wiping down mirrors and windows with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. Better yet, ask older children to clean their mirrors and windows using this green technique: Dip crumpled newspaper into a shallow dish of distilled white vinegar and wipe the mirror until it begins to dry. Give it a final shine with a soft cloth or another piece of dry newspaper.

Dust blades with a long-handle fan duster. Or, wipe blades with a cleaning cloth or paper towel moistened with all-purpose cleaner. Use the fan duster to touch up hard-to-reach light fixtures and hard-surface mobiles, too.