Question 34. About the dirty bedroom

Dear 21st Century Dad, I took our advice that her bedroom is her own space, that I would ease my stress levels if I only hassled her about the messy habits in our house’s public spaces, the kitchen etc. Now my daughter’s room smells like a hippo den. There’s more clothes on the floor than in her cupboard. I’d like to stay out of her room but there’s things growing in there. I can see them. I hear moldy beasties that mutter strange sounds in the night that keep me awake and give nightmares to her brothers. Thanks for the previous advice, but what do I do now? There’s something pushing against her bedroom door, and I’m afraid it’s calling my name.

Dear Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,

Oops! It’s so easy for 21st Century Dad to dispense advice when he doesn’t have to suffer the bedroom culinary consequences.

Negotiate cleaning schedules. Clothes on the floor make the choosing of wrinkle free clothing, and finding things more difficult. Her fashion sense is not something that’s worth arguing over. Rotting food is a different matter. Attracting vermin and critters because of messy food habits is non-negotiatable. That’s a family health hazard. Award any incentives only after the room is clean.

Is our child a drug or alcohol abuser? There’s nothing harder than finding a needle in a haystack than perhaps a stash of drugs in a messy oh so messy bedroom. Or perhaps the mess indicates there could be deeper psychological dysfunction at work.

Would a reorganization/renovation project help? We are not talking thousands of dollars here. A shelving unit might do wonders to keep the mess off the floor. Does she feel like the bedroom reflects her own space? Ask her if she would like to paint her room. That will only cost we about thirty bucks. If there is natural light in her room , give her a couple of large plants to care for. Nature is naturally beautiful, and she may absorb some appreciation of beauty by osmosis. Check out the magazine racks. Although Architectural Digest may be too much for her, a number of the cool designer magazines may set off a creative explosion. School children paint amazing murals on bland walls to brighten them up. Why not her bedroom? And let her be the designer. Remember, even punk rooms can be clean.

Hope that she doesn’t Google Punk Shui +Josh Hughes +NPR for any design tips.

Google:

1. Hatch: The Design Public® Blog
2. Decorate teen bedrooms
3. Abstract Dynamics: Faesthetic
4. Anarchist People | Anarchist news dot org

Key into YouTube:

1. Animation--The Self-Cleaning Room
2. How to Clean & Organize the Bedroom: Housekeeping Tips
3. A Clean Bedroom
4. Tips and Tricks to half-assed cleaning of bedroom