Clean a Living Room
Has it been a while since you cleaned the living room? If it's time for a big cleanup, don't worry. There are many ways to get a living room looking better. Choose the steps here that make the most sense to you, depending on how you use your living room and what you keep there. Then, get to it and get it over with. Invite a friend over so you can talk while you clean or just turn on some upbeat music, because if you listen to slow or soft music you will fall asleep! You need something to keep your energy up!
Steps
- Play some music while you clean. This can help you enjoy your job much more, and get motivated.
- Clear the clutter on the floor. Start by removing and recycling or discarding anything that is plainly trash. This gives you a visible start, and it gets the first part done quickly.
- Put away any items that don't belong in the living room. You can either put this stuff away directly or gather it in a box or laundry basket and put it away all at once. If you do collect it first, make sure it gets put away.
- Remember as you go that any clutter you discard at this point is stuff you never have to tidy, or dust, again. If time is short, a full review of the clutter might have to wait until later.
- Use a vacuum hose or broom to remove cobwebs from ceilings and dust from ceiling fan or light fixtures. Do this before cleaning the floor or anything underneath these areas.
- Clean the couches and chairs in the room. Use the long stick attached to the vacuum to remove crumbs, dust, and lint from upholstered furniture.
- Shelve books, CDs, and DVDs neatly.
- Use a wet rag and cleaning solution, wipe down the tables, desks, the TV, blinds and window seal as well as patio door. Use an appropriate wood cleaner on wood furniture.
- If things just need to be dusted, use a duster, dust cloth, or vacuum hose attachment to dust the surfaces. You need not get something wet just to remove dust.
- Straighten anything on tables and shelves. Also reposition sofa cushions, throw pillows, and scatter rugs that have slid out of position. Re-fold any blankets that hang over the back of sofas or chairs.
- Dust or vacuum the baseboards, if they need it.
- Sweep and damp-mop the floor, if it is hard, and vacuum any rugs or carpet in the room.
- If it is safe to do so, open windows to air out the room.
- Spot clean any spots in the carpet.
- Clean any entries or foyers that adjoin the living room at the same time you clean the living room. Entries are where dirt gets tracked in, so use good doormats, and ask people to take off their shoes when they enter.
Tips
- Work from top to bottom. That way, dust that you knock off high areas will be collected later on when you vacuum lower areas and the floor.
- Spray air freshener, if you like it, to make your house smell good. Otherwise, open up and let in some fresh air.
- Don't stack things. If you don't have a place for it other than a stack, get rid of it, invest in appropriate storage devices, or store the items elsewhere.
- Set a kitchen timer to go off every 15 minutes. If you get distracted by the TV, a phone call, looking through papers, you will be brought back on track every 15 minutes. If you do make it through 15 minutes, give yourself a short break before starting again.
- To make things fun, play your favorite CD and clean to the music.
- If you don't have cleaning solution, wipe everything down with water.
- Stick a fabric softener sheet in your empty vacuum bag when you install a new one. The air circulation will make the room smell fresh.
- Ask how many CDs or DVDs you really need. If you love movies or books, get appropriate shelves or racks for them.
- Invest in the proper supplies to keep your space clean and your furniture preserved. For $15 you can have furniture polish, window cleaner, spot carpet cleaner, fabric freshener and rags that will last months and months.
- To keep your living room or any other place in your house, try cleaning often and make a schedule to avoid cleaning up large messes.
- Having someone else to help you clean makes the job easier.
Warnings
- If you use Febreeze™ in your house, give furniture and rugs time to dry. Don't over-saturate fabrics.
- If you open windows to air out your rooms, make sure pets can't jump out and you properly secure the windows when you are done.
- Be careful - most cleaning solutions are flammable.
- If you do use cleaners or Febreeze™, read the instructions for use and what fabrics you can use them on. Some pillows and upholstery may stain.
