I’m sure we all agree that the living room is one of the rooms that can quickly look like it was hit by a tornado if it isn’t picked up at least once a day. While still suffering from kitchen overflow at the moment, usually our living room is mostly suffering from the ‘left behinds‘ and paper clutter. Both of these have to be dealt with often, or cleaning the living room quickly becomes an overwhelming task.
That being said, if you haven’t cleared the surfaces of things that don’t belong or things that were taken out and not put back, work on that first. Throw out any trash that you can find. (Why does the distance to the trash can always seem like it’s so far? That’s the only explanation I can come up with for why things don’t get thrown away promptly.)
If you have a wood-burning fireplace that you’re currently using (as of writing, it’s probably a bit early for that), go ahead and get it cleared of ashes, lay out new logs and sweep the hearth. If you haven’t used your fireplace (of any kind) in a while, now is a good time to schedule a chimney sweep company to come out to clean and check your chimney.
Cleaning-wise, we’re going top to bottom again.
If you have a ceiling fan, dust the blades – put a towel or blanket over any furniture underneath to catch the dust that flies. Look for cobwebs in the corners and get them with the broom or vacuum cleaner. If you have curtains that can be washed, go ahead and take them down and put them in the washing machine.
Dust the tall objects: bookcases, mantel, high shelves, window frames and sills, wall-hung speakers, electronics, hung pictures, tall furniture. Dust furniture and low objects: coffee and side tables, lamps, etc.
If you have any spots on your furniture, go ahead and treat them. Thoroughly vacuum your furniture, pulling out removable cushions and anything lurking underneath.
Vacuum or sweep your floors. If you have wood floors and furniture with some space underneath, run the Webster duster* underneath to pick up the dust.
That wasn’t so bad, was it? Keeping the living room up with a quick weekly dusting and vacuuming session will make sure that the above doesn’t take too long.
To recap:
- Clear surfaces and throw away trash.
- Clean fireplace (if you have one).
- Dust ceiling fan.
- Dust tall objects.
- Dust furniture and low objects.
- Spot treat and vacuum furniture and underneath the cushions.
- Vacuum or sweep.
Now put back the things that belong and sit with a cup of your favorite beverage and enjoy the clean and the peace.
31 Days 2016 - Reset Your Home
This post is a part of the series 31 Days to Reset Your Home, part of the 31 Days challenge. Please join me during the month of October. Each day I’ll be posting what I’m working on, challenges so you can join in, and update my progress (and hopefully hear about yours!). The 31 Days challenge is a writing challenge to pick a topic and write a post on it every day in October.
- 31 Days to Reset Your Home
- Resetting Your Morning Routine
- Resetting Your Evening Routine
- Resetting your Weekly Routine
- Declutter Week: Paper
- Declutter Week: The Left Behinds
- Declutter Week: The On Purpose
- Declutter Week: The Kitchen Pantry
- Declutter Week: Your Schedule
- Lovely Links – Oct 10
- In Other News – Kitchen Renovation Progress
- Deep Cleaning: Master Bedroom
- Deep Cleaning: Bathrooms
- Deep Cleaning: Living Room
- Deep Cleaning: The Kitchen
- After the Deep Clean
- A Good Sleep
- Another Kitchen Update
- Maintaining – How to Create a Habit
- The Art of Stress Free Productivity
- Resetting Your Email