Don’t let the state of your living room stress you out another minute
Your living room is where you and your family spend most of your time together, which means it can quickly get messy. No one wants to trip over wayward toys, try to watch a movie on a dusty TV, or have to clear a space on the coffee table to set a drink down, so keep ahead of the chaos with our living room cleaning checklists to learn which tasks you should do, and how often. With a little bit of effort, your living room can be a clean, comfortable sanctuary for the whole family.
The right cleaning supplies can help you clean your living room thoroughly with as little elbow grease as possible. You won’t need all of these supplies for a quick tidying, but it’s a good idea to keep it all together–so you can grab it when you need it. Keep these items in your living room cleaning kit:
Rubber or latex gloves
All-purpose cleaning solution
Wood cleaner/polish
Window cleaner
Microfiber cleaning cloths
Duster
Trash bags
Vacuum
Broom and dustpan
Mop
Warm water and bucket
Sponges
While tidying up may seem like a simple task that can wait until the weekend, doing it on a daily basis will save you time and stress in the long run. Trash can build up quickly (as can dirt, dust, and other debris), so getting rid of it in a timely manner will ensure that your living room looks sparkling clean each and every day. Plus, you won’t have to shuffle around piles of junk to make room on the couch when it’s time to catch up on your shows.
Even if you only have 10 minutes to clean your house, here are the living room cleaning tasks to focus on each day:
Throw away trash
Pick items up and put away items
Straighten pillows and fold blankets
Clear clutter from coffee table and other flat surfaces
Dust is more than just a nuisance. According to the American Lung Association, dust can cause allergy and asthma symptoms. Dust regularly to keep your home and family healthy.
If you don’t have time to get around to these tasks every day, doing them on a weekly basis is fine. Get the whole family involved to make the process go even faster.
Specific tasks may vary, depending on your living room, but these tasks should be done weekly:
Sweep or vacuum floors depending on the surface
Dust and wipe down all surfaces, including shelves and artwork
Dust blinds and light fixtures
Vacuum upholstered chairs and couches (get under the cushions)
Sanitize touch points like doorknobs, light switches, and remotes
Dust electronics
Some living room cleaning tasks don’t need to be done as regularly, but you don’t want to go too long without doing them. Keeping on top of these tasks will ensure your living room stays clean, and everything in it stays in good condition. These are the cleaning tasks you should do once a month:
Declutter and donate any items you don’t need or use
Clean and polish wood furniture and fixtures
Wash the inside of windows
Wipe down baseboards with a duster, then wash with an appropriate cleaner
Dust ceiling fans and wipe down the blades to remove stuck-on dust and debris
Wash throw blankets and throw pillow covers
"Ceiling fans help keep your room cool, but they’re also the first surface to receive dust that may settle from your ceiling, open windows, and vents,” says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dust Busters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. “By frequent dusting or wiping down the ceiling fan, you’re decreasing the amount of dust being dispersed in that room."
Every three months, give your living room a deep top-to-bottom cleaning to remove deep-down dirt and allergens. A deep clean will also help alert you to anything that needs repair or replacement.
Set aside some time once a season for the following tasks:
Shampoo the carpet
Deep clean area rugs
Remove and wash window treatments
Deep clean upholstery and wash any removable covers
Wash walls using a mild all-purpose cleaner and a sponge or mop
Wash windows inside and out
Between kids, pets, work, and all the other components of a busy life, it can be difficult to find the time to keep your living room clean. If you don’t have room in your busy schedule for maintenance cleaning or a periodic deep clean, a local cleaning service can help! A great way to find a house cleaner is to ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. The average cost of house cleaning averages between $90 and $250, depending on the size of your home and the scope of the job.
