Living Room Cleaning Guide

The living room is where you spend awake time and where guests see first. It needs to be clean enough to be comfortable but doesn't need to be sterile. Focus on maintaining a baseline of tidiness.

Daily Habits (5 minutes)

The Nightly Reset

Before bed, spend 5 minutes returning the living room to baseline:

• Fluff and arrange couch pillows
• Fold throw blankets
• Put remotes in their place
• Clear coffee table of dishes, cups, and trash
• Put away items that don't belong

This ensures you wake up to a clean space every day.

Throughout the Day

• Return items after using them
• Don't let dishes accumulate
• Handle mail and papers immediately (file, action, or trash)

Weekly Tasks (15-20 minutes)

Dusting

Living rooms collect dust on every surface:

• TV screen (use appropriate cleaner, not ammonia)
• Entertainment center and shelves
• Coffee and side tables
• Windowsills
• Lampshades (dust or lint roll)
• Decor items
• Baseboards (monthly is fine)

Floors

• Vacuum carpet and rugs
• Vacuum or mop hard floors
• Get under couch and chairs when possible
• Vacuum couch cushions and crevices

Upholstery

• Vacuum couch with upholstery attachment
• Flip and rotate cushions
• Spot clean any stains
• Brush pet hair if applicable

Monthly Tasks

• Wash throw blankets and pillow covers
• Clean windows (interior)
• Dust ceiling fan and light fixtures
• Clean behind and under furniture
• Wipe down doors and door frames
• Clean electronics (TV back, cable boxes)
• Vacuum/wipe curtains or blinds

Living Room Clutter Control

Flat Surfaces

Coffee tables, side tables, and entertainment centers attract clutter. Keep them minimal:

• Designate homes for remotes (basket, drawer)
• Limit decorative items
• Process mail and papers daily
• No permanent "to deal with" piles

Paper Pileup

Mail, magazines, and papers are common culprits:

• Sort mail immediately: recycle, file, or action
• Unsubscribe from unwanted catalogs
• Go digital for bills and statements when possible
• Recycle magazines after reading

The "Stuff" Problem

Random items migrate to living rooms. Create systems:

• Small basket for items to return to other rooms
• Designated spots for commonly used items
• Regular purging of items that accumulate

Electronics Care

TV Screens

• Turn off and let cool before cleaning
• Use microfiber cloth only
• Avoid ammonia-based cleaners
• Spray cleaner on cloth, not screen
• Wipe gently in one direction

Other Electronics

• Dust regularly to prevent buildup in vents
• Use compressed air for crevices
• Wipe remotes with disinfectant wipe
• Keep cables organized (less dust trap)