The Living Room and / or Family Room:

The living room and / or family rooms are fairly easy to clean. Although in some household with children, especially small ones, these rooms can get quite a work out. Putting these rooms back in a nice clean order usually means removing the clutter and a dust cloth applied here and there.

Let's begin...

You'll need a large basket, a dust rag, and your vacuum or broom.

Get a large basket and a garbage bag. A Laundry basket works well for the basket part. Put them at the entrance to your living room.

Go around the living room and toss garbage in the trash bag and put items that don't belong in the living room such as clothing or toys in the basket.

Cull all newspapers and magazines. Recycle what you don't need or want anymore and the stuff you still want stack neatly somewhere. Make a goal to take 10 minutes a week to go through these things if they tend to get out of hand in your home.

Straighten couch cushions and throws. Do you have pets? You might need to go over the couches with a damp sponge or a sticky roller. I use a damp sponge and I keep the couches covered in pet friendly throw blankets because cats are sneaky and will get up there when you aren?t looking.

Go to the bookshelves in the room and straighten them and dust the exposed shelving in front of them and the books themselves. If you have a feather duster dust the knick knacks.

Dust all the rest of the surfaces in your living room. Get the hanging pictures too. With a duster it goes quickly but it?s not as thorough. Our goal here is quick.

Now vacuum your exposed flooring. Not under the couch, just in front of it. Get the middle of the room and any exposed areas. If you have uncarpeted flooring in this room then sweep and dry dust it.

Open a window to let in fresh air.