While we may be doing an excellent job of maintaining our living areas, occasionally we need to do more than maintenance. Take the time to review what goes into a living room spring clean up. Find a list of supplies along with step-by-step instructions to do a thorough spring cleaning in your living areas.
Time Required: 45 minutes - 1 hour
Here's How:
Begin with a 15 Minute Living Room Cleanup. This will clear out the clutter and give you room to do the actual spring clean up. Don't worry about cleaning the floors in the 15 minute clean up. We will do this later.
Dust down the ceiling and corners of walls.
Take down and wash the curtains or have them cleaned.
Clean the curtain tracks.
Some curtain fabrics need to be dry cleaned, so check the care instructions on your curtains before tossing them into washing machine .Remember to remove the curtains hooks and have a small box ready to put them in,or the chances are you'll find a couple missing when the time comes to re-hang them.Dust the curtain tracks thoroughly.If it is a plastic,wipe with a damp cloth and when it is dry,polish it with a cloth sprayed with with a little silicone polish to keep the track running smoothly.Rub metal tracks lightly with a little metal polish.then buff with a clean dry duster.
Move all the furniture and clean behind and under it.
Get some help if there are large pieces pf furniture.When you have cleaned under,replace it and polish as usual.
Dust the ceiling.
If you haven't gotten special ceiling duster,tie a large duster onto the head of a clean broom,and gently sweep it across ceiling.Make sure that you don't hit and damage the light fitting or lampshade-it's easily done.
Clean the light fitting,lampshade and bulb.
Switch off the electricity at the mains-this is a must for safety reasons.Then remove the bulb and lampshade.
Wipe the outside of the ceiling fitting with a dry cloth.Dust the glass part of the bulb and clean the lampshade.You can often use the narrow attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean the lampshade.
Clean behind radiators.
Parts of the radiator can be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner with a narrow attachment but you will need a paddle duster to reach right down behind it.You can easily improvise if you haven't got one.all you need to do is straighten a wire coat hanger and pop and old sock over the end.It'll reach into all those odd crevices.
Dust and wash the walls and remove and marks and stains.
Painted walls
Dust the walls using a long-handled duster or one you have improvised.
Wash the walls.Check in unobtrusive area whether the paint on the walls will stand up to washing before you start.Moist painted walls can be washed using a warm solution of water and washing up liquid.Always start at the bottom of the wall so that you don't get dirty streaks flowing down the wall. Complete one wall at the time so you don't get a tidemark half way up the wall.
After washing rinse with clean water.Remember to put a dustsheet on the floor to catch any water.(Wear short sleeves,and if you do want to avoid dirty water running down your arms put an old pair of tennis sweat bands on or a couple of old flannels secured with an elastic band.)
You can make your own environmentally friendly anti-fungal and anti-bacterial wash for your walls by combining eight cups of warm water with four cups of white vinegar and thirty drops of tea tree oil.Rinse well after cleaning.
Papered walls
Dust the walls using long duster as mentioned above.If it washable,wipe down with damp cloth.Clean marks of non-washable wallpaper using artist's white eraser.Try to remove grease stains by holding a piece of absorbent paper over the stain and ironing with warm iron. Repeat until all the grease has lifted onto the absorbent paper.
Wash the paintwork
Start at the top of the room and work downwards.Wash paintwork with a solution of wahing-up liquid and warm water.Do not use detergent as this can alter the colour of some paints.Rinse the paintwork with clean water and dry using a new cloth.
Shampoo the carpet or thoroughly clean the floor.
You can shampoo carpets on your hands and knees but if you have a lot of carpet in your house this is more than most people would be able to tackle.Consider hiring a carpet cleaner or calling in the professional.
Clean bookcases
Once a year,completely empty your bookcases-it's also a great opportunity to get rid of any books you no longer want.Dust the books with an acrylic duster holding the book firmly shut so that you don't damage the pages,wipe the shelves,and replace the books.
Other spring cleaning tasks
More Furniture Resources
Tidy the cupboards
You will have been keeping them tidy for the rest of the year but now is a good time to have a turnout.Take everything out,clean the inside,sort the contents and return what you want to keep.
Have four bin bags handy so that you can sort as you go.Do one cupboard at the time or you'll feel you are at a jumble sale,with all the contents spread all over the room.You will have been keeping them tidy for the rest of the year but now is a good time to have a turnout.Take everything out,clean the inside,sort the contents and return what you want to keep.
Dust down the ceiling and corners of walls.
Take down and wash the curtains or have them cleaned.
Clean the curtain tracks.
Some curtain fabrics need to be dry cleaned, so check the care instructions on your curtains before tossing them into washing machine .Remember to remove the curtains hooks and have a small box ready to put them in,or the chances are you'll find a couple missing when the time comes to re-hang them.Dust the curtain tracks thoroughly.If it is a plastic,wipe with a damp cloth and when it is dry,polish it with a cloth sprayed with with a little silicone polish to keep the track running smoothly.Rub metal tracks lightly with a little metal polish.then buff with a clean dry duster.
Move all the furniture and clean behind and under it.
Get some help if there are large pieces pf furniture.When you have cleaned under,replace it and polish as usual.
Dust the ceiling.
If you haven't gotten special ceiling duster,tie a large duster onto the head of a clean broom,and gently sweep it across ceiling.Make sure that you don't hit and damage the light fitting or lampshade-it's easily done.
Clean the light fitting,lampshade and bulb.
Switch off the electricity at the mains-this is a must for safety reasons.Then remove the bulb and lampshade.
Wipe the outside of the ceiling fitting with a dry cloth.Dust the glass part of the bulb and clean the lampshade.You can often use the narrow attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean the lampshade.
Clean behind radiators.
Parts of the radiator can be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner with a narrow attachment but you will need a paddle duster to reach right down behind it.You can easily improvise if you haven't got one.all you need to do is straighten a wire coat hanger and pop and old sock over the end.It'll reach into all those odd crevices.
More Windows Resources
Dust and wash the walls and remove and marks and stains.
Painted walls
Dust the walls using a long-handled duster or one you have improvised.
Wash the walls.Check in unobtrusive area whether the paint on the walls will stand up to washing before you start.Moist painted walls can be washed using a warm solution of water and washing up liquid.Always start at the bottom of the wall so that you don't get dirty streaks flowing down the wall. Complete one wall at the time so you don't get a tidemark half way up the wall.
After washing rinse with clean water.Remember to put a dustsheet on the floor to catch any water.(Wear short sleeves,and if you do want to avoid dirty water running down your arms put an old pair of tennis sweat bands on or a couple of old flannels secured with an elastic band.)
You can make your own environmentally friendly anti-fungal and anti-bacterial wash for your walls by combining eight cups of warm water with four cups of white vinegar and thirty drops of tea tree oil.Rinse well after cleaning.
Papered walls
Dust the walls using long duster as mentioned above.If it washable,wipe down with damp cloth.Clean marks of non-washable wallpaper using artist's white eraser.Try to remove grease stains by holding a piece of absorbent paper over the stain and ironing with warm iron. Repeat until all the grease has lifted onto the absorbent paper.
Wash the paintwork
Start at the top of the room and work downwards.Wash paintwork with a solution of wahing-up liquid and warm water.Do not use detergent as this can alter the colour of some paints.Rinse the paintwork with clean water and dry using a new cloth.
Shampoo the carpet or thoroughly clean the floor.
You can shampoo carpets on your hands and knees but if you have a lot of carpet in your house this is more than most people would be able to tackle.Consider hiring a carpet cleaner or calling in the professional.
Clean bookcases
Once a year,completely empty your bookcases-it's also a great opportunity to get rid of any books you no longer want.Dust the books with an acrylic duster holding the book firmly shut so that you don't damage the pages,wipe the shelves,and replace the books.
Dust and clean all art and photographs along the wall.
Be careful when cleaning framed art and photographs. Never spray cleanser or water onto the frame. The liquid can seep behind the glass and damage the pictures. Instead lightly wet a clean cloth to wipe the frame and glass.
Dust and clean the ceiling fan.
There is nothing more embarrassing than turning on a ceiling fan and having large chunks of dust fall down on your guest's head. Use this spring cleaning time to dust down the fan and fan blades. You may need to use a gentle cleanser like Murphy's Oil Soap. Take down any light fixtures and gently wash and dry them before replacing.
Dust and clean out the couches and chairs.
Use a vacuum cleaner with attachment to clean out couch crevices. Check to make sure none of your missing items have found their way into the abyss of the couch. Clean slipcovers, accent pillows, etc. Use an upholstery attachment on a rug shampoo machine to clean soiled couches and chair surfaces if needed. If a light cleaning is needed use upholstery spot cleaner. Test in a hidden area first.
Dust and clean out the couches and chairs.
Use a vacuum cleaner with attachment to clean out couch crevices. Check to make sure none of your missing items have found their way into the abyss of the couch. Clean slipcovers, accent pillows, etc. Use an upholstery attachment on a rug shampoo machine to clean soiled couches and chair surfaces if needed. If a light cleaning is needed use upholstery spot cleaner. Test in a hidden area first.
Other spring cleaning tasks
- Re-pot any plants that have outgrown their pots and refresh any others with a little new compost.
- Clean upholstery on sofas and chair
- Wash and dry clean loose covers
- Clean extractor fans,following makers instructions
More Surface Cleaning Resources
- Best All-Purpose Cleaners
- Vacuuming Walls and Ceilings
- Homemade Glass Cleaner
- How To Organize Bookshelves
- How To Clean Electronics
- Spring Clean Your Dining Area
- Remove Candle Wax
- Remove Burn Stains
- Remove Adhesive Stains
More Furniture Resources
- How To Clean Leather Furniture
- Basic Cleaning Supplies
- Storing Cleaning Supplies
- Homemade Furniture Polish
- Should I Polish Furniture Every Time I Dust
- The Most Common Mistakes We Do While Using Vacuum Cleaner
Tips
- Clean narrow-necked vases by filling them with water and dropping a soluble aspirin or denture-cleaning tablet and leaving overnight. Rinse clean in the morning.
- If you have doors on the bookshelves occasionally leave them open for a day so that air can circulate.
- Keep bookcases away from the radiators as the heat may damage them and the books,causing the bindings to crack and leading to loose pages.
- Listen to music, an audio book, or a foreign language tape. The time will pass a lot more quickly if you have an enjoyable atmosphere. This is a great time to commandeer the stereo for what you want to listen to. If anyone objects, offer to let them have a turn with the stereo and the spring cleaning.
- Partner up with a friend or relative. After you get done spring cleaning your living room, help her do hers. Misery flees when company is around.
- Gather all of your supplies together first thing. Trying to sort through the pantry cabinet for your dust cloths might make you frustrated enough to de-clutter the cabinet. It's easy to forget what your initial goal was.
What You Need
- A vacuum cleaner with attachments
- A sponge mop and bucket
- Plastic scourer
- A long-handled feather duster
- Dusters
- Floor cleaning cloths
- Dustpan and brush
- Rubber gloves
- A bucket
- A chamois leather
- Dishcloths
- Old toothbrushes
- Cleaning products
- Multi-surface cleaner
- Bin linen
- A bottle of "classy"hand cream--you are worth it!Dust mop (preferably with a long handle)
- Step-ladder
- Rug shampoo machine with upholstery attachment (optional)
- Spot remover for upholstery or carpets (optional)
Not essential but useful:
- Cotton wool buds-great for getting dirt out of the tightest corners.
- An old pair of tights-if you drop a tiny object like an earring back,cut a piece from the leg and secure over the hose with an elastic band.
- Vacuum over the area and the object will stick to the tights.
- A paint brush-ideal for dusting lampshades,
- A small square of unused carpet-spray it with a little furniture polish and it makes an excellent buffer for shoes.
- Old socks-best dusters
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