I took my own advice today and made a to-do list! I definitely struggle with time management, so a list helps me stay on task and not waste precious time on my days off. I often feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, when in reality I just need to manage the hours I have more efficiently.
Whether it works best for you to deep clean one room per day, or just do them all at once, having a concise plan will make your life much easier. I find that when I don’t plan and write it down, I forget to do things, miss things, or just get overwhelmed and quit. So today’s room is the living room!
Follow along with our 30 day cleaning challenge on our Facebook group Uncommon Wealth.
The living room is my favorite room to clean, because its fast and easy! I pick up any clutter every night before I go to bed, and neaten the couch cushions and pillows. As you can see, the couches are my dogs’ favorite perching places, so the pillows get messed up quickly.
I start by dusting everything first. To dust or vacuum first is kind of like did the chicken or the egg come first, but this is my preference. I use a microfiber cloth that I dampen with water and squeeze out REALLY well. There are very few situations where I need more cleaning power than this for dusting, but if I do, I just use a bit of my all purpose cleaner. I am still working on the best solution for naturally cleaning electronics with the help of commercial cleaners, but right now I just wipe down the TV and electronics last so my dusting rag is essentially dry.
I have carpet, with an area rug down, so I shake out the rug and move it when I do my weekly vacuuming. When I do my daily vacuuming I just vacuum right over it. I use the hand vacuum to do the couches and throw pillows. This is another chore that I have to do several times a week because I have white dogs and brown couches. Didn’t think that one through.
I am a little, um, particular when I vacuum. I like to vacuum in one direction, and then go back over the same spot in the other direction. I don’t necessarily do this every day, but at least once a week. Try it and tell me your carpets don’t look cleaner. I dare you.
I have sliding glass patio doors in my living room, and I try to wipe them off at least once a week. Between little fingerprints and dog nose-prints, it needs regular maintenance. If you just have windows, they may not need to be cleaned as often.
And, since I am addicted to printables, I made one up for you to add to your household binder!
I added a few items from my routine, and several spaces for you to add your own “to-dos.” Click on the picture or here to go to the printable version. As usual, don’t try to print from the graphic above or it will be poor quality.
So clean those living rooms today, and get ready for the bathroom tomorrow!
Leave a Reply