Living and Dining

Well now that your Kitchen is Sparkling Clean, I am going to continue on with my Spring Cleaning Series. The next areas of your home that we are going to tackle are the Living Room and Dining Room. If you don't have a dining room, then you are in luck with one less room to clean. But I am sure that everyone has a living space where a lot of living occurs. So let's move on to some Tidbits on how to get these rooms in Tip-Top shape.

Tidbit - Think High and Think Low because that's where all the Dust will go!


Living Room and Dining Room

Shiny Windows

Remove all curtains and wash them. Make sure to read any labels before putting them in your washing machine. Some may require hand washing. The gentle cycle with cold water is usually the safest bet for most fabrics. Some fabrics you can just shake out in your yard and they will be fine. If you have a tailored solid treatment above your window, then just dust it with a duster through out the year to control any dust build-up from forming.

Dust any plastic or wooden window shades with a damp cloth. Some shades may require a quick tub washing if too much dust has been collected. Any other materials may just need a dusting with a duster.

Wash your windows inside and out. If you don't have the fold out windows that can easily be washed, then send hubby outside with his ladder that he never gets to use, to clean them. If you live in an apartment or you don't have the means to wash them, then don't sweat it and forget it. The inside will do just fine. Make sure to look for any dirt that may have collected at the bottom of your windows when you open them. Vacuum the area and then clean it with a damp cloth.

Dusting away the Bunny's

The easiest way to dust in high places is to use your broom and sweep along the top edges of your walls. This will remove any dust webs that have collected. You can also sweep along the top of door and window moldings while your at it. Another technique to do this is to attach a damp cloth to the end of your broom stick and go over the same areas. Look at your walls and look for any dust, especially above any forced hot air units.

Wall Hangings,take them down off the wall and dust them with a damp cloth. Wash any glass with a glass cleaner.

Light Fixtures, dust and clean them. The ceiling fixtures should be wiped down. Any lamp shades can be vacuumed and the bases wiped.

Decorating Tidbit - Lamp Shades are an inexpensive way to freshen up the mood of a room. Look around and see if there are any that you would like to change.

Furniture should be pulled out and dusted/swept/vacuumed under. While the furniture is moved out, the floor moldings can be wiped down. If you have hard wood floors, they should be washed also.

Decorating Tidbit - While your furniture is all moved out, try that new furniture arrangement that you have been meaning to try. Change it up for Spring

Decorative Floor Rugs should be rolled up and swept/washed under.

Living Room

Furniture

Vacuum under all couch and chair cushions. Keep a Fabric Softener Sheet under the cushions for a continuous fresh scent. Change the sheets each time you remember to vacuum the cushions.

Wood furniture should be dusted and polished to keep it long lasting.

Remove all pictures and decorative pieces from your furniture tops and dust them. Wipe down your furniture with a soft cloth. Don't forget to dust any shelves and books.

Decorating Tidbit - When your cleaning your decorative pieces and wall hangings, put them all together on a table and look at them. See if you can move them around to different places or even different rooms. This is a smart way to redecorate without spending a cent.

Dining Room

Dining Table and Chairs should be wiped down with a damp cloth. Look for any dust or food build-up along the tables edge and on chair arm and legs. If your set is good wood quality, it should be polished.

Hutch should be emptied and cleaned. Dust any shelves and polish. Clean any glass.

Pull out any drawers and run a bar of soap along the drawer runner. This will keep the drawer running smoothly in and out.

Any other furniture in your rooms not mentioned will obviously have to be cleaned also :)

All homes are different. Some of you may do some of these things more often while others may have never done some of these things. They are only some Tidbit's on where to start if you are planning to Spring Clean. Our homes are the cornerstone to our lives, it will do you well to Freshen It up every once and a while. Happy Spring Cleaning!