A Guide to Cleaning Your Living Room

Living Area To-Do List

• Pick up crumbs and dust bunnies with a handheld vacuum (one minute)
• Fluff the cushions and fold throws after use (two minutes)
• Wipe tabletops and spot-clean cabinets when you see fingerprints (one minute)
• Straighten coffee-table books and magazines. Throw out newspapers. Put away CDs and videos. (Two minutes)
  
  Every Week
   
• Dust all surfaces ― including electronics, books, blinds, picture frames, windowsills and ledges, and tops of door frames ― and remove all cobwebs (15 minutes)
   
• Dust-mop the floors with a microfiber cloth or a Swiffer, or vacuum the rugs and carpeting (five minutes)
   
• Vacuum the upholstery (five minutes)
   
• Throw out old magazines (one minute)
   
• Wipe the switch plates, doorknobs, and doorjambs (one minute)
   
• Wipe and disinfect the telephone (30 seconds)
   
• Shake out or vacuum the doormat (one minute)
   
• Vacuum the heating and air-conditioning vents (one minute)
  
  Every Season
   
• Wash the insides of the windows (15 minutes)
• Lift big pieces of furniture and vacuum or mop underneath (10 minutes)