Today we’re moving furniture to do a thorough cleaning on the family room. Since this is the room that features our biggest TV and our surround sound system, you can imagine how often this room gets used. Therefore it’s more worn out, dirty, and tired looking than our other rooms. It will take more time than some of our other projects, so it’s perfect for a Saturday.
QUICK THINGS TO DO TODAY:
- Energize yourself with a brisk walk today before getting started cleaning.
- Make a special breakfast for you and your helpers – but one that doesn’t make too much of a mess, as you have other things to be cleaning up today!
- Plan a special reward for yourself and any helpers who work hard today. A movie later tonight, root beer floats, a family game played around the dining table?
- Start a load of laundry (pet bedding? blanket throws? towels?) that can get going while you’re working doing other things
TODAY’S PROJECT: Family Room
We have several pieces of furniture to move today in order to vacuum under them: Two couches, a chaise, two bookshelves, and the coffee table our TV stands on top of.
This room also holds our three massive dog crates (for a Doberman and two Flatcoat retrievers), which need to be moved outside to be hosed out. The carpet sitting under them I’m sure will need some extra attention and extra carpet freshener.
My family room furniture is slipcovered with wonderful washable suede slipcovers. With 3 dogs who aren’t allowed on furniture but somehow manage to get their fur everywhere, I’ll be laundering all the slipcovers today. We’ll vacuum the bare furniture and fluff the couch pillows. I wish it were a dry sunny day so we could air the pillows in the sun outside, but alas.
After we’ve replaced the furniture and cushions, we’ll be washing windows, taking down curtains to send to the dry cleaners, dusting baseboards, wiping light switches and utility switches, dusting lamp fixtures and the overhead lighting, then dusting the TV and electronic components.
Our bookshelves (full of DVDs and Blu-Rays) need to be dusted, sorted and organized. I’m sure we can find 2-3 unwanted or duplicate DVDs to give away, freeing up a bit of space on the shelves. I’ll dust the red acrylic tray we use as a coffee table to hold our remotes and drinks, and I’ll wipe down all the remotes with antibacterial wipes.
My last step will be to light my home fragrance oil diffuser to make the room smell lovely.
Tonight we’ll be watching a movie in a fresh, sparkling, clean and cozy little den!
LOVELY BLOGS: Amber’s Home and Office Organizing Blog
Amber is a professional, certified home organizer in Chicago. Her blog is packed full of really helpful tips and suggestions on organizing. I can’t believe how much info she gives away for free and how much time she must spend writing these helpful posts! I’ve learned a lot from her already. Recent posts include The Most Difficult Area of the Kitchen, Space for the Pets, an article on packing jewelry for a trip, and hiding your command center.
http://www.ambersorganizing.com/blog/
LOVELY CRAFTS: Easter Crafts at Paper Source
Paper Source is a really dangerous store for me to walk into. Despite my best shopaholic-avoidance intentions, and despite my full knowledge of exactly how very, very much stationery I already own, I rarely leave empty handed. Their adorable Easter crafts offerings include various colorful paper bouquets, an Easter paper wreath, Easter-themed rubber stamps, fabulous gerbera daisy stickers, and butterfly stationery.
LOVELY LINKS FOR TODAY:
Spring Crafts and Activities (Family Crafts/About.com)
Spring Crafts for Kids (Martha Stewart)
Sweet Potato Apple Souffle Cups (Lunch Box Bunch)
What’s With Restaurants That Won’t Take Reservations? (Bon Appetit)
