A Step-by-Step Walkthrough for How to Spring Clean Your Living Room

With Spring Cleaning for Your Mood, we’re helping you get your housekeeping done no matter what state of mind you’re in. For 20 weekdays in April, we’ll focus on cleaning a new area of your space, with three different ways to get it done—so it’s easy to stay on track even when you’re busy, tired, or away from home. Sign up with your email now and enjoy a better space by the end of the month.

You probably spend a lot of time in your living room, and thus it gets plenty of tidying attention (especially when you’re expecting guests). But spring cleaning is a chance to dig in to some specific things and spaces that don’t always get the care they deserve.

Your “living room” might be a family room, or a basement, or a playroom. Don’t get too hung up on the name—just focus on the space where you spend most of your downtime at home.

So what are you in the mood for today?

If you have time for a deep clean, here’s a plan for hitting all your living room’s hidden filth:

• Move your furniture around to reveal the spaces normally hidden behind or below those pieces. Get all of the furniture off rugs and onto the bare floor, if you have room.
• Vacuum and clean the newly-revealed floors, corners, and walls.
• If you have a rug, vacuum it from the top, then from the bottom, then from the top again (you can flip and work in halves, if that’s easier).
• Remove and rotate your sofa and chair cushions, vacuuming the seat beneath them while they’re off. Address any stains or snags you come across.
• Wash your throw pillows and blankets; always defer to the label, but many throw pillows and throw blankets are machine-safe (including the stuffing).

If you only have time for a quick effort, toss your throws into the wash sometime today. Check both pillows and blankets for labels that will let you know how they need to be cared for. If you can’t find care instructions, try this:

• How to wash throw pillows: Put pillows (with their stuffing) in the wash on a warm temperature on a delicate cycle, with just a small amount of detergent (don’t over-do it!). Dry on a low tumble in low-to-medium heat, taking the pillow out of the dryer while it’s still very slightly damp.
• How to wash throw blankets: Wash in cold (or slightly warm) water on a delicate cycle, again being careful not to use too much detergent. Dry on a low temperature, and remove when the blanket is still slightly damp to maintain its shape.

If you think your throws are made of a delicate fabric or they have lots of embellishments, you can always hand-wash them.

Cleanliness begets cleanliness. Because we do so much living in the living room, it’s natural for things to pile up there. If you’re able to stay on top of everyday clutter, you’ll feel more empowered to wipe up the coffee table and suck up dust bunnies as they happen. So the mindful mission today is to add a basket to your living room somewhere—under a side table, or tucked in a corner—where you can easily pick up and collect random clutter.

Visit the Spring Cleaning for Your Mood page to check out all the assignments so far. Download the PDF calendar so you always know what’s coming. And sign up with your email so you’re always on track: