By JULIA STEELE
Image Credit: Julia SteeleThey’re where we kick up our feet after a rough day, or recharge on lazy Sundays. Sometimes at-home football stadiums, video game stations, or game night hubs, living rooms host so many of what become life’s memories.
and possibly spilling things and, when they’re sick, sneezing on things, and well, soon the living room is dirtier than you’d care to think about.
Image Credit: Tamara GavinHere are some living room items that tend to get especially grubby and, in the spirit of making our living spaces their cleanest, how to clean them.
The remote control is likely the single item that receives the most concentrated touching from each member of the household. It should be disinfected monthly or when anyone in the household has been sick.
To clean your remote control, remove the batteries and wipe each button and crevice and every other surface with a disinfecting wipe, or dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and do the same.
They also harbor bacteria that feeds on the food residue any sticky, snacking hands may have left on them. Clean much like you would remotes, first by removing the batteries or unplugging the controllers and then using as little moisture as possible.
Before using a cleaning solution, brush any dirty cracks or crevices with a toothbrush or small cleaning brush. Be sure to address the areas around all buttons and the buttons themselves.
They get spilled on, stepped on, snuggled with, and slept on, by people and pets. There is no question about their less-than-cleanliness.
Removable covers should ideally be cleaned every 2-4 weeks and the filling should be cleaned every other month. Once you check to make sure dry cleaning isn’t required, removable covers can be washed in a delicate cycle or by hand, using cold water.
Spot clean stains as soon as you can after they occur by blotting, cleaning with a solution of dish soap and water, and brushing if necessary.
Vacuum your upholstery regularly (like every week). Once or twice a year, schedule a professional cleaning.
Cleaning under the cushions is basically a treasure hunt for lost pens, coins, and other surprises. Moving the furniture before getting the vacuum cleaner out is an excuse-proof way to clean beneath it and cleaning under the cushions is part of any thorough couch cleaning.