Weekly Living Room Cleaning Checklist for a Clean and Cozy Space

Have you ever looked around your living room and felt like it just doesn’t reflect the calm and welcoming space you imagined, even though you just cleaned it? That’s why I use a living room cleaning checklist!

Because when life is busy, it can be hard remembering what to clean, not to mention the right order to clean it. That’s why I created my first checklist for cleaning my living room over twenty years ago.

Since then, I’ve revised and shared here where several thousand others who’ve downloaded and used it, too. So, whether you’re prepping for guests or just maintaining your sanctuary, this is your new ally in conquering clutter and dirt.

Supplies 

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s gear up. You’ll need:

• Microfiber cloths: Use these to wipe, dust, and polish.
• Furniture polish: Give wood surfaces a nice shine.
• Glass cleaner: Say goodbye to streaks.
• Disinfecting wipes or spray: Banish germs from high-touch areas.
• A reliable vacuum: Haul out your vacuum and its attachments for upholstery and crevices.
• Mop: Do this immediately mopping to get rid of more dust and paw prints.
• Air freshener or diffuser: Spritz or start it for a fresh scent when you’re done.

Preparing to Clean

Open the curtains or blinds: You’ll see more dust with natural daylight, plus it’s a great mood-booster. 

Do a quick declutter: Go around the room once, putting things away, tossing trash, and gathering stuff that goes somewhere else in your home. This quick run-through helps get the mess out of the way.

Step-by-Step Living Room Cleaning 

As always, I encourage you to read through the steps before grabbing the printable checklist. That way, you’ll know what’s involved and why we work in this order.

Step 1: Dust.

Start at the ceiling and work your way down. Use a damp microfiber cloth for this: it will pick up dirt without spreading it. Rinse it often and you’ll be washing that grime right out of your home.

Dust the light fixtures, then window casings, and the furniture. Remember, gravity is your friend here—let the dust fall where it may. For now.

Step 2: Polish.

Start with your wood surfaces: Use a microfiber cloth and furniture polish. (Try my homemade polish that shines and moisturizes wood without attracting dust the way silicone-based polishes do.

Switch cloths to polish the glass. Clean the inside of windows and the mirrors. If you have framed photos, spritz the glass cleaner on the rag then wipe the picture front—spraying the picture directly can damage your prints.

Disinfect high-touch surfaces. Clean high touch surfaces with a disinfectant wipe. Be sure you change it often so the surface stays damp (but not dripping) for 5 minutes. That’s how long it takes to knock out germs on those light switches, doorknobs, and TV remotes controls.

Step 3: Vacuum and Mop.

Upholstery: Show your sofas and chairs some love with the vacuum’s upholstery attachment. Dirt and dust build up in soft surfaces like this and are abrasive. Don’t forget under the cushions!

Floors: Vacuum floors properly, starting at the base of walls with the crevice tool, then wall to wall with the regular vacuum head. For hardwood or tile, mop immediately after vacuuming to get rid of more dust and paw prints. (Pssst. Use my floor cleaner, which is safe for all flooring types and you won’t have to rinse or worry about streaks.)

Step 4: Finish Up.

If your definition of clean means smelling pretty, then start your diffuser or give the room a quick spray of air freshener now.

And wrap it all up by putting away your cleaning supplies, tossing the trash, and putting away the things that belong elsewhere in your home. 

Maintenance Tips

Keep your living room guest-ready with a few quick tasks as part of your daily house tidying:

• Straighten up cushions and throw pillows.
• Pick up trash and take dishes to the kitchen.
• Wipe table tops so they keep looking clean.
• Use baskets and trays to corral remote controls and magazines. 
• Consider a ‘return’ basket for items that wander into the living room but belong elsewhere.