Let's get started on the Family Room!

My next zone area is the family room. If you don't have a secondary family room, the same checklist applies for the living room. My family room is our main TV viewing area and where all of our DVD's and gaming systems are kept. It's usually last on my cleaning list, becuase it's in the basement and not my primary "entertaining" area. That means, when this area comes up on my zone list I always have to do alot of dusting and deep cleaning because dust is ruthless and always seems to accumulate in every nook and cranny.
As usual, my check list is comprised from suggestions from the Holiday Grand Plan and Flylady list. So here are those checklist and I'll be back with my detailed list tomorrow.

Holiday Grand Plan: Family Room

Start by washing the outside of your windows.

Take everything down off the walls, take down curtains etc. Wash, vacuum or dry clean as needed.

Sweep ceiling corners and other nooks in the room - tops of doorways, windows, arches, bookcases, etc.

Wash inside of windows and sills. Polish and touch-up stain on wood.

Re-hang window coverings.

Take cushions off furniture, vacuum thoroughly. Vacuum cushions, checking for wear and turning as needed. Spot treat any stains or shampoo furniture as needed.

Wooden furniture and anything with drawers: Empty, sort, and throw away what you don't really need. Put the rest where it really belongs. Dust/Polish the piece you're finished with, repeat as necessary. Do shelves the same way.

Baseboards - dust or wash as needed touch up scuffs on wood or touch up paint on painted surfaces.

Clean the TV screen. Dig out and sort all the accumulated electronic equipment--games, tapes, camera parts, wires, connectors, etc. Put everything where it belongs and get rid of the rest. (I stash things for a few months in the attic and if they don't miss it then I can dispose of it as I please!) If something doesn't work, take action--if it is worth getting fixed then decide when it can be done. Otherwise just liquidate it now.

Vacuum the entire room. Use a whisk broom to get into those hard to reach areas and around the baseboards if your vacuum doesn't clean close enough. Yes, get help and move the furniture. There may be a wealth of lost treasures hiding under the sofa right now!

Clean/change silk flower arrangements for the season. It is also a good time to clean, trim, and/or repot live plants. They can't absorb CO2 and light through a layer of dust!

Other items needing attention if you have them are:

Fireplace/mantel/chimney/glass doors

Lamps - cleaning and/or replacing shade/bulb/wiring

Light switches (clean)

Mirrors and anything framed under glass clean it.

Door handles--and the area around them-- if you have little sticky fingers be sure to get the area below them clean too with an appropriate cleaner. Polish the wooden doors and retouch scuffs.

Clean shake/wash/vacuum/take to professional-- any area rugs.

Now is a good time to reorganize the video tapes and CDs, Cassettes etc. If you have not viewed or listened to them in a while, donate or take to a consignment shop or a second hand music store and swap.

Don't forget the gaming systems. Does everything have a home?

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Flylady:  ZONE 5: LIVING ROOM/ FAMILY ROOM/ DEN


1. CLEAN COBWEBS

2. CLEAN WINDOWS

3. STRAIGHTEN BOOKCASES

4. WASH ORNAMENTS AND WHAT-KNOTS

5. CLEAN OUT END TABLE

6. STRAIGHTEN CLOSETS/ DRAWERS

7. WIPE FINGERPRINTS FROM WALLS

8. POLISH FURNITURE

9. CLEAN OUT MAGAZINE RACKS

10. CLEAN PHONE

11. CLEAN UNDER CUSHIONS

12. CLEAN OUT FIREPLACE

13. MOVE FURNITURE AND VACUUM

14. SHAMPOO CARPET

If you have a family room, game room, sun porch, or other room that is

used by the family for living purposes, then concentrate on decluttering

one room each month (or as you find more time). Do not push yourself.

They did not get cluttered in one month and they will not get clean in one

week. Remember: baby steps. If you are unable to do any task, just delete

it and go to the next one. Do not save them up. We will repeat the same

thing each week and each month. I am just your reminder. - FlyLady