Few things get as dirty as your remote controls. These days we have remotes for the TV, music, and even ceiling fans in the living room, and they are touched multiple times a day by different pairs of hands. It’s rather unlikely that every person who touches the remote sanitizes their hands before using it. Moreover, remote controls can easily attract soil and bacteria when they haven’t been cleaned for a long time. All you need to do is use a disinfecting wipe to wipe the remote controls thoroughly every couple of days. That should keep them shiny and sanitary.
2. Behind the TV
The next time you are wiping the television screen in your living room, do one thing – take a look behind it. You will probably be shocked to see the amount of dust that’s clinging to the back of your TV. Since the area goes largely unnoticed, it attracts a lot of dirt, particularly on the cords and the back portion of the TV set. Don’t get unsettled if you find the spot cloaked in dust. Just switch off the TV and unplug all the cords. Now, dust and wipe the back part of the device along with the cords with a dry cloth. Do this every time you are cleaning the living room, as that won’t allow for the dust to settle there again.
3. Couch Pillows
Couch pillows are used just as much as the pillows in your bedroom. If anything, they are used more, as multiple people sit on them at different points in the day. Bacteria may easily build upon the covers. Moreover, they can also start to look dirty over time and will tarnish the look of your living room. So, take out the pillow covers and toss them in with the rest of your laundry every week.
4. Wall-to-Wall Carpet
You might be quite thorough with your weekly vacuuming routine, but the wall-to-wall carpet in your living room draws dirt easily. The best way to clean such a carpet is using a vacuum that has a HEPA filter. If you don’t, then have it cleaned by a professional on a seasonal basis. You would ideally be better off using smaller rugs that can be easily washed.
5. Lamps
If you think that dusting the lamps in your living room is keeping them spotlessly clean, you are mistaken. This small item can hold a lot of germs as well. Don’t forget to clean the base of the lamp the next time you're cleaning – that’s the part that usually gets ignored and is teeming with dirt and germs. Also, remember to sanitize the lamp's switch with a disinfectant wipe. Make sure that the lamp is unplugged before you do this, of course.
6. Heating and Air Conditioning Vents
These days, most homes have heating and air-conditioning systems. We use them regularly, but how many times a year do we clean them? If you look closely, their filters and vents are likely to be full of dust. This isn’t a good thing, as a clogged filter can cause your heating and cooling system to become inefficient. What’s worse, a clogged air filter won’t be able to stop the pollutants from entering your living space, and you can end up inhaling them. So make sure you change the filters of your AC and heating system in the living room routinely. The vents in them should be dusted at least once a week. You should also get their ductwork cleaned yearly by a professional.
7. Ceiling Fan
If you get a glimpse of what's on your ceiling fan blades in the living room, you might feel repulsed. Since it’s generally out of sight, the ceiling fan blades end up gathering clusters of dust on them over time. This happens even more during the winter season, as the fan lays idle for months, thus accumulating pollutants. And then, they fly around the room, unbeknownst to you. Use long-handled dusters or a dry cloth to clean your fan at the start of every season.
8. Top of Bookcases
Bookcases look great in the living room! And many of us love to decorate the top of our bookshelves by displaying all kinds of pretty décor. While that’s great, it’s more than likely that you are forgetting to clean the top of the bookcase, particularly all the décor you put on it. It might not seem like a big deal, but if you ignore the area for a long time, it’ll become a dusty mess! So, every month, get up on a ladder and dust the top of the bookshelf properly. Make sure you clean any item you have placed on top with a clean cloth.
9. Under the Couch and Chairs
Another important area you’re likely forgetting to clean in your living room is under your seating. A lot of random dirt, food crumbs, and other debris can easily accumulate under the couch and chairs of the living room furniture. To avoid this mess, you must move your couch and chairs once every month and clean up the areas under them with your vacuum cleaner.
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