CLEAN – Lounge Room
We spend a lot of family time in our lounge room, playing games on the floor or watching movies together so I enjoy having a clutter free room so I can relax easier.
Laundry pile clutter
One of my biggest pitfalls with an untidy lounge room would be my clean washing pile on the couch. The key to getting control over the clean washing pile is to create a routine:
- Fold and put away while kids are having their daytime nap
- Fold before you start dinner and then the rest of the family can put away the washing
- Fold later that evening while watching favourite TV show and put away in the ads (this is my current preference)
Read more: Readers share their laundry routines.
Toy clutter
When the kids were younger they often left toys on the floor. For a quick tidy up I had a nice basket next to the TV unit which I threw their toys into and then got the kids to put them back into their rooms/playroom before bedtime.
Read more: How to get kids to clean up their toys.
Cleaning task
Today’s cleaning task is to do the following in your lounge room:
[wlchecklist name=’CleanDay4′]
- How to clean walls
- How to clean windows
- How to kill dustmites in non washable items
- Spot clean couch and carpet using your all purpose cleaner
- How to clean remote controls
Remember just do the tasks above, we will be coming back to other tasks. Cleaning floors is tomorrows task.
Here are a few posts I have shared previously about organising the lounge room:
DECLUTTER – Your magazine collection
Do you have a pile of magazines that you have read and no longer need? Are they occupying a space that could be better used? Then it’s time to purge.
I collect a lot of cooking magazines. Read an old post here sharing what I did with my food magazine pile, I still use this same system and it’s made searching for something new for dinner so much easier!
Then when you have your firm family favourites, take the recipe out of the recipes to try system and place into a recipe binder.
Have home magazines? Make yourself a home binder to store all your future home design ideas.
[wlchecklist name=’DeclutterDay4′]
ORGANISE – Pamper yourself with ‘me’ time
Our days seemed to be filled with cleaning, caring or doing things for others. Yes we love doing all these things for our family but often we forget about ourselves. It’s important to take time out for yourself. Today’s organise task is to plan and organise some ‘me’ time, by yourself or call some girlfriends and make a date in your diary.
- a coffee date, dinner or movie night with friends
- get a pedicure or a massage
- plan some time one afternoon or during bubs naptime to read a book or take a long bath.
My friends and I now have a planned day each month that we get together for a coffee or dinner. Sometimes it needs to be planned far ahead just so we can all coordinate a date that suits us all.
[wlchecklist name=’OrganiseDay4′]
NEW HABIT – Say No
Do you reluctantly say yes to people asking you to do things just because you’re trying to be nice, want to help or don’t want to let them down? But reality is that you don’t have time to be saying yes and you are then putting your own priorities aside.
Quite a few years ago I found myself saying yes to things that didn’t fit into my schedule, I was a yes person to everything, babysitting, projects, school committee, I wanted to make my friends and those around me happy and just be a help. But reality is I needed to say “No”, I needed to commit myself to my own projects, my family. You could answer:
- I’m sorry I have something else planned on that day, I hope you can find somebody else that can help.
- I’ll get back to you (so then you have time to look over your calendar)
- I’m sorry I’ll have to decline, but thank you for thinking of me
- I can’t at the moment as I am trying very hard to complete a few projects I have started
- I won’t be able to today, but can organise something in a few weeks time
- That sounds wonderful, I’d love to do this, but I can’t right now. Thank you for asking.
- Sometimes no is enough, you don’t need to justify and give explanations to everybody
Great quote from Paulo Coelho “Don’t say maybe if you want to say no”.
Download this print for FREE from my shop. Use coupon code at checkout: 20DaysNO
Click here to download
When you say YES to others, make sure you are not saying NO to yourself – Paulo Coehlo
One of my friends that followed the challenge last time did a fortnight of no’s. She said no to everything that was asked of her as she had just moved and wanted to get her house into order. During this time she managed to get her house unpacked and become more organised than she imagined. Give saying no a go.
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5 MINUTES ONLY – Clean windows of main areas in your home
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Read here for my tips on how I clean windows in my home.
DOWNLOAD
Print the daily sheet and checklists to keep for reference while you are completing the above tasks.
- DAY 4 DAILY TASK SHEET – file behind ‘Daily Task’ divider – click to download.
- LOUNGE ROOM CLEANING CHECKLIST – file behind ‘Checklist’ divider – click to download.
- BLANK LOUNGE ROOM CLEANING CHECKLIST – use this to create your own checklist, file behind ‘Checklist’ divider – click to download.
116 comments
Major fail on this task. I did’t get to any thing as I had to go to town which took up all the afternoon. My mornings routine took up all morning. Oh well better luck another day.
that’s fine Simone, leave this task for now and just continue with the challenge, you can come back to this one when you have time.
i’m exhausted! haha 🙂 I can’t stop cleaning!
Each day has taken me at least 3 hours and i’ve got a one year old at home with me.
My wrist is sore from scrubbing … I know I sound like i’m complaining but i’m not – I’m super impressed with myself and my husband is loving it so far!!
I find when I get into the cleaning mood it’s a really good thing as it keeps me going, you are sounding like a little energiser bunny!! Take some time off on the weekend and enjoy what you have done!!
The days seem short when you gave school pick up. Nearly done day 4 just need to vacuum and clean the couch. Missed yesterday’s laundry though, i am hoping I will have time this long weekend so I am not a day behind. Who knew there was so many things to clean. Is there any hints on dusting, no matter what I use it seems to float in the air and makes me sneeze
Andrea I use my homemade antibacterial wipes to dust, as I have kids with dust mite allergies I like knowing that I have picked up the dust, it’s much easier with a damp cloth. When it gets too dirty I rinse under the sink and then use my all-purpose spray. Hope this helps.
great. todays tasks all done. four days in one is a record…I think it has just been a rare day of having nothing urgent to do. also seeing as how my bedroom and the lounge is in one room most of the tasks for today have already been done on day two. did enjoy purging my magazine pile though. I am going to try and do day five now. should not be too bad as I have done all the floors already except for the childrens. tomorrow have the whole day to myself again so will see how far I get with day 6-10 x
I think that is a record Gillian you have done so very very well!! Hope you find some time in your day tomorrow to relax and spend some time on yourself xx
Didn’t manage to do this last week – so caught up today. All done, but im sure it will be all un-done soon as our lounge room is also where the kids play & is also open plan with the kitchen & dining room. Good to have it all clean though. 🙂
Fantastic Anna!.:)
Hi Kat and Kate,
any tips on washing a pure wool rug? It’s the one that sits on the back of my couch. It’s a hand knit and really heavy. I don’t use it ever (it just sits there looking pretty!) so I don’t think I’ve ever washed it. It is in reds and browns.
Thanks!
Hi Robyn, Lovely to hear from you! I personally have never washed a pure wool rug but i have done a little research for you and came across a website which i hope helps. Here is the link for you: http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Wool-Rugs
Thank you x
resting today as I have to go grocery shopping this afternoon and it kills me!
Oh the dreaded grocery shop! I admit it seems to come around way too quickly!
Decided to only do the lounge room as the family room is also the kids toy room kind of!
I have still got some things on my lists to do, but it will all eventually be ticked off!
Thanks!
Hi Maree, Yes day 4 was just the lounge room.
Have finished this task but going back on the laundry tomorrow, floors & pantry at some point! Has been a crazy end to the week. Lovely that everything that is cleaned smells so fresh.
Great work Sally, love that can you notice a difference even in smells!!
Wow! My lounge room and family room looks great and I feel tired. Feel like I have accomplished something today.
Well done Chloe! You are doing a fantastic job.:)