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.
[wlchecklist name=’NewHabitDay4′]
5 MINUTES ONLY – Clean windows of main areas in your home
[wlchecklist name=’5minutesonlyDay4′]
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
Day 4 half way there and again I will catch up with this through the coming weeks. Shopped for containers and shelves for pantry re de-clutter throw out. Still pleased with progress.
decluttering the pantry is so much fun! i love the amount you can throw out and you really do feel so fresh afterwards
Still waiting for admin to let me onto Facebook page. Still plugging away in Lounge room. First day for me as I had to be away for actual first days. Hope to catch up a bit over the weekend.
I have a question do we have to print each day or will this 20 day program always be there even after it’s finished for us to return too
it will be available for the next 6 months Katrina so it’s up to you if you want to print off each day 🙂
Hello. Loving the challenge so far! It’s a bit of a juggling act with four little ones at home to help me!! ! I have sent a request through to join the private Facebook group but have not been approved yet. Are you able to help?? Many thanks 🙂
Hi Beck!! I know what you mean, but get those little ones helping along to make things easier for you 🙂 Make sure when you request to join the facebook group that you answer the questions with your email etc so we know you’re a member 😀
Nearly done. I’ll try and complete this over the next few days!
You’ll get there Penelope, you’ve blitzed through so much day!!!
2 tasks left
-clean ceiling fan
-5 minutes only task
I’ll get them done tomorrow
Our media/living room is a decent size,the walls, 3 large windows and couches took a lot of time to clean
We’ve got 2 living areas so i need to clean the 2 seater couch in the living area connected to the kitchen as well tomorrow
You’ve blitzed through it Dorcas, well done!!!
Just finished up with the leftover tasks now…
Off to Day 6 tasks…
Lounge done. Windows done.
Great at saying No (or thank you for giving me the opportunity to …….but on this occasion I will let someone else have the opportunity. sometimes “No” is a complete sentence in itself (I love this idea!).
Magazines okay. I get a couple delivered and every time I get a new one I toss out an old one (especially if I’ve not looked at it). Only keep about 6 on hand at any one time.
Just need to book my pamper day! Will do that tomorrow, I promise 🙂
love that you know how to say no in such a polite manner!!! Did you book in your pamper day?? 🙂
Our lounge is another messy area! So glad am on holidays this week