8 Practical Tips for Living Room Cleaning

Wash or dry clean cushion covers and throw rugs once a week. Throw rugs should be cleaned once every two weeks (to be safe) on a gentle cycle in cold water. Leave to air dry.

Start by soaking up as much of the spill as possible with a paper towel. Next, mix 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Blot this mixture on the stain and use a dry towel to soak up the excess liquid. This works on clothing, carpet and other fabric.

Mix egg yolk with lukewarm water and rub it on the stained spot.

Combine equal amounts of dish detergent and water in a container then whip with a hand mixer. Rub the froth into the stain using a rag then rinse with clean water. You can also use a mixture of shampoo and water.

To make a homemade wood polish, you just need 1 lemon, 1 tablespoon water, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Directions: Cut the lemon and squeeze out the juice into a container (strain the seeds and pulp). Add water and olive oil. Cover the container and give it a good shake. Pour a small quantity of the polish on cloth and start wiping down the furniture. Discard any leftover liquid when you finish.

You’ll need: Salt, Borax, White vinegar, Vacuum cleaner, Carpet steam cleaner
Instructions: Vacuum extensively to remove dust and other particles from the carpet.
Make a paste of 1/4 cup borax, 1/4 cup salt and 1/4 cup vinegar. Apply this to spots with deep stains. Leave it on until it is completely dried (could take several hours). After this, vacuum the affected spots again. Rent a steam machine and fill it will very hot water. The hot water can get most of the job done so you do not really have to use carpet shampoo. If there are several soiled portions, add 1 cup white vinegar per 2.5 gallons of water.
Switch on the carpet steam cleaner, press the hot water release button then soak the entire carpet. Now go over the carpet 3 to 4 times to suck up as much water as possible. Repeat this process again.
Let the carpet dry completely before bringing furniture back in. If you cannot wait, place aluminum foil under the legs so as to avoid stains.

If you have brass accessories or furniture pieces in your home, this is a great way to keep them shining. Take 1/2 a lemon and 1 teaspoon baking soda.
Instructions: Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into a bowl. Add the baking soda and mix to get a paste that smells delicious. Using soft cloth, apply this paste to the brass object then rub gently. Rinse off and dry with a clean towel. Check your work and repeat if necessary. You may also buff the brass with clean dry cloth.

An awful lot of dust can collect on shelves and it's an often neglected area to clean. Remove books from shelves and dust with a soft, clean brush.