The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

Living Room, Dining Room & Bedroom Cleaning Tips

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Living/Dining Rooms and Bedrooms serve up different types of challenges. Dust and dirt tracked in on shoes ... spill and stains on carpets and upholstery ... rings on wood surfaces. But here again, there are products that meet the challenges.

Use rugs or mats at all entrances to catch dirt and grit that can build up on floors and carpets.

Choose a soft cotton cloth or paper towel for cleaning glass surfaces. Fabric softener on cleaned cloths can leave a residue; extra absorbent paper towels can leave lint.

Always use coasters under beverage glasses, cups and flower pots to prevent water spots and rings on wood surfaces.

Spray glass cleaners on a cloth instead of directly on a mirror or picture glass. This will keep the cleaner away from the frame and prevent it from seeping onto a picture.

When washing windows, use a soft toothbrush or cotton swab to clean corners.

Body oils can soften a wood finish and eventually wear it away, especially in areas that are used constantly, such as chair arms and the areas around drawer and door pulls. Regular cleaning and polishing will remove these soils and help prolong the life of wood finishes.

Vacuum upholstery regularly to remove small soil and food particles that work into the fabric, make it look unsightly and cause premature wear.

Use headrest and armrest covers to protect the furniture areas that get the most wear.

For carpets and upholstery, only use products formulated for cleaning those surfaces. Other cleaning products can discolor the fabric.