15-minutes to a party-perfect living room

Today we tackle the living room. At most parties, guests hunker down in the living room, so to speed-clean it, follow these helpful hints to finish in about 15 minutes.

Clear out clutter. (5 minutes)
Here at the 15-Minute Party Planner, we love the "out of sight, out of mind" method of cleaning. First, grab a large basket (try a laundry basket or a shopping bag). Then, walk around your living room filling the basket with items that need to be relocated to other rooms. You may also want to remove table-top photographs, candles, or other knick-knacks, so that you have more space for food or decorations at your party. Once the basket is full, stash it in an unused closet, the basement, or another out-of-the-way room. You can sort through it after the party.

Wipe down surfaces. (5 minutes)
You could get yourself into a dusting, mopping frenzy, or you could simply run a microfiber cloth over the tables, shelves, and other furniture in your living room. Microfiber cloths are designed for dry dusting, so you don't need to waste time searching for sprays and cleansers. Most microfiber cloths will also attract pet hair, saving you valuable vacuuming time.

Vacuum. (3 minutes)
The average living room shouldn't take more than three minutes to speed-vacuum. Now is not the time to worry about moving the furniture so that you can clean under the couch. Simply run the vacuum over the floor to pick up any obvious dust, dirt, crumbs, or pet hair.

Freshen up. (2 minutes)
Febreze Fabric Refresher is on the 15-Minute Party Planner's list of favorite products. A quick spritz over upholstered furniture, curtains, and carpets eliminates odors and freshens a room's scent. Our favorite Febreze Fabric Refresher? The Allergen Reducer, for its ability to freshen a scent while reducing your home's allergens.

Check out more of The 15-Minute Party Planner's ideas for quick-cleaning with articles like Speed-clean your kitchen in 15 minutes and Get your bathroom party-ready in 15 minutes.