The Best Way To Clean Behind Your TV
Typically the most used space in a home, the living room is supposed to be a place of relaxation and entertainment. This is why keeping your living room clean is so important. When you think about cleaning your living room, perhaps things like wiping down the surfaces and vacuuming the rug come to mind. But you may be neglecting another important step: cleaning behind your TV.
Whether you have a TV sitting on an entertainment center or mounted on the wall, it is probably your living room's main focal point with all of the other furniture usually pointing in its direction. If you have a hectic household or even just lots of pets, cleaning your living room about once a week is recommended, per Life Savvy. Keeping your TV screen, the space behind the television, and other areas of your living room clean will do wonders in maintaining a relaxing and inviting home.
Cleaning behind your TV
Whether your television is sitting on an entertainment center or mounted on the wall, it's important to regularly clean behind it. However, if you have a tangled mess of cords hiding back there, cleaning behind your TV may not be as easy as you might think.
Luckily, you shouldn't have to unplug your cords to clean behind your TV. If you have an entertainment center, you'll want to move this away from the wall, keeping in mind that you may need the assistance of a dolly or felt pads, per Life Savvy. Dust your cords first, so any excess debris can fall to the floor and be cleaned later. A duster or vacuum hose should work great for this task. If your TV is mounted to the wall, using a skinny duster that can fit between the two is best. You can also wipe down the back of your TV with a microfiber cloth or a duster. Finally, vacuum or sweep the floor behind your television.
Because harsh chemicals and hard water can damage your TV, especially the screen, you'll want to stick with dry cleaning products. According to Powerizer Clean, avoid using paper towels as well, because they can scratch or leave lint. Instead, use a microfiber cloth and a fine mist spray of distilled water, if necessary.
Other things to keep clean
To avoid excessive dust and debris build up behind your TV in the first place, it's important to regularly clean other areas of your living room as well. Rosie On The House says that one of the hardest places to clean is your ceiling fan. However, if your ceiling fan is not regularly attended to, it will throw dust into the air, which could settle in hard to reach areas. Before cleaning your ceiling fan, make sure it is off. Use a ladder and the hose extension on your vacuum cleaner.
Also, if sticky debris collects on your cords and can't be dusted off, you may need to unplug the cords and deep clean them. WD-40 recommends using a mixture of dish soap and water to do so. Wipe down the cords thoroughly and leave them to dry before plugging anything back in. You could also apply a baking soda paste which you'll let dry. A wet rag should suffice in cleaning off the mess, but if the cords are extra dirty, you can try scrubbing them with a toothbrush.