As the snow melts away, and the smell of spring is in the air, the sun brings in that bright, natural light you’ve been missing in your home all winter! Apart from providing some warmth inside your house, it highlights certain areas and surfaces that have accumulated dust, dirt, and grime, yet haven’t been cleaned as often as needed. After all, winter has a way of making you want to snuggle up in bed all day, doesn’t it? In other words, house cleaning is put on the back burner.
Nevertheless, when it’s spring cleaning time, the average homeowner gears up to take on the challenge, and that means having a comprehensive spring cleaning checklist to keep you on track for a highly satisfying end result!
Do I Need to Spring Clean My House?
Look around; do you see cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling? Are the fan blades dusty? Is there grease, grime, and dirt in places that are often overlooked when cleaning (like those hard to reach places)? If so, these are just a few indications that spring cleaning is required!
Aside from giving your house a thorough cleaning, the purpose of spring cleaning is to breathe new life into your living space. It’s an opportunity to clear out the clutter from your home, and organize the entire space more efficiently. From the cupboards and closets, to kitchen cabinets and the pantry; all homes need an annual deep clean that leaves no stone unturned! Well, that’s exactly what spring cleaning is about, and precisely why you need it just like the rest of us do!
What are the Benefits of Spring Cleaning?
While the initial thought of spring cleaning may overwhelm you because it’s a whole lot more than just a routine clean, studies show that there are various benefits related to both the act of spring cleaning, and the end result. These include mental benefits, as well as other aspects of one’s health and wellbeing in the household.
So, if you weren’t feeling motivated enough to spring clean your home in the past, perhaps the amazing benefits mentioned below will change your mind.
Healthy Environment
The most obvious benefit of spring cleaning your house is having a squeaky clean home that offers a sanitary and healthy living environment for all household members. It means cleaner air, less dust/dirt, no fungus, and keeping various indoor pollutants to a minimum.
Reduced Stress
Cleaning can lower your stress levels in a number of ways. When you have so much more going on, it helps to have something you feel in control of. Additionally, cleaning brings about a sense of satisfaction and joy while an overall clean and tidy home means you have one less thing to stress about.
More Peace
Spring cleaning entails decluttering, cleaning, and organizing, the results of which create a more peaceful environment. You will find yourself much more relaxed and less anxious when you walk through the front door as opposed to a sense of dread that comes with a messy, dirty, and cluttered home.
Increased Productivity
Believe it or not, spring cleaning can help you become more productive in your personal and work life. This is because cleaning and decluttering your home leads to a clutter-free mind! Remember, when messiness creeps into your house, it starts to creep into your mind as well.
Improved Focus
Do you find yourself easily distracted when attempting to complete cleaning chores or tasks like doing the laundry or loading the dishwasher? This happens because there is always something in the corner of your eye, or in the back of your mind that needs addressing. On the other hand, when you maintain cleanliness and order, you are able to focus so much better.
Fewer Slips/Falls
Trips and falls are a part of life, however, one can minimize potential slips that occur in the household by keeping the floors free of clutter, spills, and grit. This is particularly important in homes with elderly family members, as well as those who are sick or weak.
Room-by-Room Spring Cleaning Checklist
The sooner you realize how important it is to spring clean your house, along with the many benefits that come with it, the more motivated you will be to get started!
As we mentioned earlier, an overhaul cleaning of this nature can be overwhelming for some people, however, it is very different for those who go into it with an all-encompassing spring cleaning checklist. Your level of preparedness can make all the difference while creating a realistic timeline for your spring cleaning schedule also matters. This isn’t to say that you should spend the entire season ticking off cleaning chores on the spring cleaning checklist, but rather, make up a daily cleaning schedule that focuses on at least two rooms per week.
With that in mind, gather your cleaning supplies, and jump into our ultimate spring cleaning checklist.
Entryway
- Wipe walls
- Clean decor
- Clean mirror
- Wipe door frames
- Clean baseboards
- Sweep floors
- Mop floors
- Clean doormats
- Clean and organize shoe rack
- Organize jackets
Living Room
- Clean ceiling fans
- Dust light fixtures
- Remove cobwebs
- Wipe walls
- Wipe curtain rods
- Dust furniture
- Polish furniture
- Clean/replace window treatments
- Dust window sills
- Clean window tracks
- Wash windows
- Dust all decor
- Dust lampshades
- Vacuum/deep clean upholstered furnishings
- Wash pillows/cushions + covers
- Wipe screens/electronics
- Disinfect remote controls
- Vacuum + shampoo carpets and rugs
- Clean baseboards
- Vacuum floors
- Mops floors
Kitchen
- Remove dust and debris from high surfaces including the tops of cabinets and the refrigerator
- Defrost and clean freezer
- Clean refrigerator and organize contents
- Properly dispose of expired or old food products/items
- Wipe pantry shelves and organize contents
- Dust walls
- Clean stove top + range hood
- Clean microwave
- Clean oven + all interior components
- Deep clean and organize kitchen cabinets and drawers
- Wipe down fronts of cabinet doors and drawers
- Clean dishwasher + components
- Clean and freshen up garbage disposal
- Wipe exteriors of all kitchen appliances
- Clean small appliances including coffee maker, kettle, toaster, etc
- Wipe and organize countertops
- Clean backsplash
- Clean and disinfect trash cans
- Clean kitchen sink + faucets and drain
- Wash dish cloths
- Clean and sanitize or replace scrubbers/sponges
- Wash floor mats
- Dust baseboards
- Sweep floors
- Mop floors
Dining Room
- Wipe dining table + table legs
- Wipe dining chairs
- Clean ceiling fan
- Vacuum upholstery
- Dust light fixtures
- Wipe all furniture
- Dust decor
- Polish wooden pieces of furniture and decor
- Remove cobwebs
- Dust walls
- Wash linens and fabric place mats
- Wipe and polish silverware
- Vacuum curtains
- Wipe curtain rods
- Dust window sills
- Clean window tracks
- Clean windows
- Dust baseboards
- Vacuum floors
- Mop floors
Bedrooms
- Remove cobwebs
- Dust baseboards
- Clean ceiling fan
- Clean high surfaces
- Dust light fixtures
- Dust walls
- Dust and polish furniture
- Wipe bed frame
- Flip mattress
- Clean all bedding (wash blankets, sheets, duvets, bed skirts, etc)
- Wash pillows + covers
- Reorganize wardrobe
- Wipe closet doors
- Clean and organize dresser
- Clean mirror
- Dust blinds
- Launder curtains
- Wipe curtains rods
- Clean window tracks
- Wipe window sill
- Wash windows
- Deep clean carpets/rugs
- Vacuum and mop floor
Bathrooms
- Throw away expired products and empty bottles/tubes
- Clean and organize medicine cabinets
- Wipe down vanity and organize drawers
- Clean mirror
- Wipe countertop
- Clean sink (exterior and underside included)
- Clean grooming/personal hygiene tools
- Clean hair and makeup brushes
- Sanitize hardware including hooks, towel holders, etc
- Dust ceiling and walls
- Wipe door + door frame
- Scrub wall tiles
- Deep clean bathtub and shower area
- Clean all bathroom fittings including shower head, faucets, bidet, tapware, etc
- Scrub shower door
- Clean shower curtains
- Replace curtain liner
- Deep clean toilet (exterior, lid, and seat included)
- Clean sink + drain
- Clean window + sill
- Clean grout lines
- Scrub floor tiles
- Clean shower drain
Laundry Room/Area
- Wipe exteriors of washer and dryer
- Deep clean washer and dryer
- Clean dryer vent
- Clean lint trap
- Wipe counters
- Clean sink
- Wipe shelves
- Organize laundry supplies
- Clean laundry baskets
- Remove cobwebs
- Dust walls
- Dust baseboards
- Vacuum and mop floor
All Areas/Other Tasks
- Sanitize switchboards/switches
- Sanitize knobs/handles
- Replace smoke alarm batteries if needed
- Test the fire extinguisher
- Service HVAC systems
- Clean air vents
- For linens and fabrics that cannot be washed, take them to the dry cleaners
- Dust all ceiling and wall fixtures
- Test and replace light bulbs as needed
- Clean outdoor furniture
- Call in a professional for annual gutter maintenance
Spring Cleaning Tips and Hacks
Having a spring cleaning checklist to guide you through the cleaning process is incredibly helpful, however, you are bound to encounter some challenging tasks that will stall you along the way.
Whether it’s stubborn grease on a glass stove top, or unsightly stains in your toilet that require a solvent free degreaser, knowing how to tackle different areas of spring cleaning will ensure that you are satisfied with the fruits of your labor.
Along with useful spring cleaning tips that help you understand the right methods to apply, we’ve got some great cleaning hacks that not only ensure efficiency, but speed up the task at hand. Take a look!
#1 Declutter Before You Clean
Every room, area, and surface becomes 10x easier to clean when you declutter it! Not only are there fewer things that get in your way, but getting rid of clutter makes the end result look cleaner and neater.
#2 Keep ‘Donation’ & ‘Discard’ Boxes on Hand
Apart from the belongings that require storage, during spring cleaning, there will be items that either need to be donated or discarded. Make sure you have boxes ready for them, and that they are clearly labeled to avoid an unfortunate mix-up!
#3 Clean Kitchen Surfaces With Vinegar
Using distilled white vinegar as the core ingredient, add warm water and a small amount of grease-cutting dish soap to the mix to create an effective kitchen surface cleaner. From removing grease stains on your stove top, to getting rid of grime from the kitchen sink, this DIY cleaning solution can be used on various kitchen surfaces including the backsplash and counters.
NOTE: Avoid using vinegar on natural stone unless it is recommended for the material.
#4 Freshen Up Carpets With Baking Soda
If your carpets and rugs smell musty even after vacuuming, sprinkle baking soda over the carpet, even it out with your hands, and work it into the fibers with a carpet brush. After 8-12 hours, vacuum up the powder, and any foul or musty smells will be vacuumed up with it.
#5 Clean Both Sides of Blinds in One Go
Use cotton gloves (or dust gloves if you have a pair), and save time by cleaning both sides of each slat with one quick swipe. Pro tip: dampen the gloves with an all-purpose cleaner to remove dust and stuck-on dirt from your window blinds.
#6 Let Cleaning Solutions Sit
A common rookie mistake when cleaning household surfaces is to apply cleaners and then immediately wipe them up. While surfaces that are not resistant to water or moisture should be the exceptions, other hard surfaces like sinks, toilet bowls, and tiled flooring can be cleaned more efficiently when the cleaning solution is allowed to soak grease and grime for a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.
#7 Machine-Wash Whatever You Can
From shoes and pet beds, to pillows and stuffed toys; nowadays, a lot of things can be cleaned in a washing machine by strictly following the product’s washing instructions. This will save you a lot of time and effort during your spring cleaning mission!
#8 Use Disinfectant Wipes
To quickly sanitize remote controls, door knobs, handles, and light switches, use anti-bacterial wipes instead of a spray. Not only is it faster and more convenient, it eliminates the risk of applying too much liquid to surfaces or objects that require minimal moisture (like remotes).
#9 Remove Wall Marks With Magic Eraser
A Magic Eraser can get rid of scuffs, stains, or marks on the wall. It is, however, important to test the tool on a hidden part of the wall to ensure that it does not damage the specific type of wall paint/finish you have. Considering the fact that Magic Erasers have a slightly abrasive exterior, apply gentle pressure when using them to remove wall stains.
#10 Incorporate Closet Organizers
Spring cleaning is incomplete without reorganizing your closet. This means getting rid of clothes and shoes you no longer use, or that don’t fit you anymore. To help you organize your closet and keep it that way, you won’t regret investing in a few wardrobe organizers that keep everything in order. From belts, socks, and underwear, to shoes, summer clothes, jackets, and other winter gear; storage containers, baskets, and other organizing aids will help you stay organized while maximizing closet space!
CONCLUSION
There are different aspects to spring cleaning which include decluttering, deep cleaning, and organizing. It may sound like a lot, but when you break it down into smaller tasks that begin with spring cleaning one room at a time, you realize just how doable it actually is. The spring cleaning tips above also aid in simplifying the entire cleaning process.
More importantly, if you want to tackle spring cleaning and conquer it, being prepared is crucial. This includes making up a realistic schedule that doesn’t call for marathon cleaning, day in and day out, but instead, sets aside a stipulated amount of time to clean daily. Alternatively, you can create daily goals for yourself to complete your spring cleaning mission anywhere between 2-4 weeks!
Of course, none of this is possible if you don’t know exactly what spring cleaning entails. This is where our handy spring cleaning checklist comes in, giving you the chance to truly renew your living space for a happier and healthier home this spring!