As the temperature starts to warm up and spring arrives, you may feel the urge to clean your house from top to bottom.
Spring is the perfect time of year to take advantage of the beautiful weather (and your higher energy levels) and whip your home into better shape.
A Few Things to Remember While Cleaning
- Complete one room at a time before you move on to the next.
- Clean from the highest points in your rooms downward. This will keep previously cleaned items from getting dusty again.
- Declutter rooms before cleaning to make the job go faster.
- Find a place for everything and remove all items that don’t belong in a room.
- Change the furnace and air conditioner filters.
- Change the smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
- Open windows to let fresh air flow through your home.
- Play music while cleaning. Research shows that it increases your productivity and makes the work a lot more fun.
Bathrooms
- Clean exhaust fan
- Dust ceiling and corners
- Clean light globes and fixtures
- Dust edges of pictures, mirrors and wall hangings
- Wipe down walls
- Remove and clean window coverings
- Clean windows – inside and out
- Dust window sills
- Disinfect light switch covers and doorknobs
- Clean shower head and caddy
- Clean shower curtain and liner
- Clean shower glass and door frame
- Clean water strip around shower door
- Scrub shower and tub
- Use drain cleaner on all drains
- Re-caulk around tub
- Clean the mirror
- Unclog and refill soap and lotion dispensers
- Clean and disinfect toothbrush holders
- Wash the bathroom cup
- Polish faucets
- Disinfect counter tops
- Wash and hang hand towels
- Wipe down cabinets (Polish any wood cabinets)
- Wipe down toilet paper holder and towel racks
- Remove any toilet seat screw rust
- Tighten down toilet seat hinges
- Scrub toilet base, under the seat, inside and out
- Wash inside and outside of trash can
- Wash floor mat(s)
- Clean and re-seal grout and tile
- Clean and organize cabinets and drawers
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop floors
- Get rid of expired makeup and beauty products
- Clean makeup brushes
Bedrooms
- Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the room
- Put everything that stays in its correct spot
- Pick up, fold, and put away any stray laundry
- Clean ceiling air vents
- Dust ceiling, corners and crown moldings
- Dust ceiling fan
- Clean light globes and fixtures
- Clean mirrors
- Dust edges of mirrors, pictures and wall hangings
- Dust lamps and vacuum lamp shades
- Wipe down walls
- Remove and clean window coverings
- Clean windows – inside and out
- Dust window sills
- Dust and polish furniture
- Disinfect light switch covers and doorknobs
- Strip and wash bedding
- Rotate your mattress and flip it if possible
- Remove items under beds and organize them
- Organize closets
- Organize dressers and nightstands
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Clean floor vents
- Vacuum carpet including under bed and furniture
- Shampoo carpet
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop hard floors
Dining Room
- Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the room
- Put everything that stays in its correct spot
- Clean ceiling air vents
- Dust ceiling, corners and crown moldings
- Dust ceiling fan
- Clean light globes and fixtures
- Dust edges of pictures, mirrors and wall hangings
- Wipe down walls
- Remove and clean window coverings
- Clean windows – inside and out
- Dust window sills
- Disinfect light switch covers and doorknobs
- Declutter hutches and shelves
- Dust and polish wood cabinets
- Dust and polish table and chairs including the legs
- Wash and replace table linens
- Wash and replace chair cushions
- Remove any rugs and shake them outside
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Clean floor vents
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop floors Replace rugs
Living Room
- Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the room
- Put everything that stays in its correct spot
- Clean ceiling air vents
- Dust ceiling, corners and crown moldings
- Dust ceiling fan
- Clean light globes and fixtures
- Dust edges of mirrors, pictures and wall hangings
- Clean mirrors
- Dust lamps and vacuum lamp shades
- Wipe down walls
- Remove and clean window coverings
- Clean windows – inside and out
- Dust window sills
- Dust and polish furniture
- Dust shelving
- Dust all electronics
- Clean TV screen
- Disinfect light switch covers and doorknobs
- Vacuum between seat cushions
- Wash any cushion or pillow covers
- Wash throw blankets
- Treat and condition any leather furniture
- Throw away any old magazines or newspapers
- Remove any rugs and shake them outside
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Clean floor vents
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop floors
- Replace rugs
Kitchen
- Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the room
- Put everything that stays in its correct spot
- Clean ceiling air vents
- Dust ceiling, corners and crown moldings
- Dust ceiling fan
- Clean light globes and fixtures
- Wipe down walls
- Remove and clean window coverings
- Clean windows – inside and out
- Remove all items from cabinets
- Wipe down cabinet shelves
- Throw out expired food and spices
- Organize dishes before putting back into cabinets
- Organize storage containers
- Clean and polish cabinet doors
- Disinfect cabinet knobs and handles
- Organize and clean freezer – defrost if needed
- Organize and clean refrigerator shelves
- Throw away expired food and condiments
- Clean oven hood and microwave and change the filters
- Clean stove top, burners and drip pans
- Clean inside of oven
- Clean sink, polish faucet and handles
- Disinfect garbage disposal
- Clean all appliances
- Sharpen knives and sanitize cutting boards
- Disinfect counter tops
- Soak and clean bakeware, pots and pans
- Clean and organize drawers
- Remove utensil divider from drawer and disinfect it
- Clean and disinfect any chairs or tables
- Organize pantry and throw away expired food
- Disinfect light switch covers and doorknobs
- Vacuum refrigerator coils
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Clean floor vents
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop floors
Laundry Room
- Remove any stray clothing items
- Dust ceilings, corners and dryer vents
- Clean any ventilation fans
- Wipe down walls
- Dust and organize any shelving
- Sort and discard unnecessary cleaning products
- Clean dryer lint trap screen and let air dry
- Clean out dryer duct
- Disinfect light switch covers and doorknobs
- Clean around and under the washer and dryer
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Clean and reseal tile grout
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop floors
Office
- Remove anything that doesn’t belong in the room
- Put everything that stays in its correct spot
- Clean ceiling air vents
- Dust ceiling, corners and crown moldings
- Dust ceiling fan
- Clean light globes and fixtures
- Dust edges of pictures and wall hangings
- Dust lamps and vacuum lamp shades
- Wipe down walls
- Remove and clean window coverings
- Clean windows – inside and out
- Dust window sills
- Dust and polish furniture
- Dust any shelving and organize the contents
- Organize desk, drawers and filing cabinets
- Shred any old or unneeded paperwork
- Clean computer screen, keyboard and mouse
- Remove any rugs and shake them outside
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Clean floor vents
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop floors
- Replace rugs
Foyer
- Clean ceiling air vents
- Dust ceiling, corners and crown moldings
- Clean light globes and fixtures
- Wipe down walls
- Wipe down door and clean door glass
- Disinfect light switch covers and doorknobs
- Clean mirrors
- Dust edges of pictures, mirrors and wall hangings
- Dust and polish tables or furniture
- Empty, clean and organize coat closet
- Clean or replace entry mat
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop floors
Stairwell
- Wipe down walls
- Dust light globes and fixtures
- Dust edges of pictures, mirrors and wall hangings
- Disinfect handrail
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop stairs
- Remove scuff marks and touch up paint
Toy Room
- Clean ceiling air vents
- Dust ceiling, corners and crown moldings
- Dust ceiling fan
- Clean light globes and fixtures
- Dust edges of pictures and wall hangings
- Dust lamps and vacuum lamp shades
- Wipe down walls
- Remove and clean window coverings
- Clean windows – inside and out
- Dust window sills
- Dust any shelving and organize the contents
- Sort and throw out any broken toys
- Disinfect toys and stuffed animals
- Disinfect light switch covers and doorknobs
- Clean floor corners and baseboards
- Clean floor vents
- Vacuum and shampoo carpet
- Vacuum (or sweep) and mop hard floors
After You’ve Finished Spring Cleaning
Once you’re done following our complete spring cleaning checklist and guide, you’ll find that your home is a lot more enjoyable.
As the old say goes, “A clean home (really) is a happy home.”
