Every good spring cleaning checklist must at least have the following:
- Replace the bed linens and pillowcases in the bedroom.
- Declutter and organize your clothes in the closet.
- Dispose of or give away things you won’t use to friends or neighbors.
- Clean grimy or dirty windows and curtains.
- Clean and disinfect the bathroom.
- Check and clean the kitchen appliances.
- Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures and replace flickering lightbulbs.
Continue reading this guide to see the complete checklist plus some tips you can do for a more efficient and thorough spring cleaning!
The Complete Spring Cleaning Checklist
Below, we have made a complete spring cleaning checklist for you so all you have to do is do each task and tick it once you’re done.
Living Room
- Vacuum the area.
- Brush the dust off lampshades.
- Clean the carpets.
- Tidy up the clutter.
- Wash the curtains and blinds.
- Dust and wash the mirrors and frames.
- Dust and polish furniture.
Bedroom
- Launder bedding.
- Arrange your clothes.
- Sweep the floor.
- Give away unneeded things.
- Clean the door and door ceilings.
- Open the windows for airflow.
Kitchen
- Mop the pantry.
- Clean the appliances inside and out.
- Wipe away the window grime.
- Mop the floor—even behind the appliances.
- Vacuum the coils behind the fridge.
- Throw away expired food and beverages.
Bathroom
- Clean the counter and racks.
- Clean and sanitize the toilet and shower.
- Wash and dry the bath mats.
- Organize your medicine cabinet.
- Replace dirty shower curtains.
- Dust the decorative stuff.
Porch and Patio
- Pressure wash surfaces.
- Dust out the furniture.
- Clean the surrounding screens.
- Mop the floorboards.
- Clean the plant pots, and water the flowers.
Why is making a spring-cleaning checklist important?
A spring-cleaning checklist is important because you can easily forget to clean certain sections or things in the house.
You would want to have a game plan for cleaning the house so that you can clean as many items and areas as possible within a given period. It helps you to focus on what’s most important to clean.
Also, this will help you determine what cleaning supplies and tools you’ll be needing right from the get-go. No more surprises in the middle of the work that you forgot or have run out of them.
It’s true, though, that many people don’t use a spring-cleaning checklist, and that’s perfectly okay. The checklist is only meant to be used for making spring cleaning a lot more organized.
How should I clean the house?
In this section, we will share useful tips for cleaning certain sections of the house.
Cleaning the Living Room
The living room is where family members, friends, and guests frequently hang out more than any other place in the house.
That is why it needs to be maintained daily. Everything there from the couch to the ceilings can accumulate dust and dirt as well as get stains and spills too.
However, you can reduce the dirt buildup if you minimize paper waste and food crumbs. In fact, we suggest only eating at the dining table so you won’t have to worry about the latter at all.
When cleaning a couch, drapery, or other textiles, refer to the manufacturer’s care tag. Therein lies the answer as to what cleaning is the best to do for them, so make sure that you follow it.
Smart cleaning tip 💡
To combat fabric sofa stains, use this effective cleaning solution.
Mix 2 cups of distilled water, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap. Let it soak for a while, and then rinse it.
Cleaning the Bedroom
The bedroom can have a lot of clutter depending on the occupant’s cleaning habits. The room can have smelly socks, a bed-bug-infested mattress, and a clothing dump cabinet, among other things that need cleaning.
It may be a great deal of work, but clean things one by one and you’ll soon finish everything.
You can start by clearing the bedside table, emptying the trash, and dusting off the lampshade. Afterward, proceed to vacuum the bed, replace the bed linens, and then go on to other areas or things.
Smart cleaning tip 💡
To eliminate small-scale bedbugs, take out the bedsheets, blankets, and pillowcases and put them in the washer. Then, wash them in hot water and dry them on the highest setting.
Unfortunately for heavier bedbug infestations, it would be wiser to rely on a bedbug specialist so you can sleep soundly again without much effort on your part.
Cleaning the Kitchen
One of the dirtiest places in the house, the kitchen has a lot of cleaning for you to do. It’s where food is prepped and made and oil spills and food residues land on the floor.
You may also feel the kitchen cabinets and ovens sticky to the touch, as oil, lotion, and food smears from your or your family members’ hands.
So, constantly, you’d have to wipe down these cabinets and countertops with a soft cloth wet with a solution of dish soap and water.
Aside from that, here are some tips for cleaning your valuable kitchen appliances:
- Refrigerator – Combine equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Use this on spills, odors, and food residues inside the refrigerator, including the drawers and hard-to-reach surfaces.
Smart cleaning tip 💡
Have caked-on food inside your microwave? Well, lucky for you, it’s easy to clean.
For this, take a mid-sized microwave-safe container and fill it with water. Leave it uncovered and switch on the microwave for a minute or two.
After the cycle, the gunk should have loosened, so now wipe it clean using a dry cloth.
- Kitchen Stove – It cannot be helped that we scatter some seasoning or oil on the stovetop.
Rather than wait later for the oil or hot food to dry on the surface, clean them as you go, which can be easier for you to do.
But safety first! Don’t do it if you’re busy cooking.
To clean the stove, you’ll need a single-side scraper, a damp cloth, and an all-purpose cleaner. So, if a mess goes to the side of the stovetop, scrape it out before it gets the chance to dry.
And, when you’ve finished cooking and the stovetop has already cooled, you can wipe it with a cloth soaked in a mild yet effective cleaner.
Cleaning the Bathroom
Along with the kitchen, the bathroom is the other dirtiest place in the home. You can’t relax in the shower or bathtub if the area is crawling with dirt, mold, and bacteria.
If the area is slightly dirty, use an all-purpose cleaner, but if the place is very dirty, use an acid-based cleaner so that all the stubborn dirt will be taken out.
Smart cleaning tip 💡
Here’s a great DIY bathroom cleaning solution recipe that can eliminate grimy surfaces, dirty footprints, grout, bacteria, and more.
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup liquid soap
- 1 1/2 cups baking soda
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 drop lemon juice (if available)
What gives this natural mixture antibacterial properties are white vinegar and lemon juice. Also, lemon juice will pleasantly freshen up the bathroom with its scent, but note that this is optional.
Cleaning the Porch & Patio
The outside of the house is just as important to clean as the inside. After all, that’s how guests get their first impression of your home sweet home, right?
Cleaning your porch and patio is more or less the same as cleaning other areas of your property, except for the addition of pressure washing.
You’ll have to dust and arrange the furniture, sponge the surfaces with a cleaning solution made of dish soap and water, and use a pressure washer to rinse the surface.
Smart cleaning tip 💡
Pressure wash from top to bottom so you don’t leave streaks.
So once you’re done, you can reap the rewards of your patio and porch being sparkly clean and feel good about it!
FAQs about Spring Cleaning
- When should I spring-clean my house?
Contrary to popular belief, spring cleaning can be done at any time of the year so long as the weather outside is clear and good.
The important thing to remember is that you should have one to two free days to clean around your house. Some do this on consecutive days like on the weekends, but some on alternate days like Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Focusing on cleaning the home during your free time will allow you to give the care and attention it deserves so that you can feel comfortable and happy staying in your own place.
- How do I prepare for spring cleaning?
You can prepare for spring cleaning by starting to clean your house little by little on any given day. This allows you to have less work and stress on the day you decide to deep-clean your house.
For example, you can clean the fridge interior and sort out its stuff or clean the toilet on a free afternoon. Or you can scrub the dirt-laden walls and ceilings in your bedroom before lunch on a Saturday.
But if your schedule is too hectic, we recommend getting a professional maid or cleaning service, so you can use your free time to rest. That said, be sure to let them know beforehand if you have any specific cleaning preferences or concerns.