Spring brings a much-needed burst of color to trees and flowers after the long winter months. For many, it is also the time we clean our homes with a fine-tooth comb! It’s not always a pleasant task, but we do it anyway — in with the good and out with the stale.
Join the ranks of spring cleaners with this guide to help conquer the task.
Schedule a block of time each day — or even each week — to keep the job from feeling overwhelming. Work on one room at a time and reward yourself for each until you’ve completed the job.
The basics – for every room in your home
- Dust wall and ceiling light fixtures. Remove globes and wash them out.
- Dust ceiling fan blades.
- Remove cobwebs with a vacuum and brush attachment or a clean rag attached to the head of a broom.
- Remove and wash window coverings. Dust the top of curtain rods and window trim.
- Remove wall hangings, knick-knacks, and décor, then rinse in warm soapy water.
- Wash doors and knobs and the dust that collects on top of the doors and entryway trim.
- Wash walls with an all-purpose cleaning solution. Touch up mars and chips with paint.
- Wipe off switch plates.
- Empty cabinets and drawers, then wash them inside and out. Wash and arrange drawer organizers too.
- Wash windows and sills. Don’t forget the unsightly tracks.
- Clean unupholstered furniture from top to bottom with an appropriate cleaner.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture from top to bottom and under cushions, paying particular attention to creases and crevices where the dust and grunge build up.
- Vacuum lampshades with a soft bristle attachment.
- Unplug electrical cords and wipe them down with a damp rag to remove dust.
- Wash baseboards, then vacuum carpet edges with a narrow attachment.
- Vacuum and mop under furniture and other stationary items.
Bedroom odds and ends
- Remove items from under the bed. Dust off storage containers and dispose of clutter.
- Vacuum under beds using attachments.
- Eliminate unwanted articles from drawers.
The bathroom—scour and disinfect
- Remove and launder the shower curtain and liner, bathmat, toilet cover, and rugs.
- Scour tub and shower from top to bottom, inside and out. Use a toothbrush to remove mold, mildew, and soap scum accumulation around the drain, faucet, knobs, and showerhead.
- Clean glass shower doors inside and out, including the track.
- Spray the exterior of toilets with a sanitizing solution and wipe down.
- If you have young boys, remove the toilet seat and clean the bolts where odors linger. Use a deodorizing solution on the baseboard and wall behind the toilet.
- Wash both the toilet brush container and the wastebasket.
- Scrub the sink and countertop, including grooves around the drain, faucet, and knobs.
- Dust the top edge of mirrors, towel racks, and other accessories.
Closets—the always forgotten
- Dust shelving, brackets, and rods.
- Organize shelves and eliminate unneeded items.
- Remove clothing you haven’t worn in two years.
- Dust shoe racks and shoes.
Kitchen—contamination zones
- Dust the top of kitchen cabinets.
- Remove grease and grime from small kitchen appliances
- Clean the stove, oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher inside and out.
- Wipe the built-up grunge on the top of the garbage disposal with a rag. Add ice and lemon slices, then run the disposal to clean and freshen the blades.
- Scrub countertops with a mildly abrasive cleaner or degreaser.
- Wash the table and chairs from top to bottom, and don’t forget the cracks where table leaves meet.
Outdoors—dirt, dirt everywhere
- Hose down siding and windows.
- Wash screens with soapy water, then rinse with a hose. Wash window exteriors.
- Scrub doormats with an all-purpose cleaner and a brush, then rinse.
- Spray off patio furniture, then wipe clean.
- Clean light fixtures.
- Remove lint from the outside dryer vent, along with any nests and/or hives that have formed on or near the house.
Remember, if doing all these tasks is too much on your own, ask friends or family to help you. Make it a fun cleaning party! Offer pizza and drinks to your helpers.
Time- Saving Tips:
- Clean light fixtures.
- Gather cleaning tools and supplies before you get started. Have plenty of rags, an old toothbrush, Q-tips, toothpicks, cleaning solutions, a spray bottle, a step stool or small ladder, a vacuum, and attachments.
- Work room-by-room for efficiency and to avoid duplicating or missing things.
- Work around the room from top to bottom.
- Play music as you clean. It may not save time, but it will make time pass more quickly.
