Out with the old and in with the new! This spring cleaning checklist will help you prioritize cleaning and decluttering projects this season. From organizing different spaces throughout the home to top-to-bottom cleaning and product recommendations. These spring cleaning hacks ensure your home will be a spotless, stress-free zone you’re proud of.
It’s that time of year again. Spring cleaning season!
I personally prefer a mini “spring cleaning” session about once a season. But to each their own. I have, however, developed a mental list throughout the last couple of years for what I need to do each season (or at least twice a year). It wasn’t until now that I realized maybe others could benefit from this mental list of mine. Now, I’m finally writing it all down on paper to make this a little easier for you, too.
It’s hard tracking all the cleaning chores on top of everything else in life. So I’m making it a bit simpler. This spring cleaning checklist will help you decide what to prioritize first, tips on how to clean, and a few products and concoctions I love. I’m going to share all my favorite little spring cleaning tips with you today.
I won’t list out every single cleaning duty a home entails. I’m going to focus on the ones we usually skim over. This spring cleaning checklist will focus on those tasks often forgotten. We may not need to do them very often, but it’s still important to do them on occasion.
Let’s get into the spring cleaning checklist…
What is spring cleaning and why is it important?
I initially wasn’t exactly sure why we, as a society, have deemed spring the official cleaning season. My guess was that since spring symbolizes a rebirth, we all feel the need to prepare for the new and start off right.
After some research, I learned spring cleaning began because people saw it as a way to clear away the mess that winter brings. In older days, folks’ homes were warmed by fires. Over the long winter months, soot would accumulate inside. Come spring, it was finally time to clean the floors and everything else.
Nowadays, think of all the family gatherings, the snowy boots that have trampled across the floors, the acquired gifts over the season. Oh, and the mountains of sweets and decadent dishes concocted for the holidays. Decorating, too. Okay, it honestly just makes sense that we’d be doing extra cleaning this time of year.
Even if you’re a clean freak, you’re bound to miss some stuff. Especially behind large appliances and furniture over the past few months.
Spring Cleaning Tips
Prioritize rooms
I usually prioritize the bathroom and kitchen first. This is because they’re used frequently and are notorious for being the most germy. If I can at least get these done, I feel like my life is somewhat put together.
I typically do some things on my spring cleaning checklist throughout the year anyway. As long as I keep that rotation going, every 3-4 months, I can focus more on the bathroom and kitchen during my spring cleaning spree.
Another way to prioritize is to think of other rooms you use most frequently, like a living room. I often forget to deep clean my large rug, so this time of year is a great reminder for me to shampoo it.
If you’re already on top of most of these rooms, maybe it works best for you to focus on rooms you use the least. Although not a high traffic area, sometimes these forgotten spaces can acquire a great deal of dust over time and need to be cleaned the most.
Keep it natural, if you can
You don’t have to go full-on eco-friendly, hippie dippy, minimalist mom on the entire house. In fact, you can do whatever works for you. But I do like to recommend using more natural products over harsh chemical agents when possible. Less inhalants and less skin contact with harsh chemicals.
I’m not insisting you make 10 different DIY cleaning products, though.
When we boil it down to cleaning and washing, it comes down to two things. Getting rid of visible dirt, grime, stains and getting rid of germs on a microscopic level.
What’s one thing that can solve both of those issues most of the time? Soap.
So even if you can make one really good DIY cleaning product with soap in it, it’s likely you can use this on multiple things. You may need to use baking soda or vinegar in addition, but these are items most people already have on hand.
I love Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap for cleaning. Or I make a multi-purpose cleaner using a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and hot water with a teaspoon (per quart) of Mrs. Meyers liquid soap. This can be used to clean countertops, tile, and more. Add fresh citrus juice or essential oils for a touch of natural fragrance.
If you have a super gross, grimey area that hot water, baking soda, and vinegar/lemon juice won’t solve for you, then maybe now’s the time to use something a bit harsher to do the job.
I occasionally will use bleach in my bathroom (because of those stubborn nooks that just want to produce mold spores occasionally). But 90% of the time I’m using natural solutions.
Use products you already have
This is kind of tied into the previous tip, but use what you already have first. Don’t go out and spend $20+ on a bunch of cleaning supplies you’ll use once a year. Especially if you can make some at home with household items you already have.
Maybe you’ll use a combination of what’s left of one product and improvise with a DIY one to finish the job. Just don’t spend a fortune on a million products when you really just need soap.
Don’t tackle it all at once
Seriously. Don’t expect a spotless house in one day. Spread your chores or rooms out throughout the week or even over the weekends in a month. You will be much less stressed about the cleaning. You’ll also be more motivated to clean for 30 minutes several times than one long, drawn-out day.
Tools & Supplies
Duster
Microfiber cleaning cloths
Vacuum
Multi-purpose cleaner
Window cleaner
Carpet shampoo
Mini duster (for blinds)
Hand steam cleaner, optional
Spring Cleaning Checklist
ALL ROOMS
Extra dusting (high-to-reach areas)
Baseboard (and other trim) washing
Window cleaning
Wash curtains/ wipe blinds
Wipe down registers (vents)
Declutter/organize
I often already dust light fixtures on a normal basis, but some of these other things can really slip my mind. I rarely clean the baseboards, but goodness they need it. I also like to clean all the windows whenever I can remember, but honestly that’s probably only about twice a year. Be sure to wipe down blinds and wash any curtains you have hanging, too.
I also find this is a great time to take registers out to wipe down. Our large floor register in the hallway accumulates lots of long hairs in it, so this one gets cleaned more frequently. But the others need it badly by spring.
Don’t forget to get rid of old things you find while cleaning, room by room. It’s easy to keep too many things. I declutter and organize more frequently, but for those who aren’t so Type A, now is a good time to do it.
KITCHEN
Wipe cabinets
Deep clean oven
Clean behind large appliances
You may need to clean out your fridge or pantry during this season. I do this every month to make things simpler. If you don’t, add this to the list as well.
Wipe cabinets and be sure to move your refrigerator to clean the floors behind it, too. I can’t tell you how many times something has fallen back there and I tell myself I’ll get it later and never do. Trust me on this one, it’ll need it.
If you clean your oven regularly, that’s great. For those of us who loathe this particular chore, now is a good time to really deep clean it. Remove the racks and heat coils and really scrub the oven down well. The racks can be cleaned in the sink using a solution of steaming hot water, lemon juice, and soap.
BATHROOM & LAUNDRY ROOM
Clean behind toilet
Wash shower curtains
Wipe down washer and dryer
I am proud to say I clean my bathroom deeply each week. I have to. I can’t do germs like that.
Luckily it’s a small bathroom, so it’s not too much trouble. It’s also much easier to cut down on grime in the bathtub by cleaning it often. If you don’t get the chance to clean like that you’ll need to deep clean the tub and tile at this time, too.
Shower liners should be changed once a season, but if you’re forgetting to wash the outer curtain now is a great time to do that too. Clean really well behind the toilet once you make your way out of the tub.
In the laundry room, be sure to wipe down the outside of the appliances with vinegar water. To clean any residue in the interior, simply run a vinegar rinse through it.
BEDROOMS
Flip, vacuum, and steam mattress
Clear out closets and dressers
The bedrooms in our home stay fairly maintained throughout the year, so we mainly just need to declutter a bit in the closets where we sometimes store extra stuff. If you store things under your bed, be sure to declutter some of this at this time.
Flip your mattress, and after removing all the bedding you can vacuum and steam clean if you wish. I wash sheets and pillowcases weekly and comforters and pillows every couple of months. Now is a good time to wash all of this while you’re flipping the mattress.
LIVING ROOM
Vacuum upholstery
Shampoo carpets/rugs
Steam throw pillows and blankets
The living room is similar to the bedrooms in that they get cleaned often, so at this time of year I don’t have to do too much. It is a good time to vacuum upholstery (and steam clean if you have one) and wash/steam throw pillows and blankets, though.
I also use this time to shampoo the rug in our living room. If you have carpets, take this time to focus on deep cleaning these with a shampooer.
GARAGE
Dust shelves
Sweep floors
It’s easy to forget the garage since it’s out of sight. My husband usually sweeps the garage anytime he uses his saw. Lots of sawdust can accrue, so it’s best to get it done right then.
But for those who don’t regularly sweep it out, spring is a good time to do it. Especially after the fall season, lots of leaves tend to accumulate from getting stuck on the tires or windshield.
Dusting may not be a top priority on a regular basis, so it’s best to at least get it dusted in the spring. Otherwise lots of cobwebs can accumulate over time.
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