The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist
Are you looking for a realistic spring cleaning checklist that will help you get your home deep cleaned this spring? I’ve got you covered! This spring cleaning checklist is thorough and detailed, but not too overwhelming. Let’s get cleaning, friends!
The Video!
Looking for a little video walk through to pump you up for getting your spring cleaning tacked? Look no further. This will introduce my spring cleaning checklist and give you a few tips and tricks as you get started.
How to Tackle Spring Cleaning
First of all, I want to take a second to talk about how to spring clean. I feel like it’s something we hear people talk about all the time and, I don’t know about you, but I often find myself wonder how in the world these people have time to do ALL THAT CLEANING. I mean, don’t they have kids? And jobs? And books to read? Don’t they need to sleep sometimes?
Well, fear not because my approach to spring cleaning is a little more, um, relaxed.
I’m all about doing a good deep clean of the house, but I’m also realistic about the fact that I only have so much time in my day. So, I don’t go nuts with it, and I don’t try to do it all at once.
That being said, if you want to tackle it all in one weekend, I have a comprehensive guide to how to spring clean in a weekend and it may be the perfect fit for you!
Personally, I take my spring cleaning one room at a time. I designate one day of the week as spring cleaning day (for me, it’s Friday mornings!), and I tackle one room from start to finish. It takes me a little longer to get it all done, but I don’t get burned out or overwhelmed. I work for a few hours on Friday mornings, and then I’m done for the week. So, if you also only have a few hours a week to get this done, I recommend trying the one-room-at-a-time approach too!
Essential Cleaning Supplies
Now, let’s talk about some must-haves that you’ll want to keep around for your spring cleaning. Some of these are obvious must-haves for any cleaning session, and some are things I personally consider musts. Your mileage may vary, and you know what works best in your home. Where it makes sense, I’ve linked my favorite version of each product!
To really properly tackle spring cleaning, you’ll need:
- A really great vacuum with attachments
- A mop
- Disinfectant wipes
- White vinegar + water mixture
- A spray bottle or two
- Toilet brush
- Microfiber cloths
- Wood polish or wood cleaner
- Your favorite all-purpose cleaner
- Dish soap
- Washing machine cleaner
- Dishwasher cleaner
- Baking soda (perfect for scrubbing!)
- The Pink Stuff (love this for the stovetop and shower)
- A Scrub Daddy
- Stainless steel cleaner
- A carpet cleaner
What to Clean in EVERY Room
Let’s start off with the general spring cleaning tasks that I do in every single room. These are the tasks that are applicable for just about every house, and aren’t specific to any one space. I repeat these tasks each week when I’m deep cleaning my weekly space.
General Clean Up
Every spring cleaning session starts with a general clean-up to make sure everything is put away. You don’t want to be cleaning around your clutter, because that kind of defeats the entire purpose. If you need to do some decluttering, trashing, or donating, this is a great time to do that! You can use the guide in my 30 Days to a Tidier Home ebook if you need some help getting started there!
In my general clean-up, I do what I would do during any other cleaning session, just with a little more detail. I put things away, I clear surfaces, and I trash the junk. Simple!
Dust
Next up, I take a minute to dust aaaaall of the surfaces in the room. This includes things like lamps, light fixtures, the top of door frames (mine loves to collect dust!) and any shelves. Oh, and don’t forget the ceiling fans. Get detailed here! This is also a great time to dust any wall trim you have in the room. I don’t use anything fancy for this – usually just a good microfiber cloth that’s slightly damp. But, a really good extendable duster would also be a great choice!
Wash the Walls
I know, I know. This task is the WORST. But, you’ll be shocked at how big of a difference it makes if you take a minute to wash the walls around your home. All I do is fill a bowl with some warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Then, I grab a microfiber cloth, get it wet, and wipe the walls down. You don’t need to scrub a ton – it’s incredible how much dirt is just sitting on the surface of those walls!
Wipe Down Doors
After cleaning the walls, use the same method to wipe down the doors. It might not be something you notice on a day-to-day basis, but I promise once you start looking closer you’ll be shocked at how gross they are.
Clean Light Switches + Door Knobs
And, of course, you’ve gotta wipe down those light switches and door handles. I use a disinfectant wipe for this!
Clean Windows + Mirrors
Take a minute to clean off your windows and mirrors. This is a great tool for cleaning the outside of your windows. The inside will do great with just a good wipe down with a microfiber cloth. This set is my absolute favorite for cleaning both windows and mirrors. It always leaves a streak-free finish!
Clean the Baseboards
You’re almost done! Now, it’s time to clean the baseboards. They’re such a dust collector, and I promise you’ll be amazed at how big of a difference it makes to give them a quick clean. I, once again, love the microfiber cloth and soapy water method here. You can also use a dryer sheet to wipe them down!
Clean Curtains + Blinds
Take a moment to dust your wooden blinds, and clean the curtains. If they’re washable, you can pull them down and toss them in the washer. Otherwise, you can just vacuum them to remove the dust!
Vacuum + Mop Floors
Once aaaall of your general cleaning tasks (and your specific room tasks) are done, you can wrap things up with a good vacuum and mopping session. Be sure to get detailed here – pull out those vacuum attachments and get in the corners. Use a scrub brush or cloth to clean the crumbs stuck in the baseboards. Don’t start slacking now – you’re almost done!
Clean Carpets (if applicable)
And the last deep cleaning task that I do in just about every room is clean any carpet or rugs. I use this carpet cleaner and it is amazing how clean it gets my carpets. I always save this task for last, so I can leave the room and let the carpets dry for a few hours while I prop my feet up.
Room-by-Room Spring Cleaning Checklist
Okay, so we know what tasks need to be taken care of in pretty much every room in the house. Let’s talk about a few more specific things. If you take the time to do all of the tasks on the checklist, your house will be cleaner than it’s ever been!
Living Room + Entry
- Spot clean the sofa and chairs. Wash the cushions if you can.
- Wash any throw blankets.
- Wash throw pillows, if you can.
- Clean the television screen (use something like this!)
- Dust any electronics.
Dining Rom
- Deep clean and polish the dining room table.
- Wipe off / spot clean dining chairs.
- Set the table (because why not?!)
Kitchen
- Clean the exterior of all appliances.
- Deep clean your dishwasher.
- Clean out the pantry.
- Deep clean the fridge.
- Clean the microwave.
- Wipe down the cabinets.
- Do a freezer clean out.
- Add drawer liner, if you haven’t already!
- Clean the oven and stovetop.
- Deep clean the sink and faucet.
- Clean out old spices.
Bathrooms
- Clean the toilets (add a toilet tablet!).
- Clean off the counters and sinks.
- Scrub down the shower and tile grout.
- Clean the shower glass.
- Replace the shower curtain liner, if applicable.
Bedrooms
- Wash all bedding.
- Vacuum the mattress.
- Clean under your bed.
- Wash (or replace!) pillows.
- Clean closets.
Laundry Room
- Clean your washer (here’s how to clean a front loader).
- Deep clean the dryer lint trap.
Outside
- Pressure wash the driveway.
- Pressure wash your siding.
- Scrub your deck or patio.
- Clean your window exteriors
- Clean any outdoor upholstery and furniture.
FREE Printable Spring Cleaning Checklist
Whew, it’s a lot to keep track of, I KNOW! Thankfully, I’ve got a simple FREE Spring Cleaning Checklist Printable to help you stay on top of things. There is also a blank version, in case you want to create your own. Simply click here to download the checklist!
Happy cleaning, friends!
