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The following are some of the spring cleaning tasks that you have to cross off your checklist;
- Bedding
You wash your sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers regularly, but your pillows, comforters, and blankets need a refresh too. Read care instructions, but most can be washed in the washer (with care) and even dried in your machine as well.
- Curtains
Window dressings lend a softness to your indoor space but they’re also huge dust magnets. Cleaning them gets so much dust out of the house and away from your breathing zone. Remove curtains from rods and take them to be cleaned or launder them yourself if you can. In some instances, vacuuming and/or steaming them while they’re still hanging is preferable.
- Ceiling fans
A big part of spring cleaning is removing dust from rarely dusted areas. Your ceiling fans are about to get switched on again to combat warmer temperatures (or you’ll rotate the way they’re spinning). Stave off an avalanche of dust by cleaning your ceiling fans now.
- Doors
If you look closely, you might be surprised at how dirty your doors are. Cleaning them gives a spic-and-span feeling to the whole house. Start by dusting the top of the door frame. Next, grab a damp microfiber cloth, some all-purpose spray, a rag, or a Magic Eraser and wipe down both sides of every interior door, paying special attention to the bottom portion and the space near the knobs. Don’t forget to wipe the doorknobs as well.
- Cabinets
Cabinet door fronts rarely get cleaned, but with hands touching them frequently, they definitely need it! Start with kitchen cabinets and use a cleaning solution that cuts through grease. Don’t forget to check and address other cabinet doors as well, in storage areas, playrooms, or your office space, and give their fronts a wipe down.
- Windows Cleaning
Cleaning windows might be the quintessential spring cleaning activity. But it isn’t the easiest household chore. Doing all the windows in the house at once means you can enjoy the rest of the year without that nagging feeling that you really should clean your windows. A cloudy day is best for window washing so that your glass isn’t left with spots or streaks. Clean the dirtiest parts of your window first (read: tracks and sills), then get screens clean, if you have them. Last, wash your window panes, inside and out, and enjoy the crystal clear view.
- Washer and dryer
Maintaining your laundry appliances keeps them functioning their best, smelling clean, can save you from costly repairs, and is also a safety issue. In addition to running a cleaning cycle in your washer and cleaning the lint out of the lint catcher slot, wipe down the outsides of your units.
- Closets
Spring is the perfect time to re-evaluate your wardrobe. Declutter clothes, shoes, and accessories that you don’t like, don’t feel good in, need repairs, or that kids have outgrown. While you’re at it, re-organize what’s inside. Sorting by type, length, and/or color will greatly elevate the look of your closet and help you find what you need. Dust anything that needs dusting and give your closet floors a good cleaning.
- Bookshelves
Dust the very tops of the bookshelves. Dust the tops of your books. Then, take everything off of the shelves (you can do this shelf by shelf so it’s little less overwhelming), dust any decorative items (a dusting mitt is great for this), dust the shelves, and then replace everything. As you’re putting items back, use the opportunity to cull any books or items that no longer speak to you.
- Underneath appliances
Move appliances such as your dishwasher, oven, and refrigerator away from the wall and clean the floor beneath them. You’ll be disgusted at what’s collected under there and so, so glad to get it out!
- Shower/tub
Spring cleaning is the time to deep clean shower tracks, the niche, and the grout and walls of your enclosure. Make glass doors sparkle by removing soap scum, soak the showerhead in a bag filled halfway with white vinegar, and scrub your tub, including jets if you have them.
- Garbage cans
Gather all the garbage cans throughout the house. Empty any garbage that’s in there. Take them outside and hose them down. Use a Magic Eraser to scrub plastic cans and tackle dirty crevices with a disinfecting wipe or rag and/or cotton swabs. Allow the garbage cans to dry in the sun.
- Kids’ toys
Spring cleaning is a great time to clean your kids’ toys. Many small items that seem impossible to clean can be easily washed in a mesh laundry bag in the dishwasher. This method is great for things like LEGO and other plastic toys. Use a delicate cycle and skip the heat dry.
- Wood furniture
Take care of your wooden furniture and it will take care of you for a long, long time. Make sure you use cleaners designed for wood surfaces, especially if your wood is untreated or unpainted. For spring cleaning, you can also take it a step further and polish your wooden pieces for a protective layer that makes the wood gleam.
- Drains
The best time to clean and refresh your drains is long before a problem ever presents itself. It’s important to remember that kitchen drains and bathroom drains suffer from different kinds of buildup, so your cleaning methods should account for this.
- Carpets and Rugs
The first step in spring cleaning carpet care is vacuuming every single square inch, including the areas under furniture. Once you do this, roll area rugs back (you can do this in sections rather than removing the entire rug) and vacuum the rug pad and the floor underneath that. You can even vacuum the underside of the rug. Next, spot clean stains. If necessary, use a carpet cleaner to deep clean your area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting, or schedule a professional to do it when it’s convenient.
- Plants
Your plants bring you joy, but their leaves are also dust-collecting surfaces (name a surface that isn’t dust-collecting). To rid your homes of excess dust and to help your plants breathe better, too, dust their leaves with a slightly dampened microfiber cloth. Faux plants also need to be dusted.
- Refrigerator
Although you probably periodically clean out the fridge, use spring cleaning season to give it a full-blown cleaning, inside and out. Take out each shelf, bin, and drawer that you can remove and wash them (you can put them in the dishwasher!) and wipe the entire interior of the unit as well. Don’t forget to do the same for the freezer. Clean the water dispenser if you have one, and finish by polishing the exterior.
- Gas Stove and Oven
Ideally, you wipe up spills in your oven as soon as it’s safe (i.e., cool) enough to do it. But even with a homeowner who’s on top of it, oven interiors become coated with buildup. Cleaning your oven does not require harsh chemicals. Make a clean oven a priority in your spring cleaning routine and your whole kitchen will feel squeaky clean.
- Small appliances
Small appliances can get short shrift when it comes to cleaning attention. Clean out your coffee maker with vinegar, get your toaster or toaster oven spic-and-span, make your microwave sparkle, and give your stand mixer and blender a thorough cleaning as well.
