Are you ready for spring? Here’s my guide to easy, breezy spring cleaning, plus a free printable cleaning checklist to help you get every nook and cranny!
For someone who doesn’t like cleaning, I am perversely attracted to the deep cleaning that comes with spring. Maybe I enjoy the thoroughness of it, or maybe it’s the feelings of renewal and freshness that I get. Either way, I am excited to embark on another year of spring cleaning, and hope you are, too.
Spring cleaning can be undertaken many different ways, depending on what kind of house or apartment you have, and how deep you want to clean. I admit that there were years when this was thrown by the wayside in exchange for work or family—which I am totally okay with. I’d rather have a happy and messy home than a clean and cold one.
So, with this in mind, I’m going to lay out a basic plan for spring cleaning that should cover all the bases (or most of them) at your house. If you print out the checklist at the end of this post, you can have an easy reminder to tack onto your fridge and check off as you go.
Ready to get started? Me, too!
First things first
Have you ever tried dusting a shelf full of knickknacks? Or vacuumed around legos scattered all over the floor? Frustrating, isn’t it?
Clutter and mess can really get in the way of your spring cleaning. Having to constantly move things and put them away when you meant to be doing something else can slow you down, or even kill your motivation entirely.
The best thing you can do for yourself is start your spring cleaning with some decluttering. Don’t wash 30 sets of sheets—donate 20 of them and clean the rest. See if you need all of those glasses in your cabinet before you take them out and then put them back in again.
Disposing of duplicates, excess, broken things, things you no longer need or want, and things that no longer carry meaning can free up space in your home, making it more roomy and relaxing to be in. Recycle and donate what you can, and throw away the rest.
Spring cleaning supplies
There are a few things that you’ll need to make your spring cleaning a success. Here are the basics:
- Cleaners (check out this post on homemade, chemical-free cleaners)
- Rags/Cleaning cloths
- Old toothbrush for grout
- Broom/Mop/Vacuum
- Garbage bags
- Long-reach duster (or anything that can get a rag to the top corners of your rooms to grab cobwebs)
Kitchen spring cleaning
The kitchen is known as the heart of the home, and at least with my family, it’s the busiest room in the house. So, let’s get started here where our efforts will be seen and enjoyed the most.
Since kitchens can get pretty messy, they are usually cleaned on a regular basis. For spring cleaning, you are going to follow your usual cleaning routine, but with a few additions.
Once you’ve wiped down surfaces and cleaned the sink and stove, start going through your cabinets and drawers. Empty them out and clean inside before replacing their (hopefully decluttered) contents. If you have any pictures on the wall, dust them. Clean the windows, blinds, and curtains. Don’t forget the lights or fans. Try to work from top to bottom.
Clean out the refrigerator, wipe off the pantry shelves, hose out the garbage can, and clean inside the stove. Finally, sweep and mop the floors, paying special attention to grout and corners.
Dining room spring cleaning
If you have any china cabinets in this room, this is the time to clean them out, dust and polish, and then put everything back neatly. If you have a wood table, keep the polishing rag handy. Run your rag over every swirl and design detail on your chairs. If you have a fan or overhead light, dust them.
Once the furniture and wall decorations are taken care of, and you’ve cleaned the windows and coverings, then sweep and mop or vacuum the floors.
Living room/Family room spring cleaning
You might have one of these, or you might have both. Either way, start with the wall decorations and lights so you’re cleaning from top to bottom. Then, start on the furniture.
Does your leather couch need cleaning? Do you have couch covers that can be washed? How about curtains? Rugs?
Clean the windows and then dust and polish the furniture. If you have any banisters, these also need to be wiped down. When you vacuum, move as much furniture as you can so that you get the corners and underneath where dust bunnies lurk. Same if you are sweeping and mopping.
Bedroom spring cleaning
You know the drill—wash or dust the lights, fans, decorations, curtains, windows, and blinds. Wash all of the bedding.
While the bed is clear, clean any stains that might have appeared and vacuum the bed with an attachment. Flip and turn it, then vacuum that side.
Dust and polish any furniture in the bedrooms, including bed frames, dressers, nightstands, desks, TV stands, chairs, and bookcases. Move what you can and give the room a thorough vacuuming.
Closet spring cleaning
If you have kids, this is a good time to switch out their winter clothes for the warm weather ones. Remember to donate anything that’s no longer needed, and either throw away or repurpose any that are damaged or stained (we use ours for cleaning rags).
Dust hangers, shelves, and lights. If you keep a dresser in your closet, dust its top, sides, and the insides of the drawers.
For linen closets, air out the sheets or fluff them in the dryer with a nice-smelling dryer sheet (try these homemade ones). Wipe down the shelves before replacing your linens.
For coat closets, you should be emptying them out to clean the shelves, dust the hangers, clean any outdoorwear that needs it, and dust the light. Don’t forget the floor.
Bathroom spring cleaning
This is my least favorite room, and therefore, the last one. Besides the regular cleaning, make sure you are very thorough with the toilets and showers/tubs.
For toilets, clean insides, tops, lids, tanks, down to the floor, and then around the seal connecting them to the floor.
For showers and tubs, you are probably going to battle hard water stains and maybe mildew. Use your favorite cleaner and don’t forget the shower head, faucet, shelves or caddies. If you have a shower curtain, this may also need cleaning/laundering.
Empty out and clean any cabinets or shelves. Towels should be washed and replaced. The mirror and lights will need dusting and cleaning, as well as any windows. Scrub the sinks, especially the drain area. Make sure it is draining correctly, as you might need to snake out hair or gunk that’s accumulated (ditto for your shower).
Wash any rugs and then sweep and mop. Get the corners and clean the grout, especially near the toilet, tub, and sink.
Garage spring cleaning
If it’s connected to the house, then I’d count it in my spring cleaning checklist.
Dust any tools or shelving units you have in here. Hose out the garbage cans and sweep out the dead leaves and dirt that often blow in.
If you have a car parked here, why not clean it out as well? Grab some garbage bags and clean out the trash that’s accumulated, dust the dash and instruments, and clean the insides of the windows. I like to take my car to a gas station to vacuum out (those hoses are big and powerful!) and then we wash it ourselves.
Spring cleaning extras
Here are few things that often get overlooked, but need some spring cleaning love as well:
- Fireplace
- Baseboards
- Cobwebs in corners
- Air filters (if it’s time to change them)
- Stairs
- Books
- Railings/Banisters
I hope that this list has helped you figure out your battle plan for this year’s spring cleaning. If you prefer lists (who doesn’t?), you can print out this Spring Cleaning Checklist to make it easy to check off the tasks as you do them.
When you’re all done, you’ll be so happy that you took the time to really make your home shine. I hope you enjoy the fresh feeling of a clean, decluttered house this spring.
Good luck and happy spring cleaning!
What are some of your spring cleaning tips? I’d love to hear your advice in the comments below!
Interested in more on cleaning? Then check out these popular posts:
3 Cleaning Routines and Choosing the One that is Right for You
Leave a Reply