Spring is here and it’s time to shake off the winter doldrums and get organized. A thorough spring cleaning is the perfect way to usher in the warmer weather and give your home a fresh start. Below is my comprehensive spring cleaning schedule to help you tackle every nook and cranny.
Week 1: Declutter and Organize
The first week is all about going through each room and getting rid of the clutter. This will make the actual cleaning much easier in the following weeks.
Living Room
- Go through all shelves, surfaces, and storage furniture and remove items you no longer need or use.
- Donate or recycle items in good condition.
- Trash broken, ripped, or stained items.
- Reorganize books, DVDs, and decor items so they’re neatly displayed.
- Vacuum under and behind furniture.
- Use a disinfectant on surfaces like remote controls, light switches, and door handles.
Kitchen
- Go through all cabinets, drawers, countertops and remove expired food and old plastic containers.
- Organize dishes and glasses so they’re neatly stacked.
- Go through appliance manuals and warranties and toss any expired ones.
- Clear all countertops completely so they can be thoroughly cleaned later.
- Check the pantry and donate any unopened food items to a local food bank.
Bedrooms
- Go through the closet and dresser and remove any clothes you haven’t worn in over a year. Donate gently used items.
- Remove any extra hangers and organize clothes by type and season.
- Go through under the bed and remove items you don’t need. Use storage containers to organize what you’re keeping.
- Go through nightstands and remove any clutter.
Week 2: Clean Room by Room
Now it’s time to do a deep clean in each room. Make sure to use disinfectant on surfaces throughout the house.
Living Room
- Dust ceiling fan blades, light fixtures, baseboards, and window treatments.
- Vacuum and shampoo carpets and rugs.
- Use glass cleaner on windows, mirrors, and glass furniture.
- Disinfect doorknobs, remote controls, tables, and electronics.
- Polish wooden furniture.
Kitchen
- Clean inside the oven and microwave with an all-purpose cleaner.
- Disinfect countertops, handles, and knobs.
- Use a stainless steel cleaner on appliances.
- Scrub down cabinets and drawers inside and out.
- Wash windows, floors, walls, and light fixtures.
Bathrooms
- Disinfect countertops, sinks, faucets, handles, and knobs.
- Clean mirror and windows with glass cleaner.
- Scrub down shower/tub and tiles with a heavy duty cleaner.
- Wipe down cabinets and drawers.
- Mop and disinfect floors.
Bedrooms
- Dust ceiling fans, furniture, baseboards, and windows.
- Vacuum and shampoo carpets and rugs.
- Wash bedding and curtains.
- Disinfect doorknobs, light switches, and surfaces.
- Clean under the bed thoroughly.
Week 3: Finish Touches
Now that the heavy duty cleaning is done, it’s time to complete all the finishing touches.
- Wash walls, windows, and baseboards in every room.
- Clean out fireplace and HVAC vents.
- Touch up any scuffed paint around the house.
- Polish doorknobs and other metallic surfaces.
- Steam clean carpets and rugs.
- Clean outdoor patio furniture and grills.
- Wash outdoor windows and light fixtures.
- Plant new seasonal flowers and prune bushes and trees.
Week 4: Daily Cleaning Tasks
- Make bed each morning.
- Do dishes after each meal.
- Take out trash when full.
- Quick vacuum high traffic areas.
- Wipe down kitchen counters.
- Clean toilet and sink each night.
Establishing a solid daily cleaning routine will help maintain the deep clean. Stick to these daily tasks to prevent messes from piling up again.
A comprehensive spring cleaning doesn’t have to be grueling. Break it up room by room over the course of a month. You’ll be left with a decluttered, sparkling clean home ready for sunny days ahead!