Spring Clean Up Checklist

As the cold months of winter begin to fade away, it’s time to set your sights on the arrival of spring and prepare for your annual spring clean up. Dating back more than 3,000 years, the concept of “spring cleaning” is rooted in Middle Eastern culture and is known as the shaking of the house. It is also an annual tradition in countless countries around the world including Greece, Egypt and the United States. As for the latter, a day in the life of an American housewife in 1864 is part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute with a diary page that reads, “Swept and dusted sitting-room & kitchen 350 times. Filled lamps 362 times. Swept and dusted chamber & stairs 40 times.” A layer of soot covered every surface in homes back then due to a reliance on coal for heat and whale oil to illuminate lamps. The spring season was the perfect opportunity for people to engage in some deep house cleaning and welcome in the fresh air and warmer temperatures. Hence, “spring cleaning” was born!

Fast-forward to the year 2020 (where spring cleaning is an equal-opportunity chore!), winter is almost over and it’ll soon be time to prepare your home for the glorious spring season!

Spring Cleaning your Home

• In the Kitchen
• In the Living Room
• In the Dining Room
• In the Bedroom
• In the Kid’s Bedroom
• In the Bathroom
• In the Home Office
• In the Attic
• In the Basement
• In the Entire House

 

In the Kitchen

It’s the most used room in the house and often the grimiest with food splatters and oily stovetops to contend with. After a winter full of rushed breakfasts and hearty stews that bubbled over, you’ll want to tackle the kitchen first on your spring cleaning to-do list.

Image Credit: FreePik

 

TO DO LIST:

• Remove non-kitchen items from cabinets and drawers.
• Wipe down the counters and cabinets.
• Clean the vent hood.
• Wash food splatters off the walls.
• Deep clean the stovetop and inside the oven.
• Scrub the kitchen sink and faucets.
• Replace dish sponges and refill soap dispenser.
• Wipe the interior and exterior of the microwave.
• Clean out the refrigerator and freezer of expired food.
• Wipe down the exterior and interior of the refrigerator and freezer.
• Remove and launder kitchen curtains.
• Rehang once dry.
• Dust exhaust fans and ceiling fans thoroughly with long handled broom.
• Scrub and degrease the tops of cabinets and appliances.
• Deep clean your dishwasher by running it with 1c of vinegar to disinfect.
• Wipe down small appliances on the counter to remove stains and spills.
• Clean the kitchen table and spot clean chairs.
• Sweep the floor and use the vacuum for corners or hard to reach areas.
• Mop the floor with a simple solution of dishwashing soap and water.
• Remove all trash and discard.

 

 

In the Living Room

It’s the most lived-in room in the home and likely the messiest. From school book bags to pet toys, the living room is the catchall for the whole family’s junk. Yet, it’s also the first room in the home that guests and visitors see when dropping by for a visit. Spring cleaning is the perfect excuse to get this shared living space back in order!

Image Credit: Pixabay

 

TO DO LIST:

• Declutter and remove whatever doesn’t belong; relocate to the proper place.
• Remove window treatments and launder.
• Rehang once dry.
• Move large pieces of furniture to remove trash lurking beneath.
• Vacuum tops of sofa cushions and beneath to remove debris.
• Dust ceiling fan with a long-handled broom; wipe blades with a damp towel.
• Throw away old magazines and newspapers.
• Donate outdated knick knacks or unwanted decor to charity.
• Dust blinds and curtain rods.
• Vacuum windows sills and wipe clean.
• Dust television, gaming consoles and other electronics.
• Disinfect remote controls.
• Replace batteries in remote controls.
• Wash interiors and exteriors of windows.
• Dust lamp shades and wipe down other decor items.
• Purge your coffee table of junk and polish the top.
• Fluff pillows in the dryer, on low, for a few minutes to remove dust.
• Wash throws and blankets.
• Vacuum or mop the floor.
• Discard collected trash.

 

 

In the Dining Room

The gathering place for family mealtime, the dining room is an integral part of the home. It is a special space to share food and make memories, whether during weekly dinners or weekend dinner parties. Spruce it up for the spring season by deep cleaning it to perfection. Before you know it, you’ll be welcoming eager guests to your table.

Image Credit: Pixabay

 

TO DO LIST:

• Relocate any items that don’t belong.
• Wash the walls and crown molding.
• Polish the dining room table and sideboard.
• Wipe down dishes in china cabinet.
• Spot clean chair cushions.
• Wipe down dining room chairs.
• Vacuum the rug and carpet.
• Launder table linens.
• Wipe down placemats.
• Clean the table centerpiece.

 

 

In the Bedroom

Your sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the world, the bedroom is usually the last place to get the time it deserves in terms of cleaning and organizing. It is often a storage place for junk, dirty dishes, a pile of laundry that needs to be washed and anything else you can imagine! Get your bedroom ready for spring and savor the tranquility of the space.

Image Credit: Pixabay

 

TO DO LIST:

• Declutter and remove anything that doesn’t belong.
• Reorganize your closet and donate unwanted clothing or accessories.
• Remove bedding and launder; including throw blankets.
• Fluff pillows in the dryer for 5 minutes, with a softener sheet, to refresh.
• Flip over the mattress and wipe down the headboard.
• Dust and polish bedroom furniture.
• Organize your dresser and wipe it down.
• Clean your nightstand and remove unwanted books or magazines.
• Wash laundry in the hamper and put away.
• Make the bed.
• Vacuum under the bed.
• Mop or vacuum the floor.

 

 

In the Kid’s Bedroom

Quite possibly the most frustrating room in the house, a child’s bedroom is often a breeding ground for unwanted toys and a few “whatchamacallits” that no one can identify. Ideally, your child’s room should be a creative space that is clean and inviting. Deep clean, just in time for spring, and give his imagination the room to grow by leaps and bounds!

Image Credit: Pexels

 

TO DO LIST:

• Remove and bag all the trash from the space.
• Sort through the toy chest to remove broken toys and identify the ones for donation.
• Vacuum out the toy chest to remove debris.
• Wipe down hard toys with a solution of 1T vinegar and 2c water in a spray bottle.
• Wash stuffed animals on the delicate cycle and fluff dry with a dryer sheet.
• Put all toys back in the toy chest.
• Remove bed linens and flip the mattress.
• Wash all the bedclothes, tumble dry and remake the bed.
• Clean under the bed and vacuum to remove “dust bunnies”.
• Organize the closet and remove clothes for donation.
• Tidy up the dresser drawers and organize the clothing inside.
• Sort through school papers and artwork to file or toss.
• Vacuum the floor and shampoo the carpet if necessary.

 

 

In the Bathroom

The place to indulge in some serious suds, the bathroom is the most-sought after room in the whole house. It’s also the germiest and needs a deep clean before spring has sprung. The most sought-after room in the house. It can also be the most cluttered with shelves and countertops filled with beauty products and other things you don’t really need. By decluttering and reorganizing your bathroom, you’ll save time and energy every time you use the space. That’s time that you can otherwise spend enjoying the spring season!

Image Credit: Pixabay

 

TO DO LIST:

• Remove and throw away all unnecessary items.
• Toss used bars of soap and empty bottles of shampoo.
• Throw away all expired beauty products and medicine.
• Vacuum the exhaust air vents.
• Gently scrub the bowl of the sink to remove buildup and toothpaste residue.
• Wipe the counter tops with disinfectant.
• Soak cotton balls in vinegar and place around faucets to remove limescale buildup.
• Polish faucets with baby oil to make them shine; gently buff with a clean towel.
• Refill the soap dispenser with liquid soap.
• Deep clean and scrub the interior of the toilet with a chlorine-based cleaner.
• Wipe down the exterior of the toilet with a disinfectant spray.
• Remove the shower curtain and wash it in the washing machine.
• Remove shower curtain rings and wash them in warm soapy water.
• Dry.
• Spray the tub and shower with bathroom cleaner.
• Let stand for 5 minutes before scrubbing.
• Scrub tile grout with a special whitening cleanser.
• Polish the bathroom mirror with streak-free glass cleaner.
• Sweep the floor and vacuum debris from the corners.
• Mop the floor with a disinfectant cleaner.
• Disinfect the wastebasket and change the liner.
• Hang new hand towels.

 

 

In the Home Office

It’s the place where you pay the bills, manage daily tasks and give your creativity a chance to shine. But if your home office is overrun with stacks of newspapers, old boxes and other junk that doesn’t have a home – then it’s time for a spring cleaning makeover!

Image Credit: FreePik

 

TO DO LIST:

• Get rid of garbage and other items that don’t belong.
• Clear away all the clutter from your desk.
• Wipe off your desk tabletop with a damp cloth.
• Dust behind your PC and wipe down other electronics.
• Clean your computer screen with a streak-free glass cleaner.
• Reorganize your desk drawers and remove unwanted things.
• File away important documents and discard unnecessary ones.
• Use a hairdryer, on the cool setting, to remove dust from your keyboard.
• Untangle and secure your power cords and other wires with zip cords.
• Vacuum your office chair and wipe down the hardware.
• Vacuum or mop the floor.

 

 

In the Attic

The attic is typically the least thought about room in the house. While it really is meant to be a storage room for junk, it also is a storage spot for family heirlooms and other treasures! This spring, deep clean the space and consider reinventing it. With some clever planning and organizational tips, you can create a whole new space for whatever your imagination dreams up!

Image Credit: FreePik

 

PRO TIP:

• Wear a safety mask, with grading, before you begin deep cleaning the attic to avoid breathing in airborne allergens or other contaminants, such as fiber glass particles.
• Wear thick rubber gloves to protect your hands from dirt and other debris.
• If your attic smells moldy, you should schedule an inspection with a mold inspector.
• If you notice rodent droppings as you clean, you’ll need to schedule an inspection with an exterminator.

 

TO DO LIST:

• Collect garbage and broken objects for removal.
• Remove old boxes and unwanted furniture.
• Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a high-efficiency bag to vacuum and trap all debris.
• Rearrange stored items in one corner of the attic to free up space.
• Use large plastic bins fitted with a lid to store precious keepsakes and other items you want to hold onto.
• Remove worn-out or dated rugs from the space.
• Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a long-handled attachment to remove cobwebs and other particles from the floor and ceilings.
• Repurpose part of your attic to store seasonal clothing or decor for your home.
• If you have a finished attic, consider repurposing the space as a workshop, gift wrapping station or even a man cave or she shed.

 

 

In the Basement

PRO TIP:

Wear a graded safety mask and thick rubber gloves to protect yourself from dirt, mold and other allergens in the air.

Just like the attic, the basement is often a place for storage and is most likely filled up with a mix of both wanted and unwanted items. Unless it’s a finished basement, you might have similar issues that you had in the attic such as rodents or even mold. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to tackle the basement so that it’ll be ready just in time for spring!

Image Credit: Freepik

 

TO DO LIST:

• Declutter and remove all unnecessary items.
• Donate large pieces of furniture to a local charity to clear the space.
• Use plastic bins with fitted lids to organize storage items.
• Arrange the bins on a shelving system to keep them organized.
• Label each bin with an adhesive label to identify everything inside each one.
• Hang a large pegboard on one wall to hold miscellaneous objects like tools or other things.
• Inspect the walls for dampness or any water damage.
• Look for rodent droppings to identify a possible infestation.
• Sweep the floor and use the vacuum to collect debris from the corner.
• Scrub the walls with warm soapy water and rinse with a diluted chlorine bleach solution.
• Plug in a small fan and position it towards the wall to dry; rotate as needed.
• Wipe down the exterior of the washer and dryer units.
• Organize laundry supplies.
• Inspect furnace vents and change filters.

 

 

In the Entire House

There will, no doubt, be a number of tasks that aren’t specific to one room.  Your whole house needs a once over from top to bottom, and there are tasks to do that affect the entire space.

TO DO LIST:

• Wipe baseboards.
• Replace smoke alarm batteries.
• Vacuum air vents and registers.
• Replace air filters.
• Wipe down door handles and light switches.
• Steam clean rugs and carpets.
• Wash windows and light fixtures with glass cleaner.
• Clean artwork, photo frames and any other decor to remove grime.
• Polish glass and mirrored surfaces.
• Vacuum cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling.
• Open windows to air out the home.

 

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