A Practical Spring Cleaning Checklist for Any Home

Spring represents new beginnings, but it can also affect allergies, so it's the perfect time to deep clean your home. In this article, we'll share a practical spring cleaning checklist for any home.

We've talked to cleaning experts to gather the most useful ideas and advice for spring cleaning your home. Below, we'll discuss how, what, and when to clean for spring. We'll also share professional tips for saving time and money. 

And don’t forget to enjoy the season with spring activities, including a spa day to refresh your mind and body!

Why is spring cleaning important?

Spring cleaning your home is an opportunity to freshen up areas that get overlooked or accumulate dirt, dust, and clutter throughout the year, says Aaron Christensen, a Resident Cleaning Expert and VP of Growth at Homeaglow.

It also helps you go into a new season feeling refreshed and ready for warm weather. Spring can also affect allergies, so it’s important to have a dust and dirt-free home.

What is included in a home spring cleaning?

When deep cleaning your home, you’ll want to take a room-by-room approach or group your efforts by the type of cleaning task, says Christensen. Most professionals clean each space from top to bottom and move around the room clockwise. Then, they move on to the next room until all areas are thoroughly cleaned.

Below, we’ll share a spring cleaning checklist and helpful tips for sprucing up your home.

Gather your items

Deep cleaning your home doesn’t require too many items.

To get started, gather the following:

• Vacuum and/or broom and dust pan
• Hand-held vacuum
• Mop and solution
• Laundry soap
• Dish soap to mix with water
• Cleaning cloths
• Specific cleansers, if needed

Declutter

“Decluttering offers an almost immediate before and after difference, leaving you with a sense of accomplishment right away,” says Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa, a home cleaning company. 

It’s also easier to clean surfaces and access each part of a room when it’s clear of clutter (e.g., last season’s magazine, old mail, and knick-knacks).

Clean from ceilings to floor

Knoll recommends cleaning from top to bottom, starting with ceiling fans and light fixtures and working your way to the floors. This pushes all the dust to the floor, which you can easily clean up with a vacuum as you finish up.

Moving from top to bottom also ensures you get everything and effectively clean the entire space, says Delah Gomasi, Managing Director & CEO of MaidForYou.

Remember to vacuum and mop under furniture, too, where dust collects throughout the year.

Clean air vents

“Don't forget air vents when you’re cleaning because they can accumulate a lot of dust over time, which recirculates into your home,” says Knoll. 

A quick vacuum or wipe-down can significantly improve air quality. To deep clean your vents’ air ducts, a professional cleaning company can help you by using extending poles that safely reach all vents.

Refresh mattresses

When spring cleaning, Knoll recommends vacuuming your mattresses. You can also flip or rotate them. A sprinkle of baking soda before vacuuming your mattresses can help neutralize odors.

Clean window and shower curtains

"Curtains can be dust magnets and can gather smells over time if you don't occasionally clean them," says Knoll. Check the cleaning instructions, as some can be machine washed, making this task much easier.

If you have curtains that aren’t machine washable, consider hand washing or getting them dry cleaned.

Wash windows and screens

Since windows and screens are exposed to the outside, they collect a lot of dirt and grime throughout the year.

Washing your window screens is especially important if you open your windows for fresh air during spring. 

To wash your screen, remove them first. Then, wash off with soapy water and rinse with clean water.

Clean furniture

How you clean your furniture depends on its type. Upholstered furniture is usually vacuumed to remove dust, dirt, and other debris. Other furniture, like tables and chairs, can be dusted and wiped down. 

Most furniture should have specific cleaning instructions either on a tag or with a quick internet search.

Wipe down flat surfaces

Wipe all flat surfaces, including bathroom and kitchen counters, tables, and shelves. Clear surfaces of clutter to ensure you thoroughly clean corners and hard-to-reach places you might not always get to. 

For some surfaces, it might be best to start with a duster. While you can use specific counter cleaners, a mix of vinegar, lemon juice, and water is also an effective surface cleaner. If you’re wiping a wood surface, use a wood-safe cleanser.

Deep clean carpets and area rugs

According to Peter Duncanson, Vice President of Training and Development at ServiceMaster Restore, carpets hold a lot of dirt and dust. “It’s important to deep clean them so germs don’t accumulate, and the easiest way to do this is by vacuuming over all carpets and area rugs."

You might also purchase or rent a carpet cleaner that can shampoo if you’re dealing with stains.

Clean walls, cabinets, and baseboards

Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to address dirty walls, cabinets, and baseboards.

Duncanson recommends wiping your walls and baseboards with a damp washcloth to remove dirt and dust. You may do the same on your cabinets or use a specialized cabinet cleaner that can remove grease or debris from food.

Clear out your refrigerator

It’s common for food to pile up throughout the year as you restock groceries.

Duncanson suggests doing the following when you’re spring cleaning your home:

• Go through your refrigerator and freezer and discard any expired food
• Wipe down the inside with soap and water and scrub any needed areas
• Organize the contents inside
• Wipe off the exterior with a cleaner appropriate for your refrigerator type

Clean Appliances

Many people don’t clean their appliances regularly, so dirt and grime likely buildup. Cleaning your appliances is an easy way to spruce up your space and make it feel fresh. 

Many appliances have specific cleaners you can use, or you can keep it simple with a mix of vinegar, soap, and water. The most common appliances that likely need cleaning include all items in your kitchen and your washing machine and dryer.

Wash sheets, towels, and rugs 

Similar to curtains, sheets, towels, and rugs can also collect dust and dirt and start to smell. While you likely clean these throughout the year, be sure to tend to those that may need a refresh, like those kept in guest bedrooms or stored in closets. 

Most of these items are machine washable, which makes them easy to clean. Since washing takes time, you might do this in phases—by room or item. 

Spruce up your outdoor spaces

After you’ve completed home spring cleaning inside, you can move outside. The best part? This is a great way to enjoy warmer weather!

Areas and items you’ll want to clean outside may include:

• Driveway
• Patio/porch(es)
• Outdoor furniture
• Bushes and yard
• Garage
• Shed
• Doormats

Helpful Spring Cleaning Tips

Use the helpful tips below to schedule and effectively deep clean your home.

• Prioritize most used spaces - If you can’t spring clean your entire house or don’t know where to begin, Gomasi suggests starting with the dirtiest, most lived-in areas of your home. These are often your living room and kitchen, then bathrooms and bedrooms.
• Clean in sections with a timer - Gomasi also recommends cleaning in sections with a timer. For example, start with one specific room for 25 minutes. Then, take a short timed break before resuming.
• Start in March - It’s best to start spring cleaning in March when the weather starts to warm up and before spring allergies take over.
• Create a cleaning schedule - Spring cleaning can take a lot of time. Before you start, create a reasonable schedule. For example, you might block out an entire weekend or one weekend day every week until you’re finished.
• Ask for help - Ask others who live with you to help, giving each person specific tasks. You might also hire a cleaning team.
• Use natural cleaners - Knoll suggests using vinegar and baking soda when cleaning because they're eco-friendly and more affordable than many grocery store cleaners. They’re also great for descaling kitchen and bathroom fixtures.
• Clean your windows on a cloudy day - Sunlight can dry your cleaning solution too quickly, leaving streaks. Instead, clean your windows when it’s cloudy and use a squeegee with a simple water and vinegar or rubbing alcohol solution.
• Check emergency items - Although it’s not cleaning, this is a good time to test emergency items like your fire and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they’re properly working.

Spring Cleaning Your Home: Conclusion

We hope you found this article helpful and feel inspired to freshen up your home as you go into a new season. Spring cleaning each room from top to bottom before moving on to the next is the best way to declutter and remove dirt and dust that’s collected throughout the year. 

Remember to also refresh your mind and body as we enter a new season. One of the best ways to do this is with a spa day. If you’re in Denver, book a spa day at Oakwell Beer Spa. Otherwise, consider treating yourself to an at-home spa day with Oakwell Cosmetics.