Spring Cleaning Checklist: Do THIS for a Fresh Start |

When the weather starts to warm up, we get the desire to start fresh. Even if that old groundhog sees his shadow, we know that spring isn’t far away.

It’s time to get rid of those dust bunnies under the couch and freshen up the linens. But the thought of cleaning your entire house is a little bit overwhelming.

Where do you even start? This spring cleaning checklist will give you an exact plan to follow to get your home clean and tidy in a flash.

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Spring Cleaning Tips

Before you get started with your deep cleaning routine, here are a few things you can do to make it easier:

Make a Plan

Instead of tackling everything at once, create a checklist for each room. Breaking it down into smaller tasks will make it feel more manageable and help you stay on track.

You don’t have to clean your whole house in a day, or even a weekend. You can do a little bit at a time until the job is done.

Declutter First

Before deep cleaning, get rid of items you no longer need. Donate, toss, or store away things that create clutter. Less stuff means less to clean!

But, don’t get overwhelmed with this part. Now is not the time to organize your closet, or declutter your kids’ toys. Just do an overview and get rid of the stuff that is in your way.

cleaning caddy filled with spring cleaning supplies

Keep Your Cleaning Supplies Nearby

Grab a cleaning caddy and put all the necessary cleaning products in it. You can carry it around from room to room. It will save you so much time.

Here are a few things to include:

paper towels
cleaning rags
all-purpose cleaner
Magic Erasers
Swiffer duster
glass cleaner
scrub brush

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Make a plan for cleaning each room. Clean from top to bottom, left to right. For example, dust fan blades before you clean the carpets or dust furniture.

This prevents dust and dirt from falling onto areas you’ve already cleaned. Having a simple process will save you time, and keep you from having to clean the same thing over and over.

Make It Fun

Attitude is everything! Set the tone for a happy, successful cleaning time. Put on upbeat music, a podcast, or an audiobook. You’ll be surprised how fast the time will go.

You can also set a timer for short cleaning sprints, and give yourself a little reward when you’re done!

Get the whole family involved and cut your cleaning time in half. Turning cleaning into a game or challenge can make it feel less like a chore for kids!

Deep Cleaning Room by Room

We clean each room a little bit differently, depending on its uses and the furniture in it. But there are some basic steps you’ll follow in every room.

Here’s a quick run-down of general cleaning steps for every room:

Dust all surfaces
Wipe down and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
Vacuum carpets and rugs
Mop hard floors
Wipe down baseboards and crown molding
Clean windows inside and out
Dust and clean light fixtures and ceiling fans
Wash curtains and blinds
Dry-clean pillows and blankets
Clean and vacuum under furniture
Vacuum and flip mattresses

Let’s break these tasks down a little bit further for a whole-house cleaning checklist.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Ready to get started? Here is the ultimate checklist to spring clean your house from top to bottom, inside and out!

Outdoor Spring Cleaning Checklist

When the weather gets especially warm, take your scrub brushes outside and get busy! You can complete all of these tasks on on Saturday afternoon.

Sweep the patio/porch
Clean outdoor furniture
Wash windows and screen
Check and clean gutters
Prune and trim trees and bushes
Ventilate crawl space (if necessary)

Spring Cleaning the Living Room

We spend a lot of time in the living room, and I’m often surprised by how dirty it is. Even though we have a general “no eating in the living room” rule, there always seem to be crumbs under the couch. (I know they’re not mine!)

Here’s a spring cleaning checklist that helps me whip my living room back into shape in an afternoon.

Vacuum and clean upholstery
Dust and clean furniture and electronics
Clean and polish wood furntiure
Vacuum and clean rugs and/or carpet
Declutter and organize shelves and bookcases

Deep-Cleaning the Kitchen

There’s something about the kitchen that makes it get icky pretty fast. Maybe it’s because there’s a lot of moisture in the air, plus drips, crumbs, and spills.

You’ll love your kitchen so much more when it’s clean!

Clean and disinfect countertops
Clean and sanitize sinks and faucets
Empty and clean the fridge and freezer; throw away any expired foods
Clean kitchen appliances
Wipe down cabinet fronts and handles
Clean and organize the pantry and cupboards
Clean and disinfect the garbage disposal and garbage can

Bedroom Spring Cleaning Checklist

When your bedroom is clean and tidy, you’ll sleep so much better! Repeat these steps for every bedroom in your house.

Wash and change bedding
Dust and clean all bedroom furniture
Declutter and organize closets and drawers
Donate or discards clothes and items you no longer need
Vacuum and clean under the bed

Spring-Cleaning the Bathroom

I admit that cleaning the bathroom is one of my least favorite chores. However, I like the feeling of taking a bubble bath in a clean tub!

Deep cleaning your bathroom isn’t as hard as you might think. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get it done.

Scrub and disinfect the toilet
Clean and disinfect the toilets
Clean the tub and shower
Replace or wash the shower curtain and bath mats
Clean mirrors
Empty and clean the cabinets and drawers

Garage and Storage Areas

Cleaning the garage and storage areas is not fun! It seems almost pointless as no one sees them. But, it makes you feel good to know that your stuff is tidy, and you can find what you need when you need it!

Declutter and organize storage areas
Sweep and clean the floors
Donate or discard items you no longer need
Check and organize tools and equipment

Miscellaneous

Here are a few other home maintenance tasks to take care of this spring:

Change the batteries in smoke detectors
Check and replace HVAC fliters
Check and replace water filters
Test and clean outdoor grills
Check and replace worn-out or missing weather stripping

Download Your Free Spring Cleaning Checklist

Want a printable version of this list? You can grab it here!

Spring Cleaning Checklist: Do THIS for a Fresh Start