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Spring time often brings with it thoughts of a spring clean up for your house. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the weather is sweet. If you live in an area where there are actual seasons, spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year. It is also around the time you realize that your post-hibernation house is now filthier than ever!
A disorganized space is associated with less physical activity. On the contrary, organization and order have been associated with choosing to eat more healthily, being more generous, and conventionality. Psychology Today
With the busy hustle and bustle of the holiday chaos having died down, its time to prepare for a summer with lots of activity in and outdoors.
There is so much to do that you might be confused about where to begin. Should the kitchen be tackled first? Or is the living room in dire need of a visit from the vacuum cleaner?
You can find below the ultimate spring cleaning checklist – room by room – to get you started on the right track. By the end of the article, you’ll have a cleaning list by room to tackle your house with.
Contents
Cleaning the Living Room
First on the spring cleaning list is probably the coziest rooms of the entire house: the living room. This is where you spend time hosting family and friends – you’ll probably be spending a lot of time here over the coming months, and you’ll want it nice and clean.
Floor
The easiest way to begin is from the bottom up. Therefore, we will begin with the floor. Most living rooms are usually carpeted, and they will have gathered quite a bit of dirt if you haven’t thoroughly vacuumed it in a while.
Start with a thorough vacuuming… not the kind where you quickly pass over the high traffic areas, but the kind where you slowly pass over all surfaces.
For best results, try to find a carpet cleaner to help you with heavily soiled or faded carpets. Some of the best carpet cleaning products include Arm & Hammer Extra Strength Odor Eliminator, which can help you freshen up the area and leave it smelling cleaner than ever.
- Loosens and help your vacuum lift up to 25% more dirt than vacuuming alone
- Plus the power of oxi clean dirt fighters
- Also absorbs and eliminates odors from smoke, mold and mildew
- Uses the power of baking soda to neutralize even the toughest odors deep within carpets
For a shampoo cleaner, we recommend going with Nature's Miracle Carpet Shampoo to penetrate into the deepest parts of the carpet to pull away any hidden dirt particles
- Low-foaming formula is designed to be used with any water-based carpet cleaning machine or steam...
- Penetrates deep into carpet fibers to allow extraction of new and old stains, odors and allergens
- Contains bio-enzymatic odor locking technology for permanent and superior odor removal
- Color-bright formula with rug conditioners and brighteners
Tidying up can improve mental health and help you make better money decisions, financial experts say. USA Today
Make sure you are going under couches and tables, and use a crevice tool when available to clean the edges of the room. For best results, go over the same area multiple times and make sure your collection bin is emptied out for maximum suction power.
We highly recommend finding a good stick vacuum cleaner to make this task a lot easier for you!
Furniture
Once the carpet is done, you can move on to surfaces and furniture. Begin by gauging what you will need to tackle your couches. If you can remove the sofa covers to wash them separately, that would be the best option. Otherwise, you might need to get creative.
Try to use some of the same carpet cleaner in a spray bottle and rub it with a soft bristle brush. Make sure the cleaner is not abrasive enough to fade the colors from the couch. Resolve Upholstery Stain Remover is a perfect example of a product that will take out the tough stains without taking the colors too.
- Directions: Product Usage: Resolve Upholstery Cleaner Is Safe To Use On Most Household Fabrics Such...
- Concentrated formula use only 2 3 ounce Per gallon of water Cleans up to 1600 square feet
Tables and Chairs
Clean the tables with a soft microfiber towel, going over the top, sides and legs as well. Remove any items that are usually lying on the tables, and use a wood cleaner such as Murphy Oil Wood Cleaner to protect your furniture with a safe and natural product.
- Country of origin is China
- The package dimension of the product is 11"L x 8.2"W x 2.6"H
- The package weight of the product is 3.2 pounds
Curtains
Lastly, don’t forget to take your vacuum cleaner’s soft reaching tool and take the dust off your curtains. In the case where you don’t have a detachable hose on your vacuum, you can use a brush or a towel to dust off any dirt that might have stuck in your window curtains.
Our spring cleaning checklist room by room has only just started. The living room is done – now lets move on to the kitchen.
Living Room Checklist
Cleaning the Kitchen
No spring clean up is complete without going over the kitchen thoroughly and carefully. Better not avoid this for too long, or else you’ll be too tired to really get things going. Here are the things you need to keep in mind when cleaning your kitchen.
In this area of the house, we can begin working from the top and work our way down. Why do we do this backwards this time? Well, there may be crumbs and bits on the counters that might get carried down when cleaning.
If you begin working with the floor and work your way up, you may have to do it again at the end of your cleaning duty.
Sink
Start by getting the sink area wet and throw some Bleach while you work on other areas.
- 21-ounces tin
- Easy rinse formula; starch free
- Contains no phosphates
- Cleans chrome, porcelain, ceramic tile and other durable surfaces
Take a microfiber towel and go over the counters once prior to spraying it with some multipurpose cleaner. Good cleaners such as No products found. can do the job pretty quickly. Remember to let the cleaner settle in for a couple of moments before removing it with a soft microfiber towel.
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While you’re at it, you might want to grab the best kitchen mat for the money. This will give your feet a cushioned place to stand, and you can use it day-in, day-out in the future as you wash dishes and cook.
Counters
Over time, grease will build up on your kitchen counters and drawers. Use the same towel to clean cabinet doors and handles. The same all-purpose cleaner should work fine with these surfaces, unless the counters are made with glass accents or specially treated wood.
Careful to check whatever cleaner you do decide to use – make sure it is completely save. Your food will end up on your countertop more than any other surface in your house, and its best to be SAFE regarding what chemicals you put on your counter.
Spring cleaning hacks: Take some time to get all the items out of the counters to clean the inner shelves. This is usually where clean dishes and glassware rest, so it’s a good idea to keep the area clean and free of debris. It may take a little longer, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Appliances
Stainless steel can look fabulous and elegant when it is kept free of streaks and water spots. Clean all your stainless steel appliances with a special spray such as Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish. Spray some on a microfiber towel or directly on the surface and wipe down immediately.
Different types of stovetops require different cleaning methods. For electric flattop stoves, a multipurpose cleaner and a sponge are usually enough. However, a gas stove will require you to remove the grills and other metal components to clean separately.
Remember to clean the inside and outside of the oven door, and take a microfiber clothe to the edges of the stovetop to get all the little nicks and crannies.
The kitchen sink has been soaking with powder for a while, so now it’s a good time to take the rough side of a sponge or some steel wool and work it with some elbow grease. The sink is one area where you shouldn’t cut any corners. Take your time going behind the faucet and the handles, around the sinkhole and any other areas you might use often.
Floors
Finally, sweep the floor and mop it twice. Lots of dirt and food debris can get stuck between the corners of the lower cabinets, so make sure you check twice before mopping. The last thing you want is to mop your floors while they’re still dusty.
This is where keeping a small, lightweight stick vacuum in a closet nearby is handy. Instead of having to get out a big bulky vacuum, you can whip out the stick vacuum each night and quickly run over the high traffic areas. We have put together a complete guide outlining the corded stick vacuum choices, along with the some similar cordless stick vac options.
You can also opt to use a high powered steam mop if you have tile flooring with grout. The steam will work out deep stains and markings, while also helping to preserve your grout for longevity.
Kitchen Checklist
Cleaning the Bathrooms
Next on the spring clean up is the area that gets used by everybody all the time: the bathroom. Like the kitchen, the bathroom also gets cleaned on a fairly regular basis (hopefully!). This is another area that will need to get extra attention, since some areas are usually cleaner than others.
Begin by doing the same Ajax powder procedure, except this time put some of that power on the toilet bowl and let it settle in. You will get to the toilet bowl later.
Mess plays havoc with our mental health. Karen Krizanovich
Tip: Don’t underestimate the power of a clean home. MakeSpace, a storage service that uses technology to help you declutter your life, interviewed various psycho therapists, doctors, and pro organizers and discovered that clutter significantly increases stress, jeopardizes your love life, and decreases productivity
Counters
For now, begin by gauging the amount of dust and bathroom product that might be lying on the porcelain tops. Most bathrooms have white surfaces, so it may be hard to see how dirty these surfaces really are. Take a microfiber towel to the bathroom sink and get all the debris off of the top surface prior to using any cleaning products.
Once the white surfaces have been preliminary cleaned, you can use some products to tackle harder to remove stains. Take a bathroom surface cleaner and spray it on top of the porcelain surfaces around the bathroom sink. Let it soak for a couple of minutes before removing it with a microfiber towel.
Faucets
Certain steel faucet heads can begin to develop calcium in certain areas when neglected. Make sure you are scrubbing these areas with a steel wool or a wire brush to remove these deposits. Extra spring clean up points for removing the faucet handles and thoroughly cleaning the faucet.
Tile
An organized closet can save you some headaches down the road, so it’s important to tackle it now that we are doing this spring clean up. Do a summer wardrobe audit by storing away your winter clothing and gathering your summer clothing.
If you don’t think you’ll use some of that summer attire, head to your local donating center and give it to someone that might need some clothes.
If you would like to try your hand at a homemade cleaner, mix baking soda with hot water and a little bit of vinegar to create a nice bathroom tile cleaner.
Use your new homemade house cleaning product to clean the tiles with either a microfiber towel, or even better, a cleaning brush. Try to pay attention to the clear fillings between tiles, which may have faded over time.
Bonus: Trust me, no one likes this part. But, it has to be done at some point. You need to clean the hair out of your shower and sink drains. It builds up, and will cause a backup at some point. Tackling it before it is a problem is the best way to go.
Use a thin metal coat hanger by cutting it, and creating a hook. Get a set of gloves for your hands, and reach down the drain with your new DIY hook. Make several passes, pulling out as much hair as you can.
Toilet
Now that the toilet bowl has been soaking for a while, you are ready to take a brush and clean the inside of the bowl. For better cleaning, try to get your hands on some Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner and put it right on the brush. This will take the product wherever you need it the most, and will ensure a maximum clean on the most important area of this room.
- BLEACH TOILET BOWL CLEANER: Kills 99.9% of germs, and whitens and brightens your toilet bowl with...
- Clorox TOILET CLEANER: The only Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Clorox Bleach, in a uniquely angled nozzle...
- DISINFECTING BLEACH CLEANER: Thick and powerful bleach gel cleaner that clings to your toilet bowl...
- BATHROOM CLEANER: Clinging gel formula with Clorox Bleach, lets you power through the toughest...
Shower
Finally, you don’t want to forget about the shower. A clean home is a happy home, and the shower is included. Use the same bathroom cleaner you used on the white surfaces to clean shower and door handles, shelves, and any other corners that might have developed soap scum.
You could also use a powerful cleaner like Scrubbing Bubbles Shower Foamer to make the job a little easier. Make sure you let it soak in for a couple of minutes before taking a brush or sponge to your shower and make everything look squeaky-clean.
- Clings to bathroom surfaces for close to 4 minutes
- A terrific soap scum remover—penetrates and dissolves messes
- Safely clean shower doors, the shower head and other shower surfaces, including tile.
Finally, sweep and mop the floor, similar to what you did in the kitchen.
Bathroom Checklist
Cleaning the Bedrooms
This is your place of peace, quiet and relaxation. You spend most of your time here trying to rest and get ready for the next day. It’s only fair that you give it the respect it deserves and give it a good clean up in this spring cleaning time.
Bed
Remove all bed sheets, pillowcases, throw pillows, and anything else that might usually rest on your bed. Throw all these items in the wash with your favorite wash soap and give it a long cycle for the best clean. Make sure you read the label to make sure you won’t damage your bedding!
Spring cleaning hack: mix your wash soap with some coconut oil to give it an extra fresh scent.
While that is washing, look out for any stains on the mattress or dirt that might have made its way through your bed sheets. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of these stains, or get your hands on some OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover and a soft bristle brush to spot clean stains. Pull the bed out and check between your headrests for any items that might have traveled down under.
- One 7.22 lb container of OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder with over 101 uses for laundry and...
- Oxygen-powered, water-activated OxiClean powder removes everyday dirt and grime, and tough set-in...
- Use as a stain removal presoak and as an in-wash laundry booster stain remover, with regular laundry...
- Not just for laundry, mix with water following label directions to make a cleaning solution, to use...
Closet
An organized closet can save you some headaches down the road, so it’s important to tackle it now that we are doing this spring clean up. Do a summer wardrobe audit by storing away your winter clothing and gathering your summer clothing. If you don’t think you’ll use some of that summer attire, head to your local donating center and give it to someone that might need some clothes.
The best way to organize your clothes is by season and type. Keep the heavy winter coats and thick long sleeves to the back, and move forward the summer shirts and tanktops. This will make it easier to reach for the clothes you are bound to use in the warmer months coming up.
Sometimes, we may forget something in our pockets while we hang out clothes and they end up on the floor. Remove anything lying on the floor and give it a good sweep or a pass with the vacuum.
Another thing you might want to take care of is any folded items that might have unfolded over the past months. We tend to be too busy to care about what is disorganized, and we forget that we have a crumbled up shirt in the back of the drawer. Pull out everything from the shelves and drawers and fold everything appropriately.
Vacuum/sweep the floor deeply and thoroughly.
Bedroom Checklist
Cleaning the Windows
This deserves its own category for a simple reason: most rooms have at least one window. Windows can be easily neglected given the perceived difficulty of cleaning them. We tend to steer away from wiping them down regularly due to rain season or fears of leaving streak marks. Try the following tips and tricks to get your windows looking clean and clear.
Prep The Materials
Use a new microfiber towel and a fresh sponge. Try to find a couple of buckets to put soapy water for cleaning and a plain water bucket for rinsing. Car wash professionals use this two-bucket method to give windows a clear looking finish.
Prep The Surface
Take another microfiber towel to preliminary remove any loose dirt that you can get rid of without any cleaning products. Be sure to remove any window screens if you can and wash them separately.
Deep Clean
Take a sponge and soak it in the soapy bucket a couple of times before taking it directly to the window. Go around window edges and channels to take off any excess dirt that might have gathered in these crevices. Soak the microfiber towel in the clean water bucket and squeeze the excess water off before removing the soap from the window.
For extra spring cleaning points, use your garden hose on the outside area of the window to remove soap and dirt from the window surface. Once that is done, you can use a window cleaner such as No products found. and a clean microfiber towel to remove any streaks and leave the surface clear of imperfections.
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After all is said and done, there is nothing like the feeling of being on top of things. What a thrill it is to know everything is clean and in order! Sherry from momdelights.com
Window Screens
Once the windows have been taken care of, it’s time to take care of those window screens. These can get a lot of dirt stuck on them over time and can make windows look off putting if not properly cleaned. Make sure you aren’t being too hard on these, since a lot of window screens tend to be fragile and can rip off of the support edges.
Grab a garden hose, preferably attached with a trigger water nozzle, and rinse out the dirt from the window screens. If you can, use a soft brush and regular soap to take off any extra dirt that might have remained. Rinse once more before letting them dry out in the warm spring sun
Windows Checklist
Cleaning the Garage and Attic
Lastly on our spring cleaning list room by room comes the dreaded task of cleaning out the garage and or attic of your home. This is probably the least desired part of the entire house that definitely needs to get cleaned. There are countless of reasons why, but we will just list a couple to convince you to clean this very important area.
More Space
During the summer, it’s only expected that there are now a couple of new additions to the house. This could be anything from new decorations, unexpectedly large gifts, or simply more clothes to put away. No matter what get through the course over the year, you’re going to have to find a place to put it.
Surprisingly, there may be a lot of things put in the back end of your garage that you might not have seen for a couple of years now. How many things can you really do without? Take some time to move things around and figure out what you have used and what you haven’t. If you haven’t seen something for the past two years, you can get rid of it.
47% of Americans with a garage admit that there have been times they couldn’t park in it because of clutter – Sparefoot.com.
Organize
Chances are your garage has gotten a little disorganized over the winter. It’s cold in the garage, and its easy to not always put everything back in its proper place.
Put away all of the loose odds and ends that might be floating about. Do a check of your power tools, such as your saws and drills, to make sure they still work properly.
If you find anything that doesn’t have a home, now is a great time to create a permanent place for it.
Treasure Hunting
While you take your time to figure out what you want and what you don’t, you can find some interesting items that you thought you had lost forever. This is the time where you might find that old skateboard you once rode, that pearl necklace you left in a box, or those nice dress shoes you thought you threw away.
However, keep a conservative eye on what you keep and try to not become a hoarder. There are many times where the intention is to throw away anything you might not want only to find out everything is there to stay. Don’t get attached to material things, and make more space for the new things to come.
Once you figure out what you can throw away, take everything out and give the entire room a good sweep. If you can vacuum the corners and crevices of the room, this is even better. This makes the room a little more inviting than a dusty room full of dirty boxes.
Conclusion
Whew! That was quite the day. We hope this spring cleaning checklist room by room helps you tackle your future cleaning days. Remember to be extra detailed and follow a simple mantra: If you haven’t grazed it in a while, it definitely needs to be cleaned. This applies to floors, counters, and ceilings. Anything is up for cleaning grabs when it comes to this spring clean up.
This spring clean up list covers every aspect of the house. We have left no room untouched, and tried to think of anything that might help you reach even the most easily forgotten areas.
Remember to use reusable materials such as washable microfiber towels and soft brushes to help you remove the most stains and remain environmentally conscious. This should take up most of your day given that you are pretty much tackling your entire house. Look at your hard work after you’re done with this list, and enjoy the following months in your freshly cleaned home.
