The Ultimate Spring-Cleaning List That Will Shape Up Your Home

It’s time to air out and scrub down your house to get rid of the winter doldrums and make room for spring sun. Here’s your ultimate spring-cleaning list to help you get your home into tip-top shape.

Before you begin…

Gather your cleaning supplies, so you don’t get in the middle of a good spring scrub down only to realize you need to run out and buy cleaner. You’ll need a vacuum, mop, broom, sponges, cloths, paper towels, rug shampoo, furniture polish, window cleaner, floor cleaner, and plenty of laundry detergent.

Entryways and Hallways

Put away things that have “landed” in these areas like jackets, shoes and magazines. Clean the doormat, shine the doorways, wipe down the walls and baseboards, and mop the floors. If you have rugs in these areas, shampoo them thoroughly.

Kitchen

Start at the top and sweep away any dust bunnies that have accumulated in the corners of the ceiling. Take down and wash your curtains and wipe down your blinds. Clean your windows so that bright spring sun can shine in. Your cabinets and fridge probably need to be cleaned out as well. Toss anything that you don’t use or that’s outdated. Wipe down your appliances, cabinets, faucet, sink, and countertops. Shake out your rugs and mop the floor.

Dining Room

Clean the light fixtures to make them gleam. Take anything that’s been dumped on your table back to its rightful place. Dust your table, replace any candles that you have setting around, wipe down shelves, shine the silver, and dust the wall art and chairs. Shampoo the rug and mop the floor.

Living Room

Wash your curtains and clean your blinds. Wipe down your lights and lamps, and vacuum your furniture. Wash your throw pillows and blankets. Dust everything, including ceiling fans, baseboards, and electronics. Put things away if they don’t belong in the living room. Finally, sweep and mop your floor.

Bedrooms

Open your windows, wash your curtains, blinds, and windows. Strip the beds and launder the comforter, sheets, and mattress pad. Vacuum your mattress and pillows. Take everything out of your drawers, get rid of what you don’t use, and neatly replace everything else. Dust ceiling fans, baseboards, pictures, tables, dressers, and anything else with a flat surface. Shampoo your rugs and carpet, and sweep and mop the floors. Yes, even under the bed!

Bathrooms

This is perhaps the most important room for thorough spring cleaning. Empty your cabinets and under the sink. Sort everything and ditch what doesn’t work or that you don’t use. If you haven’t already, invest in see-through organizers to store your small items. Place everything back where it should go. Wash your windows, curtains, and blinds. Scrub the outside of the toilet, then the inside. Scrub the bathtub and shine the faucet, then do the same with your sink. Shine your mirrors, wash your walls, wipe down your cabinet fronts, and dust the baseboards. Sweep and mop the floors, and wash your rugs.

Office

Clean out your desk and filing cabinets, and throw away what you don’t need or use. Wash your curtains, wipe down your blinds, and shine the windows. Dust your electronics and everything hanging on your walls. Clean out and organize your shelves and cabinets. Vacuum your office chair and any other upholstery. Wipe down your baseboards, sweep and mop the floor, and shampoo any rugs.

Laundry Room

First, take everything back to its rightful place. Organize the cabinets, wipe down your washer and dryer, and clean out the dryer lint trap. Pull the washer and dryer out from the wall and vacuum behind them. Wipe down the walls, dust the baseboards, and sweep and mop the floor.

Closets

Take everything out of the closet. Throw away or donate anything you don’t need, that doesn’t fit, or that you don’t use. Wipe down the walls, dust the shelves, and vacuum and mop the floor. Replace what’s left by grouping like items together. Consider buying bins or baskets to keep you organized and make the most of the space.

Garage

Move everything out of your garage. If it’s less overwhelming to split it into quadrants and clean one at a time, that’s ok. Throw away old or broken toys, bikes, tools, etc. Dust your cabinets, shelves, and walls. Sweep and mop the floors and steps, or hose the entire space out. Wash your garage door and clean the windows.

Spring cleaning your home is a breeze when you make a plan first. Follow this guide and your space will be sparkling clean by the time we see our first 70-degree day.