Dreading your spring clean this year? Who isn’t! This checklist will help you make the most of your spring cleaning efforts while having some fun doing it. Good luck!
This spring cleaning checklist was composed by Professional Organizer,
Elana Kleinman, EK Organizing
Step #1: I’m in the mood for…Spring!
Setting the mood for spring cleaning is almost as important as the cleaning itself. When we are excited about a project and we find ways to make it enjoyable, we are more likely to give it our full attention and see it through to its completion.
- Play music
- Get the whole family involved
- Let the sun shine in: wait for a nice Sunday and open those windows wide
Step #2: Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!
Don’t you hate it when you’re knee-deep in a project, totally making progress, and then you realize you’re missing the very thing you need at that exact moment in order to complete the job? I don’t think I need to tell you what happens next. You head out to the corner store, get what you need, buy a few things you don’t need, realize you haven’t eaten… well, you get it. Before you know it, you’ve abandoned your task and are left with a mess bigger than the one you started with.
Have everything you need on hand before you start:
- Sponges
- Wash cloths
- Dust cloths
- Broom
- Mop
- Vacuum
- Garbage bags/Recycling bags/Donate bags
- Baskets and boxes
Step #3: Put That Thing Back Where It Came From
- Take a walk through every room and area of your home. Place any item that does not belong where you found it into a basket.
- Don’t worry about returning it to the right place yet. When you’ve gone through every room, have a race to see how many items can be returned to their rightful homes. The immediate success of this task will set the stage for the rest of the long day ahead.
Step #4: There’s a Hole in my Bucket, Dear Liza…So Fix It, Dear Henry
During your walk-through, take the opportunity to take note of all items needing repair. If it’s been broken for a while, and you haven’t fixed it yet, commit to a repair date, after which the item will be removed from the home.
Make sure to:
- Oil squeaky doors
- Tighten loose door knobs and cabinet hardware
- Re-seal grout lines
- Fix wobbly tables and chairs
- Fill in chipped paint and scratches on wood floors
- Add air to bike and stroller tires, balls
- Arrange for the repair of larger items that can’t be done during the cleaning session
Step #5: Dust in the Wind
House dust is not the same as pixie dust – it needs to go!
Make sure to dust thoroughly:
- Behind and under cabinets and dressers
- Ceiling fans and chandeliers
- Paintings and pictures
- Lamp shades
- Blinds
- Electronics – be sure to remove dust from wiring and backs of machines
- Vacuum dust from air returns
- Vacuum all carpets
Step #6: You Gotta Shake, Shake, Shake Your Willies Out!
It’s not just people that need to air out after being cooped up inside during those long winter months.
- Shake out rugs and mats, mattresses, couch and lawn furniture cushions & pillows, and blankets that can’t be machine-washed
Step #7: If you’re happy and you know it, wash your stuff
The biggest part of Spring Cleaning is, well, the actual cleaning.
- Wash curtains, blankets, mattress covers
- Wash window sills, screens, light switches and plates, registers and vent covers,
- Wash all walls, trim and doors
- Wash- down stored outdoor furniture
- Deep clean appliances – paying close attention to lint traps in dryer, oven/stove vent, fridge coils
- Clean winter tools and properly store for next year
- Check your BBQ – wipe clean gas line/propane, grates, cover
- Power wash the front and back porch, driveways, exterior walls of house, garage floors
- Consider getting your couch cushions, dining room chairs, and carpets professionally cleaned
Step #8: A Change is Gonna Come
Spring is a time for renewal – and that includes parts of your house that need to be checked and replaced regularly.
- Change filter in furnace
- Check for expired foods and medicines in fridge, freezer and pantry, medicine cabinets
- Replace shower curtain liners
- Make room in front hall closets by exchanging winter gear for spring and summer
- Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and flashlights
Step #9: Oh Baby, We’ll See What the Future Holds for Us
Nobody wants to think about next winter while spring cleaning but we all know that when that first snow falls, the mad rush and panic ensues – searching for shovels, boots, gloves, and the like.
Prepare now for the future calm:
- Purchase bag of driveway salt and washer fluid to store for next winter
- Properly store jackets, boots, and accessories. Check sizes and create a shopping list for the start of next winter season. Attach to the winter accessories box
Step #10: Keep the Car Running
Winter driving can really affect the efficiency of your vehicle -make sure your spring cleaning extends to the family cars.
- Shake out, vacuum, and wash floor mats
- Top up your washer fluid
- Replenish your car’s emergency kit
- Visit your mechanic to assess any damage caused by winter driving, get an oil change, and remove winter tires
Spring is the perfect time to donate unwanted furniture and help change a life. Furniture Bank can come to your home and pick up your gently used furniture for you.
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