The days are getting longer, the sun is shining brighter, and the air is getting warmer. Spring is the season of renewal. Embrace the changing of the seasons by giving your home a refresh. Spring cleaning is a yearly ritual that many of us do. However, everyone does their cleaning a little differently. This is the ultimate guide to a complete spring cleaning checklist from the professional cleaners at MaidPro. Use it to help you deep clean your home from top to bottom.
Gather Your Supplies
Before you start spring cleaning, you need to gather your supplies. Having everything you need before you start ensures you don't have to stop to go buy missing supplies. Water and dish soap is an easy place to start when cleaning your home. You can try white vinegar on most surfaces if this isn't strong enough. However, it isn't safe for all surfaces, so always check first. Finally, an all-purpose cleaner can give extra scrubbing power for stubborn dirt and grime.
- Vacuum
- Mop
- Broom
- All-purpose cleaner
- Mild dish soap
- Window cleaner
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Oven cleaner
- White distilled vinegar
- Baking soda
- Multiple microfiber cloths
- Toilet bowl brush
- Extension duster
Choose the Right Time
The majority of homeowners choose to do their spring cleaning when the weather gets warm post-winter. The outside temperatures get more comfortable, making it possible to open the windows and bring fresh air into the house. In addition, the sun is shining, allowing plenty of natural light into the home to see the dirt. Ultimately, deciding when to do your spring cleaning is up to you. After all, it is your home.
Then there is the question of how you tackle your spring cleaning project. For some homeowners, the best approach is to dedicate a single day to cleaning. They start early in the morning and clean non-stop until the entire home is deep cleaned from top to bottom. Other homeowners feel overwhelmed by this prospect and would prefer to break up their spring cleaning into manageable tasks. This is perfect for homeowners with busy schedules who can't commit to an entire day of cleaning. There is a risk of breaking up spring cleaning over several days. You must stay committed and ensure you don't slack off toward the end of your spring cleaning.
All Room Tasks
There are a few tasks that you should do before you start spring cleaning. When cleaning, you will focus on one room at a time. You will do these tasks throughout the house, so they are easiest done at one time. Tackling them this way will ensure you do not forget to do them. It will also help you stay focused on room-specific cleaning tasks.
Declutter
Before you start cleaning, take time to pick up and declutter. Cleaning up the mess makes a significant impact on the overall cleanliness of your home. It also streamlines your spring cleaning later. You won't need to stop cleaning a room to put items away in other rooms. Move from one room to the next, picking up items that are strewn about and not in their proper place. Next, throw away the trash clutter. Finally, put away the collected items in their proper place.
Ceiling Fans
Use a microfiber duster on an extension rod to clean and dust your ceiling fans. Using a duster that picks up and traps the dust is essential. You don't want to knock it off the fan and have it rain down on the room. The cleaning PROs at MaidPro use microfiber because it has a superior ability to do this. It can then be washed and used again.
If you have a ceiling fan in your kitchen, you will need to do a bit more. Grease from cooking gets thrown into the air. It then settles on the fan blades. Use a microfiber cloth and grease cleaner to get your kitchen fan clean.
Windows
Cleaning your windows is essential for allowing maximum natural light into your home. When your home is closed up for the winter, the inside of your windows can collect dirt, dust, and dander. To spring clean your windows, use a glass cleaner and microfiber cloth to wipe down the window panes. Then use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the frames and sills. Next, use a clean cloth to wipe down hard blinds or a vacuum with an attachment on fabric blinds. Finally, vacuum or remove and wash the window curtains.
Baseboards
Your baseboards are the decorative piece that lines the bottom of the walls just above the flooring. When cleaning, many homeowners tend to forget about this decorative element of the home. Including it in your spring cleaning ensures they get cleaned at least once a year. Take a damp microfiber cloth or use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the baseboards. This removes the dust, hair, pet fur, and cobwebs that build up on the baseboards.
Smoke Detectors
You should check your smoke detectors at least once a year. Doing it during your spring cleaning is an easy way of remembering to do this potentially lifesaving task. Walk through your home, hit the test button on each smoke detector, and listen for the beep. You can replace the battery if you find one that is no longer working.
Switches
You have electrical switches in every room of your home. As you use these switches, your hands deposit dirt, skin cells, and grime onto the switches and the wall surrounding them. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the switches and clean the wall. Turn the power off before you clean to protect yourself from electrical shock.
Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in your home. It is also where you prepare food. As a result, it is the room that gets the dirtiest. Start by removing everything from the countertops. Dust all of the high-up surfaces. Wash any textiles, including kitchen towels, window curtains, and rugs. Wipe down the cabinet fronts, countertop, and the outside of the appliances. Clean the small appliances. Clean the inside of your refrigerator and freezer. Empty the freezer and defrost it. Wipe down the shelves inside the fridge. Clean the outside and inside of the microwave. Finish cleaning the kitchen by sweeping and then mopping the floor.
Large Appliances
Many modern large appliances have a self-clean function. If yours have this option, you can use it to clean the inside of the appliances. If not, you will need to clean them by hand. Check your dishwasher and oven for a cleaning cycle.
Pantry
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to empty the pantry and do a deep cleaning and organizing. Remove everything from the pantry and wipe down the shelves to clean up spilled food. Next, sort the food you removed into groups of like items or items you use together when cooking. Think about your organizational style and how you like to cook. For some, putting all canned foods together makes the most sense. For others, combining related items, such as red sauce and pasta, makes more sense. Place most used items at eye or arm level to be easily reachable. Put rarely used items up high or down low. Finally, put everything back into your pantry.
Living Room
Work your way down from the ceiling to the floor to clean your living room. This ensures any dust and dirt that gets knocked down lands in an area that you haven't cleaned yet. Use your duster to wipe down light fixtures, furniture, and decor. Don't forget to get in the room's upper corners where cobwebs can form. Machine wash textiles, such as drapes, curtains, valances, pillows, and throw blankets. Wipe down the coffee and side tables. Vacuum and spot-clean the upholstered furniture. Use warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth to clean any marks off the walls. Wipe down and disinfect the remotes used for the TV and any other electronics. Finish by vacuuming or sweeping and mopping the flooring.
Bedroom
When cleaning your bedroom, start by removing your bed linens and washing them. Change your winter comforter for a lighter-weight summertime one. Make the bed with clean sheets. Next, clean your bed pillows by following the directions on the labels. Synthetic and down pillows are machine washable and can be dried/fluffed in the dryer. Foam pillows should not be put in the washer or dryer. Finally, sweep or vacuum the floor. Don't forget to clean under your bed if you can access it. If you have other furniture in your bedroom, vacuum and spot-clean it.
Closet
Your closet should get extra attention during your spring cleaning. Remove and launder any winter-weather clothing. Pack it away, as you won't use it until the next cold season. Pull your warm-weather clothing out of storage, or bring it to the front and center of your closet. These are the clothes you will wear in the coming months.
Try on clothes that you have not worn in a long time. Get rid of anything that no longer fits. Sort through clothes and get rid of anything you no longer wear. Consider donating anything that is in good condition.
Bathroom
Start your spring cleaning in the bathroom by removing all of the textiles and linens. This includes the towels, bath mats, and shower curtain if you have one. Launder all of these by following the manufacturer's directions. Next, tie a plastic bag with vinegar around your shower head. This will disinfect it while also breaking down any mineral deposits that could be clogging the shower head. Allow the showerhead to soak overnight for a deep clean.
Use glass cleaner to wipe down the mirrors. The all-purpose cleaner will work well to clean the countertops, shelves, sink, and toilet tank. Next, wipe down the outside of the toilet bowl, getting behind it and along the base. Use the toilet bowl cleaner and brush to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl.
Next, clean the tile and grout throughout the bathroom. If you have glass elements, wipe them down. You may need to use a special cleaner to remove rust stains, calcium, lime, or soap scum. Finish the bathroom by sweeping and then mopping the floor. Start deep in the bathroom and work towards the door to avoid walking on the freshly cleaned floor.
Makeup and First Aid Kit
Spring cleaning is the perfect time to do a status check on your makeup and first aid kit. Unfortunately, people purchase what they need and forget to check the expiration dates. Months go by, and products expire. When it is time to use one of them, you discover it is expired and unusable. During spring cleaning, sort through your makeup collection and first aid kit. Check the condition and expiration date for each item. Throw away anything that has expired and make a list of items you need to replace.
Laundry
The laundry room tends to get forgotten because it is a utility room and not a room people spend time in for enjoyment. However, this utility is why your laundry room should be on the spring cleaning list. Start by cleaning up any spilled laundry products like detergent or fabric softener. Wipe down and disinfect the washer and dryer. If your washer has a self-clean cycle, run it. If not, run the hot water and bleach empty cycle. Use a microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the lid and baffles around the drum. This removed any mildew or detergent buildup. For the dryer, use a vacuum to remove any built-up lint.
Hire Spring Cleaning Help
The professional cleaners at MaidPro are experienced and well-versed in spring cleaning. They know the biggest struggles that homeowners face. While this is the ultimate guide to spring cleaning, there is an easy option. You don't have to do the spring cleaning yourself. Instead, hire MaidPro to do your spring cleaning for you. Our friendly cleaners will discuss your unique needs to ensure your home gets thoroughly cleaned.
Request an estimate for spring cleaning of your home and let MaidPro do the cleaning for you.
