Spring cleaning is the tradition of deep cleaning at the start of spring. It’s a way to welcome the change of seasons and tackle often neglected chores.
While “National Cleaning Week” in the US takes place during the fourth week of March, many start spring cleaning when the weather warms. So if you’re ready to make the most of this spring cleaning season, follow the tips below to maximize your efforts.
The Most Important Spring Cleaning Tips to Follow
Cleaning tasks vary by household, but no matter what projects you need to tackle, these spring cleaning tips will help.
Work Room by Room
If you’re working on a big cleaning project, don’t spread yourself thin. It’s better to start and complete only a few chores rather than having several half-finished projects. Working room by room and completing one small project at a time can help.
For example, if you’re cleaning windows, clean all the windows in one room before moving to the next. If you’re decluttering, go through items in one room and deal with them before you switch to another task or another room.
Break Big Tasks Into Small Chunks
Big chores, like washing every wall in your home, can feel so overwhelming you don’t want to get started. So, break down those big tasks into smaller chunks. In this example, you can assess your home and decide which walls need to be washed and which you can dust. Then break up those tasks and complete them on different days.
Don’t Start Projects You Don’t Have Time to Complete
If there’s one spring cleaning tip you should take advantage of, it’s this: only start projects you have time to complete. If you only have five minutes, pick a five-minute task. Unfinished cleaning projects lead to overwhelm. Try to avoid them.
Focus on Practical Organizing
Organizing is a prevalent spring cleaning task, and for a good reason – proper organization can benefit your family, saving you time and money. But your focus should be on practical organization. The basis of functional organization is the item you’re organizing should be just as easy to put back as it is to leave out.
While you can make your organizing beautiful, it should come secondary to making it easy. Otherwise, your systems will be hard to keep up.
Top Spring Cleaning Tasks to Complete this Year
To make the most of your spring cleaning, focus on two areas 1) tasks that will make your life easier all year long and 2) deep cleaning often-forgot-about areas.
Here are the top spring cleaning tasks to complete this year.
Declutter and Minimize Household Inventory
Start with a thorough decluttering in each room of your house. If you only complete one spring cleaning task, make it this. Its benefits will last for months to come.
If you need a list to follow, go around your home and get rid of the following:
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Expired items (food, makeup, toiletries, medication)
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Stained, ripped, or ill-fitting clothing
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Worn-out or too-small shoes
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Toys with missing pieces
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Toys that don’t get played with
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Paper clutter
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Random chargers, cords, and broken electronics
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Makeup you don’t use
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Toiletries you don’t use
Once you’ve gotten rid of the easy items, go through your belongings with a more careful eye.
Start in the most impactful areas, like toys, clothing, and kitchen items.
If you’re starting with toys, work with your kids to determine which items you can donate and which they’d like to keep. For other areas, go through each item, putting the obvious “keepers” (your favorite pants, the pot you always use, etc.) in one pile and then evaluate the rest. Donate stuff that no longer adds value to your life.
Always work in small sections, so you don’t create a mess that’s too overwhelming to clean up.
Dust Ceilings
Do you remember the last time you dusted your ceilings? If it’s been a while, now is the time to tackle this quick spring cleaning task.
Use a broom or long-handled duster to knock dust and cobwebs off the ceiling. And while you’re at it, remember to dust your light fixtures. Finally, use a vacuum or broom to sweep up the dust you knocked on the floor.
Wash Walls and Baseboards
Washing walls and baseboards is not a frequent cleaning task in most households, which is why it’s on our list. But here’s the good news: if you think this means you have to wipe down every wall in your house with soap and water, you’re wrong. Many walls only need dusting.
Start by determining which walls need complete washing and which only require dusting. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll need to wash the kitchen, living room, and bathroom walls. Bedrooms, offices, and rooms with less traffic may only need dusting.
To dust walls, run a broom or handheld duster over them, working from top to bottom. Then, vacuum up the dust and cobwebs you knocked to the ground.
To wash walls, start by dusting them. Then mix water with a drop or two of dish soap. Dip a soft sponge in the mixture and wipe down the walls from top to bottom. Work in small sections, drying with a towel as you go.
Wash Windows and Blinds
Working from room to room, clean windows with a glass cleaner and microfiber cloth. Afterward, dust the blinds with a handheld duster or vacuum attachment.
Wash Your Shower Curtains and Bath Mats
Shower curtains play a critical role in keeping a bathroom floor dry. But as useful as they are, they don’t get the cleaning they deserve. The same goes for bath mats.
Most bath mats and shower curtains are machine washable, but check your care tag to confirm. If so, wash them in cold water with mild detergent and tumble dry on low or allow them to air dry.
Vacuum Furniture and Curtains
Couches and recliners are notorious for collecting crumbs and dust between crevices and under cushions. Bring them back to cleanliness by vacuuming them.
Start by removing cushions and cleaning underneath them. Then run the vacuum all over the furniture, focusing on crevices. Finally, pull the piece of furniture out from the wall and clean under it.
With your vacuum out, run a flat attachment over all curtains in your house to suction away dust build-up.
Clean Grout
When you have unsealed grout, it can absorb dirt, turning it from bright to dingy. If that’s the case for you, you can return it to new with the right cleaner.
Earlier this year, we tested the most popular grout cleaners and found that Black Diamond Ultimate Grout Cleaner was the best and easiest for removing stains and discoloration. You spray it on your grout lines, let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub it with a brush. It removes even the toughest of stains.
You can reseal your grout after cleaning to protect it from future stains.
Wash Bedding and Clean Mattresses
While you might wash your bedding once per month, chances are your mattress goes uncleaned. So spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity for a clean bed.
Start by removing all bedding and laundering per the care instructions. Then sprinkle the mattress with baking soda and let it sit for a couple of hours. The baking soda will absorb moisture and odors. Next, use an attachment to vacuum the baking soda off the mattress. Run the vacuum over the bed several times to pick up dead skin cells and dander.
Spot treat stains depending on the type. With the mattress clean and dry, put your bedding back.
Replace or Clean HVAC Filters
The start of spring cleaning is an ideal time to replace or clean your HVAC filters. If you have window air conditioning units without replaceable filters, use a ShopVac to remove dirt or wash them with warm water.
Clean Outdoor Furniture
If you enjoy your outdoor areas at the start of spring, right now is an excellent time to wash your furniture. You’ve got a couple of options for doing so.
First, you can use a pressure washer. Power washing is the easiest way to clean durable outdoor chairs, tables, and benches.
If you don’t have a pressure washer or your furniture is too delicate, wash it with soap and water. Start by wetting your furniture with a hose. Then, wipe it down using a sponge or microfiber cloth and dish soap. Rinse with a hose afterward.
Deep clean the Refrigerator and Freezer
A dreaded, but rewarding spring cleaning task, is cleaning out the refrigerator. While it seems like a pain, having a clean and organized refrigerator can help you better prepare for grocery shopping and allow you to see which foods you have on hand.
Start by pulling everything out of your fridge and pitching all expired items. Next, vacuum all crumbs. Then wipe down the inside using a mixture of half-white distilled vinegar and half water. The acidity in the vinegar will power through stuck-on food and leave your fridge deodorized.
Once clean, place everything back in the refrigerator.
While your freezer may not need deep cleaning, you can organize it. Pull everything out, toss expired or freezer-burnt foods, and then organize it in a way that makes sense for your family.
