Spring is a season of new beginnings, and many people view it as the perfect time to focus on spring cleaning. It’s a great way to physically and symbolically embrace a clean slate and prepare for the warmer days ahead. Once it’s done, you can relax and enjoy being outdoors knowing that your home is as fresh as the air around you.
However, tackling your whole house can be overwhelming without a plan. Here are the eight places to get started on that need the most attention.
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The Kitchen: Tackle This High-Traffic Area
The kitchen is a logical and rewarding place to begin your spring cleaning project. It sees heavy use and lots of resulting messes from food splatters and spills.
Begin by decluttering countertops and surfaces, getting rid of anything you don’t use or that’s broken. Take this opportunity to wipe down your counters, removing all the crumbs and spills.
Then, tackle the pantry and refrigerator. Empty both out and toss all expired items. Use warm, soapy water to clean your fridge’s shelves and bins, and wipe down pantry shelving with a good multipurpose cleaner.
Run the deep clean cycle on your oven and run a cleaner through the dishwasher. Remember to scrub that microwave, too, being sure to remove all those splatters on the top and sides.
Finally, wipe down cabinets, backsplashes and light fixtures.
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The Bedroom Closet: Swap Seasons and Simplify
The time has come to transition your wardrobe from winter to spring, packing away winter coats and sweaters and welcoming back summer shorts and sundresses. Empty your closets and drawers so you can see everything you’re working with. Create a pile for items you no longer wear so you can donate them and make more space.
Ensure the garments you want to store are clean to avoid set-in stains and odors. Place them in a durable and waterproof container or vacuum bag that will prevent moisture or pests from damaging your clothes. You can even add deodorizing sachets to keep everything smelling fresh until fall. Be sure to store everything in a cool and dry location.
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The Bathroom: Sanitize and Organize
This small but essential space requires thorough cleaning and decluttering to remain sanitary. Toss that grungy shower curtain and tired bathmat in the washing machine and scrub down the tub, toilet and sink.
This is a great time to empty the medicine cabinet and get rid of any expired products, including makeup and beauty items. Wipe down shelves, mirrors, light fixtures and vents. Thoroughly clean the floor, making sure to remove hair and dust bunnies from the corners.
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The Living Room: Refresh Your Communal Space
Your home’s main gathering area is put in the spotlight when guests come over. Perk it up with a thorough refresh.
Dust all surfaces, being sure to clean off your ceiling fan and polish the baseboards. Vacuum or clean all upholstered items and wash any removable covers, blankets and pillows. This is also an ideal time to clean your windows inside and out and spruce up your window treatments, either by vacuuming, spot-cleaning or laundering.
Organize your media cabinet and bookshelves, donating items you no longer want.
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The Home Office: Declutter Your Desk
Having an organized workspace makes it easier to accomplish tasks and focus on deep work. Begin by reviewing papers and files, shredding those no longer needed and storing the vital ones. Then, clean your electronics. Use compressed air to blast your computer keyboard and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your laptop and monitor.
Spring cleaning extends beyond physical items. Focus on your digital life by organizing files on your desktop and unsubscribing from emails that clutter your inbox.
6. The Laundry Room: Clean the Cleaning Station
Your laundry room does the cleaning, but it needs cleaning too. It’s easy to forget this fact, so be sure to tackle this often-neglected space.
Clean the inside of your washing machine by running cleaning tablets or vinegar through an empty cycle. Empty the dryer’s lint trap and vent to make the machine more efficient and reduce the risk of fire. Also, wipe down shelves and organize your laundry supplies.
7. Entryways and Mudrooms: Tidy Your Home’s First Impression
Coming home after a long day and entering a muddy mudroom or cluttered entryway is not a good feeling. Set the tone for the rest of your home by better arranging these areas.
Organize footwear, jackets and bags — hooks, shoe holders and coatracks help keep things tidy. Wipe down walls and floors that see heavy use. Clean floor mats that have accumulated dirt and debris from the outdoors.
8. Patios, Decks and Porches: Prepare for Outdoor Living
Once the inside has had its spring cleaning, you can focus on your outdoor areas in preparation for the warm days that lie ahead.
Sweep or pressure wash decks and patios to remove all the grime that has built up over the winter. Clean off outdoor furniture with a hose and mild soap so everything’s ready for the season. You can use a mixture of water and vinegar or a specialized product to eliminate mold or mildew from seat cushions and pillows.
Create a Spring Cleaning Schedule That Works for You
Spring cleaning can feel overwhelming when you consider the sheer volume of work to be done. These are all good places to start, but don’t feel like you need to do everything. You might plan on tackling one room per day on the weekends or a little bit at a time after work. The most important thing is to take that first step. Once the heavy lifting is finished, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy all those beautiful, warm days on the horizon.
