1. Make a Schedule
Scope out your home: What areas need the most work? Where do you skip during routine cleaning? Those are the best places to start. Regardless of where you start, having a plan for when you're tackling each room will keep you focused on the task at hand.
Our printable room-by-room Spring Cleaning Checklist can help.
2. De-clutter
Decluttering makes you more efficient and keeps you organized. But more than that, clutter has psychological influences. It signals to your brain that work isn't done. Studies have shown that a disorganized home adds to your stress level. The scientific implications of inhaling dust – combined with the psychological stress of coming home to a pile of unsorted laundry or cluttered desk – can take a toll.
Set aside some time to:
- Organize your closets
- Dust and organize your office
- Look through that dreaded junk drawer
You may be surprised how fresh you feel after you eliminate unnecessary stress from your life.
3. Always Work from Top to Bottom
When you think about how to spring clean your home, it's important to start from the ceiling down. This will force debris downward and keep you from having to re-dust or re-clean your space. If you have a vacuum with an extension hose, use it to get cobwebs and dust from your ceilings and fans first.
Then dust your furniture and other items before vacuuming all the dust and debris off your floors. It will save you time.
4. Use a HEPA Vacuum
Is your vacuum ready for spring cleaning? Finding the right vacuum is one of the most important parts of spring cleaning. Remove more than just dust and build-up when you vacuum. A high-quality HEPA vacuum catches particles you can't even see. It traps pet dander, allergens and all household particles in your home.
It's one of the best spring cleaning supplies you can arm yourself with. Using a vacuum with HEPA filtration will remove dirt and dust, but it will also remove allergens and impurities from your air.
You'll see this suggestion on just about every spring house cleaning list.
If you don't have a HEPA vacuum, look for one with attachments, like dusting brushes and crevice tools, and hoses that can be used to clean any location.
These tools make it simple to clean ceiling fans, cobwebs in corners, furniture, pillows, and tight spaces like behind furniture. Be sure to move your furniture too (or at least vacuum under it).
5. Think Green When You Spring Clean
You want to start spring off on a clean note, so don't expose yourself to chemicals and toxins. A steam cleaner is one of the best green products for spring cleaning. It can be used to clean your microwave, tile, hard floors, kitchen appliances, bathrooms, and even outdoor areas.
Since steam cleaners only use hot water vapor, they are a 100% natural and chemical-free cleaning solution. But keep in mind – not everything can be steam cleaned.
If you don't have a steam cleaner, one of the best natural combinations for cleaning is white distilled vinegar, baking soda, and water. These ingredients are affordable, non-toxic, and have worked for ages when it comes to cleaning.
See our top spring cleaning products for allergy-sufferers. They'll clean your air, floor and furniture without a single chemical.
6. Walls and Windows Need Love too
People almost always clean their floors, but they typically forget about walls and windows. Not all dust settles on the floor and other surfaces. Just use a damp towel to wipe down walls and blinds (starting from the top). Remove and wipe down the window screens outside.
When it comes to the actual window, we don't suggest using chemical cleaners. A steam cleaner with a squeegee is a great way to clean windows.
7. Don't Be Scared of the Kitchen and Bathroom
Don't fear cleaning your bathroom! Review our full list of spring cleaning tips to quickly hit these trouble areas. Here are a few common trouble areas:
Kitchens
- Wipe down your cabinets.
- Go through your pantry and refrigerator. Wipe down the shelves, and throw away any old items.
- If you have stainless steel appliances, be sure to use gentle cleaners or a steam cleaner to avoid scratching or other issues.
Bathrooms
- Change your shower curtain.
- Go through your cosmetics drawer or medicine cabinet and throw away any expired items.
Consider installing or upgrading to a new bathroom fan. Replacing an existing fan or adding a new one can help to ensure your bathroom remains in top notch condition. They are great for ventilating moisture during showers and removing odors/vapor removal. Depending on the unit you select, it may even come with built-in lighting, automatic operation, and other user-friendly features.
8. Don't Forget About Your Air
Replacing furnace and HVAC filters is one of the most important and overlooked parts of spring cleaning. In fact, replacing a standard filter with a more robust one with a high MERV rating will help keep you healthier as you enter spring.
It will catch smaller, irritating particles. Air conditioner ducts build up dust during winter, and upgraded filters catch unwanted particles so they don't enter your space. It's an inexpensive way to make sure you're breathing clean, healthy air.
The best way to ensure healthy spring air void of allergens, indoor chemicals or odors is with an air purifier. If anyone in your home suffers from allergies or wakes up stuffy during allergy season, adding an air purifier to his/her bedroom will help.
9. Have Severe Allergies? Protect Yourself.
Cleaning will more than likely unsettle all the winter dust on furniture and fixtures. If you suffer from allergies or are using heavy-duty cleaners, be sure to read the labels. For safe spring cleaning, wear rubber gloves, masks, scarves and even hairnets. Protective clothing will help guard against skin irritations and allergic reactions.
10. Let Spring Cleaning Set a New Tone
If your space feels dark and heavy, you can make small changes to help make it light and fresh for spring. Adding new colorful pillows or art are great ways to change up your space. Replacing items like bedding, towels, table linens, and even window treatments are other ways to transform your rooms for spring and warm weather ahead.
Don't forget to download our full printable room-by-room spring cleaning checklist. It also includes the best supplies for spring cleaning your entire home. We hope it makes the task a bit easier for you.
Have you started the process? Let us know in the comments below or reach out on Facebook and Twitter.
If you're not sure how you're doing with your day-to-day and spring cleaning, take this quiz to see where you stand.