Spring Cleaning Indoors: A Checklist

Spring is coming! Or maybe it’s already here and you need to get going on your spring cleaning! So where do you start? You can start with this handy checklist for spring cleaning indoors.

Pick a Day

If you keep waiting for time to get to your spring cleaning, it’s likely that you’ll still be waiting in July. Instead, choose a day to get started. If it’s going to take more than one day, then make it a weekly thing for a while.

Set aside a few hours, and designate an area where you’ll temporarily stash items you want to get rid of. Then put a date on your calendar when you’ll drop it off, haul it away, sell it or whatever. This is important, because otherwise the stuff may sit there for a long time.

Pick a Room

It’s usually easier to start with a particular room (or even an area of a room) than tackle the whole house at once. Then, you can modify the following checklists for each room to fit your particular home.

1. Living Room

Here are some living room springtime chores, working from top to bottom:

* Brush cobwebs from ceiling corners
* Dust and vacuum ceiling fans
* Wash inside of windows
* Wash curtains and window treatments
* Clean out magazine racks and bookshelves
* Dust lamps and light fixtures
* Clean and dust decorative objects like vases, mirrors, and wall art
* Wash area rugs and mop wood floors; shampoo wall-to-wall carpet
* Polish wooden furniture
* Clean upholstery

2. Bathroom

In the bathroom, it’s mostly about cleaning:

* Clean toilet; treat septic tank if you have one
* Clean sink and faucet
* Scrub bathtub and fixtures
* Wash shower curtain or wash glass shower doors
* Launder area rugs and bathmats
* Wash mirror(s)
* Clean out drawers and cabinets and get rid of old makeup, shampoo, etc.
* Mop floors

3. Kitchen

The kitchen can get pretty cluttered and crazy! Try these steps to clean it up:

* Clean out cabinets – throw out old food, condiments, etc. and wipe out the insides of the cabinets before replacing the items you’re keeping
* Clean out the pantry the same way – throw out old foodstuffs and wipe down the shelves and walls. Organize the items you want to keep.
* Clean out the refrigerator, and wipe down all the shelves. Don’t forget to wipe down the outside of the fridge.
* Clean behind the fridge
* Wash glass lighting fixtures and dust ceiling fans, lights, and so forth
* Use white vinegar or commercial product to clean dishwasher
* Wash area rugs
* Mop floor

4. Bedrooms

For kids and adults, bedrooms need a thorough cleaning this time of year.

* Wash bedding
* Wash windows, curtains and window treatments
* Clean out closets – go through clothes and give away or sell what doesn’t fit or what you don’t want
* Vacuum and/or sweep away cobwebs and floor dust
* Wash area rugs and/or shampoo wall-to-wall carpet; mop wood floors
* For kids, go through toys and get rid of old ones; reorganize remaining toys

5. Dining Room

Some homes have a dining room, and whether it’s used often or not, it’s not a bad idea to give it a thorough cleaning.

* Polish wooden table, chairs, and other furnishings
* Clean and, if necessary, repaint chair rails and molding
* Wash china and other items in cabinets
* Clean curtains and window treatments
* Shampoo carpet or launder area rugs
* Clean light fixtures and/or ceiling fans