Easy Spring Cleaning Checklist

Posted in: FYI Articles,Household | March 10th, 2010

Making a spring cleaning checklist is, well, the easiest part of a spring cleaning routine. But with a little help and a little motivation you can do the hard part too with ease. Spring cleaning goes beyond the regular weekly cleaning ritual. All of the extensive cleaning will result in a healthier environment for you and your family. It will take some time to complete your spring cleaning tasks, but when you are finished you will see that it was well worth your time and effort.

head_spcln_BSS

If you create a checklist of tasks you need to complete you will make your life a lot easier. This way you can check off the tasks that you have already completed. Making a spring cleaning checklist is as easy as walking through your home and adding the tasks that you need to do to your checklist. You probably already know what needs to be addressed, but sometimes we tend to overlook things when it is not on paper. And you will be able to see what you have accomplished by looking at your checklist when it is all finished.

First, make sure you have all of the cleaning supplies you will need. Also, gather all of the tools you will need to clean — a broom, mop, rags, etc. It is best to clean from top to bottom — ceilings and high places first, move on to dusting, and save floors for last.

I’ve listed some typical spots of the home that need cleaning and you can add to it as needed. You may or may not have more rooms in your room then what is listed.

Kitchen and Dining Room

Start by clearing your cabinets and drawers out so you can wipe out the crumbs, dirt, and grime that has accumulated. Then move on to cleaning your appliances (refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, etc.). While you are cleaning the inside of the refrigerator and freezer you might as well get rid of any food that is bad or has been in the refrigerator too long. You know that stuff that is unrecognizable and covered in hairy looking mold. Bleh!

After you have wiped the counters down it is time to clean your walls, baseboards, doors, door jams, dust cobwebs off the ceiling, and wash the windows. Remove blinds if you have them and scrub them down in a tub with an anti-bacterial cleanser, multi-purpose cleaner or whatever you have on hand. Rinse and hang to dry. If you have a pantry like we do, remove the food, paper goods, etc. and wipe down the shelves and mop the floor. Toss all expired foods. I know you have them. heheee. This will complete the kitchen after you have mopped the floors.

Living room, Den, Great room, Bedrooms, Office

Dust ceilings and along walls to remove dust mites, lint, and cobwebs that tend to accumulate along the ceiling/wall joints. Polish any wood furniture, clean the television screens with a wet rag since cleansers remove the protective coating on plasma/LCD/DLP screens, dust paddle fans, wash blinds & hang to dry and or launder curtains.

Bathrooms

When cleaning your bathrooms start by taking your shower curtain down if you have one and either bleach it in the washing machine or replace it with a new one. If you have glass shower doors, some can be removed for a good and thorough cleaning — removing mildew, soap scum, etc. Recaulk if needed. Then scrub your toilet and your bathtub or shower stall. Next clean the cabinets and sinks. Wash the baseboards, walls, doors and don’t forget to clean the mirror. If you have a linen closet in your bathroom, remove all linens and dust, mop or vacuum the floor and replace bedding/towels. Lastly mop or vacuum the floor in your bathroom, and you’re done.

dk_mid_BSS

Spring cleaning not only involves cleaning inside your home, it also needs to be carried to the outside. Including the porch, sunroom, deck, etc. Usually this only requires sweeping the floor, dusting for cobwebs, and washing windows. This will be noticed, and it will add to the cleanliness of the inside of your home. If possible, caulk around the exterior of your windows and doors, then paint trim and garage doors.

That about covers everything that I can think of but if you come across anything else that could use a good cleaning, by all means, add it to your list. I know our basement, garage and storage shed could use a good cleaning and organization. But we’ll leave those for another day, or maybe another week. hehee. I think I’ll be too tired after everything else.

Happy Cleaning!