Spring is officially here, and with it comes the urge to purge, clean, and refresh our homes for the new season. Here’s my room-by-room guide to help you stay on top of these tasks.
I consider myself a clean and tidy person, but in the spring, I take that to a new level. There’s something about the fresh air, warmer weather, and longer days that makes this time of year the perfect time to tackle a deep spring cleaning session. Here in Chicago, we’ve been cooped up all winter long and I’m eager to give everything some TLC.
While I like to stay on top of home maintenance all year round (as outlined in Your Home Playbook), I know some people prefer to do a thorough cleaning all at once. If that’s you, this spring deep cleaning checklist will help you get started!
My Spring Cleaning Checklist
This list is focused solely on deep cleaning tasks.
If you’re looking for a guide that includes both cleaning and home maintenance (like changing air filters, fixing nail holes, and other essential upkeep), check out Your Home Playbook. But if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get your entire home sparkling clean, this cleaning checklist will help you tackle each room of your house efficiently!
Everywhere
- Clean Windows Inside & Out: A few years ago, I got multiple quotes to clean the inside and outside of our windows. The average quote was $800! When I told my mom, she insisted that we do it ourselves. Here’s a video of our entire process. We saved lots of money!
- Clean Window Screens: Our window screens always need a good hose down after winter. Once I turn my outdoor spigot on for the season, I like to wash them with soapy water and a scrub brush. Then, I hose them off and let them dry in the sunshine.
- Wipe Down Baseboards: This is not my favorite task, but it certainly makes a big difference. I just use a damp soapy microfiber cloth and it works great!
- Wipe Smudges Off Doors with Magic Erasers: Magic erasers are well…magic! I use them to get scuffs off doors and baseboards and they work like a charm!
- Dust Light Fixtures & Bulbs: Clean light bulbs and ceiling fans for better brightness and air quality. I just used this ceiling fan cleaner to wipe down our blades and it was the handiest little gadget!
Bathrooms
- Clean Your Bathroom Fan: I hadn’t done this task in years and oh my goodness, the motor in mine was covered with dust! Learn from my mistake and deep clean your bathroom fan!
- Wash Shower Curtains & Liners: This is a task I easily forget. You can throw them right into the washing machine (Yes, even the plastic liners!) to give them a good clean.
- Wipe Walls & Baseboards: The humidity in bathrooms makes them prone to dust buildup. I just take a soapy rag and wipe down the walls.
- Change Your Toilet Seat: If your toilet seat has seen better days, and cleaning it doesn’t help, might I suggest replacing it altogether? I promise it’s a 5-minute project to change your toilet seat and it will make you very happy every time you enter the bathroom!
Bedrooms
Living Room
- Rotate Couch Cushions & De-Fuzz Fabric: I use this fabric defuzzer to get rid of any pills on my couch and pillows. It works like a charm and is oh-so-satisfying.
- Consider Hiring Pros: Once a year, usually as a Christmas gift to myself, I get our rugs, carpet, and couch deep cleaned by professionals. It costs a few hundred bucks, but it’s worth it! Might be a nice spring treat.
- Wash Throw Blankets & Pillow Covers: A quick cycle in the washing machine helps refresh them for the new season.
- Condition Leather Chair: I have a blog post outlining exactly how to care for all of your leather furniture. It’s incredibly easy and my furniture always looks and smells so good when I’m done.
Kitchen
- Clean & Condition Cutting Boards: We use our butcher block every single day to prepare meals in our house. I like to clean it with salt and lemon and then I use this mystery oil to condition it. Follow the same steps for your cutting boards and wood utensils.
- Get Rid Of Fruit Flies: If you have fruit flies buzzing around, you’ll want to follow all of my best tips to banish fruit flies for good.
- Wipe Down Kitchen Cabinets: This is a task I neglect for far too long and then realize how grimey and dusty our cabinets are and I rage clean them! Don’t be like me – stay on top of this task. I just use a warm soapy rag and go over all of the crevices on mine. If you have dark kitchen cabinets, this tutorial walks you through the best tips to clean them without streaks.
- Descale Your Coffee Maker: Whenever I do this, I’m always so happy because my morning coffee tastes even better! I follow the instructions in my manual and use vinegar to clean mine.
Other Spaces To Clean
Well, that’s enough to keep you busy for quite some time! Here’s one more tip, make this stovetop potpourri on your spring cleaning day! That way your entire home smells good all day long.
It still isn’t quite warm enough to spend lots of time in our backyard, so my outdoor cleaning will have to wait until April. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through all of my steps to prep the outdoors too!
Keep Your Home Clean All Year Round
Spring is great for deep cleaning, but keeping up with small tasks year-round makes it so much easier. That’s why Your Home Playbook is designed to go beyond cleaning and help you manage both cleaning and home maintenance. From changing your air filter to fixing nail holes, it ensures your home stays in great shape year-round.
If you’re ready for a deep dive into seasonal home maintenance, this list is a great start—but with regular maintenance, you won’t need to spend as much time on it next year!
Casey