39 Expert-Approved Tips for Successful Spring Cleaning
Whatever time of year you tackle the task, spring is the traditional season of renewal after the stillness of winter. It is also the time to freshen and renew our homes by spring cleaning inside and outside.
If you're in the market to spring clean your home this year, you're likely looking to remove set-in dirt, grime, and clutter a bit more vigorously than you do regularly. Spring cleaning often refers to chores you do only once a year inside and outside your home.
We've talked to cleaning experts and gathered our best tips from across The Spruce to help you clean more easily and productively. After browsing this comprehensive list of spring cleaning tips and tasks, you'll be ready to get started.
1. In Preparation, First Get Rid of Clutter
This tip came from every expert: remove clutter. Clutter can be outgrown clothes, broken toys, outdated papers, or expired foods. Whatever mess may look like in your home, eliminating it before starting to spring clean will make cleaning every room easier.
2. Prepare Your Equipment
Cleaning expert Katie Berry of Housewife How-Tos says to check your supplies before you begin. "If you run out of a necessary product, it can disrupt your whole day and make it less likely that you'll finish the job—and this could lead to rushed or even abandoned cleaning tasks," she says.
Berry suggests making sure your equipment is prepped: check your vacuum cleaner's roller bars for threads, empty the bin or bag, and change the filters. Ensure you have all the necessary vacuum attachments and that your mop heads and cleaning rags are clean and ready to use.
"As with running out of supplies, if your equipment isn't ready for use, it's likely to disrupt your spring cleaning plans," she says.
3. Have a Plan
Setting a goal before starting to clean is helpful for deciding how extensive your tidying needs to be, according to Jennifer Rodriguez, the chief hygiene officer at Pro Housekeepers. Once you know what you want to achieve when you get rid of clutter, you’ll find it easier to start work.
Creating an "organize my house” checklist is a great way of turning a big task into smaller, more manageable parts, Rodriguez shares with The Spruce. "It also helps you to focus on the areas that matter most," she adds.
Berry likes to tackle the hardest areas or tasks first. This will be different in every home, but the idea is to get the most labor-intensive work over with when you're full of energy, she suggests.
"Spring cleaning can be a significant undertaking that can go on for days or even weeks, depending on how thorough you are and how busy your schedule is," she says. "Have a written schedule for the tasks you want to accomplish—this will help you stay on task and avoid spending time on diversions like rearranging furniture or redecorating instead of actually cleaning."
Expert Becky Rapinchuk of Clean Mama agrees and recommends making a simple, realistic list before beginning. "Walk through your house and take note of the things that need to be done and tackle those first," she says. "If you don't get to something, save the list and make note of the to-dos at a later date."
4. Put Everyone to Work and Have Some Fun
Everyone who lives in the home benefits from spring cleaning, which means everyone who is able should get involved, according to Berry. She says that even little ones can pitch in by dusting baseboards and floor vents, and older kids can tackle entire rooms if you give them written directions.
Rodriguez offers ideas for making cleaning more fun: create a motivating playlist or pick an audiobook to listen to as you work. "This method will help you create a relaxing environment while you organize your home and will have a positive impact on the people around you," she explains.
5. Give to Others
We all have items that we no longer use that others can put to good use. Rodriquez suggests making a donation box, and a good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you haven’t used in the past year.
"As you’re rearranging your belongings, think about how you’re going to use them," she says. "Spring cleaning is about making the most of your home and the possessions you keep."
6. Keep Cleaning Supplies Clean and Simple
Rapinchuk stresses that you do not need to get complicated to spring clean. Basics, like an all-purpose cleaning spray, dish soap, and baking soda are all you really need to complete a thorough spring cleaning.
Tip: Rapinchuk suggests making sure your cleaning cloths, dusters, scrub brushes, and vacuums are clean before you start—that way, you aren't just pushing dirt around.
7. Spring Cleaning the Kitchen: Clean Cabinets
Rodriguez suggests first emptying your cupboards and pantry to get a real feel for how they should be organized. Deep clean and continue by organizing your belongings by usage.
8. Don't Forget the Kitchen Sink and Faucet
When it comes to spring cleaning, the kitchen sink is one of the most overlooked areas of the home, according to organizing expert Katherine Picott of Tidy Milso.
"Even with a deep cleaning routine, the kitchen sink still will have some spots that need extra 'TLC' like stains near the strainer and or the food debris in the faucet aerator," she says.
To clean the aerator, Picott recommends clearing the debris with a toothbrush or a toothpick to clear out any blocked holes in the screen. "You will need a few tools handy to detach the aerator from the faucet, but it is worth it when you see what’s been hiding inside," she says.
9. A Clean Dishwasher Means Cleaner Dishes
Clean your dishwasher to prevent the buildup of food residue and soap scum, recommends Morgan Eberhard, Senior Scientific Communications Manager for P&G’s North America Home Care. Eberhard recommends monthly cleaning with Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Cleaner and stresses not to forget the filter—which is probably dirtier than you think."If your dishwasher has a filter, remove it once a month, clean off any food or grime, and throw away anything trapped inside," she says.
10. Give Your Garbage Disposal Some Attention
Even with all of the water that runs through a garbage disposal, it needs a thorough cleaning to remove food splatters that stick under the rubber baffle. Tackle this next to ensure your disposal is sparkling clean.
11. Use Steam to Make Oven Cleaning Easier
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Cleaning the oven after winter baking is a big part of spring cleaning the kitchen. Make the task easier by using steam to soften baked-on grease and grime before you clean. Don't forget to make your gas, electric coil, or ceramic stovetop sparkle along with drip pans, if you have them.
12. Steam the Microwave
Cleaning the microwave is one of the easiest spring cleaning tasks. Just boil some water and add lemon slices to help remove food odors.
13. Clean the Inside and Outside of the Refrigerator or Freezer
Start by emptying everything (use ice chests to keep foods cold) and then clean the inside of your refrigerator or freezer. When you are cleaning the outside, don't forget to move the appliance away from the wall so you can vacuum the fan and coils on the back to help it work more efficiently.
14. Give Beverage Appliances a Springtime Boost
Even if your appliances are usually just filled with water, they still need to be cleaned. Use distilled white vinegar to descale coffee makers and tea kettles for better-tasting beverages.
15. Make Stainless Steel Sparkle
Fill one spray bottle with undiluted distilled white vinegar (don't forget to label it clearly) and a second spray bottle with plain water. Spray the vinegar on stainless steel appliances or sinks and rub away streaks with a microfiber cloth. Rinse the surfaces with water, and dry well to prevent streaks.
16. Spring Cleaning the Bathroom: Give the Toilet Your Full Attention
Picott shares her favorite way to thoroughly clean a toilet: start at the base of the toilet then work your way up.
"Usually, I pass a dry microfiber cloth to pick up any dust or hair, then grab another cloth, all-purpose cleaner, and a disinfectant cleaner and tackle the rest," she adds, "For a thorough clean, I would recommend removing the toilet seat."
17. Don't Forget the Lowly Toilet Cleaning Tools
Picott also recommends cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting the tools that you use to clean the bathroom, like the plunger and toilet brush.
18. Use Disinfecting Wipes Correctly
Disinfecting wipes are a gift when it comes to cleaning bathroom surfaces. Callum Couser, R&D operations manager at Reckitt, offers the right way to effectively use Lysol Disinfecting Wipes to clean around your home.
"Pull wipes at an angle to remove them from the canister and securely replace the cap between uses," Couser recommends. "To disinfect, always use a fresh wipe and allow surfaces to remain wet for four minutes, and then air dry."
19. Unclog the Showerhead
Turns out, you can clean your showerhead with just vinegar. Fix sputtering showerheads by using distilled white vinegar to cut through the mineral deposits that are clogging the water jets.
20. Get Rid of Mold in the Bathroom
If there is pink or green or black mold growing in your bathroom, clean it away from ceilings, wood, and grout—mold won't go away on its own, and it's best to treat it as soon as you see it. If this means tackling it before spring cleaning, go for it—clean it as soon as possible.
21. Use Vinegar to Remove Soap Scum
To remove soap scum from ceramic tile or fiberglass fixtures, fill a spray bottle with two parts distilled white vinegar, one part dishwashing liquid, and two parts water. Spray onto dirty surfaces and allow to sit for five minutes and then scrub with a nylon-bristled brush or wipe away with a microfiber cloth.
22. Get Rid of Water Spots on Glass Shower Doors
To remove water spots on glass shower doors, pour one cup of distilled white vinegar into a microwaveable bowl and heat for 30 to 45 seconds. Pour the warm vinegar into a spray bottle, then add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Spray it onto the doors and allow it to work for five minutes before sponging away. Rinse the doors and dry them with a microfiber cloth.
23. Keep the Air Fresh by Cleaning the Bathroom Fan
If your bathroom fan sounds like a jet engine, mold is thriving, or the air remains pretty stale, clean the fan to remove dust and grime to help it function properly.
24. Spring Cleaning the Bedroom: Start with the Closet
Spring is the perfect time to empty every clothes closet and other storage spaces and sort clothes. While the closet is empty, clean it well to ensure that no harmful pests that can ruin clothes are lurking.2 Unwanted items should be sold, donated, or discarded. Clothes that you want to store until next year should be laundered or dry-cleaned and stored away properly.
25. Wash Pillows and Bedding
The breezy weather of spring is the perfect time to wash all kinds of pillows—foam, feather, and polyester fiberfill—to remove odors, dust, and dust mites. Don't forget to wash all the bedding including mattress pads, sheets, blankets, comforters, and quilts before storing heavier items away until cold weather.
26. Clean the Mattress
A mattress supports your sleep cycle nightly—and since you're spending so much time there, it's going to need a proper cleaning. Take the time to clean and remove stains and odors from the mattress. If you have a foam mattress topper be sure to clean both sides before you put it back on the bed.
27. Move the Furniture and Clean Under the Bed
We're all guilty of cleaning only the most visible dirt and skipping the hard-to-reach spots, like the area under the bed. Maybe you've even forgotten that these things can get dirty. Remove everything that is stored under the bed and vacuum the flooring and the underside of the bed frame. Use closed storage for items you are returning to the space under the bed.
28. Make Windows Sparkle
This tip applies to every window and glass door around the house. Taking time to clean windows brightens a home and makes everything feel cleaner. Picott reminds us to clean window vents, tracks, and window sills.
29. Clean Windows Deserve Clean Window Treatments
Some curtains can be tossed in the washer but most drapery requires dry cleaning. Clean fabric, wood, and vinyl window blinds. Use a garden hose to get rid of dust before installing window screens.
30. Spring Cleaning Your Living Areas: Check Your Smoke and CO2 Detectors
Changing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors takes only a few minutes. Even a small kitchen or laundry room fire can cause damage that costs thousands of dollars to repair. Battery-operated smoke detectors and CO detectors have a limited lifespan. If yours are more than 10 years old, it's probably time to replace them.
31. Give Every Piece of Furniture a Good Cleaning
Upholstered couches and chairs should be deep cleaned to remove stains and odor. Wood furniture should be dusted and polished to remove grime. Keep leather furniture soft and supple with cleaning and conditioning.
32. Get Rid of Corner Spiderwebs
Use a long-handled duster, a clean, dry sponge mop, or broom to whisk down the dust and spider webs that have collected on your ceilings and moldings.
33. Get Rid of Smudges and Dirt on Walls
Walls can become dusty and dirty. Take the time to clean grime from painted and wallpapered walls and don't forget to clean the baseboards to remove dust and scuff marks.
34. Sanitize Soft Surfaces
While it's impossible to disinfect all soft surfaces like carpet and throw pillows, Couser shares the best ways to sanitize these surfaces. Use Lysol Disinfectant Spray and spray for 3-4 seconds until covered. Let the surface remain wet for 3 minutes for soft surfaces and then air dry. Or, you can dampen your soft surfaces with a mild detergent and dab it with a wet cloth to clean.
35. Clean Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
Use a disposable duster that traps dust particles with an extendable handle to clean ceiling fans and overhead light fixtures. Don't forget to clean the lightbulbs!
36. Clean and Change HVAC Filters
Vacuum and clean HVAC vent covers by using a disposable duster or vacuum with a hose and upholstery brush attachment to remove dust. If possible, remove vent covers and rinse them in a sink or soak them in some hot, soapy water to remove stuck-on dirt. Change or clean the filters before replacing the vent covers.
37. Clean Your Electronics
Every remote, game controller, and keyboard should be cleaned and sanitized. Remove dust and grime safely from laptops, computer monitors, and all electronics.
38. Tackle Every Type of Flooring
Deep clean carpeting and area rugs to remove stains and odors. This can be a DIY process or you can hire a carpet cleaning company. Bring solid wood floors back to a shine and clean laminate, LVP, and tile floors correctly.
39. Use a HEPA Vacuum
While you're vacuuming every room, use the best vacuum with a HEPA filter to trap the most dust and dirt rather than spreading it around.
** This article was originally published by The Spruce. CLICK HERE to view the full article.