Ultimate Spring Cleaning List
There are so many places in our homes that can become easily neglected in the hustle and bustle of life, it can be difficult to stay on top of it all! With spring here, now is the time to catch up on all the neglected places in our homes.
1. Lightbulbs, fan blades, and light fixtures. One way to clean your fan blades is with a pillow case. One side cleans the blade, while the other side catches the dust. With the light bulbs and light fixtures you can either dust it with a duster, or get something to stand on and wipe it down with cleaner and a microfiber cloth.
2. Cabinets. The fronts, handles, insides, and even underneath your cabinets need to be cleaned. Have you ever looked underneath your cabinets? To wash your cabinets you could wash them with a cloth and hot soapy water or an all-purpose cleaner. You could even use a water-bleach mixture if you are into that kind of thing. Check out my blog post on cleaning truly dirty cabinet handles, otherwise normal cleaning should be more than enough.
3. Toilet Tank. So many people neglect this important part of toilet cleaning! It can be a bit of a process but you will have so much more peace of mind. First you will want to turn off the water to the toilet, then flush and the water will empty the tank. To clean mine I used Ajax and a toilet brush and gave it a really good scrub. After it's clean and you turn the water back on, you will have to flush a few times to get the cleaner to leave the tank.
4. Light Switches. You can clean these in seconds and it will leave you feeling so much better about your space. A little all purpose cleaner and a cloth should do it! I actually use lysol disinfectant spray and a rag.
5. Door Knobs. I clean these just like I clean the light switches. Just give them a wipe down while you are cleaning the rest of the house! Sometimes the area around the door knob can become dirty and discolored, be sure to wipe those areas too.
6. Door Carvings and Frames. Those ornate square patterns carved in our doors can collect dust, make sure to wipe those down along with the door frame. You will be amazed at just how much dust comes off of them.
7. Curtains and Blinds. Your curtains should be taken down and washed if they are a material that can be washed. If not vacuum them really well. It is no secret that blinds collect tons of dust, you can use a duster and work from top blind to bottom, but I prefer using a microfiber cloth wet with some cleaner.
8. Window Sills and Tracks. These can get so filthy! Vacuum out your window tracks and then dust the window sill, I like to dust with cleaner and a microfiber cloth. After which you can follow with your regular glass cleaner and voila! You have a beautiful clean window.
9. Vent Covers and Vents. Oh yeah, these babies can get pretty dirty! I like to remove the vent cover every once in awhile and dust out my vent. Vent covers are pretty easily dusted with a dry duster if you have stayed on top of it. But if you haven’t it’s most likely you will need warm soapy water and a rag or at least a damp cloth and some basic cleaner.
10. Behind and Sides of Washer and Dryer. Between detergent and the lint from the dryer, the area between and behind the washer and dryer can get fast! Luckily this is easily cleaned. Vacuum the areas you can get to with dust and lint with a vacuum attachment, then wipe down the surfaces with a disinfecting wipe and you are done! One word of caution, if you have mice in your home the washer and dryer is a popular place for them to go. Do not vacuum up or sweep mouse poop, it could be fatal.
11. Bathmat and Other Floor Mats. Throw them in the washer or take them outside and hit them against something then vacuum them! This extra touch always gives me peace of mind.
12. Shower Curtain, Liner, Rod, and Rings. All of these things build up dirt! Go ahead and remove the shower curtain and throw it in the washer, you can also put the liner in the washer or you can soak it in the tub with oxiclean. Take the rings off the rod and either put them in with the hot water and oxiclean or wash them in your kitchen sink with soap. Now just wipe your shower rod down with a disinfecting wipe.
13. Toys. Just a quick solution of some watered down Clorox should do the trick for hard toys. For stuffed animals I recommend a wash on warm with no fabric softener and to let them air dry! Better yet if you have a steam cleaner just do that!
14. Wainscoting, Baseboards, and Trim. If they aren’t bad a quick dry dusting will solve the situation fast! But if the dust is caked on you will need to wipe it down with hot soapy water or a damp cloth and an everyday cleaner.
15. Trash Can. The outside and inside of our trash cans need a good wipe down often, but if you haven't stayed on top of it, now is the time to do it! If you notice a foul smell in your trash can even after you've left antibacterial cleaner stay on it, throw in a dryer sheet! It'll absorb the smell!
16. Walls. Specifically the walls by the trash can, toilet, sinks, and stove. Inspect these areas and wipe them down with an all purpose cleaner.
17. Fridge. Especially the gussets, and don't forget the outside of the fridge, the top too! Also vacuum underneath with a vacuum attachment.
18. Microwave, underneath and behind. Everyone knows to clean the inside, but get eye level with the bottom of your microwave and look underneath. There’s most likely crumbs there! You could unplug and move the microwave altogether or just shimmy it out a little and get the area behind the microwave with a rag and cleaner.
19. Base of toilet and behind toilet. It sounds obvious but I’ve been to so many homes where they don’t touch this area and it is a huge mix of dust and water and urine! The floor around the toilet and all the way around the very back of the toilet needs cleaned. Do not forget the bowl and the stand of the toilet too! You could dust first if it has gotten bad, then clean with bleach or Clorox.
20. Shower Door Tracks. These can become scummy and discolored fast, but can be easily cleaned with some liquid bleach! This will take care of any mold.
21. Air Filter. Dust, pet dander, and dirt all cycle through our homes again and again. If you notice your home gets dusty quickly, it's probably time to replace your air filter.
22. Lamps and Lamp Shades. If these don’t get dusted your mostly clean home will not look clean at all! Dust the lamp stand and then simply lint roll the lamp shade.
23. Oven Hood and Hood Filter. Look up underneath your oven hood, splattered food and grime can easily build up overtime. Clean with hot soapy water, make sure the soap cuts through grease build up. For your oven hood you can soak in the sink in hot soapy water or you can soak it in a hot mixture of oxi clean.
24. Bathroom Exhaust. A quick vacuum with a vacuum attachment should do the trick and get all the dust out. After that just wipe it down with a disinfecting wipe!
25. House Plants. Get some warm water and a little dish soap and wipe down the leaves, your plants will thank you for the bath!
26. Drawers and Drawer Ledges. Obviously we need to wipe down the drawer fronts and handles but what about all the ledges and corners? We pull out the drawers from the top or bottom and sides all the time, but do we ever think to wipe those down? The exact same goes for cabinets. Also don't forget to do the insides of the drawers!
27. Stove Knobs. Most stove knobs can easily pull off of the stove! Although I don't think mine can, I let an antibacterial cleaner sit on mine and then I wipe them down with a microfiber cloth every day. If yours can come off, that's awesome! Get in there with a tooth brush and some hot soapy water and do some damage!
28. Outlets. These can get scuffs and dirt and dust! A quick wipe down with a disinfecting wipe will have you in ship shape!
29. Sides of Stove. The sides of the stove and the floor near the sides of the stove need to be looked at. Bits of food drop down and eventually it becomes a pretty nasty situation! Clear out any food chunks from the floor if you can and then wipe the side of the stove with your kitchen cleaner and a rag. Make sure to get the edge where the side and the stove top meet, that gets most of the abuse.
30. Underneath the Table and Chairs. Little fingers love to reach underneath there and grab the table legs too! Make sure to check underneath and give it a good wipe down!
31. Drains! Use baking soda or vinegar to give them a good cleaning!
32. Walls and ceilings. Cobwebs and dust can accumulate, especially in you have textured walls! Dust the ceiling with a duster, for the walls get a bucket of hot water with one third part fabric softener. Work in three feet by three feet area and in the S pattern. Fabric softener repels dust and you will feel a huge difference if you do this!
33. Behind your bed and other furniture. We moved our bed completely to be able to clean the entire underneath and behind. There was hair and dirt sticking to the walls, gross. I have so much more peace of mind now knowing it's clean, and it motivates you to wash your bedskirt! Behind our couch wasn't so bad though, which is why I am emphasizing the bed!
1. Lightbulbs, fan blades, and light fixtures. One way to clean your fan blades is with a pillow case. One side cleans the blade, while the other side catches the dust. With the light bulbs and light fixtures you can either dust it with a duster, or get something to stand on and wipe it down with cleaner and a microfiber cloth.
2. Cabinets. The fronts, handles, insides, and even underneath your cabinets need to be cleaned. Have you ever looked underneath your cabinets? To wash your cabinets you could wash them with a cloth and hot soapy water or an all-purpose cleaner. You could even use a water-bleach mixture if you are into that kind of thing. Check out my blog post on cleaning truly dirty cabinet handles, otherwise normal cleaning should be more than enough.
3. Toilet Tank. So many people neglect this important part of toilet cleaning! It can be a bit of a process but you will have so much more peace of mind. First you will want to turn off the water to the toilet, then flush and the water will empty the tank. To clean mine I used Ajax and a toilet brush and gave it a really good scrub. After it's clean and you turn the water back on, you will have to flush a few times to get the cleaner to leave the tank.
4. Light Switches. You can clean these in seconds and it will leave you feeling so much better about your space. A little all purpose cleaner and a cloth should do it! I actually use lysol disinfectant spray and a rag.
5. Door Knobs. I clean these just like I clean the light switches. Just give them a wipe down while you are cleaning the rest of the house! Sometimes the area around the door knob can become dirty and discolored, be sure to wipe those areas too.
6. Door Carvings and Frames. Those ornate square patterns carved in our doors can collect dust, make sure to wipe those down along with the door frame. You will be amazed at just how much dust comes off of them.
7. Curtains and Blinds. Your curtains should be taken down and washed if they are a material that can be washed. If not vacuum them really well. It is no secret that blinds collect tons of dust, you can use a duster and work from top blind to bottom, but I prefer using a microfiber cloth wet with some cleaner.
8. Window Sills and Tracks. These can get so filthy! Vacuum out your window tracks and then dust the window sill, I like to dust with cleaner and a microfiber cloth. After which you can follow with your regular glass cleaner and voila! You have a beautiful clean window.
9. Vent Covers and Vents. Oh yeah, these babies can get pretty dirty! I like to remove the vent cover every once in awhile and dust out my vent. Vent covers are pretty easily dusted with a dry duster if you have stayed on top of it. But if you haven’t it’s most likely you will need warm soapy water and a rag or at least a damp cloth and some basic cleaner.
10. Behind and Sides of Washer and Dryer. Between detergent and the lint from the dryer, the area between and behind the washer and dryer can get fast! Luckily this is easily cleaned. Vacuum the areas you can get to with dust and lint with a vacuum attachment, then wipe down the surfaces with a disinfecting wipe and you are done! One word of caution, if you have mice in your home the washer and dryer is a popular place for them to go. Do not vacuum up or sweep mouse poop, it could be fatal.
11. Bathmat and Other Floor Mats. Throw them in the washer or take them outside and hit them against something then vacuum them! This extra touch always gives me peace of mind.
12. Shower Curtain, Liner, Rod, and Rings. All of these things build up dirt! Go ahead and remove the shower curtain and throw it in the washer, you can also put the liner in the washer or you can soak it in the tub with oxiclean. Take the rings off the rod and either put them in with the hot water and oxiclean or wash them in your kitchen sink with soap. Now just wipe your shower rod down with a disinfecting wipe.
13. Toys. Just a quick solution of some watered down Clorox should do the trick for hard toys. For stuffed animals I recommend a wash on warm with no fabric softener and to let them air dry! Better yet if you have a steam cleaner just do that!
14. Wainscoting, Baseboards, and Trim. If they aren’t bad a quick dry dusting will solve the situation fast! But if the dust is caked on you will need to wipe it down with hot soapy water or a damp cloth and an everyday cleaner.
15. Trash Can. The outside and inside of our trash cans need a good wipe down often, but if you haven't stayed on top of it, now is the time to do it! If you notice a foul smell in your trash can even after you've left antibacterial cleaner stay on it, throw in a dryer sheet! It'll absorb the smell!
16. Walls. Specifically the walls by the trash can, toilet, sinks, and stove. Inspect these areas and wipe them down with an all purpose cleaner.
17. Fridge. Especially the gussets, and don't forget the outside of the fridge, the top too! Also vacuum underneath with a vacuum attachment.
18. Microwave, underneath and behind. Everyone knows to clean the inside, but get eye level with the bottom of your microwave and look underneath. There’s most likely crumbs there! You could unplug and move the microwave altogether or just shimmy it out a little and get the area behind the microwave with a rag and cleaner.
19. Base of toilet and behind toilet. It sounds obvious but I’ve been to so many homes where they don’t touch this area and it is a huge mix of dust and water and urine! The floor around the toilet and all the way around the very back of the toilet needs cleaned. Do not forget the bowl and the stand of the toilet too! You could dust first if it has gotten bad, then clean with bleach or Clorox.
20. Shower Door Tracks. These can become scummy and discolored fast, but can be easily cleaned with some liquid bleach! This will take care of any mold.
21. Air Filter. Dust, pet dander, and dirt all cycle through our homes again and again. If you notice your home gets dusty quickly, it's probably time to replace your air filter.
22. Lamps and Lamp Shades. If these don’t get dusted your mostly clean home will not look clean at all! Dust the lamp stand and then simply lint roll the lamp shade.
23. Oven Hood and Hood Filter. Look up underneath your oven hood, splattered food and grime can easily build up overtime. Clean with hot soapy water, make sure the soap cuts through grease build up. For your oven hood you can soak in the sink in hot soapy water or you can soak it in a hot mixture of oxi clean.
24. Bathroom Exhaust. A quick vacuum with a vacuum attachment should do the trick and get all the dust out. After that just wipe it down with a disinfecting wipe!
25. House Plants. Get some warm water and a little dish soap and wipe down the leaves, your plants will thank you for the bath!
26. Drawers and Drawer Ledges. Obviously we need to wipe down the drawer fronts and handles but what about all the ledges and corners? We pull out the drawers from the top or bottom and sides all the time, but do we ever think to wipe those down? The exact same goes for cabinets. Also don't forget to do the insides of the drawers!
27. Stove Knobs. Most stove knobs can easily pull off of the stove! Although I don't think mine can, I let an antibacterial cleaner sit on mine and then I wipe them down with a microfiber cloth every day. If yours can come off, that's awesome! Get in there with a tooth brush and some hot soapy water and do some damage!
28. Outlets. These can get scuffs and dirt and dust! A quick wipe down with a disinfecting wipe will have you in ship shape!
29. Sides of Stove. The sides of the stove and the floor near the sides of the stove need to be looked at. Bits of food drop down and eventually it becomes a pretty nasty situation! Clear out any food chunks from the floor if you can and then wipe the side of the stove with your kitchen cleaner and a rag. Make sure to get the edge where the side and the stove top meet, that gets most of the abuse.
30. Underneath the Table and Chairs. Little fingers love to reach underneath there and grab the table legs too! Make sure to check underneath and give it a good wipe down!
31. Drains! Use baking soda or vinegar to give them a good cleaning!
32. Walls and ceilings. Cobwebs and dust can accumulate, especially in you have textured walls! Dust the ceiling with a duster, for the walls get a bucket of hot water with one third part fabric softener. Work in three feet by three feet area and in the S pattern. Fabric softener repels dust and you will feel a huge difference if you do this!
33. Behind your bed and other furniture. We moved our bed completely to be able to clean the entire underneath and behind. There was hair and dirt sticking to the walls, gross. I have so much more peace of mind now knowing it's clean, and it motivates you to wash your bedskirt! Behind our couch wasn't so bad though, which is why I am emphasizing the bed!
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