Spring is the time when we get out of our nests to inhale the fragrant air and watch nature getting up from a slumber. It is, for many, also the time for deep cleaning their natural habitats. Spring feels like a fresh start and makes for an ideal time to tackle the cleaning and organizing projects that will need some time and elbow grease. It can feel overwhelming – the undertaking of such a magnitude – but you need not take on everything all at once. You can break down things into projects, tasks, and rooms so you don’t feel stressed and everything goes on without a hitch.
You can divide everything into three essential steps, put once-a-year tasks at the top, take care of cleaning jobs by rooms, and then tend to the exterior. This way, you can pay the required attention to each space without having to rush off to do another. This can help create detailed instructions for every room and what needs to be done in every space.
Spring Cleaning Essentials You Need
The cleaning supplies in your arsenal play a crucial role in determining how efficiently you perform the task. When planning to clean the entire house, there are a few must-haves without which you just can’t get the job done. These are nothing but essentials like microfiber cloths, dusters, vacuum filters, mop pads, or new cleaning equipment. You will also need dish soap, white vinegar, baking soda, all-purpose spray, and glass cleaner for a thorough scrub.
Here are some of the best spring cleaning essentials that you can buy from Amazon. Many of them are on sale right now, so grab them before they are gone. Some of these essentials will last you the season and some beyond that. Picking these cleaning equipment and essentials depends on how thoroughly you want to clean the house.
Materials Needed:
Best Mop: O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop
Best for Pet Hair Removal: Pet Hair Rubber Broom
Best Handheld Vacuum: BLACK+DECKER AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum
Best Garbage Bags: Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags
Best Drain Cleaner: Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver
Best Multi-Surface Cleaning Kit: Swiffer Sweeper 2-in-1 Dry + Wet Floor Mopping and Sweeping Kit
Best Microfiber Cloth: Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Best Cleaning Brushes: Drillbrush Drill Brush Attachment Set
Best Carpet Cleaner: Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner Machine
Best Steam Mop: Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop with Natural Sanitization
Best Wood Polish: Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner
Best Deep Clean Brush: OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set
Best Cooktop Cleaner: Cerama Bryte Glass Cooktop Cleaner Combo Kit
Best Magic Eraser: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Set of 6
Best Scrub Pads: Skura Style Smart Odor Free Non-Scratch Scrub Pads
Best Dyson Vacuum Cleaner: Dyson V15 Detect Cordless
Best Liquid Soap: Dr. Bronner’s – Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
Once you have your equipment, it is time to divide and conquer.
What to Clean in Every Room
There are the most important 12 cleaning tasks that should be performed in every room of the house for a deep cleaning. You can work your way from inside to out and tick every job on the list to keep on the schedule.
Clean the baseboards
Baseboards are often overlooked in homes, but they could always use some love during your spring cleaning. The baseboards can be vacuum cleaned using a bristled brush hose attachment to get rid of dust and then wiped down with a damp microfiber cloth and all-purpose cleaner. Alternatively, you can mix a few squirts of dish soap or a cup of vinegar with a gallon of hot water, and use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the baseboards. Dry each section as you move along.
Dust Everything
Dusting and wiping every surface is one of the essential cleaning steps that should not be missed during daily, weekly, or seasonal routine. Despite best efforts, dust building in every part of the house is simply inevitable. Therefore, you need to work from the top of a room down, including the hard-to-reach places such as ceiling fans and window casings, and vacuum the dust settling on the floor. Take everything off the shelves and brush them with a feather duster or use a dust brush or crevice tool on a vacuum to reach the tight spots.
Vacuum the Floors
This step is unskippable during daily cleaning and becomes vital during seasonal cleaning. Vacuum the floors and carpets to get rid of crumbs and loose dirt. This step will require different equipment to tackle the surfaces. By diligently vacuuming the floors and carpets, you eliminate the grime buildup which can break down your carpet fibers and accumulate pollutants leading to diseases.
Mopping is Necessary
Mopping will keep the floors squeaky clean. After you vacuum, you need to go over the floors with a mop. Since the floor is one of the most exposed areas in your home, making mopping the surface is absolutely necessary. Mopping each time after you vacuum will ensure that you maintain a clean and healthy environment by removing dirt, dust, and allergens.
Shampoo the Rugs
Shampooing carpets and rugs is an essential step in your spring cleaning ritual. Rugs and synthetic carpets with waterproof backing should be deep-cleaned with a rotary shampoo machine and a hot-water extraction machine. If your rugs and carpets don’t have a backing, take them to professional cleaners. This will ensure the longevity of your carpets and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the interior.
Wipe Walls and Ceilings
The walls and ceilings of the home are exposed to dust and dirt buildup, even without getting the action of floors. Over time, the walls and ceilings build up marks, dust, mold, and mildew. To ensure that doesn’t happen, deep clean these spaces during the seasonal cleaning. Start by using a vacuum to remove dust and then use a solvent-free degreaser to get rid of stubborn surface grime, which is common in kitchens.
Clean Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
When doing a thorough cleaning, don’t forget the light fixtures and ceiling fans. Turn off the power, dust with a microfiber cloth or duster, and then use a soapy water solution to wipe down the surfaces. You can polish metal light fixtures. Ensure that these accessories are dried before you plug them in.
Clean Upholstered Furnishings
During deep cleaning of the house, you need to pay special attention to upholstered furnishings. Upholstery can accumulate dust, dirt, pet dander, and other allergens over time. Cleaning the upholstered furniture eliminates these pollutants along with stains and odors. This also helps make your furniture durable and better-looking. You can take the cushions outside and gently beat them by hand to get rid of dust. For furniture, use a vacuum’s upholstery and crevice tools to remove dirt and dust from under the seats.
Reseal Grout Lines
Grout lines between walls, floors, and countertop tiles are susceptible to stains and can be damaged easily due to the material’s porous nature. To protect the structural integrity and mend broken lines, you can reapply a group sealer with a small foam brush wherever required. If you skip this step, you may risk stains, mold, and mildew growth.
Wax Surfaces
Once you dust, vacuum, and wipe every surface in the home, you need to wax various surfaces accordingly to help them shine, especially wood. You can use a soft cloth dampened with water and mild dish soap to clean wooden surfaces. Apply wax with a folded cotton rag square. Once dried, buff the wax with a clean cloth. Vinyl and linoleum floors should be polished with a particular polish to help them retain shine. For stone and tile floors, a liquid wax should be used.
Wash Window Screens
Window screens are a hub for dirt and dust. For an effective cleaning, remove the window screens from the frame first. You can clean them with warm water and a mild dishwashing soap. Scrub both sides of each screen with a soft-bristled brush and then rinse with water before reinstalling the screens into the frames.
Clean Window Furnishings
Window furnishings such as drapes, curtains, and blinds should be regularly cleaned. There can be dust and odor buildup from around the house, which needs to be cleaned every season, if not monthly. You need to check the material type and then choose the best way to clean them. Some materials may need to be dry-cleaned instead of hand or machine washing.
Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist
Making a checklist will help you know exactly what to tackle in each room so you stay on schedule and wrap things up efficiently and quickly. Get our printable checklist to help you curate a fail-safe spring cleaning routine to work through over a week or a day.
