Spring Cleaning Checklist: 4 Day Plan

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The first day of spring has inspired us to go beyond the usual cleaning regime of dusting and sweeping and to get down to the nitty-gritty (literally). If you are anything like us, you have no problem finding the motivation to clean, but there is a huge lack of time. Take advantage of the extra sunlight this spring and try our four-day spring cleaning plan.

Day 1: Bathrooms

Bathrooms can be nightmarish, which is why it might be best to get them out of the way on day one. Today is all about soaking and scrubbing – so listen to your favorite podcast while you chip away at the grime that has built up over the last year.

Supplies:

  • All-purpose bathroom cleaner (wipes or liquid)
  • Glass cleaner
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Duster
  • Cleaning cloths
  • Strong cleaning agent, possibly bleach
  • Mop

Start by throwing all of your rugs and towels into the washing machine.

Wipe down the walls with an all-purpose cleaner – wipes are easy and convenient but can get pricey if you use them to wipe down all of the walls in your house. Don’t forget the wall that you see behind you in the mirror every morning, because that wall is probably coated in all of your fancy hair products and perfumes you use on a daily basis.

Dust and wipe down mirrors and windows – this is also a good opportunity to dust and wipe down the surfaces on and around windowsills and mirror frames. Don’t forget the glass cleaner to get ultimate clarity.

Start spraying and soaking – spray a strong cleaning agent on the shower walls, tub sink, and flooring. We recommend one that works well for bathroom grime and mold. Let it all sit for 15 – 20 minutes. Use this time to take a little break – catch up with your Facebook timeline, or check on the towels and rugs in the washing machine. You might want to open up the windows to get some air flowing in a smaller space.

Now it’s time to start scrubbing – scrub everything from the top down so you don’t have to go over anything twice. In the shower, start with the showerhead and work your way down to the tub, use the same method on sinks. Rinse using the showerhead (if extendable) or a damp cloth.

The dreaded toilet – douse the toilet bowl with toilet bowl cleaner and use your toilet bowl scrub brush to give the bowl a good clean. Don’t forget to spray and wipe down the seat and handle. Let the cleaner sit in the toilet until your next flush for an optimal clean.

On your way out – cleanse the floor with a mop that is soaked in warm water and cleaning solution.

Day 2: Bedrooms

Supplies:

  • All- purpose cleaner (wipes or liquid)
  • Duster
  • Furniture polish
  • Microfiber cloths
  • Vacuum
  • Carpet Shampooer

Start by opening up all of the windows – let’s get some fresh air flowing! Airing out your bedrooms can help clear out allergens and dust, especially where they might have built up in your mattress.

Pull all of the bedding and linens off the beds and wash – this includes sheets, pillowcase, comforters, mattress pads, dust ruffles and pillow cases. Wash these items in reverse order that they go on the bed, starting with mattress pads! Pulling the covers off of the mattress helps to air it out, which can reduce the dust and allergens in your mattress. To help with this process leave the windows open for thirty minutes to a couple of hours, weather permitting!

Dusting and polishing – we could write an entire blog post just about dusting, but that would be excessive. Dust every surface, even the places you can’t see, and polish everything that is wood (check the back of your polish for more information on safe surfaces). Some places that are easy to miss when dusting are ceiling fan blades, lamps, blinds, and vents.

Wipe down the walls with an all-purpose cleaner – pay special attention to high traffic areas, door frames, and baseboards! Any all-purpose cleaner should be safe on painted walls – this is also a perfect opportunity to look for places you can touch up and fill holes in your walls! Also, wipe down door knobs and light switches.

Vacuum & shampoo walkways and rugs – be careful if you decide to rent your own carpet cleaning machine from a supermarket, misuse of a carpet shampooer can damage your carpet or can be dirty or inefficient. Some carpet manufacturers will void your warranty if you can’t prove that you had your carpets cleaned once a year, so be sure to save receipts.

Purge your closet – cleaning out your closet and drawers of unneeded clothing items can be the most satisfying part of spring cleaning! Go through each drawer, your closet, and even the secret stash of shoes under your bed. Donate all unneeded items to a local charity or Goodwill store.

Day 3: Kitchen

Supplies:

  • All-purpose Cleaner (wipes or liquid)
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Steel wool pads
  • Baking soda
  • Lemons
  • Microfiber cloths
  • Strong cleaning agent
  • Broom
  • Mop

Start with the refrigerator – empty all of the contents and put them in a large cooler. Remove the shelves and wash them in the sink with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and a quart of warm water. Go over the doors and any other non-removable surfaces with all-purpose cleaner.

Degrease your kitchen – take off stove grates or any removable parts and scrub them in the sink with warm water and liquid dish soap – this soap is made to cut through grease! Use a steel wool pad to scrub off any stubborn grease. Everyone’s oven is slightly different – so check with your manufacturer for cleaning instructions. To loosen up stuck on food and grease from the microwave, microwave a bowl of water with quartered lemons in it for two to three minutes. Wipe everything down with a microfiber cloth to avoid smudging.

Wipe down the counters and cabinets – use an all-purpose cleaner or a solution of warm water and liquid dish soap to cut through grease. Don’t forget the tops of cabinets or the top of the refrigerator, these are places that can get neglected easily during normal cleaning!

When putting everything back in the fridge – be sure to throw away anything that has gone bad, and plan meals around anything that is about to! Extra points for anyone who chooses to clean out their pantry – you can donate any unneeded foods to a local food bank!

On your way out – sweep and cleanse the floor with a mop that is soaked in warm water and cleaning solution.

Day 4: Living Room

Supplies:

  • All-purpose Cleaner (wipes or liquid)
  • Duster
  • Furniture polish
  • Microfiber cloths
  • Vacuum
  • Carpet Shampooer
  • Glass cleaner

Clean all window coverings and throw blankets – throw washing machine safe curtains into the washer with your throw blankets and get those things going before you start the rest of your cleaning. If possible, open the windows and leave them open for a couple of hours to help air out the room. This is also a great opportunity to wipe down window seals and clean the pane with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

Dust, dust, dust – take a duster to all of the obvious surfaces, and then double check that you didn’t miss any of the “out of sight, out of mind” places. Don’t forget the ceiling fan blades, tops of shelves, entertainment systems, electronics, and the inside of lighting fixtures including the bulbs. Wipe down any wood furniture with furniture polish to restore shine!

Vacuum and clean sofa and carpets – some people go through the entire life of a couch without cleaning the cushions, under the assumption if I don’t see stains then they aren’t dirty. Realistically, your couch is full of dust mites – we know, yuck! To help combat creepy crawlers vacuum your couch regularly, and don’t forget to get under the cushions. Many home improvement stores sell upholstery cleaner, or you can use a wand extender on your carpet cleaner. Be careful when shampooing your own carpets using a machine you have at home or one you rented – doing so incorrectly can cause mold, odors, and carpet shrinkage.
Wipe down the walls with an all-purpose cleaner – pay special attention to high traffic areas and door frames and baseboards! Any All-purpose cleaner will be safe on painted walls – this is also a perfect opportunity to look for places you can touch up and fill holes in your walls! Also, wipe down door knobs and light switches.

Day 5: Relax

Enjoy your beautifully clean home! If you’d rather just skip all the cleaning and go straight to relaxing, give Henderson Home Services a call and we can do all the heavy spring cleaning for you! Learn more here.