Complete Spring Cleaning Checklist
Most traditional checklists advise that you work on one room at a time. When you work on one room at a time, there’s opportunity for other family members to go right behind you and ruin your hard work. This makes it easy to get discouraged and quit. By using a newer method, you can get everything done at once.Out with traditional ways and in with the new! The following sure-fire method is broken up into tasks, so you accomplish each one at your own speed. Think of your house from ceiling to floor. That is how we’re going to clean. Let’s start with the ceiling light fixtures and dusting the corners and tops of cabinets. Are you ready? Let’s get started!
Note about cleaning products: Use whichever brand suits you. I am allergic to almost everything, so I only use shampoo or liquid laundry detergent to clean surfaces. Using these soaps gets the job done without the harsh odor and damage to skin.
TASK ONE:
1. Get out your screwdriver and step ladder because we’re cleaning the lights first. Prepare a bucket of warm, soapy water and grab a cleaning rag. Turn off the lights and remove the light covers. Place the light cover to the side. Wipe the fixture that is screwed to the wall and remove any dirt and greasy buildup. Don’t forget to wipe dust off the light bulb. This creates better lighting.
2. Fill your sink with warm, soapy water. Place the light fixture in it to soak. If your light fixtures are too big for the sink, you may want to wash them in the bathtub. Once you’ve collected all of the light fixtures in the house, wash them. Rinse them well and let them air dry by laying them on dish towels on your counter top.
3. Use your feather duster to remove cobwebs and dust from the corners of the walls. Pay special attention to the top of door facings, the top of windows, and the top of cabinets if there is space between them and the ceiling.
TASK TWO:
1. If your curtains are washable, take them down and wash them. If you have metal mini-blinds, remove them from the latches and let them soak in soapy water in the bathtub. While these are soaking, clean the window panes and the windowsills.
2. Clean all the draperies, blinds, and windows in your house.
3. Once the window coverings are clean and dry, return them to the windows.
TASK THREE:
1. Clean out the medicine cabinet, the cabinet under your bathroom sink, and/or the bathroom closet. Wipe out the shelves of the cabinets and closet. Sweep and mop the closet floor.
2. Discard any beauty or hair products if you can’t remember the last time you used it. Forget about thoughts like “I might need this.” Part of spring cleaning is de-cluttering. Trash it or box it up for a garage sale.
3. Straighten everything up and reorganize your belongings.
TASK FOUR:
1. Remove all the food from your pantry and cabinets. Wipe out the shelves. As you return the food, check the expiration dates. Discard any outdated food. Remove all the dishes from your cabinets, wipe down the cabinets. Return the dishes to their place.
TASK FIVE:
1. Wipe off your washer and dryer. Open the lid, wipe inside the lid and remove any detergent or lint buildup.
2. Clean the front of your dishwasher. Refill the anti-spot agent with clear vinegar. Check inside the dishwasher for items misplaced in the bottom. Remove them.
3. Tackle the fridge. Wipe off the top with a soapy cleaning rag. Next, remove everything from the freezer. Wipe out the inside and place a fresh box of baking soda inside. Replace the frozen groceries. Next, remove all food, drinks, and condiments from the refrigerator. Wipe out the shelves. Don’t forget the egg container or the butter holder. Now for that bottom drawer: remove it and dump out any loose onion peels or other vegetation. Wash this out in the sink. Replace everything back in the fridge.
TASK SIX:
1. Remove the burners from your stove, change out the drip pans if you need to. If they are clean, wipe them off and then wrap them in aluminum foil. This will keep cleaning to a minimal later in the year.
2. Clean out the inside of the oven.
TASK SEVEN:
1. Sweep the bathroom and kitchen floors.
2. Mop the bathroom and kitchen floors.
TASK EIGHT:
1. Go through your winter clothes. If there are any clothes you haven’t worn in the last six months, toss them in a box. Put these clothes in a garage sale or to give to charity.
2. You’ll collect more clothes from the kids since they outgrow them so fast.
3. Organize your closets with all the dresses together, jeans together, and etc.
TASK NINE:
1. Get under the bed. Okay, not really, but you need to get everything out from under the bed and see what’s actually hiding out. Toss out anything you don’t need. Replace anything you want to keep.
THE FINAL TASK:
1. Dust all furniture.
2. Vacuum the floors.
At last! You’re all done with your spring cleaning. Now take a day off, sit back and enjoy the cleanliness of your home.
