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Spring is a great time to tackle projects that you put off during cold winter weather. But with so much to do, it can be hard to know where to start. Our team at Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. (PRMI) put together a spring cleaning checklist to make it easier to get your home spruced for spring.
Cleaning doesn’t just make your house feel more like home, it also helps you keep your family safe and protect your home’s value. Use this list to make sure you cover the basics.
Throughout the house
- Start by getting rid of clutter. Donate, sell or recycle things you haven’t used in the last year.
- Replace furnace and HVAC filters.
- Check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Clean air vents.
- Dust light fixtures, bookshelves and ceiling fans.
- Wash walls and baseboards.
- Wash windows, screens and blinds.
- Sanitize light switches, door handles and other frequently touched surfaces.
Tip: Don’t tackle everything in one day. Spring cleaning should be rejuvenating, not stressful. Go through your home one room at a time to break up the work and make it more manageable.
Tip: Clean from top to bottom. If you clean your floors before you dust off shelves, wash walls, or clean your ceiling fan, you’re probably going to have to clean your floors a second time.
Kitchen/Dining room
- Empty out fridge and freezer, clean shelves and drawers, throw away old food.
- Go through pantry and get rid of expired food.
- Scrub out the microwave.
- Use vinegar and a little bit of baking soda to clean out your drains.
- Sweep and mop the floor.
- Empty out cabinets and wipe them down.
- Scrub the stove top, counters and sink.
- Run the self-cleaning cycle on your oven.
- Run your dishwasher on empty with a little bit of vinegar to clean it out.
Tip: Use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels. They’re sturdier and reusable. You can clean almost any surface with them, whether you want to dust off shelves or scrub the counters.
Bathrooms
- Use vinegar and a little bit of baking soda to clean out your drains.
- Use a stronger drain cleaning chemical to break down clogs, if needed.
- Clean hair and makeup brushes.
- Get rid of expired makeup and medicine.
- Replace old toothbrushes with new ones.
- Clean floor mats.
- Sanitize the sink and counter.
- Scrub the toilet and bathtub/shower.
- Clean out the vents.
Bedrooms
- Wash all the bedding—sheets, pillows, pillow cases, comforter, bed skirts, etc.
- Freshen your mattress by sprinkling it with baking soda, letting it sit for a few hours and then vacuuming it up.
- Go through your closet and drawers to find clothes you haven’t used in a year. Donate them or sell them to free up space.
- Mop or the vacuum floor.
- Sanitize toys by putting them through the clothes washer or dishwasher, if possible.
Tip: Listen to an audiobook while you clean your house. It makes the work less boring and you’ll feel like your accomplishing two things at once.
Living room
- Vacuum the upholstery.
- Dust your lampshades, shelves, coffee table, TV and other electronics.
- Make sure anything heavy is anchored to the wall.
- Mop or vacuum the floor.
Tip: If your carpets don’t need to be shampooed, sprinkle baking soda on the floor and let it sit for an hour or so, then vacuum like normal for fresher carpets.
Laundry and storage rooms
- Vacuum around dryer to eliminate fire hazards.
- Dust and organize shelves.
- Make sure any heavy shelves are anchored to the walls so they can’t tip and injure someone.
- Make sure tools and chemicals are locked away or out of reach of kids and pets.