The Ultimate Guide: Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home

Looking for some spring cleaning tips? You’ve come to the right place. This article will guide you through what it takes to spring clean each room of your home.

March and April are great times of the year to say out with winter grime and in with spring cleaning!

You made it through another long winter. If you’re like me and live in the north or Midwest of the U.S., you’re excited about Springtime, sunshine and warmer weather. As Springtime approaches, I get antsy to wipe away winter at home – literally!

It is so refreshing to open windows and let fresh air into a stale home that’s been closed up all winter. I enjoy cleaning off all of the dust and cobwebs that built up over the winter. After Spring cleaning, I feel like I have a new home all over again.

I admit spring cleaning can take some time. I only clean so much each day. I like to have all of my spring cleaning done by late March/early April so I can begin being outside in the warmer weather without having to clean.

I have broken up the following spring cleaning tips by each room of the home.

When cleaning, I recommend using natural methods – either DIY recipes for cleaning products, or use non-toxic cleaning products. Never use commercial cleaning products with harsh chemicals. You don’t want to be inhaling the chemicals each day that you clean.

Fortunately, many DIY cleaning products use only a few ingredients such as white vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, and castile soap.

Home Maintenance Reminders

Spring is a good reminder to do certain things around your home.

Turn on Outdoor Water. For those of us in the cold weather climates, we would have turned off our outdoor water in the fall before the weather turned too cold. Once the weather turns warmer and you don’t have to risk frozen pipes, be sure to turn on your outdoor water line.

Change HVAC Filter. Realistically, you should change your HVAC filter every 2 – 3 months. But just in case you forget, spring is a good reminder to change the filter. When you replace your filter, look for filters which remove as much from the air as possible without restricting airflow. Microparticle performance rating (MPR) range from 300 to 2,400.

Change Humidifier Filter. After a winter season of running your humidifier, spring is a good time to change out its filter. If you don’t change your filter and clean the humidifier regularly, it can actually make you sick as mold can develop. Use an old toothbrush to scrub your humidifier with white vinegar.

Clean the Grill. Spring is a great time to fire up the grill! But before you cook your meal on the grill, be sure to deep clean it. Use some baking soda and dish soap to scrub the grill racks.

Change Smoke Detector Batteries. This doesn’t have to do with cleaning, but spring cleaning is a good reminder to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

Without further ado, here are Spring cleaning tips for your home.

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Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Entire Home

These spring cleaning tips should be done in each room of your home. Be sure to start with the top of the room first, then work your way down.

Dust Ceiling Fan Blades and Top of Window Treatments. Use a microfiber duster with a pole to easily dust ceiling fans and the top of window treatments. Be sure to dust the fan blades before turning on your fan for the season. If not, you might get a face full of dust!
Dust Baseboards. Dust along all of the baseboards in each room. Usually, you only need to use a dusting rag, but in the kitchen and bathroom, you may have to scrub a little harder if there is other grime on the baseboards.
Dust Doors and Ledges. Dust off all of the tops of the doors and ledges in each room. You would be amazed at how much dust accumulates there throughout the year.
Dust Light Fixtures and Bulbs. Use a microfiber cloth to dust off your light fixtures and the bulbs. You might be amazed at all of the spider webs you will wipe away.
Remove Plastic. If you put plastic up over your windows for the winter season, now is the time to remove all of the plastic.
Clean Window Sills. Before you open the windows to let in some fresh air, be sure to clean off the window sills. Window sills can get quite dirty during the winter, especially if you experience a lot of wind and snow. Use a spray bottle with white vinegar along with a rag to clean off your window sills. You might even need to use some q-tips to get into corners and crevasses. If you see mold, use tea tree oil to clean it.
Open Windows and let the fresh air in!
Wash Rugs. If you have rugs throughout your home, now is the time to through them in the washing machine, if you’re able. If they’re not small rugs, you might have to have them professionally deep cleaned. While you’re at it, be sure to deep clean any carpet you may have too.
Wash and Disinfect Garbage Cans and Wastebaskets – Mix white vinegar and water (50/50 ratio). Use the mixture to wipe out the cans. Pour the mixture into the garbage can and let it sit for an hour. After an hour, pour out the vinegar and scrub the inside of the garbage can with a stiff bristle brush to remove any residue. Rinse the can out with water. If possible, let the garbage can dry in direct sunlight. This will help to eliminate bacteria.
Diffuse Essential Oils. As you’re cleaning, you might want to diffuse essential oils throughout your home to cleanse the air. Try using tea tree, sweet orange or lemon.

Spring Cleaning the Bathroom

Throw Away Items. Go through your medicine cabinet and look under your sink. Throw away any items which you don’t use anymore, or are past their expiration date.
Wash Shower Curtain. If you have a cloth shower curtain, remove it and wash it in the washing machine according to its care label.
Dust Exhaust Fans. You would be amazed at the amount of dust which can accumulate on an exhaust fan. Use a vacuum tool, or use a q-tip to remove dust from the fan blades.
Clean Showerhead. Soak your showerhead in white vinegar. Either detach the showerhead and put it in a bucket of vinegar or fill a plastic sandwich bag with vinegar and secure it with a rubber band over the entire showerhead. Let the showerhead soak in the vinegar overnight.
Clean Shower Caddy. Remove everything from the caddy. Throw away old bottles. Clean it with white vinegar.
Clean Shower Drain. Be sure to remove hair from your shower drain on a regular basis, but in case you forget, do it each spring before the smell of the drain reminds you. You can use a snake hair drain clog removing tool to easily remove built-up hair.

Spring Cleaning the Bedroom

Declutter – Winter is a great time to go through your old clothes. Give away clothes you no longer wear. Change out your winter clothes for your summer clothes if you store your clothes for a season.
Wash Curtains. You would be amazed at the amount of dust that can accumulate on curtains. Take your curtains down and wash them as their label recommends.
Wash Mattress Pad and Comforter. Be sure to wash your mattress pad and comforter a couple of times each year. Spring is a good reminder to do this.
Flip Your Mattress. Depending on your mattress, you will want to flip it over so it doesn’t get worn out in one area. Of course, if you have a pillow top mattress, don’t flip it over. Instead, turn the mattress so that the area of the mattress you had at your head is now at your feet.

Spring Cleaning the Kitchen

Degrease Kitchen Cabinets. Grease and grime can build up on cabinets, appliances or above your stove while cooking. Use a mixture of white vinegar, castile soap, baking soda, and essential oils to remove the grease.
Clean the Microwave. To remove food stains from inside your microwave, pour lemon juice, white vinegar, and water into a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat for 3-5 minutes. The steam from the mixture will loosen grease and particles.
Clean Oven. Oven cleaners are some of the most toxic cleaners on the market. Out of all of the oven cleaners that the Environmental Working Group tested, all but one cleaner received an ‘F’ rating. Instead of using harmful commercial oven cleaners, make the cleaner yourself. Clean your oven with a thin paste of baking soda and water. (Be careful not to get the baking soda stuck on the electrical elements). Let the paste sit in the oven overnight. The next day, wipe the paste off with a damp cloth. If you have remaining hard to remove spots, spray them with white vinegar. After that, rub the oven down with a damp cloth.
Clean Pantry and Spices. Go through your pantry and spice racks. Throw away any food that has expired. Condense food that can be stored together.
Clean Stainless Steel Faucets. Use a lemon to easily clean your stainless steel faucets. Cut a lemon in half and rub it over your faucet to remove hard water stains and rust.
Clean the Refrigerator and Freezer. Remove your food items and store them in a cooler. Turn off the fridge and let it come to room temperature. You don’t want any parts to crack from the hot water when cleaning. Use a mixture of baking soda and hot water to scrub down your refrigerator and freezer. Clean out crumbs from the door seals. Remove the shelving and wash with dish soap in the sink. After washing everything, dry it well.
Vacuum Behind Appliances. Pull out your stove and refrigerator from the wall. Use the vacuum tools to vacuum behind each appliance. You would be amazed at how much dust can build up.
Clean the Dishwasher – Remove any visible grime. Place a dishwasher safe cup of vinegar on the top shelf of your dishwasher and run it on the hottest cycle. After the cycle is done, sprinkle baking soda around the bottom of the dishwasher and run it through another short cycle using hot water.

How to Clean Your Laundry Room

Clean Washing Machine – Be sure to disinfect your washing machine from time to time to keep it fresh and so that mold doesn’t appear. it with distilled white vinegar and baking soda to keep it fresh and high-functioning. Run your machine on a short cycle with hot water, then add some white vinegar and baking soda. Let the machine sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Afterward, restart your machine, let the water drain, and wipe it dry.
Clean Behind Washer and Dryer. Pull out your washer and dryer. If you have a gas dryer, be careful not to pull your dryer out too far. Vacuum behind each appliance.

Deep Cleaning Living Room

Dust Lamp Shades. Lampshades collect a lot of dust throughout the year. Be sure to dust them off.
File Paperwork. If you have paperwork laying around in piles, now is the time to go through it and clean it up. Throw away old notes or expired information. File paperwork that should be saved.
Clean Table Tops. If you have water rings on a tabletop, try using a hair dryer to remove them. Simply use the hair dryer on high heat to “dry” the spot until it starts to disappear. Once the spot is gone, rub some olive oil over the area to recondition the wood.
Wash Couch and Chair Cushion Covers. If you have chair or couch cushion covers that can be removed, unzipper them and wash them in the washing machine. Be sure to follow the care label on the cushion cover when washing.
Vacuum Chairs and Couches. Now is the time to deep clean your couches and chairs. Use the tool attachment on your vacuum to easily vacuum. Be sure to vacuum between and behind the cushions.
Vacuum Under Furniture. Move furniture so you can vacuum underneath. You might find food crumbs or even coins under there.

Spring Cleaning Tips Video

Be sure to check out this video which shares some of the spring cleaning tips from this article. The live video was recorded in the ‘Creating a Healthy Lifestyle…Naturally’ Facebook Group. The group is hosted by myself and 3 other healthy living bloggers. If you would like to join us in that community, please join the group here. We would love to have you share in that community.

By implementing these spring cleaning tips you are sure to make your home a healthier environment.

Comments

One response to “The Ultimate Guide: Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home”

Fitoru mct

December 31, 2019

I don’t experience Spring in my country but your tips are very useful in maintaining the cleanliness of my household. The list is quite long but it’s a good reminder for me.