Did you know that spring cleaning has ancient origins across multiple cultures? Luckily, our cleaning supplies have evolved since then to make it much simpler! In today’s digital age, we also have access to countless spring cleaning tips and checklists to help us get the job done efficiently.
And honestly it makes sense why we get the urge to spring clean. As daylight increases, we feel more energized and motivated to tackle bigger projects like deep cleaning. Plus it just feels good to open the windows and get your home clean!
While most of us naturally want to spring clean around March, it can still feel a bit overwhelming — especially when you’re a busy parent who always has a million things to do. So let’s find a way to make it more doable!
As a mom of tweens, I’ve learned some spring cleaning tips along the way that save me a lot of time and make this part of home management feel more manageable. You can find all of these cleaning tips here plus a room-by-room spring cleaning checklist further down.
I hope this helps!
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Spring Cleaning Tips
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Clean from the top down. You don’t want to spend a ton of time vacuuming and mopping the floors, only to realize you still have a ton of dust on your ceiling fixtures, curtain rods, and blinds.
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Make a spring cleaning list. It can help to make a list of all of the rooms in your home and the tasks that need to get done. Check out my cleaning list here!
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Take a closer look. Don’t forget to clean the items you never really look at! This could be your light fixtures, shower heads, faucets, dishwasher, garbage cans, kitchen appliances, window frames, baseboards, and more.
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Break your cleaning list down. Spring cleaning can feel overwhelming, especially when your time is limited. Look at your list and take one day to tackle an entire room or even just a few tasks.
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Don’t forget the filters. Along with cleaning and clearing things out, remember to replace your HVAC filters. We do this task quarterly. It might also be a good time to switch out any deodorizers you use in your home.
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Replace smoke detector batteries. We replace ours on New Year's Day. but if you don’t remember the last time you replaced those batteries, now is the perfect time to do so.
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Put it in your calendar. I like to plan things so I can make them a priority — and make sure they fit into my busy schedule! Pick a week (or longer if you need it) to focus on spring cleaning.
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Use the right spring cleaning supplies. Stock up on multi-purpose cleaners, baking soda, vinegar, microfiber cloths, and a good vacuum to make cleaning easier. Need recommendations? Check out my favorite spring cleaning supplies here!
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Make cleaning easier. Spring cleaning can take up a lot of time, so I look for ways to make it easier. I recommend cooking easy meals (crockpot, order out, etc.), so you can focus on cleaning and not have to worry about making dinner.
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Look for ways to save time. I highly recommend using the self-cleaning oven function — it’s a game-changer! It smells bad, so you need to do it on a day when you can have the windows open.
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Have your family help out. We wash mattress covers once a quarter, and my kids help me pull everything off the bed and make it when we’re finished. They also help sprinkle baking soda on the mattress and vacuum it up. I love to teach parents how kids can help with common household tasks in The School of Life, so make sure to check that out!
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Make it fun. Cleaning can feel like a chore, so blast your favorite playlist, turn it into a game with your kids, and celebrate when you’re done!
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Declutter before you clean — and do it often! This is the last of my spring cleaning tips, but I probably should have put it first. Part of what can make cleaning feel so tiring is having to clear the clutter. I highly recommend decluttering first so there is less to clean and organize and doing it more frequently so it doesn’t feel like a huge chore that takes up a lot of time. Here are some decluttering and organizing tips that can help!
Now that we’ve covered my spring cleaning tips, let’s go over what you can spring clean room by room.
Room-by-Room Spring Cleaning Checklist
I always start with the kitchen, followed by bedrooms, bathrooms, and the main living spaces. Remember my first spring cleaning tip to clean from the top down!
Kitchen:
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Deep clean oven and stove top (clean range hood first)
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Clean microwave from the inside out
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Empty and clean fridge and freezer; discard expired items
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Wipe down cabinets and pantry shelves
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Clean out pantry —toss expired food and donate non-perishable foods you won’t use
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Wipe down all appliances
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Clean dishwasher from the inside out
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Scrub counters and backsplash
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Clean and disinfect sink
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Clean kitchen table, including the table legs, and kitchen chairs
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Wipe down trash and recycle bins
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Vacuum and mop floor
Bedrooms:
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Dust overhead lights and fans, curtain rods, blinds, and furniture
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Clean mirrors
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Flip and deodorize mattress (sprinkle baking soda, then vacuum)
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Clean windows and window sills
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Wipe down all furniture
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Vacuum floor (and mop if non-carpeted)
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Wash all bedding, including duvets
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Organize closet
Bathrooms:
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Toss expired makeup, skincare, and medication
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Organize linen closet and bathroom storage
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Dust overhead lights and shelves
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Clean the mirror
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Clean the sink (don’t forget the stopper!)
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Remove and clean bathroom fan cover
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Wipe down shower curtain liner (fabric cover can go in the wash)
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Clean shower head and bathtub fixtures, then scrub rest of shower and tub
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Clean toilet, starting from the inside out
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Wipe walls, doors, and baseboards
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Mop floor
Main Living Areas:
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Dust overhead lights and fans, curtain rods, blinds, and furniture
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Clean windows and window sills
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Dust electronics and use screen cleaner on TVs
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Wipe baseboards
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Wash blankets and pillow covers
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Vacuum floors, sofas, and chairs (don’t forget to lift the couch cushions!)
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Mop hardwood floors
Laundry Room
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Clean washing machine from the inside out
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Clean dryer from the inside out
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Wipe down cabinets and shelves
Outdoors
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Clean outdoor furniture for patio season
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Sweep the porch, patio, and deck
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Wipe down and organize garden tools
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Power wash the driveway and walkways
Want this spring cleaning list out where you can see it better? Just download the free PDF here. And don’t forget to check out my favorite cleaning supplies too.
If you have some spring cleaning tips to share with me, please comment below. I know our community here would love to hear what makes this household task easier (and more fun) for you!
