You may find yourself itching to thoroughly clean your home as the days get longer, the sun shines brighter and the breeze starts to smell like spring. Refreshing your space is a great way to reset for the changing season and prepare for the busyness of summer.
However, cleaning almost always takes longer than you think it will. How can you fit a deep clean into your schedule, especially if you’re already struggling to maintain daily tasks? How can you stay motivated to finish once you start?
Spreading your cleaning tasks over a month is the best way to avoid feeling overwhelmed and reach your goals while maintaining a busy schedule. Follow this ultimate 30-day spring cleaning checklist to deep clean your house from top to bottom this season.
Day 1: Tackle Your Attic
- Switch out seasonal storage items like clothes, shoes and décor.
- Declutter and clean your attic steps.
- Throw away or donate three items.
Day 2: Vacuum up Dust
- Dust the ceiling fans and light fixtures throughout your house. Replace lightbulbs.
- Clean ceiling cobwebs and wipe down crown molding.
- Dust upper surfaces like window frames, picture frames and cabinet tops.
Day 3: Wipe Walls and Windows
- Use a gentle cleanser to wipe down the walls in each room.
- Clean the glass and frames on the inside of your windows.
- Toss your curtains into the wash and give them a quick iron afterward.
Day 4: Declutter the Upstairs
- Carry a basket through each room and collect items that are out of place.
- Put misplaced items where they belong, or create a place for them.
- Take time to repair or donate things you aren’t using.
Day 5: Air Out the Bedrooms
- Strip and wash bedding early in the morning.
- Open windows to bring fresh air inside. If it’s too cold, use a fan or an air purifier to do this.
- Remake the beds at the end of the day.
Day 6: Sort Your Linen Closet
- Remove sheets, bedding, and towels from this space and vacuum it thoroughly.
- Refold items and donate any you no longer use. You can turn old towels into kitchen rags.
- Move miscellaneous objects to a new location.
Day 7: Organize Your Clothes Closet
- Take everything out of your closet and vacuum the space.
- Reorganize clothes by type and make everything accessible.
- Clean your shoes and discard worn-out pairs.
Day 8: Tidy up Toiletries
- Go through your medicine cabinet and properly dispose of items you no longer need.
- Bring out all your toiletries and only keep what you use. Reorganize so everything is visible and accessible.
- Wash hairbrushes and makeup brushes with dish soap and warm water.
Day 9: Declutter Downstairs
- Take a basket through the downstairs of your home, collecting items that aren’t where they belong.
- Put these items away. Create designed spots for things that don’t already have a place to go.
- Repair or donate unused items.
Day 10: Clear Out Drains
- Use hot water, baking soda and vinegar to clear any blockages out of your drains.
- Remove hair from bathtub drains with a plumber’s snake.
- Declutter cleaning items under the bathroom and kitchen sinks.
Day 11: Replace Home Filters
- Replace the filter in your HVAC unit.
- Clean or replace filters in separate air conditioning units.
- Wash the grease filter over your stove with soap and water.
Day 12: Clean Your Laundry Space
- Wipe down laundry hampers and machines with gentle cleaners.
- Remove lint from your dryer filter. This can be a fire hazard, so it’s important to remove it often.
- Organize detergents, hangers and other items.
Day 13: Refresh Pet Space
- Vacuum and wash pet beds. Replace old toys.
- Wash food and water dishes and reorganize storage.
- Dump litterboxes and sanitize. Refill boxes with fresh litter and clean the surrounding space.
Day 14: Get Your Tub Squeaky-Clean
- Wipe down your tub and the surrounding walls with vinegar or bleach to remove any mold.
- Soak your showerhead in vinegar to remove mineral deposits.
- Throw away old shampoo bottles and replace the liner for your shower curtain.
Day 15: Update Your Toilet
- Wipe down toilets with vinegar or bleach.
- Thoroughly scrub the inside of the bowl to kill bacteria and reduce staining.
- Add a canning jar or bag to your toilet tank to save water during flushing.
Day 16: Shake Out Rugs
- Take rugs from the kitchen, bathrooms and other areas of the house outside.
- Shake and beat them to remove dust. Vacuum to remove lint.
- Spot clean and put away winter rugs until next season.
Day 17: Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces
- Wipe down light switches and doorknobs.
- Disinfect electronic items like remotes, computer keys and cellphones.
- Wipe down bank cards and the outside of purses or wallets.
Day 18: Declutter Kitchen Cabinets
- Review mugs and donate any unused items.
- Clean out your kitchen catch-all drawer.
- Reorganize the pots and pans cupboard.
Day 19: Reorganize Food Storage
- Take items out of the pantry and wipe down the shelves.
- Check that canned goods, sauces and other items are still within their sell-by date.
- Reorganize so older food is in the front.
Day 20: Wash Kitchen Appliances
- Wipe down your microwave and toaster with gentle cleansers.
- Scrub your stovetop and range hood with dish liquid to cut the grease.
- Clean the inside and outside of your oven.
Day 21: Scrub Out Refrigerator
- Take everything out of your refrigerator, and scrub the inside. You can remove the drawers and wash them in the sink.
- Put everything back inside, ensuring it’s all within date. Vacuum dust off coils.
- Repeat the process with your freezer.
Day 22: Care for Furniture
- Use a wax polish to reseal your wooden furniture and renew its shine.
- Take couches apart and vacuum them to remove dust and lint.
- Spot clean any stains on your furniture.
Day 23: Refresh Your Floors
- Scrub hardwood floors with vinegar and water. Start in the corner farthest from the door, and clean your way out of each room.
- Mop tile floors with a similar mixture.
- Vacuum carpets thoroughly, and consider renting a steam cleaner to deep clean traffic-heavy surfaces.
Day 24: Shine up Mirrors and Windows
- Wipe down mirrors around the house with rubbing alcohol or glass cleaner.
- Use a hose and squeegee to wash the outer side of your windows.
- Fold down the lower window pane to clean the outside of your upper-story windows from inside your home.
Day 25: Upgrade Trash Cans
- Wipe down interior and exterior trash cans with vinegar and water.
- Vacuum or hose out the inside of bins.
- Replace any broken or cracked trash cans with new, durable models.
Day 26: Tidy up in Your Garage
- Take three things out of the garage and donate or throw them away.
- Use a long-handled broom to clear away cobwebs.
- Clear off the floor and use the hose or a broom to sweep it clean.
Day 27: Clean Out Your Car
- Remove all trash from your car.
- Wipe dusty surfaces with a damp cloth and disinfect your steering wheel.
- Find an outdoor electric socket or use an extension cord to vacuum your vehicle thoroughly.
Day 28: Update Security Features
- Replace the batteries in your fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Check that each lock on your home is working properly.
- Inspect and update security cameras outside your home.
Day 29: Refresh Outdoor Living Space
- Clear items off your porch or deck, and donate or throw away anything you won’t use this year.
- Use your hose to power-wash your patio. Replace items after everything dries.
- Wipe off any porch furniture, and bring summer textiles out from indoor storage.
Day 30: Clean Gutters and Tidy Yard
- Climb a ladder and very carefully clean out your gutters.
- Replace any gutters or siding that’s been damaged or cracked.
- Pick up any branches, litter or other items that have collected in your yard over the winter.
30 Days to Spick and Span
Use this checklist to get your home fully refreshed and ready for spring. Spreading the work out over 30 days enables you to clean your home from top to bottom without exhausting your energy or motivation. Each step you take will add up to a home that is decluttered, dust-free and gloriously full of that fresh “just clean” feeling.
Each daily task should take just 30 minutes to two hours to complete. You can even use this list as a springboard for an even deeper clean. Put on your favorite spring playlist, throw open the windows and enjoy the process. Your family and home will benefit from your hard work for months to come.
Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated.com and has over five years experience writing in the industry. She loves sharing her knowledge of home living and home renovations with her audience so they can live their best DIY life. When she isn’t writing (which isn’t very often) you can find her taste-testing tea or baking chocolate chip cookies. For more from Rose, you can follow her on Twitter.
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