Spring Cleaning: Your Guide to a Cleaner Home

The Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most cluttered rooms in a home. Start by sweeping the floor and removing crumbs from the counters. Go through your fridge, freezer, cabinets, and pantry to declutter. Clean all the kitchen appliances and don't forget the dishwasher. Remove stove grates and other removable parts and clean them according to manufacturer's instructions.

To remove stuck-on food particles from your microwave's interior, put a bowl of water with lemon juice inside and heat it to boiling. Steam will loosen the gunk and the acid in the lemon will help remove grease. Use a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid to clean the tops of cabinets and the fridge, which may be sticky from grease. You can use the same mixture to clean drawers and shelves. Pay special attention to the pantry and the utensil drawer since they collect the most crumbs. Vacuum and wash the floors to complete the job.

The Bathroom

Vacuum and wipe the ceiling and walls to keep the surfaces sanitary and prevent build-up . Use the brush attachment to vacuum and then wipe the walls with a cleaner that doesn't damage painted walls. The walls could be coated with perfume, hairspray, and other products. Clean your tub, floors, and sinks. If you have a Bath Fitter tub, follow our guidelines to properly care for your solution. Then rinse everything from top to bottom.

Clean the toilet the same way. Start with the tank and then the bowl and base. Use microfiber cloths that don't leave lint. Be sure to wash the microfiber cloths you use in the bathroom before using them anywhere else. Wash bathroom rugs in the washing machine to get rid of bacteria and buildup and then wash mirrors and the insides of windows. Lastly, mop the floor to make your bathroom sparkle. See more bathroom-cleaning tips here.

Bedrooms

Airing mattresses reduces germs and allergens. So, remove the bed linens, open the windows, and air the room. If it isn't too cold, you can leave the windows open for a few hours. Clean the bedroom walls and ceilings. Dust all surfaces. Carefully clean the outer edges of doors and electrical switch plates.

Next, clean all the bed linens in the washing machine. Start with mattress pads and end with bed shams. This way, you can put them on the beds in order. If you're done with winter bedding, wash it and store it. Remember the window treatments. Use the fluff cycle on the dryer for light drapes. You can have heavy drapes dry-cleaned or use your vacuum's upholstery attachment. Wash window interiors, bedroom mirrors, and steam-clean carpets and rugs. You can use a professional-grade carpet cleaner or rent one.

Living Areas

Use an extendable duster to dust ceiling fans, shelves, and the tops of bookcases. Move to the sofa and upholstered chairs and clean them thoroughly. These are used daily but rarely cleaned. You can rent an upholstery machine with upholstery wands to clean your furniture.

Wipe your light bulbs with a damp microfiber cloth. A dirty bulb emits 30% less light. Wash the insides of windows and launder window treatments. Then focus on the electronics since they collect a lot of dust every day. Spray compressed air into openings and use microfiber cloths to clean them from top to bottom. To ensure you don't push the dust back in, wipe away from ventilation areas. Lastly, clean the fireplace and store any unused logs. Remove all carpets from the room and clean them with a carpet-cleaning machine.

Storage Areas and Closets

Spring cleaning your closets and storage areas is necessary because they hold a lot of clutter. Start by purging and get rid of everything you don't need. Pack away winter clothes and the items you won't use for a few months. Pack the clothes and items you haven't used before and donate them. Don't purge based on how you feel because you may never get rid of some things. 

Once you've decided which items are staying and which are going, organize them. Organize everything in a way that's accessible and easy to see. Neatly fold everything and store items in a logical order.

Spend the early days of spring sprucing up your garden. Get rid of last year's dead annuals, rake out leaves, and trim perennials. Spring is also the best time to remove winter mulch and prune trees and shrubs that bloom in summer. Most evergreens also need trimming at this time.

Remove diseased or broken branches from greenery. Don't wait too long to tidy your garden. It's easier to cut plants before the old growth gets tangled up in the new growth. Trellises, archways, and pergolas can look a little ragged after a rough winter. Hose down all your garden structures, replace any rotted or broken wood pieces, and repaint or reseal as necessary. 

As you clean your home's exterior, don't forget the garage. Get rid of everything that's no longer useful. Pack all unused equipment, unneeded tools, and clutter. Take all of it to the thrift store.

Afterward, remove cobwebs, wipe shelving units, sweep the floors, and grease garage door hinges and springs to ensure they work smoothly. Use a power washer to clean your home's siding and garage doors. If you don't have a power washer, a long-handled scrub brush will do.

Spend some time cleaning the outside of your windows. Dirty windows can dim the sparkle of spring sunshine. Wash the windows, scrub the sills, and take a hose to the screens. You'll need a sprayer attachment, a squeegee, a ladder, a rag or two, a cleaning solution, and elbow grease.

Use mild soap or a simple solution of water and vinegar. And be sure to wash your windows on a dry, overcast day. This weather ensures the lather doesn't dry quickly and leave persistent streaks. For the best results, clean the windows from the inside and the outside. If some exterior windows are hard to reach, hire a local cleaning company.

Spring showers are common, so prepare your rain gutters to handle the runoff. After winter, gutters fill with leaves, branches, and debris. Be sure to put on your work gloves. Climb a ladder and remove as much debris as you can. Hose away the rest. And while you're up there, clear clogs from the downspouts and ensure they don't direct water to the foundation. Pooling water around your house may weaken the foundation, leading to costly repairs