Spring cleaning is very important especially when you have to live through a cold winter. During winter, your house is often closed up and insulated. A lot of dust settles and the air becomes stagnant.
Spring cleaning is meant to improve the air quality in your home so that your respiratory health will not suffer.
Many consider spring cleaning as that one major house cleaning task each year where you turn everything inside and out and clean everything from top to bottom. It is also a great time to do some major decluttering!
But how do you really spring clean your home? This may feel like an overwhelming task when you’re a busy mom and you don’t have hours to reorganize every drawer or scrub baseboards.
So, let’s make things simple.
Read on!
Small, Focused Resets
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean exhausting yourself or flipping your whole house upside down in one weekend.
When you’re in motherhood’s busy season, like when you have a four-year-old and a one-year-old, spring cleaning is about small, focused resets that make your home feel lighter, calmer, and easier to manage.
You do not sacrifice time with your kids, and you definitely don’t sacrifice your sanity!
It’s not about perfection. It’s not about having a very clean home.
Instead, it’s about creating a space that supports your family’s daily life – simple tasks and doable schedules.
So, let’s get on with it!
How to Prepare for Spring Cleaning
Do some preparations before you spring clean your home. This will make it a lot easier!
1. Start with a simple plan. List it down!
Take 10 to 15 minutes to make a plan. If you need more time, give yourself that. But keep it simple.
Break your home into room or zones – entryway, living room, kitchen, and so on. Then list down all the things that need to be done in every room of the house.
For instance, for spring cleaning the kitchen, list down organize junk drawer, organize the pantry, clean out the fridge, wipe cabinet doors – things like that.
Also try to list down as many details as you can, like which things need to be stored and where should they be stored.
Listing out everything that needs to be done will help you see which tasks should be prioritized and what supplies will be needed for every task.
Also list down the cleaning supplies that you will need so it’s easier to shop later.
2. Have a meeting with your household.
When you already have a clear and organized list of what needs to be done, gather your family members together, and talk about how you will go on spring cleaning your home.
Everyone must get involved – especially when you also plan to do a major decluttering.
Let everyone know your plans for spring cleaning. Then assign tasks especially to your grown-up children – yes, they can help already!
Make a schedule of your spring cleaning. It helps to take time off when you do it so that you are focused and concentrated on the chores.
Plan a reward too which you will do after spring cleaning. For example, eating out for dinner or going on a quick out-of-town trip over the weekend. This will help motivate the entire family to cooperate and participate in the tasks.
3. Include outside help in your plan when needed.
If no one can help you at home, like when you don’t have grown-up kids yet, consider outside help. Because when you’re in motherhood’s busy season, you definitely need help in spring-cleaning!
So, ask for help. It’s not weakness to do so! Motherhood and keeping the house clean are not things you carry alone.
So yes, ask for help and include it in your plan especially when you’re thinking of hiring someone for cleaning service.
4. Purchase the necessary supplies.
Look at the supplies list that you made. Then take an inventory in your home and see if you still have these supplies.
If none, then it’s time to purchase!
Buy every cleaning supply that you need. Make sure that you don’t run out of supplies because if you do, this can stop your momentum in the middle of spring cleaning.
So, make sure that you’ve got everything you need before you start.
4. Declutter.
Before you spring clean your home, involve your family in decluttering first. This will make cleaning a lot easier later!
Let each one start in his/her own room. Then work in teams for the common rooms.
Throw away expired products and everything that is broken and is no longer serving its purpose. Get rid of anything that has not been used for the past year too.
Do this a few days before your actual spring-cleaning day. That’s because many of us need more than a day to declutter since it often involves decisions about possessions that are tied to emotions. This can feel hard.
But again, once you have decluttered, there will be fewer items to move around, and cleaning up will be so much easier!
Go over our Declutter page for lots of decluttering tips!
And if you have difficulty decluttering sentimental items, here’s a short guide to help you – How to Let Go of Sentimental Clutter Without Regret
On Spring Cleaning Day
1. Start with dusting.
The first step when cleaning anything is getting rid of the dust. Check hard-to-reach surfaces such as ceiling fans, the top of the fridge, and light fixtures.
Prioritize places that you do not typically clean during normal cleaning days. I bet you there would be a couple of dust bunnies lying there!
Do not worry about all the dust falling all over the floor. You can sweep or vacuum them up later on.
Just make sure you wear a face mask while you are dusting so that you do not inhale it. Dust can irritate you and give you colds. Happens to me every time.
2. Clean your furniture and appliances.
After doing a thorough dusting, clean your furniture and appliances. Take out items on your cabinets and clean inside.
Also wipe off the coils and wires of your appliances. Remember, dust and grime can affect the performance of your appliances.
3. Clean your walls.
Most of us neglect our walls. Walls accumulate grime and dust too even if these have vertical surfaces. So we need to clean these too from time to time.
Simply wipe your walls with a sponge mop and then dry them up with a soft and clean cloth.
4. Wash carpets and upholstery.
This is a very important step especially when you have pets in the house.
Fabrics do not show grime right away but over time, it sets and stains. In fact, you may be surprised how dirty they really are!
Cleaning upholstery can be time-consuming and if you do not know how to do it, you may hire professionals for the job. They have the most powerful upholstery cleaning tools that can make your couches and carpets look as if they are brand new.
Not just that, as a busy mom, you often do not have the luxury of time, so again, have other people around to help you.
5. Vacuum and mop.
The last thing to do when spring cleaning is to vacuum and mop. Just like dusting, make sure you cover those hard-to-reach areas too.
6. Clean outdoors too.
Spring is the best time to pressure wash your deck and outdoor furniture. Also, use this time to hose out your garbage and recycling bins.
If you have a garage or tool shed, declutter, clean and organize it as well.
To make this even easier, scroll down to our spring-cleaning checklist for each room. Use it as a guide.
With this, you can also assign tasks easily to your household, making sure that everything that needs to be cleaned will be dealt with.
But before that, here are a few reminders:
1. Focus on high-impact areas first.
When you’re a busy mom, time is limited. Oh, I know! Even an hour is hard to find.
So, prioritize the areas that make the biggest difference in your daily life.
These could be the floors, kitchen counters, the bed, entryway, dining table. It depends on what areas affect your daily life the most.
When these areas are clean, your home will feel fresher and cleaner, even if you haven’t cleaned the baseboards yet.
2. Use the 15 to 30-minute method.
If it’s not possible to have the whole weekend, or the whole day, don’t force it.
Just set a timer for 15 to 30 minutes when you can work with focus. Then when the timer ends, you stop and that’s it.
3. Involve your kids.
It’s already a given – when you have grown up kids they help with spring cleaning. But what about toddlers?
Well… the short answer is yes… involve them too.
A three-year-old can already help wipe surfaces with a damp cloth. He can sort his toys. He can even sweep the floor! Just give him a small-sized broom fit for his height.
My four-year old already mops the floor. With supervision of course.
4. Don’t be too strict with yourself.
When you’re in a very busy season of motherhood, like when you have a newborn or a toddler that just follows you everywhere, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Give yourself grace and always keep in mind that spring cleaning your home is meant to serve your family and not stress you out.
Now your version of done may look different from others. And that’s fine because we’re not comparing ourselves to each other here.
Your house doesn’t have to be as clean as your sister’s or your neighbor’s. And when it comes to this checklist, you don’t have to get everything done if it’s just not possible for you at this time.
That’s okay.
The room-by-room spring cleaning checklist that follows is just a guide. Use it to help you see which areas needed attention in your home.
But that’s it. I repeat. It’s just a guide, not something that you need to really finish and check off everything so that you’ll feel successful.
Do what you can as your time allows. And just leave the other tasks for when you already have time or when extra hands are available.
That being said, here we go…
Room by Room Spring Cleaning Checklist
1. Entryway
This small space somehow collects everything.
But did you know that many households often overlook this space when spring cleaning? So let’s get the entryway cleaned up!
- Declutter the entryway (coats, bags, shoes & other items)
- Clean the ceiling.
- Dust lighting fixtures.
- Wipe doors, handles, switches and walls.
- Sanitize the doorknobs and light switches.
- Wash bench and other furniture.
- Wipe entryway table and baseboards.
- Clean doormat.
- Sweep and mop the floor.
- Limit hooks to essentials only like everyday bags.
- Organize shoes.
- Organize the coat closet.
- Keep only one catch-all basket.
- Organize bags, keys and other items.
- Have a key tray or bowl for the smaller items.
Related post: How to Create a Functional Entryway with Smart Storage
2. Living room
The living room is one of the busiest rooms in the house as it is being used every day by everyone.
Oftentimes, kids play here, especially when you don’t have a separate playroom for them. So, expect for toys all around and in hidden corners and even under the couch.
This is also the place where you entertain guests. So, let’s get this cleaned up!
- Remove items that don’t belong in the living room.
- Clean ceiling fans.
- Dust shelves, picture frames and decors.
- Wipe tables, TV stand, cabinets and other furniture.
- Clean light switches and door handles
- Dust baseboards and corners.
- Wash slipcovers.
- Wash pillows and blankets.
- Dust blinds and curtain rods.
- Clean window sills.
- Wash windows.
- Wash curtains.
- Vacuum sofa and chairs.
- Clean lampshades and electronics.
- Wipe and sanitize remote controls.
- Wash rugs and carpets.
- Sweep or vacuum and mop floors.
- Clean space under the furniture.
- Have one basket to collect daily clutter.
Related post: Organize the Living Room with these 20 Simple Solutions!
3. Kitchen
The kitchen often gets regular cleaning because this is where you prepare your food.
So, during spring cleaning, focus on the areas that you do not clean daily. You will soon realize that there are lots of neglected areas in the kitchen!
- Dust top of high surfaces like refrigerator, range hood, and cabinets.
- Clean stovetop, oven and microwave.
- Clean the dishwasher.
- Clear out crumbs in the toaster.
- Declutter and clean refrigerator.
- Declutter and clean pantry.
- Clean and clear countertops.
- Wipe counter appliances.
- Degrease and disinfect backsplash and cabinet doors.
- Remove items from cabinets and drawers, then clean inside.
- Set aside unused kitchen tools.
- Clear out and organize the junk drawer.
- Degrease and deodorize kitchen drain.
- Wash windows and clean windowsills.
- Wipe walls.
- Clean baseboards.
- Wash the garbage bin.
- Clean faucets and other hardware.
- Wash dish rags, sponges, and floor rugs.
- Replace old sponges.
- Disinfect cutting boards.
- Disinfect and sharpen knives.
- Sweep and mop floors.
Related posts:
4. Dining Room
Dining rooms are either being used every day or during special occasions only, or when you have guests around. It depends.
But regardless of how often you use the dining room, it needs some cleaning too!
- Remove items that do not belong in the dining room.
- Dust light fixtures or chandelier.
- Clear the dining table completely.
- Empty drawers, cabinets, or sideboards and wipe both inside and out.
- Wipe artworks, frames and decor.
- Clean the walls.
- Wipe switches and door handles
- Declutter table linens, placemats and napkins. Wash the dirty ones.
- Vacuum crumbs from chairs and seat cushions.
- Clean chair seats and backs.
- Dust blinds and curtain rods.
- Wash windows.
- Clean windowsills.
- Wash curtains.
- Wash rugs or carpet.
- Sweep or vacuum and mop the floor.
- Organize serving ware.
- Set the table simply and add a centerpiece.
Related posts:
5. Bathroom
You use the bathroom daily so this may be getting its share of cleaning everyday too. Therefore, spring cleaning is the time to give the bathroom a more thorough cleaning!
Focus on those spots that don’t get cleaned regularly.
- Clean light fixtures.
- Remove everything from counters and shelves.
- Declutter personal care products and medication – check expiration dates.
- Toss old toothbrushes, loofahs, and razors
- Empty drawers and cabinets and wipe inside.
- Wash soap dispenser and toothbrush holder.
- Clean makeup brushes.
- Wipe and clean mirror.
- Clean and disinfect tub, shower and showerhead.
- Clean glass shower door and walls.
- Wash and replace shower curtain.
- Scrub tile grout and reseal if necessary.
- Disinfect bath toys.
- Clean and disinfect toilet.
- Wash windows and window sills.
- Wipe and clean walls and tiles.
- Clean and sanitize doorknobs.
- Mop floors.
- Wash bath mats.
- Empty and disinfect trash bin.
- Restock toilet paper and towels.
- Add a fresh scent.
Related posts:
- How to Declutter Your Bathroom Drawers and Cabinets
- How to Organize the Bathroom
- 25 Genius DIY Organization Hacks You Need to Try to Make Your Small Bathroom Bigger
6. Bedrooms
If you clean your bedrooms regularly, you won’t need to do much here too when it comes to spring cleaning. Focus on decluttering and cleaning up hard-to-reach areas.
- Remove everything that belongs in another room.
- Clean lighting fixtures.
- Clear nightstands and surfaces.
- Clean decors.
- Sanitize doorknobs and light switches.
- Declutter clothes and organize closets.
- Move bed and clean area under the bed.
- Wipe baseboards.
- Wash beddings, pillows, and blankets.
- Refresh mattress with baking soda and flip mattress.
- Vacuum mattress.
- Vacuum or wash carpets.
- Dust and clean lamp shades.
- Dust blinds and curtain rods.
- Clean window sills.
- Wash and wipe mirrors.
- Wash curtains.
- Sweep, vacuum or mop floors.
Related posts:
- How to Declutter Your Closet Without Feeling Overwhelmed
- How to Declutter Your Bedroom in 15 Minutes a Day
- 61 Small Bedroom Storage Ideas You’ll Love!
7. Kids’ play corner/playroom
If your kids have a designated area where they play, whether it is an entire room or just a corner in the living room, you need to pay attention to it too during spring cleaning.
Clean and sanitize their toys to get rid of bacteria buildup.
- Declutter toys.
- Clean toys especially mouthed toys.
- Declutter books.
- Declutter art supplies.
- Wash stuffed toys.
- Wipe shelves, bins, and baskets.
- Wipe walls and baseboards.
- Wash carpets and rugs.
- Sweep, vacuum or mop floor.
- Put toys back neatly.
Related posts:
8. Home office
The home office may not be such a mess if your kids are off-limits here. But it can still be a good breeding ground for bacteria. It is important that you also pay attention to it for hygienic reasons.
The home office also needs a good organization system since it can get really cluttered sometimes – especially when you work from home.
- Remove everything that belongs in another room.
- Clear desk surface completely.
- Throw away trash, old notes, and random papers.
- Declutter paperwork.
- File important papers.
- Dust and wipe furniture.
- Wipe shelves.
- Declutter books and notebooks.
- Declutter home office supplies.
- Dust and clean electronics.
- Sanitize computer, keyboard, and mouse.
- Dust cords and power strips.
- Clean under desk and chair.
- Wipe wall decors.
- Clean window and windowsill.
- Wash curtains.
- Clean lighting fixtures.
- Vacuum or wash carpets or rugs.
- Sweep, vacuum or mop the floor.
- Keep desk mostly clear.
Related posts:
9. Laundry room
The laundry room is often situated in a concealed part of the house. So, we may not pay much attention to cleaning it.
Lack of attention often lead to musty odors and mold growth in the room. Considering that this is the place where we clean our clothes, let’s get this room clean and fresh too!
- Clear countertops.
- Remove items that don’t belong in the laundry area.
- Empty and clean cabinets and shelves.
- Declutter laundry supplies.
- Declutter clothespins, hangers and baskets.
- Clean washing machine and dryer.
- Clean lint area.
- Wipe inside washer door and rubber seal
- Clean detergent drawer.
- Clean laundry sink and drain.
- Polish faucets.
- Clean laundry bags and laundry baskets.
- Wash windows and clean windowsills.
- Wipe walls and backsplash.
- Wipe baseboards.
- Sweep or vacuum and mop floors.
Related posts:
- How to Declutter the Laundry Room and Keep it Clutter Free!
- How to Organize the Laundry Room
- 20 Ideas for Laundry Room Storage for the Busy Homemaker
10. Attic
The attic is also often overlooked. People barely go in there unless they are looking for something – much less clean it regularly.
The storage space above your ceiling is bound to be covered with cobwebs and dust. Spring cleaning is your chance to give it some attention.
- Clear off dust and cobwebs from the roofs and walls.
- Open windows to air out the attic.
- Wash and wipe the windows.
- Take out one box at a time to declutter.
- Group items by category.
- Label boxes clearly.
- Dust and wipe shelves, surfaces and storage bins.
- Sweep or vacuum and mop the floor.
- Keep walkways clear.
- Store frequently used items near the entrance.
11. Garage
Most of us are guilty of storing random items in the garage. If this is true with you too, then you can expect your garage to be a haphazard mess. Cleaning it is a big task but so satisfying when done!
- Open garage door to air out the room.
- Declutter by zone so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
- Declutter tools and sporting equipment.
- Secure hazardous items out of reach.
- Check for black mold.
- Get rid of junk, broken items, and unused items.
- Organize tools and storage.
- Wipe clean ceilings, walls, and corners.
- Clean garage door and door frame.
- Clean windows.
- Sweep or vacuum and mop the floor.
- Keep frequently used items accessible.
- Keep walkways clear.
Related posts:
12. Outdoor area
Spring cleaning must include the outdoor areas of your home too! These are essential parts of your house, especially the front porch – it is the first thing that your guests see when they enter your home.
- Throw away broken pots, furniture or decor.
- Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings.
- Trim dead branches and leaves.
- Clean gutters.
- Dust and clean outdoor lighting fixtures.
- Wipe outdoor furniture.
- Wash outdoor cushions and pillows.
- Sweep the porch and walkway.
- Wash the deck.
- Wash doors and frames.
- Wash and replace the welcome mat.
- Dust and clean decorative items.
- Pull weeds.
- Clear debris from flower beds or planters.
- Wipe down hoses, watering cans, and buckets
- Wash garbage bins.
- Store chemicals safely.
- Keep frequently used tools accessible.
After spring cleaning
Spring cleaning doesn’t mean you’re done with cleaning the whole year. It’s just a step (a big step actually), to keep your home clean.
But after spring cleaning, there are things you can do to maintain the cleanliness of your home. This way, spring cleaning next time becomes a bit easier as you’ve already taken steps to keep your home clean.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. So, here’s what you can do.
1. Place two doormats.
Keep the dirt from coming into your house. Place two doormats on all entrances of the house. One outside the door and another one inside.
2. Create an organization system.
Maintain the cleanliness in each room by implementing an organization system.
There are many ways to organize each room. You can buy storage containers or simply DIY!
Also let everyone in the house know how everything should be organized so that it’s clear how they can help.
3. Make decluttering a habit.
When you declutter regularly, there will be less items to clean in the house. People usually declutter their homes at least twice a year.
But it depends on your household. If you need to declutter more often than that, do so!
4. Establish a regular cleaning schedule.
Again, spring cleaning may feel overwhelming, especially when it’s your first time to do this. There is a lot to do!
Now to make your next spring cleaning session lighter, establish a regular cleaning schedule. Create daily, weekly and monthly cleaning tasks that you and your family can follow.
It can be as simple as this.
See more cleaning checklists in this post – 10 Bullet Journal Household Trackers to Organize Your Home
This will be super helpful when you spring clean again because there will be less things to clean. You can then have the extra time doing other things or simply enjoy bonding with your family.
Do not rush the process.
Spring is the best time to clean away all your winter woes and prepare your house for a whole new year of possibilities. It is the chance to reset your home!
However, as I’ve said, when you’re in the busy season of motherhood, cleaning your house from top to bottom just feels overwhelming – even for small homes.
So, don’t rush the process! Clean at your own pace.
If your spring cleaning will take more than a day, it is okay! Most households need one or two days to spring clean. Some would even take a whole week!
So, yes, it’s okay to take it slow. Spring-cleaning is simply a reset.
Let go of unrealistic expectations and standards. And always remember that this is about building a home that supports your family instead of draining you.
So, take it one step at a time. One room at a time.
You’ve got this Momma. Happy spring-cleaning!
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