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After a long winter of staying indoors, it’s time to welcome the arrival of flowers blossoming (such as the crab cactus, which we’ve seen bloom in March compared to Thanksgiving or Christmas in Arizona) in spring with a fresh start. Spring cleaning may seem like a daunting task, but when you break it down into manageable tasks, it can seem easier to handle.
Moving Help® has the ultimate guide for spring cleaning. With this guide, you’ll find practical tips, room-by-room guidance, and safety tips to make the process easier. Have time to check out the whole checklist? Jump right down to it now. Don’t have time to read the whole article? Download our checklist now to get started!
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What Is Spring Cleaning?
Spring cleaning is when you thoroughly deep clean your entire home or certain rooms that occurs during the springtime. This is done by scrubbing hard and cleansing every nook and cranny. It’s a good time to reset and start the new year fresh.
When you complete your spring cleaning, it’ll help reduce stress, improve indoor air quality, and create a more organized living space. If you get rid of unnecessary things, you’ll benefit your mental health by possibly feeling calmer, happier, and more in control in your living space. We’ve learned that when you have an organized space — whatever that “organized look” is to you — you won’t feel overwhelmed in your home and can start to relax more.
Some common tasks you can complete are decluttering, tossing or donating items, organizing items, dusting, vacuuming, and mopping.
When Is Spring Cleaning?
Spring cleaning happens on the fourth Sunday in March every year. In 2024, National Cleaning Week will happen from Sunday, March 24, to Saturday, March 30.
We’ve learned it’s best to get things done right away. That’s why it would be better to do a spring cleaning vs. a summer cleaning, fall cleaning, or winter cleaning.
“95 percent of American households engage in some form of spring cleaning and 74 percent report doing so every year,” according to The American Cleaning Institute.
“The top three rooms prioritized when spring cleaning are the kitchens (64 percent), bedrooms (61 percent), and bathrooms (59 percent),” according to The American Cleaning Institute. These top three rooms are focused on first on our Moving Help spring cleaning checklist after we give you a basic general cleaning for every room.
Spring Cleaning Tips
Before you begin with your spring cleaning checklist, we wanted to give you some tips for spring cleaning.
- Declutter first: If you have a messy area, it’ll be easier to clean it when you declutter first. You declutter by throwing things away or finding a home for that item. You’ll instantly feel better before you start cleaning it. The best technique is to figure out where you think your things belong on your own.
- Work from top to bottom: When you clean your home, the best technique is for you to work from the top of the ceiling to the bottom of the floors. You don’t want to clean your floors first, and then dust your ceiling lights because the dust that isn’t caught from you will fall to the ground and make your floors dirty again. No sense in trying to clean the same area twice!
- Start small: Cleaning your whole home might seem tough. That’s why you should think and start small. The best technique is you should focus on one room at a time. Even in that room, it can be broken into smaller pieces. For example, start with your bedroom, but within your bedroom, maybe focus on your closet first within your bedroom.
- Take breaks: You don’t have to get it all done in one afternoon, in one day, or even in a couple of days. The best technique is when you finish a room, you should reward yourself for that success. For example, you could watch TV for 15 minutes as a break. If you want to keep going for the day, just make sure your break isn’t too long, so you can keep the momentum going.
- Take breaks: You don’t have to get it all done in one afternoon, in one day, or even in a couple of days. The best technique is when you finish a room, you should reward yourself for that success. For example, you could watch TV for 15 minutes as a break. If you want to keep going for the day, just make sure your break isn’t too long, so you can keep the momentum going.
- Consider moving furniture: When you change a room’s layout, it can change your whole outlook. Sometimes you don’t need to buy new furniture, but instead, you need a new layout in your home. This technique is best to help make your area feel new and refreshed.
- Clean hard-to-reach areas: You know those areas that you ignore during your regular cleaning process. For example, you should clean the cracks between your stove and the countertops, clean under heavy furniture, and the floors around your washing machine and dryer. The best technique is to move the furniture first, then clean the area, or you can use a hose attachment with your vacuum to reach those harder areas.
Spring Cleaning Checklist
Preparing for Spring Cleaning
You’ll want to grab some supplies when you prepare for your cleaning process. Everyone will need different supplies for their specific needs when it comes to cleaning. Some supplies that everyone might need include:
- Vacuum
- Broom and dustpan
- Mop or a spray mop
- Disinfecting wipes
- Duster
- Sponges
- Cleaning gloves
- Bathroom cleaner
- Oven cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Furniture cleaner
- Paper towels
- Microfiber clothes
- Bucket
You’ll want to create a schedule and goals for when you want to accomplish your spring cleaning. This way, you’ll know whether you’re on track to accomplish everything you set out to do. If you need to adjust your plans, you can do it easily because you know what your goals are for your home.
Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide
Every room will have different cleaning tasks, but every room will have similar items that need to be cleaned. So, let’s get started.
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General Room Cleaning
Walls
Clean walls with disinfectant wipes or an all-purpose cleaner, focusing on stains. Make sure to know which products won’t damage your walls.
Baseboards
Clean baseboards with warm water and dish soap. A sponge or cloth can assist you.
Lights and Light Fixtures
Clean lights and light fixtures with a duster. If you just have a hand-held duster, you might need a step stool or ladder. If you have an expandable duster, you might not need a step stool or ladder.
Windows, Blinds, and Curtains
Start with windows by cleaning them with glass cleaners. For blinds, use microfiber cloth and cleaner. You can clean curtains with a vacuum cleaner brush attachment, steam cleaner, or a washing machine.
Ceiling Fans
A duster or a microfiber cloth and some cleaner will be great to clean ceiling fans. Make sure you clean the blades’ top and bottom parts. Make sure to get around all the hard-to-reach areas on ceiling fans.
Kitchen
Sink
The sink will need warm water and dish soap to scrub it clean. You might opt for a kitchen cleaner and microfiber cloth to clean it as well.
Countertops
Countertops also will need dish soap and warm water, or you can use microfiber cloth and a kitchen cleaner. Clear off your counter first, so it’s easier to catch all those crumbs and heavy stains.
Oven and Stovetop
A stovetop cleaner or distilled white vinegar and baking soda can clean a stovetop. For the oven, check out our article on how to clean an oven or how to clean an oven with baking soda.
Fridge
The most important factor is to take everything out of your fridge, so it’s easier to clean. You should use hot water and soap, or microfiber cloth with a kitchen cleaner. For more information, read our article on how to clean a fridge.
Dishwasher
Remove any food pieces first. Wipe any grimy areas with microfiber cloth and kitchen cleaner on the dishwasher’s inside or outside. Clean any removable dishwasher parts by hand. Run a cycle with white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe bowl on the dishwasher’s top rack.
Other Kitchen Appliances
With kitchen cleaner and a microfiber cloth, wipe down all other kitchen appliances on the inside and outside. Every nook and cranny should be cleared away when finished.
Cabinets
The cabinets can be wiped with microfiber cloth and kitchen cleaner. Focus on the handles and knobs since they’re the most touched part.
Pantry
Clear everything out of the pantry first. With a kitchen cleaner and a microfiber cloth, you can wipe the whole pantry. Put everything back into the pantry in a careful, organized way.
Bedroom
Mattress
To clean the mattress, you can use baking soda and a vacuum attachment to quickly clean it.
Bedding
Read instructions on your bedding, but if you have room in your washing machine and dryer, you can clean it that way. Another way to clean your bedding is to use a lint roller to get catch all the pet hair and anything else.
Pillows
Look at the instructions for your pillows and pillowcases, depending on them, you can use a washing machine and dryer to clean them.
Closets
Start working on your closet by figuring out what items you want to donate or toss. Then you can vacuum and use a duster to make it clean.
Bathroom
Sink and Countertops
Clear everything off your sinks and countertops first. Then you can use microfiber cloth and a bathroom cleaner, focusing on stains.
Mirrors
Use glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to clean your mirrors efficiently and quickly.
Toilets
Disinfectant wipes or bathroom cleaner and microfiber cloth can work well to clean the toilet’s outside and inside. You’ll need a bowl cleaner to clean that inside part.
Shower and/or Bathtub
The shower and/or bathtub can use a microfiber cloth and a bathroom cleaner. Wipe it with a microfiber cloth or use water from your showerhead. Clean your shower door or shower curtain with the appropriate cleaning products.
Living Room
Entertainment Unit
Take everything off your entertainment unit first. If possible, move it so you can vacuum and/or mop underneath it. Put it back and use a duster, disinfectant wipes, or microfiber cloth and a living room cleaner to clean it. Find a home for everything when you put it back on the entertainment unit.
Bookshelf
Take all items off the bookshelf, use a duster or a cleaner and a microfiber cloth to wipe, and then place everything into a designated spot.
Furniture
Use a vacuum or furniture wipes to clean your furniture quickly. Make sure to use the right cleaner for the right type of upholstery.
Home Office
Work Desk
Remove everything off your desk first. Clean it with disinfectant wipes or a cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Place everything back in a specific spot.
Filing Cabinet
Take everything out. Use microfiber cloth and a cleaner or disinfectant wipes to clean it. Declutter your items and papers prior to putting everything back.
Outdoor Spaces
Patio
Depending on your patio, you can scrub, wipe, or power wash your patio floors. Make sure you know how to properly clean it before starting.
Outdoor Furniture
Follow your outdoor furniture instructions to clean it properly. Then use whatever cleaner is best for your type of outdoor furniture.
Get started on your spring cleaning checklist today for your home.
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Spring Cleaning Safety Tips
While you’re tackling your home, you should make sure you keep safety in mind as your No. 1 priority. Some spring cleaning safety tips for you to keep in mind are:
- Taking breaks and drinking water
- Moving carefully and safely around your home
- Using safe cleaning products and following all instructions on products
- Clearing any clutter on the floor to avoid any tripping hazards
- Lifting with your legs and not your back when lifting heavy items
- Using gloves or masks when necessary
- Using a ladder or step stool properly and carefully when cleaning hard-to-reach areas
- Having solid air ventilation
Start Your Spring Cleaning Today
While cleaning and organizing your home might not be the most fun and exciting task ever, it’ll be helpful for you in the long term. A spring cleaning can do wonders for your mental health, and your home will have a fresh look and feeling.
Moving Help has your back with our spring cleaning checklist, and we have your back on moving day. Moving Help has cleaning services, loading and unloading services, and other labor-only moving services to help you out on moving day that you can explore now.
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