A Spring-Cleaning Checklist for Homeowners

Few annual traditions are as satisfying as spring’s deep cleaning: throwing open the windows, scrubbing and dusting, getting rid of clutter, and rejuvenating every room.

Where to start? This handy checklist can help you efficiently clean and refresh every room of your home.

Whole House Cleaning

This is an excellent time to get rid of things you don’t use or don’t need. Organizing experts recommend going through every room and making three piles: unwanted items you can sell, unwanted items you plan to donate or give away, and items you can toss in the trash or haul to the dump.

Once you’ve cleaned out the clutter, start with the tasks that apply to every room (or most of them):

• Dust ceiling fans, chandeliers and other overhead lights
• Vacuum or wash curtains, blinds, and other window treatments
• Clean windowsills and window tracks
• Wash windows, inside and out
• Wipe down baseboards and decorative molding and dust corners for cobwebs
• Replace batteries in all your smoke and CO detectors (unless you just did that at Daylight Saving Time)
• Disinfect doorknobs, cabinet handles and light switches
• Vacuum and wash vents
• Check expiration dates on fire extinguishers

Kitchen Cleaning

Cooking attracts grease and dirt. Kitchen appliances work better and last longer when they’re cleaned and maintained. Use this list to tackle both.

• Clean out your pantry and spice rack of outdated, stale, or spoiled food and spices
• Wash kitchen cabinets
• Deep-clean oven and stove, or run the cleaning cycle
• Clean your dishwasher using store-bought dishwasher cleaner
• Move your refrigerator and clean/vacuum behind it. Vacuum the coils, too, to extend its life.
• Defrost your freezer (if it requires manual defrosting)
• Empty and clean the inside of your refrigerator, and wash/wipe the outside
• Wipe all small appliances
• Clean crumbs and debris from toaster

Bathroom Cleaning

If you clean your bathroom regularly, you may not need to do a thorough spring cleaning. Still, spring is a great time to:

• Clean and disinfect tub and shower; replace shower curtain or liner, if needed
• Wash bathmats and wash or vacuum rugs
• Wash waterproof floors (such as tile)
• Discard old and expired makeup. Clean your makeup holders.

Bedroom Cleaning

Spring cleaning makes a huge difference in bedrooms. You might even sleep better! We recommend the following:

• Wash all bedding, including washable bed and throw pillows
• Flip or rotate mattress, depending upon the type
• Purge anything stored under the bed that you don’t want anymore
• Organize drawers and closets, and donate anything you no longer wear

Living/Family Room Cleaning

The places where you and your family spend a lot of time deserve to be clean and fresh. Start with these ideas:

• Remove furniture cushions and vacuum crevices
• Dust and wash mirrors, frames, and decorative items
• Vacuum all upholstery and lampshades
• Dust furniture and fixtures
• Wash all throw pillows and blankets (use steam if recommended by the manufacturer)
• Polish furniture, as needed
• Vacuum and shampoo carpets

There’s some effort involved, but spring cleaning is well worth it.

If you’d like a free review of your current homeowner’s insurance policy, please call us at 877-576-5200 or leave a comment below.