Would you rather: Wash all the windows once a week for the rest of your life? OR Vacuum the whole house every single day?
Oh, what’s that? We’re supposed to be spring cleaning and not distracting ourselves with games?
In fairness, it’s easy to put off this daunting task. Deep cleaning the house can be seriously overwhelming … especially if you don’t know where to start! That’s why we’ve put together a handy “clean your house” checklist, some spring cleaning tips, hot house cleaning trends, and the best plants to keep your air pure.
Dive in!
Download this Printable Checklist
Checklist for a Clean House, Top to Bottom
General:
- Replace light bulbs where needed.
- Replace batteries in smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.
- Change air/furnace filter.
- Touch up paint where needed.
- Shampoo carpets if budget allows.
- Open the windows and let in some fresh air.
Bedrooms:
- Wash pillows and comforter.
- Clean mattresses by sprinkling baking soda on them, letting it sit for a while, then vacuuming it up. This is also a good time to rotate/flip your mattress.
- Organize closet, nightstand and dresser drawers. Good rule of thumb: donate any items that haven’t been worn in a year.
- Clean under the bed.
- Dust all surfaces, including wall hangings, baseboards, ceiling fan, etc.
- Clean mirrors and glass.
- Clean lamp shades. Pro Tip: use a lint roller to do this.
- Clean windows.
- Clean window blinds.
- Vacuum or wash window curtains.
- Clean light switch plates, light fixtures, and door knobs.
- Wash the walls going top to bottom (just a damp cloth will do or a mild cleaning solution mixed with water – don’t use colored sponges, as they can tint your walls).
- Wash doors, looking for scuff marks.
- Vacuum.
- Clean air vents.
- Clean your ceilings by running the brush attachment of your vacuum over it.
Family Room/Office:
- Organize/pick up clutter.
- Clean ceilings.
- Wipe down walls, doors and baseboards.
- Wash drapery/clean blinds.
- Clean windows and window sills.
- Clean air vents.
- Dust all surfaces, including ceiling fan.
- Clean lamp shades.
- Remove rugs and shake them out.
- Disinfect remote controls and gaming devices.
- Shred old documents.
- Move furniture and vacuum in those spaces that are normally neglected. (This is a good time to rearrange your furniture if you like to “mix it up.”)
- Clean your keyboard.
- Clean light switch plates, light fixtures, and door knobs.
- Remove stains from couches/chairs. Learn how to clean different types of upholstery.
Kitchen:
- Organize cupboards, pantry and fridge. Toss anything that’s expired.
- Clean the coffee maker, stovetop, oven and microwave.
- Pull out the refrigerator and stove to clean the sides and the floor underneath.
- Clean/de-scum your dishwasher.
- Wipe down cupboards, inside and out.
- Wipe down walls and baseboards.
- Clean countertops and everything on them.
- Clean the sink.
- Clean air vents.
- Clean windows and window sills.
- Replace refrigerator water filter.
- Run a small slice of lemon through the garbage disposal to remove odors.
- Sweep and mop floors.
- Wash out garbage can.
- Caulk anywhere that needs it.
- Clean your stove’s range hood. How to do it.
- Clean and disinfect light switch plates and fixtures.
Bathroom:
- Clean air vents.
- Wash make-up brushes.
- Clean light switch plates, door knob and fixtures.
- Disinfect toothbrush holders.
- Clean mirror.
- Wash shower curtain/liner.
- Disinfect countertops.
- Clean sinks.
- Scrub the bathtub and/or shower. (To prevent daily soap scum on the shower door/tiles, mix a few drops of Oxyfresh Unscented Face and Body Wash with water and spray after each use.)
- Clean shower head.
- Clean all drains.
- Clean windows.
- Caulk where needed.
- Mop.
- Clean toilet.
- Clean walls/baseboards/door.
- Wash bath mat.
- Wash trash can (inside and out).
- Wipe down cabinets, knobs, towel racks and toilet paper holder.
- Clean and organize drawers/closet/under sink – toss expired beauty products; take expired medicines to pharmacy for disposal.
Laundry Room:
- Clean dryer vent.
- Clean inside washing machine.
- Empty washing machine drain pump.
- Dust shelving.
- Clean behind and underneath washer and dryer.
- Sweep/mop.
- Caulk anywhere that needs it.
- Wash walls/cupboards.
- Clean and organize laundry products.
- Clean door knobs and light switch plates.
Tips for Spring Cleaning
1. Deep Clean 1 Room a Day
Spring cleaning can quickly become overwhelming if you try to tackle it all in one day. Instead, aim for one room a day, and go in with a plan. (See our house cleaning checklist below.)2. Have Dinner Decided
The last thing you want to think about after a hard day of spring cleaning is what’s for dinner. So plan a crock pot meal and get it going in the morning, or better yet, plan for your partner to bring home pizza or Thai food. It also helps to have snacks prepped so you don’t get “hangry” while spring cleaning.3. Start with a Clean Slate
You’ll be using your vacuum a lot while spring cleaning, so be ready! Replace the bag of your vacuum or empty out the canister and clip away any hair or debris caught on the vacuum’s brush.4. Donate/Toss/Shred Box
When you clean, make sure to have boxes or bins to separate items you want to donate, toss, or shred. This will help you create less mess as you spring clean.5. Have a “Go-To” Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Having a go-to multi-purpose cleaner will save you loads of time and money spring cleaning. If you’re a regular DIY ninja, you can make your own cleaner. Or, you can purchase a non-toxic multi-purpose cleaner. We love this Oxyfresh formula because it has both amazing cleaning AND deodorizing action: In a spray bottle, mix 2 T Oxyfresh Unscented Face and Body Wash with 8 oz. Oxyfresh All-Purpose Deodorizer. Bonus: Oxyfresh cleaning products won’t dry out your hands while you clean!6. Break Time!
Set a timer and take a 10-minute break every hour. (This is a good time to have one of those snacks you prepped.) Looking at your progress over an hour’s time will help you feel accomplished and motivated to do more.7. Gather All Your Supplies
Before you tackle each room, have a caddy packed of everything you’ll need. This will speed up the house cleaning process and make it feel more manageable.
House Cleaning Trends
“Sock It To ‘Em”
Socks. That’s right, socks. All those mismatched socks you collect throughout the year can be repurposed for deep cleaning. Here are few ways to clean your house with socks:- Baseboards: Put the sock on, lightly spray it with non-toxic cleaner or water and run the sock over the baseboards.
- Blinds: Put a sock on your hand, spritz it with vinegar or Oxyfresh All-Purpose Deodorizer and clean the blinds top to bottom.
- Air Vents: Dampen your sock in your cleaning solution, wrap it around a butter knife, then clean the air vents.
- Plant leaves: Put a sock on your hand, lightly dampen it with water, and dust your plant leaves.
- Cobwebs: Attach an old sock to a yard stick to clean up cobwebs on the ceiling.
Smell Well
When your home smells fresh, it will just feel cleaner. But beware of air fresheners loaded with toxic chemicals for the “fragrance.” Instead, make your own! Check out these 10 DIY air freshener recipes. Or, if you just don’t have the time to make your own air freshener, try non-toxic Oxyfresh All-Purpose Deodorizer. It completely neutralizes odors without harsh chemicals and is infused with natural essential oils.Vinegar is Your Friend
Vinegar is all the rage these days for deep cleaning the house. Here are a few of our favorite house cleaning hacks using vinegar:Remove Hard-Water Deposits
Have you been noticing gunky buildup on your shower heads? Vinegar to the rescue! Simply fill a plastic baggie with vinegar and place it around the shower head with a rubber band or string. Let the showerhead stay submerged in your vinegar bag for 30 minutes–overnight. Then remove the baggie, scrub the showerhead with an old toothbrush, and run some water to clear it out.
Clean/de-scum your dishwasher: 1. Remove bottom rack 2. Place 1 cup of white vinegar in dish on the upper rack and run a hot-water cycle 3. Sprinkle 1 cup baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher. Run a short, hot water cycle. Voila! Sparkling-clean dishwasher.
Add Green to Your Scene
People spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors. So that air needs to be as clean as possible! Plants are nature’s natural air purifiers … plus they add personality and beauty to a home. Here are some favorite houseplants that remove the air of toxins, such as formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. Note: all these plants are non-toxic!
Best Pet-Friendly Air-Purifying House Plants
- Bamboo Palm: easy to maintain and thrives in well-lit spaces.
- Dwarf Date Palm: easy to maintain and thrives in well-lit spaces.
- Boston Fern: this elegant plant loves indirect light and humidity, so you’ll want to mist it daily or keep it the bathroom.
- Spider Plant: likes bright, indirect light and tolerates a vast range of temperatures.
- Phalaenopsis Orchids: vibrant in color, easy to care for, and grow best in bright spaces.
- Gerbera Daisy: give them sunlight and moist soil and these beautiful blooms will not disappoint.
Now that you know how to clean house like a pro …
All you have to do is get started! So don’t put it off … get a plan and get your cleaning products in order, and then follow the spring cleaning checklist. You can do it! And, while you clean your house, start thinking of a special reward for yourself once it’s all done. Massage, fancy dinner, new shoes, the possibilities are endless! Tell us: what’s your favorite and least favorite spring cleaning chore?
