There’s no place like home, especially when it’s freezing outside and warm inside. As such, you’ve probably spent most of your winter curling up in the comfort of your abode to wait out the wintry temps and precipitation. Now that spring is in sight, though, you’re ready to give your entire place a refresh after spending so much time there over the past few months. Spring cleaning is a pretty big task to tackle, but you don’t have to feel overwhelmed by it; instead, follow our spring cleaning checklist, complete with the must-dos in each room of your home. Tick the list as you go and, when you’re done, your home will be as ready for warmer, brighter weather as you are.
1. Kitchen:
Whether you were stocking up for an impending blizzard or just filling your fridge to avoid making frequent trips in the cold, the appliance saw a lot of action this winter. As such, you should start your spring cleaning session by emptying your fridge and freezer and scouring them both.
Combine one to two tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of hot water to create a gentle cleaning solution. Use it to wipe down the inside of your fridge and freezer; you can wash removable shelves and drawers in warm, soapy water. Once everything’s dry and placed back inside of the appliance — food included — finish the job by cleaning your refrigerator’s coils. This treatment will help the appliance run as energy efficiently as possible, thus saving you money.
2. Bedroom:
Saying “wash the bedding” would seem obvious here but look beyond the sheets you regularly throw in the machine for a refresh. Everything from your pillows to your mattress pad to the duvet and its cover need a wash after you spent winter cuddled up in bed.
Wash pillows two at a time in the washing machine before throwing them in the dryer with a few tennis balls to help re-fluff them — one of their many uses when it comes to laundry. You can do the same with your duvet, although you should check the label and make sure it’s machine washable.
3. Bathroom:
With temperatures dipping outdoors, you might’ve allowed yourself longer, hotter showers throughout winter. This treat has, however, led to build-up on your showerhead, thus reducing the fixture’s function — and your enjoyment of said steamy showers.
So, this spring, tackle buildup with a mixture that’s one-part white vinegar and one-part water. Bring it to a simmer and add your showerhead for 20 minutes; most of the residue will be gone, but you can brush the rest away after it’s cooled off. If you feel the need to spruce any other areas of your bathroom, do so with the same non-toxic methodology: the benefits of green cleaning include a reduction of chemicals in your home and around your family, which is an ideal result of your cleaning pursuits.
4. Dining Room:
Even if your dining room didn’t get much use this winter, there’s likely one candidate for cleaning: the overhead lighting. We often neglect to dust light fixtures, and a dangling chandelier is a perfect place for these particles to land and build up. So, grab a rag or dusting device and get rid of debris here — and on any other light fixtures that are looking a bit gray post-winter.
5. Storage Space:
Take a good, hard look at your closet post-winter: how much of your seasonal wardrobe did you wear? The items that you didn’t touch should be removed and either donated, sold or recycled. What’s left should be well organized, too. When it’s time to switch from cold- to warm-weather clothes, store your winter clothes elsewhere so your closet is more functional.
In non-clothes storage spaces, you can do a little bit of spring cleaning, too. Remove any clutter that has built up since the start of winter and reorganize the holiday décor and other wintertime items if they aren’t stored as well as they could be.
6. Mud Room or Foyer:
Walking into the house in winter means you’re likely tracking snow, salt, dirt and other wintertime debris inside with you. As such, you should make a point to scour the areas that may have been affected — but don’t let your focus remain solely on the floor.
Your walls may have become stained by wintertime grime, too. So, grab a Magic Eraser or similar tough-but-gentle product and wipe away the marks and scuffs left behind at the end of the season so that your walls are shining and ready for springs.
7. Living Room:
Your movie nights and Netflix marathons kept you chilling in the living room all winter long. That means your carpets could probably use a refresh — one that your trusted vacuum is unable to bestow. So, rent a professional-grade cleaner and go to town shampooing and steam-cleaning your carpets; you might be able to use an included attachment to wash your sofa, although you should check cleaning instructions before doing so. Similarly, you should send fancier, handmade rugs to a cleaning professional.
Spring Cleaning Checklist Done:
Every home is different, and you may find other pockets in need of their own spring cleaning to-do. But, for the most part, these six tasks will help restore your home to its pre-winter grandeur — just in time for the new season.
By Kacey Bradley: Kacey is the lifestyle and travel blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she frequently writes for sites like US Travel News, Thought Catalog, Style Me Pretty, Tripping.com and more! Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!
