Spring Home Cleaning Tips and Checklist for 2024

As we welcome warmer weather and budding flowers, it's time for homeowners to embrace the long-standing tradition of spring cleaning! This annual ritual does more than just declutter our living spaces, it revitalizes our mental and physical health.

Many of us are unaware of the health and safety hazards our homes present in the spring. Indoor air quality becomes compromised by allergens including mold, dander and pollen, causing asthma and other respiratory illnesses to worsen. If undetected, mold growth can wreak havoc on our lungs, creating an unsafe living environment for us and especially those who may be immunocompromised, like infants and the elderly.

While we may dismiss common symptoms, studies show that environmental factors contribute to our overall well-being and day-to-day life. Chronic fatigue during the workday, a persistent cough while working out, frequent headaches with seemingly no trigger, and interrupted sleep are typically all caused by factors at home that can be mitigated. Spring cleaning is just one way we can clean out our space and reduce health hazards like these from hindering your life.

From innovative organizing methods to the latest in eco-friendly cleaning products, we’ve got you covered! We want to ensure your home is welcoming and healthy all year long.

Why Spring is an Ideal Time for Deep Cleaning

Spring is a time for renewal, and the season inspires a fresh start, encouraging us to clean out the old and make space for new beginnings. After accumulating items over the winter, spring provides a chance to declutter, organize, and simplify your living spaces. While you don’t have to Marie Kondo your space, sorting and organizing can make you feel on top of your game and make last minute errands less stressful! Cleaning and organizing now prepares our homes for the summer months ahead, ensuring we're ready for the change in season.

The mild weather allows for open windows, so stale smells you may have grown accustomed to can vent outside, inviting in the fresh, dewy scent of spring. Spring is also the perfect time to bring in house plants, which help clean your air while adding some greenery to the aesthetic of your kitchen, living room or bedroom. A thorough deep clean can help deter pests looking for food and nesting spots. This is especially important between kitchen counters and appliances where food easily (and often) falls.

The brighter, longer days make it easier to save energy on electricity expenses incurred from indoor lighting. It's the perfect time to check appliances, HVAC systems, and other areas to ensure everything is in top shape. Some appliances may use more energy than is necessary to perform their duties, increasing your energy bill substantially.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Kitchen

Start with the grimier areas of your home to make the spring-cleaning process easier as you move along. Kitchen cleaning involves deep cleaning appliances, organizing cabinets and sanitizing surfaces. A deep clean requires fridge and cabinet scrubbing, so it’s important you set aside a good amount of time to remove food before sanitizing and reorganizing.

• Appliances: Clean the dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, and microwave, both inside and out. Don't forget to vacuum the refrigerator coils!

• Cabinets and Pantry: Declutter and organize your cabinets and pantry. Be sure to wipe down all shelves and doors.

• Countertops and Backsplash: Clean and disinfect all countertops and backsplashes.

• Garbage Disposal and Drains: Use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to clean and freshen your disposal and drains.

Bathroom

Scrub all fixtures using strong cleaners to ensure the germs and bacteria are gone. If you’re using products containing bleach, air the space out properly with fans and windows, and always keep these products out of reach for animals and children.

• Tiles and Grout: Use a grout cleaner or a baking soda paste to scrub tiles and grout.

• Toilets, Sinks, and Showers: Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces, including faucets and showerheads. If there’s a lot of hard water or calcium buildup, soak the showerheads in vinegar and baking soda before scrubbing.

• Cabinets and Drawers: Dispose of any expired products and neatly organize the remaining items. Remember, even makeup expires!

• Shower Curtains and Bathmats: Wash any fabric shower curtains and mats to remove mold and mildew.

Bedrooms

We recommend washing your sheets every 1-2 weeks to prevent dust and dander build-up, remove bacteria, and give you higher-quality sleep. Cleaning bedrooms also involves decluttering closets and refreshing decor, keeping your space as up-to-date and dynamic as possible.

• Bedding: Wash all bedding, including sheets, comforters, pillows, mattress covers, and bed skirts.

• Closets: Sort through your clothing and accessories and donate items you no longer wear. Plus, this makes room for new seasonal clothes!

• Mattress: Vacuum your mattress to remove dust mites and allergens and rotate or flip if necessary.

All Rooms

Dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and decluttering are essential in every room of your home.

• Surfaces: Start with high surfaces and work your way down, wiping and disinfecting shelves, mantels, and other furniture.

• Floors: Vacuum carpets and rugs, and mop hard floors, paying special attention to corners and under furniture.

• Windows and Window Treatments: Wash windows inside and out, and wash or vacuum curtains and blinds.

• Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans: Dust and clean all light fixtures, bulbs, and ceiling fan blades.

• Storage Space: Go through each room, decluttering as you go. Donate, recycle, or throw away items you no longer need or use.

• Upholstery and Carpets: Clean upholstery and have carpets professionally cleaned or use a rented cleaner.

• Outdoor Spaces: Sweep patios, clean outdoor furniture, and wipe down exterior doors and light fixtures.

It’s important to remember that cleaning is a practice, so make sure that you read all labels on how to properly clean upholstery, appliances, and surfaces. Also, ventilate the area and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed. One thing that can really help with this is using eco-friendly and safe cleaning products.

Spring Cleaning Ideas and Inspiration

Make spring cleaning a fun, family activity with these creative ideas!

• Involve everyone in the family: Assign tasks based on age and ability, ensuring everyone has a role in the cleaning process. Young children might enjoy certain cleaning tasks like cleaning the floors with soap and bubbles!

• Make it fun: Play energetic music or set up a friendly competition with rewards to keep spirits high.

• Create a home haven: Designate a room in your home to meditate, workout or do another activity that keeps you at peace. Consider organizing your spaces to prevent unnecessary clutter. Clean surroundings make for clear minds!

• Prioritize by Need: Tackle high-traffic or particularly neglected areas first.

• Set Realistic Goals: Be practical about what you can achieve within your allocated time. Remember, the aim is improvement, not perfection.

How to remove hard water stains?

Hard water stains, also known as limescale, are caused by minerals in water, and they commonly appear on fixtures like faucets, showerheads, and tiles. These stubborn residues not only detract from the appearance of your surfaces but can also cause damage over time if not addressed. Combine vinegar and water for a natural, effective cleaner.

DIY Cleaning Solutions:

• All-Purpose Cleaner: Combine vinegar and water with a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a natural, effective cleaner.

• Stain Remover: Tackle carpet and upholstery stains with a solution of vinegar and baking soda.

• Glass Cleaner: Mix white vinegar with water for a streak-free shine on windows and mirrors.

What is the Difference Between Spring Cleaning and Regular Cleaning?

Regular cleaning is typically performed weekly or bi-weekly and focuses on maintaining cleanliness of common areas of the home including vacuuming carpets, mopping floors, and washing dishes. On the flip side, spring cleaning is an annual cleaning practice that focuses on tending to areas of the home not frequently cleaned, including appliances, under furniture, and the exterior of the home. Spring cleaning emphasizes the importance of decluttering, reorganizing, and disinfecting to keep your home happy and healthy.

Where Do I Start Spring Cleaning?

It’s best to start spring cleaning on a weekend, when you can give your undivided attention to your home. Also, to ensure you don’t get burnt out, start with the areas of your home that you like cleaning the least. Starting with “easy” cleaning tasks first will make it a lot harder to tackle the other tasks.

Make a detailed list of everything you’d like to accomplish in every room and area of your home. This should be customized as each area will likely require different tasks and focus. This approach can help you manage spring cleaning by breaking it into smaller, more manageable tasks, ensuring a thorough cleaning of your home.

Professional Home Check During the Spring Season

Over time, home value can depreciate with lack of maintenance. Mold detection, for instance, can bring your home value down by 10-30% by sale time!

Spring is the perfect time to get a detailed assessment of your home by a professional. This can uncover any issues that winter may have caused, from leaks to mold to potential structural concerns. A comprehensive service, like WIN’s Healthy Home Check, gives homeowners the thorough evaluation they deserve, ensuring your home remains safe, sound, and healthy for the upcoming months.

WIN’s Healthy Home Check visually assesses essential components of the home, including the roof, foundation, plumbing and electrical systems, and appliances. Additionally, Healthy Home Check is offered year-round and is customizable to fit your family’s needs. It also grants you an opportunity to ask your inspector the burning questions you have about your home, so you can be knowledgeable, and rest assured knowing your greatest investment is protected.

Why Book a Healthy Home Check in the Spring?

• Melting snow and ice, along with spring rains, can reveal hidden damage to your home's exterior.

• Mild weather makes it easier to conduct thorough inspections and carry out necessary repairs.

• Catching and addressing issues early can save time and money in the long run.

Spring cleaning is more than just a tradition; it's an opportunity to refresh, reorganize, and revive our homes. By following these tips and tricks, utilizing our spring cleaning checklist, and getting a Healthy Home Check, you can ensure a productive and thorough clean this season.

Here's to a successful spring cleaning season that sets a positive tone for the rest of the year, ensuring our homes remain places of comfort, health and happiness! Happy cleaning!