Spring Cleaning Checklist: What to Clean Room-by-Room
Here's how to freshen up your home for the season!
Spring cleaning is essential because it keeps your home fresh, organized, and up-to-date. Here's how to clean and refresh your home in time for spring, or any other season!
Every Room
Entryways
Living Rooms
Kitchens
Dining Rooms
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Laundry Rooms
Home Offices
Garages & Basements
Outdoor Spaces
Must-Have Cleaning Supplies
- Dusters
- Microfiber Cloths
- Sponges
- Bucket
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Steam Cleaner
- Mop
- Carpet Deep Cleaner
- All-Purpose Surface Cleaning Solution
- Window/Mirror Cleaning Solution
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Empty Spray Bottle
- White Distilled Vinegar & Baking Soda
- Dish Soap
- Extra Trash Bags
Every Room
- Wash baseboards, walls, and doors.
- Wash windows (inside and out) and window sills.
- Wash drapes or curtains.
- Dust blinds.
- Dust lamps and light shades.
- Replace burnt-out light bulbs.
- Dust ceiling fans.
- Dust furniture.
- Sweep and mop hardwood or vinyl floors.
- Vacuum and shampoo carpet flooring.
- Replace batteries in your fire alarms.
- Check the expiration dates on fire extinguishers.
- Replace and clean air vents.
- Sanitize door handles.
- Polish metal hardware.
Entryways
(Shop this image: modern throw pillows, solid wood benches, brown coat racks, globe pendant lighting, and landscape wall art.)
- Dust all surfaces including console tables and other entryway furniture.
- Clean or replace entryway rugs.
- Vacuum and mop the floors, paying extra attention to the area near the door.
- Clean and reorganize entryway storage like shoe bins, hall trees, or coat closets.
- Dust and wash entryway mirrors.
Living Rooms
(Shop this image: gray sofas, rattan drum coffee tables, ivory geometric rugs, and gold side tables.)
- Dust furniture and decorative objects.
- Dust fireplace mantels.
- Hire a chimney cleaning company to remove soot/ash from wood-burning fireplaces.
- Dust and vacuum the inside of electric or gas fireplaces (make sure to turn off the gas first).
- Clean mirrors and picture frames.
- Steam clean upholstery or wash slipcovers.
- Wash curtains or drapes.
- Fluff, wash, or replace throw pillows and blankets.
- Sanitize remote controls and video players or consoles.
- Replace worn area rugs.
- Dust and reorganize bookshelves.
- Vacuum the floors – especially under the sofa.
Take a look at these guides for the best practices for cleaning living room furniture and decor:
Cleaning 101: How to Clean a Sofa
Cleaning 101: How to Wash Pillows
Cleaning 101: How to Clean an Area Rug
Kitchens
(Shop this image: stainless steel slide-in ranges, floral wallpaper, swing-arm sconces, live plants, and wood cheeseboards.)
- Clear out the refrigerator and freezer to clean the interior.
- Throw away any refrigerated or frozen food past its expiration date.
- Clean out your pantry, throw away old food, dust the shelves, and vacuum the pantry floor.
- Reorganize your food pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.
- Clear, wipe-down, and reorganize kitchen cabinets.
- Throw away and replace reusable food containers without lids.
- Wipe-down and clean the stovetop, oven, dishwasher, sink, and microwave.
- Clean out and wipe-down kitchen drawers.
- Use drawer organizers to sort utensils and other drawer items.
- Dust the top of your refrigerator.
- Degrease the backsplash and cabinet doors around your stove.
- Clean the countertops.
- Clean countertop appliances.
- Vacuum and mop the floors.
These guides walk you through how to tackle cluttered areas of your kitchen:
How to Organize a Pantry 101: Your Guide to Success
How to Organize a Fridge
How to Clean Your Kitchen on a Budget
Dining Rooms
(Shop this image: stone floor tiles, wood dining sets, blue dining chairs, faux banana leaf trees, jute/rattan placemats, and white table lamps.)
- Dust and wipe-down sideboards, dining tables, and other dining room furniture.
- Dust dining room light fixtures, especially the light fixture above the dining table.
- Vacuum and mop dining room floors and clean area rugs.
- Polish and organize any silverware.
Bedrooms
(Shop this image: wicker/rattan beds, round wicker coffee tables, round woven baskets, boho throw pillows, and blue boho rugs.)
- Wash all bedding.
- Replace old bedding and sheets.
- Replace worn-out pillows.
- Treat mattress stains with a white vinegar/water mixture.
- Deodorize your mattress with baking soda.
- Flip your mattress or replace it if it's old.
- Dust furnishings.
- Vacuum and wash floors.
- Go through the closet and drawers to get rid of unused clothing.
- Store away out-of-season clothes and add more spring and summer pieces to your closet.
- Organize your cleaned-out closet and drawers.
Reference these guides for specific bedroom cleaning tips and organization hacks:
Cleaning 101: How to Clean a Mattress
How to Organize a Closet On Any Budget
Bathrooms
(Shop this image: green farmhouse wallpaper, white bath towels, freestanding bathtubs, and green traditional vanities.)
- Clean the tub and shower.
- Throw out and replace old toiletry bottles and loofahs.
- Replace shower liners.
- Wash (and replace if needed) the shower curtain.
- Wash or replace bath mats.
- Clean the countertops, toilet, and mirror.
- Replace your toothbrush and old products.
- Dust shelves and decorative objects.
- Declutter and organize bathroom cabinets and drawers.
- Discard old makeup and clean then organize brushes.
- Throw away old medicine.
- Replace first aid kits.
- Vacuum and mop.
Take a look at these cleaning and organization guides to help with your bathroom spring cleaning:
Cleaning 101: How to Clean a Shower Curtain & Liner
Get Organized With These Bathroom Storage Ideas (With Photos!)
Laundry Rooms
(Shop this image: freestanding drying racks, ironing boards, and metal wall shelves.)
- Clean your dryer vent to remove excess lint.
- Pull your washer and dryer away from the wall to clean behind it and find missing laundry.
- Reorganize laundry supplies.
- Vacuum and mop the floors.
- Replace flimsy or broken clothes hangers.
- Throw away socks without pairs.
Review How to Organize a Laundry Room in 5 Easy Steps to transform your laundry routine.
Home Offices
(Shop this image: L-shaped desks, yellow office chairs, metal bookcases, home accessories, and coastal pendant lights.)
- Wipe-down your desk.
- Dust your keyboard, computer monitor, and other hardware.
- Update/organize files.
- Vacuum and mop or shampoo depending on your floor type.
Here are 13 Must-Have Home Office Organization Ideas (With Photos!) to inspire you to get your files in order.
Garages & Basements
(Shop this image: garage shelving units, workbenches, ceiling-mounted storage racks, and pegboards.)
- Declutter and organize tools, sports equipment, and other items.
- Sort through items to donate or throw away.
- Sweep the floors.
- Clean the interior and exterior of the garage door.
- Replace garage door batteries.
- Inspect garages or basements for mouse droppings and potential pests.
(Shop this image: gray outdoor sectionals, blue outdoor rugs, firepits, and outdoor chairs.)
- Wash patio furniture.
- Power-wash your deck or patio flooring.
- Wash or replace your patio rug.
- Replace stained pillows and seats.
- Check canopy gazebos and umbrellas for fabric tears so you can replace them in time for warm weather.
- Get your planters or garden beds ready for flowers.
- Pick up pet droppings and discarded toys.
- Mow or trim the yard.
- Organize your garden shed.