While many of us would like to lounge outside and soak up blooming flowers and sunny skies when spring rolls around, it can sometimes be hard to do when there is a laundry list of lingering tasks. This is when spring cleaning often takes place, almost like a rite of passage, during the months of March, April, and May.
While a good case of spring cleaning can be subjective, it generally consists of cleaning the things you rarely do throughout the year. Here’s a roundup of the spring cleaning tasks to remember that extend beyond the typical decluttering process.
1. Clean Your Washing Machine
Too often, the only time we clean our washing machines is when they start to smell, and even then, you might put it off for a later date. The process for deep cleaning may be as simple as running an empty load with white vinegar to help combat any growing mildew or build-up. From there, you can spot clean with a water, vinegar, and dish soap mixture for any problem areas. Be sure to get in between the folds of the rubber seal along with the opening where moisture is prone to building up!
2. Empty the Fridge & Pantry
Yes, the dreaded kitchen deep clean seems to be neglected for months (years) at a time. If this isn’t something that you do regularly, consider adding it to your spring cleaning list. Begin this process by removing all items in your fridge and pantry while paying attention to expiration dates. Throw out expired foods as well as food items that you won’t eat. After all the items are removed (or working shelf by shelf), clean the empty shelves, the sides, and the backs of the fridge, pantry, or cupboards. When placing the items back in, try to use some organization method to help condense space and make it easier to find things. For example, all sauces in the door, all cheeses in the right drawer, and vegetables in the left drawer.
3. Deep Clean the Furniture
Most hard surfaces are easy to tidy up as it just takes a spray and wipes, but for soft surfaces, the process is a bit more exhaustive. For items like sofas, you’ll want to take some time to vacuum the surface in between cushions, paying special attention to crevices where items are prone to fall. If you don’t have a vacuum with the tools to reach in and get trouble areas, you might consider renting one. Similarly, spring cleaning may be a good time to shampoo any upholstered items if it’s been a while since the last cleaning. If you don’t have a shampoo vacuum, they can be rented. Otherwise, you can opt to hand clean the soft surfaces.
4. Pull Out the Furniture (Clean Under & Behind)
Cleaning under and behind furniture, especially large pieces like a sofa, entertainment system, tables, and bookcases, is something that is often neglected but needs to be done to ensure no excess dust accumulates. You might need a helper for this one, but simply pulling the furniture out far enough to expose the area it once occupied and cleaning the floor and wall it covered will ensure all unwanted dust and particles are removed from your living space. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, the oven, fridge, and beds are all areas that could probably use some love!
5. Tidy Up Mattresses
Speaking of cleaning under beds, a deep clean of the mattress itself would be a huge relief for fresher sleeping conditions. Ideally, most anything will be caught by your mattress pad, if not the sheets on top of it, but it’s not always the case. Every once in a while, such as when spring cleaning rolls around, it’s time to bust out the vacuum for a general skim of debris off the top and then spot cleaning depending on any stains. For extra assistance, be sure to spray some fabric freshener before reassembling the layers, or sprinkle baking soda before vacuuming to help soak up odors.
6. Use Professional Services
You may want to commission a professional for more complex jobs, such as maintenance of your chimney or HVAC system. While these can be done any time of year, there is no better time than before the summer. That’s not to say you can’t do general upkeep like replacing filters and removing soot from fireplaces but leave the heavy lifting for the professionals.
Spending a little time spring cleaning will help you ease into warmer weather without a list of chores weighing on your mind. We hope you use this list to tidy up your home for spring and keep it in mint condition all year long!
