Spring Cleaning Checklist: Inside and Outside the House

 

Spring cleaning is the once-a-year job of getting to everything the weekly routine skips: behind the fridge, the windows, the gutters, the closet you've been avoiding. Spread it over two or three weekends and do one area at a time.

 

 

Before you start

Declutter first. Cleaning around things you don't use is wasted effort. Our decluttering guide walks through it. Then work top to bottom in each room: ceilings and fans, then walls and windows, then furniture, then floors.

 

Whole house

• Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and blinds (how-to)
• Wash windows inside, along with sills and tracks (window guide)
• Wash or vacuum curtains
• Wipe walls, doors, door frames, light switches and baseboards (walls and baseboards)
• Vacuum and spot clean upholstery (couch and upholstery)
• Deep clean carpets, or book a professional cleaning
• Replace HVAC filters and vacuum the vent covers
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries

 

Kitchen

• Empty the fridge and freezer completely, wipe every shelf, and toss expired items
• Pull out the fridge and vacuum the coils and the floor behind it
• Clean the oven (without harsh chemicals) and the range hood filter
• Empty and wipe out cabinets and the pantry
• Descale the coffee maker and clean the dishwasher filter
• Polish stainless steel (streak-free method)

 

Bathrooms

• Full top-to-bottom clean (bathroom guide)
• Treat mildew in caulk and grout (mold and mildew)
• Remove hard water buildup from faucets and glass (hard water stains)
• Wash or replace the shower curtain and liner
• Clear out expired medicine and toiletries

 

Bedrooms and closets

• Wash pillows, comforters and mattress pads (how often to wash bedding)
• Clean and rotate the mattress (mattress guide)
• Swap winter clothes for summer ones and donate what nobody wore
• Vacuum under the bed

 

Laundry room

• Clean the washing machine (how-to)
• Clean the dryer vent all the way to the outside

 

Outside

• Clean gutters and check downspouts (gutter guide)
• Inspect the roof for winter damage (roof guide)
• Wash the deck, fence and railings (deck guide)
• Clear moss and dirt from the patio (patio guide)
• Wash concrete, brick and stone (exterior guide)
• Wash outdoor furniture and the grill
• Wash exterior windows, or hire it out for second-story windows

 

Pace yourself

Pick one area per weekend day and finish it before you start the next. If you're short on time, the jobs that matter most are the safety ones: smoke detectors, the dryer vent, gutters and the roof. Everything else can wait a week.