How to do a thorough Spring Clean

Spring is here! The weather is gorgeous and it’s time to open the windows and start that spring cleaning. But where to start? What needs to be done? If you’re not sure exactly what needs to be cleaned, we’ve got the checklist just for you.

Throughout the House

• Vacuum/Wipe Down Walls and Ceilings: Start by vacuuming to remove as much loose dirt and dust as possible. Follow this with a soft cloth. Wash with water and soap mixture to clean really dirty areas.
• Furniture: Vacuum and clean upholstered items and polish wooden items. Clean all dust and treat any problem areas (tears, knicks/scratches, rust spots, loose parts, etc.)
• Dust: Choose a quality duster that will trap and remove the dust (ex: microfiber cloth) rather than just spread it around. Dust all surfaces of your home including shelves, knick knacks, photos, lamp shades, door trim, window casings and ceiling fans.
• Air Vents: Clean these yourself or have them professionally cleaned.
• Vacuum: Vacuum everywhere including all floors and other areas that can quickly be dusted/cleaned with vacuum attachments.
• Shampoo Carpets and Rugs: Pretreat stained areas and then clean the entire area with a quality rug steam cleaner. If you have valuable/antique rugs, consult a professional before cleaning.
• Windows: Clean the windows inside and out. Grab a friend or spouse to help make the job go quicker.
• Baseboards: Dust and wipe down baseboards.
• Drapes/Blinds/Window Treatments: Clean the drapes and blinds. If heavy winter drapes are used, remove, clean and store them. Replace with lighter warm weather window treatments.

 

Bathrooms:

 

• Check Expirations Dates: Sort through cosmetics and prescriptions and discard all expired products.
• Check Grout in Tile: The grout in tile can wear and become poroused. Regrout areas that are weak or damaged.

 

Bed Rooms

 

• Flip the Mattress: To keep even wear on your mattress, it’s wise to flip it periodically. Spring cleaning is the perfect time!
• Change the Bedding: Now that warmer temperatures are here, remove the flannel sheets and heavy blankets, wash them and store them. Replace them with lighter, warm weather bedding.
• Pillows: With use, pillows can house bacteria and mold. If your pillows are machine washable, wash them and dry them completely. If they’re not washable, hand clean them or replace them with new ones.
• Clean out Drawers and Closets: Add the discard and donate items to your items from the attic/basement and set a delivery date. Store cold weather clothing and bring out warm weather clothing.
• Smoke Detectors/Alarms: Replace batteries in all smoke detector units.

 

Home Office

 

• Organize Files: Use this time to check policy dates and get rid of excess paperwork. Scan and store important documents on your computer to save space.
• Book Shelves: Clean them off and dust and/or wipe them down.

 

Garage

 

• Outdoor Trash Cans: Wash out and disinfect trash cans to keep odors and pests away.
• Furnace Filters: Time to replace or clean the filter for your furnace. This is also important to keep your furnace running efficiently.

 

Basement/Attic

 

• Minimize: Sort through boxes of stored items and clothing. Donate, sell or trash items as appropriate.
• Sort and Organize: Use bins or boxes to keep like items together in an organized fashion so you can find them easily.
• Safety: Keep all appliances raised up off the floor to prevent any electrical problems should there be water in the basement.

 

Outdoors

 

• Light Fixtures: Check for burnt out bulbs, broken fixtures or damaged wires. Replace and repair as needed.
• Outdoor Furniture: Bring your outdoor furniture out of storage and clean it well so it’s ready for that first spring BBQ.
• Walkways: Clean all decks and walkways to remove any mildew that may have developed.
• Porch: Sweep away any cobwebs or nests. Wash down the walls.
• Siding: Clean any areas of the siding that are weathered or stained.

SOURCE:  http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/spring-cleaning-checklist/