Your Spring Cleaning Checklist & Spring Decor
Did you know that spring cleaning dates back to biblical times and has origins in many cultures around the world? I never really gave the origins of spring cleaning a thought, honestly, but when I began to write this post I became curious.
I started googling and was quite surprised to see the history and tradition of spring cleaning. Before I get to your guide to spring cleaning, let’s briefly explore what I found.
The Origins of Spring Cleaning
Apparently, the need to spring clean is a worldwide phenomenon. According to Bob Vila, “It could even be considered a global rite.” But where do you find the origin of this ritual? It has been noted that there may be a religious origin.
Traditions such as Lent, Easter, and Passover in the spring are candidates. The Jewish people are commanded to remove all leaven from their homes to prepare for the festival of Passover. This occurs in March or April and usually ends with Easter.
In Iran, the 13-day celebration traditionally involves a “shaking the house” to clean out all the dust and involves buying new clothes and spending time with family and friends.
These particular traditions are ones that have carried through to today. Spring cleaning for Americans involves ridding our homes of dust and dirt, as well as a wardrobe switch from winter to spring/summer clothes.
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As far as spending time with family and friends, well, maybe we would be more likely to invite friends and family into our homes if they were clean 😜
In the 1800s, soot and grime were found in every room from oil lamps and coal or wood that was used to heat the home. Can you imagine the mess? If I don’t change my filter every three months, there is always a greater accumulation of dust that appears on my vents and ceiling fans.
A thorough cleaning required opening the windows to let the soot out. My favorite thing to do in spring is to open the windows and feel the gentle breezes of fresh air moving through our home. I’ve never thought of it as a way to remove soot, though!
Spring also happens to be the start of longer and warmer days. This extended time of light and sunnier days gives us more energy as well as motivation. With more sunlight coming in through the windows, it reveals the layers of dust that have found residence on our furnishings.
Sunlight is amazing but unfortunately, it really does illuminate the dust around our home and especially the dirt on our windows. This alone motivates me to get started with spring cleaning ASAP.
I’m curious as to whether you knew or even imagined the depth of tradition steeped in spring cleaning. I had no idea. Let’s get to the dirty work and talk all things spring cleaning!
Spring Cleaning
I like to take some time to do a general pick-up and organize prior to spring cleaning. That is where I would advise you to start as well. Purge and rid your home of anything that you don’t want. Steps to Organize and Simplify Your Home may help when it comes to this.
Put things away and then let the deep cleaning begin. That being said, if the thought of purging and organizing overwhelms you, then that is okay; just dive right into the spring cleaning.
In my opinion, when spring cleaning, starting high and working your way down is the wisest manner in which to begin. Start with ceilings, returns, exchanges, vents, and fans. That way, any dust that drops to the ground will eventually be swept or wiped away with the rest of your cleaning.
Let’s Dust
Dusting the ceilings, returns and exchanges, and ceiling fans is not a bad job; therefore, a good place to start. My dusting tool of choice is the Swiffer 360 Dusters Extendable Handle. This handy dandy tool is easy to use, and I even find it can make spring cleaning a little fun.
When dusting ceiling fans, be sure to place a sheet on the space below so that any falling dust can be gathered up and shaken outside. If you want to go the extra mile with your ceiling fans, wipe them down with a sponge and a little cleaning solution. You would be surprised how much dirt is up there!
Walls
Next, and this is honestly not something I do every year, but take a sponge and cleaning solution and wipe down those walls. I’ve seen people use a mop that is only used for walls and go up and down the walls. It’s genius! I usually just take a sponge and wipe them down, but this seems so much easier.
The high places are now complete. It’s time to tackle everywhere else.
Blinds
Unfortunately, one of the worst chores on the spring cleaning list is cleaning blinds if you have them. There are multiple methods for dusting blinds but I think the most effective and least messy is to take a brush vacuum attachment and work your way individually sweeping across every. single. individual. blind-top and bottom.
Blind cleaning is not a fun job and not for the faint of heart, but it is necessary to eliminate that unwanted dust from your home. If your blinds are in the kitchen, you may need to go the extra mile and wipe those blinds with a 50/50 vinegar and water mixture to properly remove the grime from them.
What To Dust: The Complete List
Here is a list of all that needs to be dusted.
- Ceilings
- Returns and Exchanges
- Vents
- Ceiling Fans
- Walls
- Light fixtures
- Lamps and Lampshades
- Frames
- Furniture (don’t forget to get the bottom too!)
- Shelves (And everything on them)
- Top of Fridge (This may require a wipe down)
- Baseboards (Wipe down thoroughly with cleaner and water if necessary)
- Bedframes (these often get forgotten)
- And if you are really into cleaning, wipe down the tops of your door frames, too.
Vacuum, Sweep & Mop
Let’s start with vacuuming first. First stop, couches and chairs. Remove cushions and remove any big objects like coins, pens, earrings (oh, there it is), and anything else that may have slipped down between the cracks. After that, vacuum everything else, including the popcorn and pretzel crumbs (that is what I find in our couch).
Curtains
Washing your curtains is a whole thing and can be time-consuming. I recommend doing one room at a time and spreading it over a couple of weeks. If your curtains are washable, then this is a great time to wash and iron them (Ironing is the worst part).
We sometimes find stink bugs on our curtains-GROSS, I know. The little buggers like to hide up in our pleats. So be warned, they may be hiding in yours.
Vacuum every floor surface you have. Move the furniture, vacuum, and wipe or mop if you have a hard surface floor. I found this spray mop on Amazon for you! They don’t make the one I have anymore. I add to it a wood/floor cleaner that I dilute at a 4 to 1 ratio.
Windows & Sills
In our home, my hubby does the windows, so I deferred to him on this one. At one point, he had a job where he washed windows, so he is definitely more of an expert than me. He insists that a squirt of Dawn in a gallon of water is the best solution to use. This window washing kit will help to make it easier. Wipe it on with the cloth part and then use the handy dandy squeegee to get it all clean.
After you squeegee (this is a bit of an art and takes practice) take a window cleaner and shine with that. I have found that Windex Vinegar is the best window cleaner. No streaks, and smells clean but not toxic.
After doing the windows, make sure you give a final wipe to the sills and the ledge where the lock is on the window. Everything in your home will seem so much brighter with clean windows. This is definitely something we do not just for spring, but that’s totally up to you!
Spring Clean The Kitchen
In my opinion, this is the most important room to spring clean. This is where we get to the nitty-gritty and down-and-dirty of cleaning. As a general rule, empty, clean, and then put away.
Inside the Cabinets and Drawers
The kitchen can be a greasy place. Even if you are a meticulous cleaner, you will still find grease around your kitchen. To prove my point, wipe down the top of your fridge every once in a while, and you will see what I mean 😳.
Start inside your cabinets. Take everything out and wipe down the shelves. If there are things in there you don’t use very often, they may need to be washed. I like to use Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate. This is my favorite cleaning solution when cleaning. There are scent choices available. I love the Basil scent.
Do the same for the drawers. It is baffling to me how the drawers get filled with crumbs and dirt-especially when they don’t have food in them. Clean them out, get rid of any unused or unwanted items, wipe them, and return everything that you want to keep.
Cabinet & Drawer Fronts
Time to wipe down the fronts of those cabinets and drawers. You can use a few different solutions to get your cabinets clean and free of grease.
A combination of vinegar and water, 50/50, is a more natural cleaner, and it works fairly well. I like to use Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate (I spoke of this above). There is also a product called Krud Kutter that works well. Any of these will help with degreasing and cleaning cabinets. Be careful to check a spot on your cabinets to ensure that it does not damage your surface.
You could also do a dishwasher cycle with vinegar, put a quarter of a lemon down your garbage disposal (great way to freshen your garbage disposal), and if you have granite, you can use a protectant or sealer to maintain its beauty.
Speaking of countertops, pull everything away from its spot and give your countertops a good cleaning!
In many kitchens, the range is between two countertop surfaces. If you have a range like that, take a knife with a dust cloth and go down in between the cracks to get it nice and clean, or pull out your oven and clean underneath. It is a little more work, but it will feel good when it is done.
Clean your range really well. Use a glass top cleaner and spray on the glass. Weiman has some great products for this. Scrape with a razor blade to get off all dried-on gunk. If you have a gas range, soak and clean grates, use soap and water to clean the rest, and wipe with a range spray.
Don’t forget that drawer under your range if you have one. Clean it out and wipe it down.
Spring Clean The Fridge & Pantry
Earlier, I mentioned the refrigerator top. Start there. Get rid of all that dust and grime first. Remember, top to bottom is a good way to clean.
When it comes to my pantry and fridge, I like to do regular maintenance on them so they don’t get too bad. However, for spring cleaning, I recommend taking everything out of the pantry, wiping it down, pitching expired foods, and returning everything to its rightful spot.
For the fridge, pull out the drawers and wash them in the sink. Before you replace the drawers, wipe down behind where the drawer sits. Anything I can pull out of the fridge and clean in my sink, I do it.
Check expiration dates and get rid of anything you don’t want. Check inside the open jars; if anything is growing a science experiment, toss it. This is not me speaking from experience 😜.
At the bottom of most refrigerators, there is a grate. Remove this and clean it, and then take a Swiffer or vacuum and clean under your fridge. Or, like with the range, you can pull it out and give it a good clean.
The Dishwasher
After doing a little research on the dishwasher, I’ve learned the following. Taking one cup of distilled vinegar and placing it in a dishwasher-safe bowl, and running the cycle on hot is a great way to clean your dishwasher. It is recommended that this be done more than once a year during spring cleaning time.
If I had to guess, I would say many of you have never done this. I know because I’ve never done it. It is on my list of things to do this week!
Don’t forget to give the front of your appliances a good cleaning. If you have stainless, I love the stainless wipes by Weiman. Target carries them. I like the wipes better than the spray. I think it does a much better job.
The Kitchen Floor
Get down on your knees and scrub your kitchen floor. Besides the bathtub and shower, this is my least favorite thing to do. Now that my kids are older, I don’t need to do this as often. A good mopping usually does the trick. My favorite one is the O’Cedar Mop .
However, two or three times a year, I get down on my hands and knees and get every nook and cranny. While I’m down there, I wipe the baseboards of my cabinets.
I would add one more thing to your list. Clean out your garbage and recycling receptacles. They can get dirty even though there is a bag always in it. A good wipe-down or wash is a good idea.
Odds & Ends Spring Cleaning
Washer and Dryer
At least once a year, you should do a good vacuum of your dryer. Removing the lint is so important. Dryer lint is a huge cause of house fires. Pull out the dryer, take the back off, and give it a good vacuum. There are lots of YouTube videos on this.
It’s also a good idea to clean your washer and get that spick and span too. There are different methods to clean your washer. It depends on whether you have a top-load or a front-load machine. It is a good rule of thumb to check your machine’s manual and use its recommendations.
To complete the washer and dryer, spray the top and control panel with Windex or your favorite spray cleaner and make those babies shine. They are dust collectors that need some love every once in a while.
Glass Surfaces
Take the glass cleaner of your choice to every single glass surface and mirror in your home. I like Windex Multi-Surface Cleaner and Disinfectant Spray. Use a clean, dry rag and shine until there are no more streaks.
Door Knobs and Light Switches
Take a Clorox wipe and wipe every single doorknob and light switch in your home. Wipe down doors with a cleaning solution and water. If you have paneled doors, the cracks and crevices get very dusty, especially behind the door by the hinges.
Kitchen and Dining Room Chairs
Chairs typically get neglected. Take this time to wipe down all the chairs in your dining room and kitchen. Pay careful attention to the back of the chair where hands touch, the seat of the chair where food falls, and the base of the chair where dust gathers. It may be tedious, but more than likely, much needed!
Spring Cleaning Conclusion
A couple of things to note, I did not add bathrooms to my list because you can’t leave bathrooms to once a year. That might be a little gross. They should be cleaned thoroughly and regularly.
I will remind you, however, don’t forget to get the base of that toilet. Get down and clean it really well. Spring cleaning is a great time to replace shower liners with fresh ones.
I could keep going, but this can be overwhelming. This list will get your house cleaned just fine! I will say this, you will feel so good when it is all done. Don’t get overwhelmed. Space it out over a couple of weeks.
Perhaps you can pretend that in a few weeks, you have a big party happening at your home. Or better yet, plan a big party or gathering for Easter. This will no doubt motivate you to get it done. Use that extra energy and time given to us by more hours of sunlight 😘
The Difference Between Cluttered and Clean
It’s so important to note that there is a huge difference between dirty and cluttered. When little kids are living under your feet, clutter is unavoidable. I do NOT believe that you need to have an orderly, perfect home all the time, nor do I think that is even possible.
I do, however, believe that maintaining cleanliness is important for a couple of reasons. One, ridding your home of dirt, germs, and dust can have a profound and significant impact on the health of your family.
Two, you are instilling in your children the importance of living in a clean environment and the discipline it takes to make it that way. Remember, sometimes lessons are caught much better than taught.
Cleaning should be somewhat of a family job. Mamas do the bulk of it, certainly, but your family can help. I was and still am a bit of a control freak at times and did more than I should have.
Teach them along the way how to clean correctly and enlist their help depending on their age and what they are capable of.
There were times I wondered if my children would be good cleaners. But now that they are adults, I am happy to say they have the ability to clean and like living in a clean home.
My encouragement to you is that I believe in you, and you can do it! Start checking off that list!
Add Spring Decor To Your Home
Throughout this post, I’ve sprinkled pictures of spring decor. Spring cleaning is not always fun, but finishing it up with some spring decor is fun.
It’s just a few touches here and there, but a little something-something to bring spring to life inside of your home. The outdoors is coming to life and blossoming into a beautiful world, so let’s match it on the inside by adding tulips, colorful eggs, faux greens, and some bunnies.
You are not only creating a beautiful home, but you are creating a home that your kids will remember. By adding these simple touches, you are making them feel special and loved.
For our family, Easter is, most importantly, about the resurrection of Jesus, but we sprinkle the fun of bunnies and eggs around too.
My favorite way to engage my children’s senses is to have a candle burning. A fruity or fresh scent is always nice for spring. I am currently burning a watermelon-scented candle, and it is so refreshing!! That, and the gentle breezes of fresh air, feel so good! How to Awaken Your Child’s Senses At Home is a post that will dig deeper into this topic.
Make those memories, mama! Your family will love being home, they will love their memories of home, and they will love coming back home.
Happy spring cleaning! And don’t forget, spring cleaning is steeped in tradition, and you are a part of that!
Much Love~Kim💗
