Spring cleaning, in its many forms, has been a practice around the globe for hundreds of years. And there’s no better time than the beginning weeks of Spring to give your home a refresh. Take this time to focus on the areas and spaces often overlooked and/or forgotten and bring new life and energy to your home this March.
Kitchen
Our kitchens see a lot of daily use and household traffic. While you may be regularly wiping down your counters or sweeping your floors, take this time to focus on those areas that have likely been overlooked.
- Cabinets – Wipe down fronts of cabinets, handles and/or knobs
- Fridge – Clean the shelves and drawers inside, wipe down the top, and vacuum underneath. If your fridge has a water dispenser, now is a great time to check the filter and replace it if needed.
- Oven – Clean the inside, wipe down the cook top, and vacuum underneath. Also clean the range hood (if you have one), and kitchen exahust fan.
- Microwave – Wipe out the inside and wash your turntable by hand or in the dishwasher.
- Dishwasher – Wipe down the outside, clean out the filter, and run a cycle of white vinegar or other cleaner to clean the inside.
- Drawers – Wipe out drawers (they can get pretty dirty over time)
- Coffee Maker – Now is the perfect time to run that cleaning cycle or descale your brewer.
- Walls – The wall behind your oven, cook top, and prep areas can get dirty and greasy. Use a mild cleaner to wipe them down.
As you clean, it’s a great time to go through your kitchen and declutter. If you have items you haven’t used in months (or even years) and are willing to part with them, donate them!
Living Space
Living spaces, just like kitchens, get a lot of household traffic. You may vacuum on the regular, so use this time to go after those elusive tasks that get forgotten.
- Blankets and Pillows – Wash all throw blankets, and if you can remove throw pillow covers, wash those as well.
- Sofa – If you can, vacuum under the cushions. Some sofa cushions have removable covers – if you can remove them, wash them. If you have leather, wipe down the leather. Now is also a great time to vacuum under the sofa, loveseats, chairs, etc.
- Carpet/Floor – Living spaces are highly used; cleaning the carpet or floor is a great idea and can help bring new life into your rooms.
Bedroom/Bathroom
When it comes to your bedroom, you might put your clothes away regularly, but when was the last time you vacuumed under your bed? Dedicate time this Spring to a deep dive on cleaning your bedroom and bathroom. Don’t forget about your closet – this is also a good time to find those clothes and shoes you haven’t worn in ages and donate them.
- Bed – Wash your bed linens and freshen up your mattress with baking soda (let it sit on the bare mattress for at least 10 minutes, then vacuum it up).
- Vacuum under your bed, in your closet, and underneath any furniture (dresser, nightstand, desk, etc.).
For your bathroom: If you have a shower curtain, wash it! Shower curtain liners can be washed – just throw it in your washing machine with some bleach! Don’t forget your bath mat; most can be put in the washing machine as well.
Some other often forgotten items in your bathroom: behind the toilet, the shower head, the bathroom vent fan, inside drawers that hold hair supplies and/or makeup items, and shelving where dust accumulates.
General Areas
Almost every item in your home can collect dust. Grab a duster and go to town on your TV, bookshelves, media stand, fireplace, lamps and light bulbs, picture frames, fake plants, general decor, window ledges, door frames, baseboards, and anything else you can find that has a surface. Also, don’t forget furniture like a dining room table and chairs – dust can get everywhere!
Other items in your home that can easily be forgotten: door knobs, window tracks, ceiling fan blades, garbage cans and recycling bins, and pet bowl areas. During a deep clean, it’s also a good time to check that your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working, and clean or replace your HVAC filter.
Spring is a great time to harness the new energy of the season and bring it into your home. Arm yourself with a caddy of supplies and get ready to clean. Not only will your home look better, but a clean home can also help improve your health.