Quick & Easy Spring Cleaning Chores

By Hilary Bernstein, Contributing Writer

Each spring I get the itch to start deep cleaning my home. It doesn’t matter if I’m living in a tiny apartment or a house – once the weather starts to warm and the days are sunny, I feel compelled to get rid of the dust and cobwebs in my home.

Some years I have all sorts of time and energy to dig in and clean. But most years, I don’t. I’m tired or busy or I just don’t feel like spending days on end scrubbing out my home. So I make do.

Over the past couple springs, I’ve discovered that I can deep clean my entire home in about a month simply by doing a little chore each day. Some days it doesn’t seem like I’m actually doing much work, but like my approach to healthy living, every little change can make a big difference.

This year’s no different. My spring schedule is silly busy with end-of-the-school year commitments, but I still want a clean house before summer vacation hits. So I’m working little by little, bit by bit, room by room. My house is getting cleaner every day. (This week, I’m working on deep cleaning my kids’ rooms … and all I can say is WOW. What a project.)

I’ve broken up my cleaning chores into room-by-room tasks. Whether you have a lot of time or a little time to clean, use my checklist to tackle your home.

If you love devoting a week or so to spring cleaning, go for it! But if you only have time for just one or two chores a day, you’ll get each room done within a week – if you keep going, your entire home will be deep cleaned by Memorial Day. Happy cleaning!

Outside Entry Way

• Sweep off your front step.
• Shake out your welcome mats and launder, if possible.
• Clean your door from top to bottom. (Wipe out the cobwebs from the corners!)

Inside Entry Way

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Clean floors and baseboards.
• Dust and polish furniture and knick knacks.
• Dust lampshades, lamps and light fixtures.
• Empty the coat closet. Wipe down walls.
• Sort all coats, hats, scarves, mittens, umbrellas. Keep what you like and use, donate or sell what you don’t.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.

Living Room and/or Family Room

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Dust and polish furniture and knick knacks.
• Dust electronics.
• Vacuum couches and chairs.
• Dust lampshades, lamps and light fixtures.
• Wash throws and blankets. If possible, wash pillows.
• Sort all knick knacks, books, magazines, and electronic media. Keep what you like and use, donate or sell what you don’t.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.
• Clean floors and baseboards.

Dining Room

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Dust and polish furniture and knick knacks.
• Dust lampshades, lamps and light fixtures.
• Sort all dinnerware, table linens, and knick knacks. Keep what you like and use, donate or sell what you don’t.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.
• Clean floors and baseboards.

Kitchen

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Dust and polish furniture and knick knacks.
• Dust lampshades, lamps and light fixtures.
• Empty your cupboards and drawers. Wipe clean. Sort all kitchenware. Keep what you like and use, donate or sell what you don’t. Restock cupboards and drawers.
• Empty your pantry and food cupboards. Wipe clean. Sort food and restock shelves. Throw away expired food and emptied (or almost emptied) containers.
• Empty your refrigerator and freezer. Wipe clean. Sort food and restock shelves. Throw away expired food and emptied (or almost emptied) containers.
• Clear your counters. Wipe clean. Sort what you keep on your counter tops. Do you use it often, or can you store it somewhere else? Keep what you like and use, donate or sell what you don’t.
• Thoroughly wash your kitchen sink. Clean the cabinet under your sink.
• Clean your stove top, oven, and, if applicable, microwave or toaster oven.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.
• Clean floors and baseboards.

Bathroom

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows, mirrors and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Dust and polish knick knacks and light fixtures.
• Sort all toiletries and medications. Keep what you like and use. Throw away expired items and anything you don’t use.
• Sort and clean out any cabinets.
• Thoroughly clean the bathroom sink.
• Thoroughly clean the bathtub and/or shower.
• Wash the shower curtain and bath mat.
• Thoroughly clean the toilet. Dust behind the toilet.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.
• Clean floors and baseboards.

Bedrooms

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Dust and polish furniture and knick knacks.
• Dust lampshades, lamps and light fixtures.
• Strip bed of all linens.
• Flip the mattress. Vacuum the mattress.
• Wash and dry all linens, including the mattress pad, dust ruffle, pillows, blankets, quilts, duvets, comforters, and sheets.
• Empty closets and drawers – one area at a time. Sort all the room’s belongings, including clothing, jewelry, knick knacks and/or books. Keep what you like and use; donate, sell or trade what you don’t. Wipe down shelves and restock.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.
• Clean floors and baseboards.

Office

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Dust and polish furniture and knick knacks.
• Dust electronics.
• Vacuum couches and chairs.
• Dust lampshades, lamps and light fixtures.
• Empty and wipe down your desktop (the actual top of your desk, not your computer) and any desk drawers.
• Sort all knick knacks, paperwork, and electronic media. Keep what you like and use, donate or sell what you don’t.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.
• Clean floors and baseboards.

Play Room and/or Bonus Room

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Dust and polish or wash furniture.
• Vacuum couches and chairs.
• Dust lampshades, lamps and light fixtures.
• Empty shelves and storage containers – one area at a time. Sort all the room’s belongings. Wash and keep what you like and use, donate or sell what you don’t. Wipe down shelves and restock.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.
• Clean floors and baseboards.

Laundry Room

• Dust from the ceiling to the floor, including wall hangings.
• Wash windows and screens.
• Clean window treatments (dusting and/or washing).
• Wipe down walls.
• Wipe out the inside and outside of the washer and dryer.
• Clean off the lint trap and wash it.
• Clean out the dryer vent.
• Sort all laundry detergents. Keep what you like and use, dispose of what you don’t.
• Disinfect doorknobs and switch plates.
• Clean floors and baseboards.

What are some of your favorite spring cleaning chores? Least favorite?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through our links, we earn a small commission, which helps to keep this site going so that we can continue to offer free and useful content, so thanks!