Spring Cleaning Checklist
Spring cleaning is the time for the jobs that don't get done every week. Here's a room-by-room checklist, the order to work in, and tips to get it done over a few weekends without wearing yourself out.
By Pond.com editors Updated 3 min read
Quick answer
- Declutter first, so you're not cleaning things you don't want.
- Work top to bottom in each room, ceilings and light fixtures first and floors last.
- Focus on jobs you skip in weekly cleaning, like windows, vents, baseboards, under furniture and inside appliances.
- Split the work across a few weekends, one or two areas at a time.
- Combine it with seasonal maintenance, like testing smoke alarms and changing filters.
Spring cleaning is a chance to tackle the jobs that slip through the cracks of a weekly routine: the baseboards, the inside of the oven, the windows, the dust behind the couch. Doing them once a year keeps your home fresher and makes regular cleaning easier.
Before you start
- Declutter first. There's no point cleaning things you don't want. See how to declutter your home, room by room.
- Gather supplies: all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, microfiber cloths, a scrub brush, a vacuum with attachments, a mop and a step stool.
- Work top to bottom in each room: ceilings, light fixtures and fans first, floors last.
- Plan it out over a few weekends, one or two areas at a time.
Whole house
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures and the tops of cabinets
- Wipe light switches, door handles and doors
- Vacuum and wash baseboards
- Clean air vents and returns; change the furnace filter
- Wash windows inside and out, and clean tracks and sills
- Wash or vacuum curtains and blinds
- Vacuum under and behind furniture
- Deep clean carpets and rugs
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Kitchen
- Empty and wipe out the fridge and freezer; toss expired food
- Clean the oven and microwave
- Degrease the range hood and clean its filter
- Wipe cabinet fronts and clean inside cabinets and drawers
- Clean the dishwasher filter and run an empty cleaning cycle
- Clean small appliances and the garbage disposal
- Vacuum the refrigerator coils, if accessible
Bathrooms
- Scrub grout and caulk; replace moldy caulk
- Descale showerheads and faucets
- Wash or replace the shower curtain and liner
- Clean the exhaust fan cover
- Clear out expired medicines and products
Bedrooms and living areas
- Wash pillows, comforters and mattress pads
- Vacuum and rotate the mattress
- Clean under beds
- Swap winter clothes for summer clothes, and donate what you don't wear
- Dust books, shelves and electronics
Outside
- Wash outdoor furniture and cushions
- Clean the grill
- Sweep and wash the porch, deck or patio; see how to clean a deck or patio
- Clean gutters; see how to clean gutters safely
Common questions
Any time from late winter to late spring works. Many people start when it's warm enough to open windows, which helps with ventilation and drying.
For an average home, plan on several hours per room, spread over two to four weekends. Breaking it into small tasks makes it much more manageable.
Declutter first, then clean room by room, working from the top of each room down. Many people start with the kitchen or the room that bothers them most.