On February 2, Punxutawney Phil gave us the go-ahead to not worry about spring cleaning for a while. But today marks six weeks since the celebrated groundhog saw his shadow. And with the vernal equinox just days away, spring will soon be here no matter how you define the season’s start. Ensure you don’t gloss over anything important during this year’s spring cleaning by referencing this room-by-room spring cleaning checklist.
Bedroom
For most people, bedroom spring cleaning should start with a thorough decluttering. Sort through your wardrobe, and consider parting with winter clothes you didn’t wear at all this season. Move on to your junk drawer, disposing of what you don’t need and giving everything else a new home. Wash your bedding before swapping out linens and blankets if you have different sets for different seasons. Once your bedroom is properly reorganized, give it a good dusting before vacuuming and/or scrubbing the floor.
Bathroom
Quickly declutter your bathroom, discarding expired medications and all cosmetics and toiletries you won’t use. Wipe clean bathroom vanity and any medicine cabinets before reorganizing their contents. Carry out your typical bathroom cleaning regimen, but be even more thorough than usual. Deep clean your tub or shower, scrub bathroom walls, and mop the floor.
Kitchen
Divide your kitchen into sections, tackling it cupboard by cupboard and drawer by drawer. Remove everything from each drawer and cabinet, tossing away outdated or unused kitchen tools, containers, and utensils that have seen better days. Wipe and dry all surfaces before replacing and reorganizing their contents. Thoroughly clean the fridge, sorting through its contents before replacing. Clean your oven, range, dishwasher, microwave, and all small appliances. Lastly, clean counters, sinks, and faucets. Be sure to get the backsplash.
Living room
Dust living room surfaces, reorganizing toys, games, books, and other items housed there. Recycle old newspapers and magazines that have collected on your coffee table. Also, be sure to deep clean your common living space. Thoroughly clean rugs, throw blankets and pillows, walls, baseboards, and ceiling fan blades.
Balcony or patio
With warmer weather on the horizon, it’s time to whip your patio into shape so you can enjoy it. Uncover any patio furniture you’ve covered for the winter. Give the cement or boards a good sweep to remove any dirt and debris that have accumulated over months without use.
Office
If you use part of your apartment as an office, remove clutter and tidy up your desk and shelves. Dust of all electronics, wipe down all surfaces, and deep clean the floors.
Other
As part of your spring cleaning ritual, clean all windows and drapery in your apartment. Smaller jobs to tackle include cleaning around your washer and dryer and removing dust from lighting fixtures and fan vents. Depending on your lifestyle and your apartment’s layout, you may want to expand this checklist.
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst