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Do you need a Spring cleaning guide to keep you on track? (I do.)

I’ve got some tips on how to tackle the nastiest of chores, plus a checklist — so you won’t forget some of the more important items to take care of to maintain your home.

Cleaning your home is a large job — so I will break it out into a couple of different posts.

This is the cleaning checklists and guidelines post.

See my cleaning supplies post for some eco-friendly products you can use along with essential cleaning products.

I must admit that I’ve already begun to clean out the garage. I’d be willing to bet that a lot of folks reading this are already in high (spring cleaning) gear. We all could use some help to get the job done right and get it over with.

There’s more to life than cleaning…much more. But these maintenance chores need to be done. You know it. And I know it.

That’s the way I feel about it, so who better to turn to than Good Housekeeping to keep me on track? They are experts and I’d like to share some of what I’ve learned.

So let’s get started…

 

The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist

First, you need to organize your thoughts and come up with a game plan.

Start with a checklist. These are general guidelines. More involved projects such as cleaning windows, carpeting and cleaning out closets will need additional time set aside to take care of.

 

Kitchen

• Vacuum the refrigerator grill and coil.
• Wipe down the inside of the freezer.

 

Living Room

• Switch out heavy curtains, rugs, and throws for spring-weight ones.

 

Bedrooms

• Put away your heavier bedding and replace it with warm-weather bedding. This is a great opportunity to make a refreshing change when switching out winter bedding and heavy window treatments for lighter ones.
• Wash or dry-clean blankets.

 

Bathrooms

• Trash expired cosmetics, beauty products, and medications.

 

Home Office

• Clean out your files.
• Review and update insurance policies, contracts, and household inventories. Take photos of any additional pieces of furniture, electronics, cookware sets, etc. and notate make and model.

 

Closets

• Reorganize your closets and give away unwanted items to charity. If you haven’t used it in the past year, give it up!
• Replace cool-weather clothing with warm-weather clothing.

 

Utility Spaces

• Remove lint from the hose attached to the back of the clothes dryer. If not, it could turn into a fire hazard.
• Clean the attic and basement by giving away unwanted or unused items to charity. Have a yard sale for crying out loud. Let the pack rat out of the cage! You’ll feel less anxiety with less clutter.
• Vacuum and mop attic and basement floors (if finished).

 

Outdoor Spaces

• Scrub porch ceilings and walls.
• Scrub porch floor, decks, patios, the driveway and walkways.
• Scrub outdoor furniture, umbrellas and awnings.
• Wash light fixtures covers. If you’ve got the time and energy, power wash your entire house.
• Clean out the gutters.

 

General Cleaning Throughout the House

• Vacuum and wipe down walls and ceilings.
• Shampoo carpeting and area rugs (with backing).
• Send area rugs without backings for professional cleaning.
• Steam-clean upholstery.
• Dust radiators (if you have ’em).
• Reseal stone surfaces such as kitchen and bath counter tops.
• Reseal tile grout.
• Launder machine-washable window treatments.
• Dry-clean non-machine-washable window treatments.
• Take books off of shelves, dust shelves and books.
• Polish metal door and window hardware.
• Oil window and door hinges.
• Wax wood furniture. This not only cleans but is crucial to keeping the wood “hydrated”.
• Wax wood, stone, concrete, brick, and unglazed tile floors.
• Strip and re-wax vinyl and linoleum floors.
• Wash windows and window screens.
• Remove, wash, and store storm windows.

Source: Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook – The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home