Give your living space a little extra love by following this room-by-room checklist on how to deep clean your home this spring or throughout the year.
Before you begin
1. Clear away the clutter. Pick-up any items that have accumulated on the floor, on top of counters and table tops, or draped across furniture, so that you can get to the places you need to.2. Make a game plan. Plot out which rooms you’ll tackle and when, keeping in mind how much time you think it will take to do a thorough job. Don’t be afraid to break the work up into multiple days or even weeks.
3. Take stock. The last thing you’ll want to do is mess up your rhythm by running out of something you need. Suggested supplies include: baking soda, broom, stiff bristle brush, cleaning caddy (optional), dish soap, dusting cloths (microfiber works best), garden hose (for yard work), gloves to protect your hands, lint roller, mineral oil, mop, multi-purpose cleaner, sponges, telescoping pole for high and hard-to-reach spaces, vacuum cleaner with extension accessories, white vinegar, window and glass cleaner, wood cleaner and/or polish.
#1 Bathrooms
Start by spraying down your tub with multi-purpose cleaner so that it can soak for a while and break up any soap and oil that have accumulated. Do the same with the toilet bowls and sinks. That will make scrubbing that much easier when you circle back to it later on.
- Tip: Don’t forget to wipe down the base of
the toilet near the floor, where dust and dribbles can sometimes land.

- Tip: A slightly damp dryer sheet will also remove buildup.

- Tip: place items you use most frequently near the front for easier access.

- Tip: In a pinch, carpet cleaner also works great on grout.
Disinfect handles and door knobs. These neglected pieces of hardware are some of the germiest places in the house. If you haven’t wiped them down in a while, it’s a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning with a multi-purpose cleaner or disinfectant wipes.
#2 Kitchen
Wipe down cabinets. With a damp rag, gently clean off any dust or dirt on the inside and outside of the cabinets including the doors. For grease-splatter, dip your cloth in undiluted vinegar to rub off the grease, then rinse the rag in warm water to wipe off the vinegar.
- Tip: After wiping down the top of the cabinets, cut a newspaper to size to fit the space. As the months go by, the paper will collect the dust — not your cabinets — and you’ll only need to swap out the paper for next year’s spring cleaning.)
Some cabinets will swell if they encounter too much moisture, so be sure to always ring out your rag well before wiping down the wood, and dry the surface quickly with a paper towel after cleaning.
Vacuum out the refrigerator coils and vent. Use the vacuum’s hose or brush extension to remove all the dirt and dust from the fridge coil and vent, or rent an air compressor to blow it out.

Throw out old sponges. These kitchen tools are germ magnets. Even zapping them in the microwave won’t kill all the bacteria that find their way inside. Disinfect sponges every few days by letting them soak in a bleach-water solution (¾ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) for five minutes. After a couple of weeks, however, they should be thrown out completely and replaced, or swapped for reusable silicone scrubbers that can be more easily disinfected.

- Tip: Coat gas stove top surfaces (not the grates) with car wax, then wipe it off. This will make it easier to clean up future spills.
Clean the oven. If your oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning function, you can make a DIY cleaner by mixing 5 tablespoons of baking soda, 5 drops of dish soap, and 4 tablespoons of vinegar into a paste and slathering it on the worst spots. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub at it with a sponge or non-abrasive brush. For extra stubborn grease stains, place a few drops of dish soap on half a lemon, and rub it on the problematic areas. Then, scrub or wipe it clean.

- Tip: Mount a dry-erase board inside your pantry to keep notes of what you have or what you need.
Clean out the microwave. While a spaghetti-splattered microwave can seem daunting, this might be the easiest task in the whole kitchen. Mix a tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of water, and microwave it on high for 5 minutes. The vapor from the boiling solution will coat every inch of food debris, and make it easier to wipe away.

Wipe down the countertops. Remove any items on the counters, including appliances and knife blocks, and then use a disinfectant spray or cleaning wipes to get corners and spaces in the back that might not get as much attention throughout the year. While you’re there, wipe down the walls or backsplashes, too.
#3 Common areas
Take off all cushions from couches and chairs, and vacuum the spaces underneath. Pay special attention to the nooks and crannies where crumbs or dust might have made a home.
- Tip: Use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to remove stains from microfiber fabrics by dabbing it on with a white sponge — to avoid any dye transfers — and scrub with a white bristle brush.

- Tip: In a pinch, the “steam” function on your clothing iron works great as a steam cleaner.

- Tip: Remove water stains
on your wooden furniture by blasting it with a hair dryer at close range
and treating the wood with a furniture polish or mineral oil.
- Tip: Use a lint roller on lamp shades to remove any dust or pet hair that have accumulated there.
Clean your electronics. Another germy place in your house? The TV remote. Just think of all the (sometimes sticky) hands that touch it. Give your electronics a good wipe down, including the top of your TV and DVD player. Dust the front of any screens with a microfiber rag or a feather duster, making sure to get the corners.
#4 Bedrooms
Wash the bedding, including bed skirts, shams and duvet covers. Don’t forget the pillows!
Flip your mattress. Or if you have a pillow top, rotate it to prevent grooves from forming due to sleeping in the same spot for too long. Freshen the mattress by spreading on some baking soda, letting it sit for 45 minutes to an hour, and vacuuming it back up.
- Tip: Use foam shaving cream to remove mattress stains by letting it sit for 15 minutes before wiping it off with a slightly damp rag dipped in a half-water/half-vinegar solution.

- Tip: Be careful wiping off ceiling fans, as dust clumps can fall on you while dusting. To prevent this, slide each fan blade into a pillowcase to get the bulk of the dust off before taking a rag to it.
- Tip: If your furniture is too heavy to move, use the vacuum cleaner attachments or a telescoping pole to swivel a mop head or rag to get to hard-to-reach places.
#5 Closets
Sort through items and get rid of anything you no longer need or use. If you’re really wanting to keep something, ask yourself:
1. Does it fit?
2. Is it flattering on me?
3. Have I used it in the past year? If you answer “no” to any of the above, strongly consider donating or selling it.
- Tip: Turn around all of the hangers so that they are hanging backward, and throughout the year, only turn each one back the right way if you’ve worn the item. If something is still hanging backward during next year’s spring cleaning, you’ll know which items to get rid of first.

Vacuum carpet and ceilings. Remove any items from the floor, and vacuum up any dust that might have built up under your shoe rack or nostalgia box. Don’t forget to get into the corners of the ceiling to capture any cobwebs or dust bunnies.
Wipe down shelves and inside drawers. Remove all items, and wipe down the space with a damp rag. As you replace the items, think about how they can be organized so that you’re more likely to keep the space tidy.
- Tip: Use drawer dividers
or fabric bins to organize small items like hand towels or underwear.
#6 Laundry room
Wipe laundry machines and countertops. Use a damp rag to remove the light dusting of lint that tends to settle on every surface in the laundry room.
Toss any rogue dryer sheets and empty detergent bottles. Look between the machines, behind doors, and under cabinets to catch any pesky dryer sheets or lint clumps. Dispose of any outdated cleaning supplies, taking special care to follow your city’s instructions, as not all cleaning supplies can go in the regular municipal trash pick up.

Sanitize your washing machine. After every load of laundry, it’s a good idea to leave the washing machine door open to let it air out and prevent mold from growing inside. Once a year, however, it’s a good idea to sanitize the machine to remove any mold and get out detergent that has started to build up. Use multi-purpose disinfectant or a vinegar solution to clean the rubber seal around the door of the machine, as well as inside the dispensers. If your washer doesn’t have a self-cleaning cycle, run the empty machine using hot water and a little bleach.

- Tip: If your vent line is much longer than your vacuum hose can reach, or the outside vent outlet is inaccessible, consider hiring a professional duct cleaning service every few years to ensure the entire line is clear.
#7 Mud Room
Remove items and wipe down hooks and shelves. Use a damp rag or multi-purpose cleaner to clean dirt off of any shelving and hooks, especially where shoes are kept.
Toss or store unused items. Get rid of any items you no longer use or items family members have outgrown, including seasonal jackets or shoes. Wash and store items you want to keep, and donate or sell the rest.
Organize items by purpose and practicality. It doesn’t take much for the mudroom to fall into disarray. Give yourself and your family the best chance at keeping the space clean by thinking through where items are normally placed, and organize from there. If shoes are often thrown on the ground, for example, bins to store them should be on or near the floor. Baskets can be used to catch small items (like keys or earphones), and multiple hooks are great for storing winter gear and backpacks.
#8 Garage
Declutter. Now’s the time to take a good, long look at everything in your garage and ask yourself, “Do I need this?” Dispose of old cleaners, broken equipment, and abandoned projects, and anything else that no longer has a use.
Sweep the floors. If you can, remove everything at ground level in the garage, and use a broom to sweep out the dust, leaves, and mystery gunk that have settled there.
Maximize your (vertical) space. Many garages have empty space above the garage door or near the ceiling that can be used for storage. Investing in sturdy shelves near the ceiling is a great way to store those rarely used items like Christmas trees or beach umbrellas. Similarly, bikes and seasonal garden equipment can be hung from the ceiling or high up on a wall to best utilize the space available.
#9 Outdoor spaces
Get out the hose. Spray down patios, decks, porches, lawn furniture, playground equipment — and any other large item or space you have outside your home. For the siding, you may want to rent or invest in a power-washer to remove buildup on the
outside of the house.
Tidy the yard. Pull any weeds sprouting up in your lawn or garden. Lay down mulch or compost (if needed), and plant any flowers or edible greens you’d like.
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