Many people avoid spring cleaning simply because they don’t know where to begin. But the process of decluttering and then cleaning a space is actually pretty easy. Each task is quick; the tough part is getting started.
That’s where this 30-day checklist comes in. This spring cleaning plan outlines a set of tasks to help you declutter and clean every nook and cranny in your home. It will keep you moving from room to room, which goes against traditional advice to work on one room until it’s complete before heading to the next. But with a big project like spring cleaning an entire home, the impulse to quit when you get overwhelmed or bored can be strong. So tackling a few projects each day will ensure that you stay motivated.
What You Need
Before you get started, prepare some boxes. Here’s what you need:
Box Category 1: Donate/Consign. Anything you want to donate or consign goes into these boxes. If the items won’t fit into a box (e.g., a couch), then keep a running list of them.
Box Category 2: Repair. While you’re decluttering and cleaning, you will come across items that need to be mended or repaired. Place these items in a box until you’re ready to get them fixed. Don’t let repairs sidetrack you until you’re done cleaning.
Box Category 3: Put-Away Box. Say you’re cleaning out a drawer in your kitchen and you find a misplaced pair of earrings in it. Don’t stop decluttering that drawer to go put your earrings in their proper place. Instead, add them temporarily to a put-away box. Once you’re done with the drawer, take that box and return everything in it to its rightful storage place.
It’s also helpful to keep a pen and paper or a digital list nearby during your spring cleaning process. On it you can keep a running list of projects that pop up while you clean that you want to get to eventually, such as organizing old photos. Once you’re done with your spring cleaning, then you can make a plan to tackle those projects.
Day 1: Dust
Take a broom to the corners of the ceiling to catch any cobwebs in your kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Then, sweep or vacuum the floors.
Dust the undersides of every chair and table in your home, and then vacuum and mop the floors around them.
Clean every mirror in your home, including ones in the bathrooms, bedrooms, and entryway.
Wash your winter gloves, hats, and scarves, and pack them up for next year. Take your winter coats to the dry cleaner if necessary.
Sort your under-bed storage boxes. Add any applicable items to the donate or mend boxes.
Remove odd socks from your sock drawer, and either toss them or use them as cleaning rags.
Go through your dresser, and pull out items of clothing you haven’t worn in a year and have no plans to wear again. Put them in your donation box.
Day 3: Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet
Throw away expired medicines. Look up local regulations on how to properly dispose of medicines.
Organize your emergency supplies. Make sure you’re stocked on first aid necessities.
Declutter your linen closet. Pull out the old towels and sheets you no longer use, and put them into your donation box.
Day 4: Sort Your Shoes
Sort through your shoes. Add any that you want to donate or repair to those respective boxes.
Clean the floors of your closets, and get rid of any unused storage solutions.
Wash your slippers.
Day 5: Clean Small Appliances
Clean your appliances, including their plugs, tops, bottoms, sides, and any accessories that came with them.
Deep clean your coffee maker, following manufacturer instructions.
Thoroughly clean utensils, such as can openers, that might not be washed on a regular basis.
Replace old kitchen sponges and rubber gloves.
Day 6: Clean Your Car
Use a vacuum to clean the inside of your car. Declutter while you go. Don’t neglect cleaning the floor mats. Then, wipe down interior surfaces with a cleaning solution and rag.
Wash the outside of your car (or bring it to a car wash).
Day 7: Deep Clean Your Fridge and Cabinets
Thoroughly clean your fridge and freezer by removing all shelves, racks, and storage containers and washing them in your bathtub. Toss any old food. Wash your ice cube trays. Wipe down the sides of the fridge and freezer. Then, put everything back in. If you’re afraid of food spoiling, use a cooler to keep food cold while you work.
Take everything out of your cabinets, and clean all the surfaces before replacing the items.
Check the cabinets for any unexpired food you don’t plan to eat that can be donated. Throw out expired or questionable food.
Day 8: Toss Clutter in the Bathroom
Declutter and clean your bathroom storage. Take everything out, and clean the backs, sides, and bottoms of the cabinets and drawers.
Dispose of any expired bathroom cleaning products.
Replace any old, worn toothbrushes and/or razors.
Wash or replace your shower curtain liner.
Day 9: Wash Household Linens
Wash your couch covers, pillowcases, and other linens used around the house.
Launder the drapes in your living room, dining room, and bedrooms. If you can’t wash them on site, bring them to the dry cleaners.
Wash your ironing board cover
Wash your tea towels and kitchen towels.
Toss small rugs, bathroom mats, and bathrobes in the wash.
Remove your window screens, and vacuum them using the handheld attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Then, soak them in soapy water before rinsing.
Use dish soap diluted in water and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your windows. Then, spray on vinegar diluted in water, and wipe the windows with a clean towel to dry them.
Dust your windowsills and frames, and touch up any chipped paint around the sills.
Day 14: Toss Old Papers, Magazines, and Newspapers
Recycle old magazines, newspapers, and packing materials.
Organize old paper or plastic shopping bags that are lying around in one location, so you can reuse them.
Shred sensitive documents you don’t need anymore. Scan important papers, and shred the originals if they don’t need to be saved.
Day 15: Wash Your Makeup and Hair Brushes
Deep clean your makeup brushes and hair brushes.
Toss any liquid makeup over 3 months old and any powdered makeup over a year old.
Day 16: Clean Out Your Plumbing
Clean every drain in your home using this method: Pour boiling hot water down the drain, add baking soda, and then add vinegar. Then, cover the drain with a plug for a few minutes. Follow with another pour of boiling water.
Schedule a plumber for any leaky or otherwise damaged faucets you can’t fix yourself.
Day 17: Switch Out Seasonal Decor
Remove any winter decorations still hanging around, including throw pillows, candle holders, throw blankets, and vases.
Switch scented candles, hand soaps, etc. from winter scents to fresh spring ones.
If you have a fireplace, thoroughly clean it to remove dirt and debris from winter use.
Day 18: Vacuum Furniture
Move the couch and any heavy chairs, and clean and vacuum underneath them.
Use the handheld attachment to vacuum the couch and chairs themselves.
Day 19: Clean Your Garage
Declutter your garage, and throw out any unneeded items you haven’t touched since last spring.
Wash your gardening gloves, and rinse and wipe off the shoes you wear to do yard work.
Sweep your porch, patio, or front steps.
Day 20: Clean Out Office Items
Go through your desk drawers, and toss broken items, such as dead pens.
Collect and keep office items, such as paper clips, all in one place in your home.
Take your stash of coins to a coin machine or the bank.
Day 21: Sort Your Mugs and Glasses
Declutter your mugs and glasses. Donate the ones you no longer want, and wash and put away the rest.
Wash reusable water bottles and water-filtering pitchers. Then, change the filters.
Day 22: Organize Bags
Organize your bags, including backpacks, briefcases, and suitcases. Declutter the insides, and then clean and store them.
Clean out your everyday bag or wallet.
Wash and store reusable shopping bags all in one place.
Day 23: Repair Broken or Damaged Clothing
Either mend any damaged clothing yourself, or take it to a tailor.
Take any shoes or boots that need repairs to a cobbler.
Day 24: Organize Hobby Supplies and Other Collections
Organize your hobby supplies. This can include crafting supplies, board games, or sporting equipment.
Polish silver jewelry, silverware, and any other items that have become tarnished.
Day 25: Get the Kids Involved in the Cleaning
If you have young children, teach them how to clean something in their room, and make that their chore from now on.
Go through your books (including kids’ books), and donate ones you don’t want anymore.
Day 26: Dust and Vacuum Some More
Dust your blinds, and then vacuum the floor around them.
Dust around your stairs, and then vacuum them.
Wipe down your baseboards and other molding where dust tends to collect. Then, vacuum the floor near them.
Day 27: Wash the Walls
Wash any interior walls that have marks or stains.
Touch up chipped or discolored paint.
Day 28: Wash Your Bed Linens
Wash your bed linens, including any mattress covers, duvet covers, pillow liners, throw blankets, and throw pillows.
If you have a guest room and the bed hasn’t been used in a while, strip the bed down to the mattress and wash all the linens.
Day 29: Sell or Donate Unwanted Items
Did you keep a list of items to sell? Now is the day to take your items to the consignment store or to photograph them to sell online.
Bring donations to a local charity.
Day 30: Throw It Away
Take a trip to the dump to get rid of any large items that are beyond repair.
Check your local regulations for how to get rid of other unwanted items, such as old paint.
Wash your garbage cans and recycling bins. Either do this outside or in your bathroom, scrubbing your tub afterward.
So, you’ve just finished your construction job, but the job isn’t quite over yet. Guess what? There’s a huge mess left behind that must be cleaned up before you can say the job is done. Even working with the best general contractor crew, there is bound to be some leftover mess. This mess is inevitable with all the foot traffic coming in and out bringing in mud and all kinds of dirt, dust from all the tools you were using, plastic that needs to be removed, the list goes on.
If you plan to take on the cleaning job yourself, it could feel a little daunting and overwhelming at first. We’ve prepared a post-construction cleaning checklist made up of seven groups as a reminder of all the areas that need to be cleaned and what exactly needs to be done in those areas. If you were hired to just renovate the bathroom, for example, then you don’t need to worry about cleaning the garage. Use your judgement based on the job that was performed.
1. General Cleanup
The first area you need to focus on is the general cleanup. This could include hallways, offices, and spare rooms. The best way to get started is to bring in all of the cleaning supplies that you’ll be using and lay them out. If you have a crew, you’ll want to make sure you have enough for everyone. Next, divide the supplies up, decide who is going to take which room, and get to work.
Here is the checklist you’ll need for general cleanup:
Remove all of your tools and other renovation materials
Pick up all garbage and throw it away
Dust ceilings
Dust ceiling fans
Clean the walls with soap and warm water
Dust and clean the baseboards
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Vacuum the carpeting (if there is any)
The above post-construction cleaning checklist contains the common areas that people clean. However, there are also other parts of the construction site that require cleaning:
Dust and clean windows and doors
Clean light fixtures and lightbulbs
Clean inside cabinets and closets
Dust woodwork
Clean inside drawers (dust travels everywhere!)
Wipe down blinds
2. Porch/Driveway
Now that the general areas have been taken care of, it’s time to move onto the porch and driveway. Since the driveway and porch are the first things the homeowners will see when you unveil their renovations, it’s extra important to clean these areas well. It will also serve to set a good first impression and be indicative of what’s inside.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Vacuum and dust entryway
Clean doors
Clean windows
Sweep and wash porches
Clean exterior lights
Clean threshold
Pressure wash driveway
3. Bedrooms
If you renovated the bedrooms, you’ll have some cleaning work to do in there as well. This checklist is dependent on whether or not you’ll be moving the furniture back into place, so let’s say for the sake of this checklist that you’re also in charge of putting the furniture back in place. Here’s what you’ll need to do to clean the bedrooms:
Clean the walls with soap and warm water
Dust and clean the baseboards
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Wipe down the tops of dressers
Wipe down the tops of bookshelves, as well as the shelves
Clean mirrors
Clean inside closets
Wipe down blinds
4. Kitchen
Kitchens have lots of surfaces so you can imagine it will be a big job cleaning the kitchen after a renovation. It might be a good idea to get a couple of crew members in there to tackle this one together. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Clean the walls with soap and warm water
Dust and clean the baseboards
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Vacuum, dust, and clean shelving and drawers (inside and out)
Clean cabinet doors, tops of cabinets and glass
Clean countertops, sinks and backsplashes with soap and warm water
Vacuum, dust, and clean shelving, drawers, and cabinets (inside and out)
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
6. Garage
The garage will be a big cleanup, so it’s recommended to get a few crew members working on it at the same time. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Vacuum, dust, and clean shelving, drawers, and cabinets (inside and out)
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Wipe down the utilities (furnace, water heater, and other utilities)
7. Laundry Room
Finally, we have the laundry room. This room shouldn’t take up too much time, but it’s still important to give it a good clean. Here’s what you’ll need to do for the laundry room:
Vacuum, dust, and clean shelving, drawers, and cabinets (inside and out)
Wipe down appliances
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Seems like a lot doesn’t it? Just as renovating a house is a huge job, the cleanup afterward is intense too. If you find this is too much for you and your crew, consider calling in the professionals.
The joys of carpeting are many: It’s undeniably the softest, most comfortable type of flooring, it muffles sound, and it helps insulate rooms from temperature swings. But that plush pile is hiding a dark side. The very thing that makes carpeting so wonderful
1.Bugs
A study published in Scientific Reports found that carpeted homes had a greater variety of insects than non-carpeted homes. The researchers theorized, however, that most of these insects didn’t actually live in the carpeting. Instead, once inside the home, many became caught in the carpet pile and perished, turning the carpeting into into a plush bug cemetery.
Solution: Vacuum at least weekly to remove bugs, and patch up any rips or gaps around windows and doors to help keep bugs out to begin with.
2.Mold
One of the biggest problems with carpet is that it soaks up fluid faster than you can blot it dry. That means that spilled food or drinks tend to wick deep down into the carpet fibers and pad, where they become a breeding ground for various types of mold. Not only does mold lead to stains and odor, but mold spores are another common cause of indoor allergies.
Solution: Always blot spills dry as quickly as possible, and then follow up with an enzyme cleaner to break down and remove food residue.
3.Skin Flakes
On average, you shed 1.5 million skin flakes each day. Multiply that by the number of people living in your home, and then consider that those flakes have to go somewhere—and that “somewhere” is generally down to the floor, where the flakes wedge between carpet fibers. While that’s gross enough, the real problem is that those flakes become dinner for dust mites, and dust mite waste is one of the most common causes of indoor allergies.
Solution: Vacuum regularly, and keep your carpet dry, because dust mites are most comfortable when the humidity is high.
4.Pollen
Spring is in the air, and that means pollen is everywhere—including on your carpets. Actually, pollen is a year-round problem in many areas, and the dusty stuff easily enters your home through open windows and doors as well as on your clothing. That’s a problem, because pollen is a common cause of hay fever and asthma flare-ups.
Solution: Vacuum your carpets at least once a week, and more often if you tend to keep windows open or have an allergy sufferer at home.
5.Dog Poop
Even if you don’t own a dog, it’s almost certain that your carpet contains microscopic bits of dog droppings. Take your child to the park and walk on the grass, stroll down a city sidewalk, step into the gutter as you get out of your car…all day long, your shoes are picking up residue from animal waste, which wipes off onto your carpet when you get home.
Solution: Take your shoes off at your front door, and change into a pair of indoor-only slippers or house shoes.
6.Kitty Litter
Fluffy is a beloved member of your family, but an indoor cat means a litter box, and that means tracked litter. Once cat litter hits the carpet, it works its way down between the fibers, bringing bacteria, odor, and grit along with it.
Solution: Spread a nubby pad to catch litter next to the litter box. It will trap loose litter and help clean off your cat’s feet at the same time.
7.Germs
According to microbiologist Dr. Philip Tierno of NYU Langone Medical Center, carpet can contain a shocking 200,000 bacteria per square inch. That’s more than your toilet seat! While most of these germs are harmless, others, including E. coli, salmonella, and staphylococcus, can cause digestive upset, skin infections, respiratory illness, or allergic reactions.
Solution: Give your carpets a thorough, deep steam cleaning at least once per year.
8.Dirt
Your carpet can hold a whole lot of dirt. In fact, there are potentially several pounds of it spread throughout the house. Most of that dirt is tracked in on shoes or on the feet and fur of pets, although some blows in through open doors and windows, or comes down the fireplace. Once dirt gets in the carpet, it creates stains and can increase populations of bacteria, mold, and bugs.
Solution: Put doormats at all entrances to your home so family and visitors can wipe dirt off their shoes, and vacuum weekly.
Cleaning was playing a large part in the pandemic because everyone wanted to be as safe as they could. People were now getting assistance when it came to cleaning their homes, offices, and every other place with a large gathering of people. At the start of the pandemic, people were not open to meeting one another with a higher chance that they would catch the Coronavirus but as time passed, with the improvements to healthcare and people getting vaccinated, the Government started making some changes so people could start meeting one another.
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