Even if you’re the kind of person who keeps up with a weekly routine of laundry, vacuuming and dusting, spring cleaning is a time to plunge a little deeper into the housekeeping routine.
This extra level of cleaning does more than just make your home look better. It can make you feel better, especially if you suffer from allergies.
For some people, the idea of spring cleaning can be a little daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. By dividing deep cleaning into room-specific tasks, you can accomplish everything in less than a week.
Spring clean your bedrooms
Start by washing the sheets, bedspreads and curtains in each room with your favorite-smelling laundry detergent. (Make sure to follow the instructions on the care labels.)
Flip and rotate the mattresses. Pull beds away from the walls and vacuum or dust mop the entire room.
Wipe down the baseboards with a damp cloth. Use furniture polish on dressers and nightstands. Clean mirrors and windows with a streak-free glass cleaner.
Spring clean your bathrooms
Time to freshen up that shower curtain. If you have a fabric shower curtain, follow the laundry instructions on the label. If you have a vinyl shower curtain or liner, drop it in the bathtub filled halfway with hot water. Add a cup of bleach and let it soak as you clean the rest of the bathroom.
Use a good multi-purpose cleaner for the bathroom counters, door, light switch plate and the fronts of cabinets and drawers. Use a bathroom cleaner that targets hard water spots, mold and mildew for the sink and shower.
And grab a disinfectant cleaner for the toilet, wiping down the outside and using a toilet brush to tackle the inside.
Spring clean your living area
Dust first. Capture as much of the dust particles as possible with a cloth damp with water or cleaner. This includes entertainment centers. Empty them out, organize and dust them thoroughly.
If you don’t dust first, the particles will be stirred up during the rest of the cleaning, landing back on your furniture after you’ve called it a day. That means you’ll need to dust again before you want to.
Living rooms and rec rooms typically have several large pieces of furniture. Start by removing any cushions and using your vacuum hose attachment to clean those as well as all the nooks and crannies of the furniture. Spot-clean couch or chair cushions as needed.
Vacuum rugs and dust mop floors, moving the large furniture to ensure you can reach underneath them. Wipe down baseboards.
Spring clean your kitchen
Use this as a chance to declutter as well as clean. Empty each cabinet and drawer, vacuum the inside and wipe them out with a damp cloth. Put back only the items you really use and donate the rest.
Empty everything from the refrigerator, discard out-of-date items and clean each shelf before putting items back. Use a multi-purpose cleaner on the exterior of all appliances.
For wooden tables or cabinets, spray furniture polish on a dry cloth and lightly wipe down the surfaces. Clean the counters, getting behind all those canisters and small appliances that live there, then sweep and mop the floor.
Spring clean your closets and entryways
Time to tidy up the smaller spaces. Organize the linen closet so sheets, towels and extra blankets are neatly stacked. In your coat closet, swap spring jackets for winter coats and hats. Again, use this as an opportunity to weed out items you no longer use.
You’re done! Now your home is brighter and fresher, allowing you to enjoy the warmer days ahead.
Products for spring cleaning
Need some new cleaning products to get the job done? The Amway Home™ collection has several items that will make your spring cleaning tasks easier. Click the links below to check them out at Amway.com.
