It’s that time of year – spring cleaning! Freshen up your spaces with our handy checklist.
It’s been another long winter, but spring is here – even if Mother Nature hasn’t quite given the all-clear with the weather! And, as the snow retreats, leaving a long list of visible springtime to-dos, first we feel the need to fling open the doors and windows and welcome fresh spring air indoors.
Even in a high-performance Mandala Custom Round Home, in which we are proud of our “Seal It Tight. Ventilate It Right” approach, when the fresh spring air beckons, we can’t help but let it in!
But, along with the fresh air comes spring cleaning. Every year, it seems such a daunting task, no matter how rewarding. This year, we’ve compiled all the essential must-dos to help make the job more manageable.
Why a spring cleaning checklist?
The simple fact is that all big, challenging tasks require a list of tasks to help focus your attention and get you over the hurdle of starting. Spring cleaning is particularly pesky as it requires a block of time during a season that typically begins a very busy time for many families.
But, setting aside time every year to get into the nooks and crannies and deep clean each room is important to help maintain a healthy and organized space. This is the time to shake off the dust and residue of the long, dark winter days largely spent indoors.
Let’s get started!
Deep cleaning – the steps
In the wise words of the great Desmond Tutu, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” And likewise, the best way to approach your spring cleaning is one step at a time. Here’s how:
Whole-home cleaning checklist
The first step is to begin with those tasks that apply to every room in your home.
- Dust and wipe windowsills and tracks
- Dust and wipe light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Wipe your baseboards and mouldings.
- Dust all the corners for cobwebs
- Vacuum blinds and curtains
- Wipe and disinfect doorknobs, light switches, and cabinet handles
- Test all the batteries in every smoke and carbon monoxide detector
Cleaning checklist for the kitchen
- Thoroughly clean all surfaces and large and small appliances.
- Clean your coffee maker, microwave, etc., inside and out
- Clean your toaster and toaster oven – don’t forget to empty the crumb trays!
- Empty your fridge and, if necessary, defrost your freezer
- Clean all refrigerator shelves and drawers
- Vacuum behind and under the fridge – the coils can get quite dusty!
- Scrub the stovetop and clean the oven
- Empty cabinets and wipe down all the shelves and drawers
- Sanitize your sink. Be sure to include the inner rim of your sink guard
Bathroom cleaning
- Scrub and disinfect the toilet and surrounding floor surface
- Empty medicine cabinet – properly dispose of expired medications and toiletries
- Clean and organize drawers and cabinets
- Scrub the bathtub and shower with attention to fixtures – don’t forget to wash the floor mat and the shower curtain!
Bedroom cleaning
- Wash all pillows and bedding
- Rotate the mattresses
- Empty closets, cabinets, and drawers
- Set out bins for Keep, Donate, Toss – assign clothing and accessories accordingly!
- Kids’ rooms – empty shelves and toy bins. Clean, disinfect, and organize the contents.
Living room cleaning
- Remove furniture cushions and vacuum crevasses
- Empty cabinets, shelves, drawers, and closets – cull and organize
- Wipe down or dust television and electronics
Home office cleaning
- Empty cabinets, shelves, drawers, and closets
- Cull and organize office supplies, documents, and other items that tend to collect
- Spray your keyboard with canned air
- Wipe down or dust your screens
- Disinfect all devices like your phone or tablet and including your computer mouse
Laundry room and mudroom cleaning
- Vacuum and mop behind the washer and dryer
- Thoroughly clean the lint traps in both your washer AND dryer
- Wipe up around and beneath your detergent dispensers
- Empty cabinets, shelves, drawers, and closets – cull and organize. As with the bedroom, set out bins and arrange clothing, shoes, boots, etc. accordingly
- Empty coat hooks – remove and store winter items
Keep your spring cleaning green
As builders of green homes, we are as sensitive to how we maintain our dwellings as we are about building them. When it comes to the indoor air we breathe, we believe that using only non-toxic and natural products is the best way to go.
We recommend a pretty basic toolkit of natural cleaning products – citrus fruit, white vinegar, baking soda, borax, and keep a collection of empty spray bottles on-hand. Other products include cornstarch, hydrogen peroxide, castile soap, tea tree oil and various citrus oils, and other essential oils for scent. Rather than paper towels, we recommend Swedish Cloths – love them! – microfiber cloths, or old, torn up cotton T-shirts.
Happy cleaning!