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As we move into spring, many of us will be feeling excited for warmer, brighter days. And what better way to mark the beginning of the new season than with a thorough spring clean?
Aside from the obvious satisfaction of having a sparkling clean home, spring cleaning has several health benefits – with studies showing it can significantly boost mood and motivation, fend off illness, prevent injury, and improve focus. Plus, as a bonus, you might even come across items you thought were lost.
With that said, we’ve pulled together some top spring cleaning tips to help you achieve a squeaky-clean home from top to bottom.
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Top tips for a productive spring clean
Decide what you’d like to achieve during your spring clean
Making a plan can help you stay focused on what you’d like to achieve during your spring clean.
For many of us, this might be rather a long list, so to avoid becoming overwhelmed, consider grouping tasks by room. Tackling one room at a time can make it easier to keep track of your progress and see what’s left to do.
Work from the top down
Once you’ve broken down your chores, try to tackle them one at a time, from the top of your home to the bottom.
This can add further clarity to the process and also helps remove dust and other debris from the top down, making you less likely to have to go back over your work.
Keep cleaning products to a minimum
If you need new cleaning products to get started with your spring clean, it’s worth making a list in advance to avoid unnecessary spending and creating more clutter.
Multi-purpose cleaners are handy because they’re versatile and can be used for several chores.
Other useful products for a spring clean include microfibre cloths, dusters, glass cleaner, and disinfectant wipes.
There are also plenty of ideas in our article: 7 effective natural cleaning products that cost pennies to make.
Try to form new cleaning habits going forward
The relief and freshness you feel after a good spring clean can encourage new cleaning habits for the future, so there’s less to do in one go next time.
For example, instead of doing all your cleaning chores in one day, you might find it useful to spend 10-15 minutes daily on a particular task. Breaking jobs down can make cleaning feel less stressful and tedious, and allow us to stay on top of things.
If you feel you’d benefit from adding some organisation to your home to make cleaning easier, you might like to read our article: How to declutter and reorganise your home.
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24 things to add to your spring cleaning checklist
1. Declutter first
Usually, the best place to start with a spring clean is by thoroughly decluttering. It’s amazing what we can accumulate throughout the year without realising.
Start with drawers and wardrobes, setting aside clothes that you no longer wear to donate to charity or store separately until next winter.
Home offices, under-bed storage, medicine cabinets, and food cupboards are also clutter hotspots. If you’ve got in-date food products that you won’t use, you could donate them to a food bank or use the Olio app. Olio allows you to list food and non-food products for others to collect and use. It’s free to use – all you’ll need to do is arrange a pickup point.
For leftover non-food items that you’re unsure what to do with, check out our article: How to make money from your clutter.
2. Clean and dust surfaces from top to bottom
Once you’ve decluttered a room and it’s starting to feel more open, you can dust and wipe surfaces – starting with higher surfaces first to avoid spreading dust around.
Long-handled dusters are useful for removing cobwebs and dusting other areas, like lampshades and skirting boards, while glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth can be used to wipe down photo frames, mirrors, lightbulbs, countertops, and other surfaces. Just make sure bulbs have been switched off for a while first to avoid burning yourself.
3. Get windows sparkling
As the spring light floods into our homes, dirty fingerprints and streaks across the windows can be off-putting.
There’s also no underestimating the difference that clean windows can make to a room and, luckily, there are plenty of easy home solutions to make window-cleaning easy. You’ll find plenty of tips and tricks on how to clean windows in this article on Ideal Home.
And, remember, for the best results, it’s advised to clean your windows on a cloudy day (the glass will dry much quicker and cause smears when it’s warm), so consider prioritising this job before the summer sun takes over.
4. Treat marks or stains on walls
Having marks or stains on your walls can ruin the aesthetics of any room. But, they’re often easily removed with some washing-up liquid mixed with warm water and a microfibre cloth. Once you’ve wrung out the cloth, rub it on the mark or stain until you can no longer see it. You’ll need to wait until the wall dries before you can be sure the mark has gone, repeating the process if it’s still there. Chances are, you may also have to touch up now-clean areas with a spot of paint to avoid areas looking faded.
For more stubborn stains, consider using cleaning erasers or sugar soap.
5. Refresh curtains
Curtains are often forgotten during our regular cleaning sprees, so now’s the perfect time to get them down and give them a refresh.
Simply, tumble dry them on an air cycle for 15 minutes and rehang them immediately to avoid wrinkles. This process helps remove dust, lint, and pet hair, and will ‘re-fluff’ your curtains.
If you don’t have a tumble dryer, using a steam cleaner is another good option for refreshing your curtains. You can find instructions on steaming curtains in this article from Cleanipedia.
6. Clean pillows, duvets, and mattresses
While we all wash our bed sheets regularly, the actual pillows, duvet, and mattress often get neglected. But considering the average person spends roughly one-third of their life in bed, it’s a good idea to clean pillows, duvets, and mattresses at least every six months.
For pillows and duvets, always read the manufacturer’s label before throwing anything in the washing machine. And for mattresses, it’s worth running over it with your vacuum cleaner’s upholstery tool, treating it with disinfectant spray, and using your iron to tackle dust mites.
You can find out how to clean and remove stains in this article from MyBedFrames.
7. Hoover sofas and armchairs
Start by pulling your sofas and armchairs away from the walls so you can vacuum spaces where dust gathers.
Once returned to their original positions, you can use the upholstery tool on your hoover to give them a good blast and clean the cushions.
If you don’t have access to a vacuum cleaner, you might like to try this method from Living Proof Magazine, where all you’ll need is two microfibre cloths, a stiff-bristle brush, a soft-bristle brush, and some bicarbonate of soda.
8. Disinfect your bin
Cleaning your bin might be a grim job, but it’s also necessary. As temperatures rise, bins can become even more of a bacterial hotspot.
You can find tips on cleaning your bin in this article by Good Housekeeping.
After your spring clean, consider making a habit of wiping down your bin with disinfectant wipes or sprays each time you empty it, to avoid the need to deep-clean it so often. It’s also best not to overfill bins; if the bag splits or the contents spill over, you’ll be dealing with an even more difficult job than before.
9. Clear out the fridge
To give your fridge the thorough clean it deserves, start by emptying the contents and removing anything past its sell-by date. Then, soak all of the removable shelves and drawers in soapy water and give them a good clean.
Before putting them back in, make sure to clear out any food debris from the fridge and give the inside a thorough wipe with disinfectant, or vinegar and baking soda for a natural sanitising solution.
10. De-crumb your toaster
Toasters can gather years’ worth of dust and crumbs in their slots, which is not only unhygienic but, as the crumbs build and dry out over time, can also become a fire hazard.
Toasters might seem like a nightmare to clean, but it’s a pretty easy process and shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes, using a microfibre cloth, some white vinegar, and disinfectant wipes. A brush of some kind can also help get crumbs out of tighter areas; for example, a pastry brush or toothbrush.
Always remember to unplug your toaster first and allow it to cool if you’ve used it recently, to avoid the risk of an electrical shock or burning yourself.
If you’d like to follow a step-by-step guide to cleaning your toaster, check out this article from The Kitchn.
11. Clean chopping boards
After preparing so much food on them, chopping boards are often left with marks or stains that don’t seem to come out in the wash. But amazingly, running the cut side of a lemon over a chopping board has been found to help remove food stains and smells.
If you need something a bit stronger, try adding a sprinkle of salt or baking soda to the surface of your board before rubbing the lemon over it.
12. Clean your microwave and oven
After a few rounds of heating leftovers, microwaves and ovens can quickly become splashed and stained, and most of us are guilty of leaving them to fester longer than we should.
You can clean your microwave with everyday products like all-purpose cleaners, washing up liquid, baking soda, or white or apple cider vinegar. It’s important to turn your microwave off before cleaning it and steer clear of bleach, which can weaken plastic and damage your appliance over time.
The YouTube video below shows a useful microwave cleaning hack that only requires a microwave-proof bowl, water, and chopped-up lemon.
You can use the self-cleaning function in your oven (if it has one) to tackle tough grime. Alternatively, putting a hot, wet cloth over the burnt spots can help loosen them, so you can scrub them off with baking powder and a tough cleaning pad. You’ll find instructions on oven cleaning in this article by Good Housekeeping.
13. Bring the shine back to stainless steel appliances
If not cleaned regularly, stainless steel appliances can begin to look dull and grey.
Luckily, they’re very easy to clean and maintain, and all you’ll need to get your appliances looking shiny and new is some white vinegar, baking soda, and a microfibre cloth.
You can find out how to use these products, as well as the dos and don’ts of cleaning stainless steel appliances, in this article from Bosch.
14. Freshen up drains
All you’ll need to freshen up your drains is half a cup of baking soda, a quarter-cup of table salt, and a cup of heated white vinegar.
Mix the baking soda and salt, pour the mixture down your drain, then add vinegar. Leave for 15 minutes max as it begins to foam and bubble, and then run water from the hot tap for between 15 and 30 seconds. This hack is especially useful for drains that aren’t used every day, like those in guest bathrooms.
To help avoid your drains clogging up in the future, check out this guide from Which?.
15. Give silver a good clean
Dishes, cutlery, and silver jewellery naturally tarnish over time, no matter how well you look after them. Silver doesn’t need to be cleaned as consistently as other household items like bedding, but it’s worth including in your spring clean to help bring back its original shine.
To clean your silver, you’ll need a microfibre cloth and silver cleaner and polish, which you’ll use to rub items in an up-and-down motion (not circular ones, as these can highlight any scratches) before rinsing in warm water and drying with a clean cloth.
If you don’t have access to these products, you can clean your silver using homemade remedies, like this one from The Kitchn, which uses aluminium foil, baking soda, sea salt, and white vinegar.
To prevent items from tarnishing as quickly in the future, consider getting an anti-tarnish bag to store them in.
16. Wash shower curtains
Washing plastic or vinyl shower curtains is as simple as putting them on a gentle washing machine cycle and adding your regular washing detergent. Then, allow it to hang and air-dry before you shower again, and that’s the job done.
To avoid mould, mildew, and soap scum building up, and keep your shower curtain cleaner for longer, try wiping it down with a multi-purpose cleaner containing bleach, then rinse with water afterwards.
17. Wipe down tiled surfaces
When cleaning kitchen or bathroom tiles, it’s advisable to use a cleaner with a neutral PH, for example, this neutral tile cleaner on Amazon.
Alternatively, you could make your own cleaning solution by mixing two gallons of water and half a cup of baking soda, then applying it with a mop. This cleaning solution can also work well for grout.
18. Clean the washing machine, tumble dryer, and dishwasher
While they’re normally doing the cleaning, appliances like washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers need some TLC, too.
For a washing machine, switch on the special washer cleaning cycle using bleach and/or a washing machine cleaner. This can help avoid unwanted odours and keep your machine fresh. If your machine doesn’t have a special cleaning cycle, you might find some of these natural washing machine cleaning methods from Clean Mama useful.
As well as cleaning out tumble dryer filters, it’s also a good idea to use your vacuum cleaner’s crevice tool for the tricky-to-reach spots, and to hoover around and under the dryer to clean up any debris.
Lastly, for the dishwasher, remove any bits of food that might have got stuck at the bottom and run a cycle with a dishwasher cleaner. It’s best to repeat this around once a month to keep everything fresh and avoid buildup.
19. Organise bookshelves
As spring blooms, you might like to refresh your bookshelf and coffee table area. You could sort through any books or magazines you no longer need, and make space for anything new on your reading list.
If you’re one for organisation, you could consider alphabetising, sorting by genre, or colour theme. This article from Homes & Gardens offers more inspiration.
20. Clean your phone and any other electronic devices
Cleaning your phone might not have been on your checklist for a spring clean, but electronic devices – our phones especially – carry lots of germs.
Once you’ve turned your phone off, wipe it all over with a microfibre cloth, and then with a disinfectant wipe. After leaving it to air-dry for around five minutes, wipe it down with the microfibre cloth again.
You can use this same method for other electronic devices that might carry unwanted bacteria. Some items you might like to tick off include TV remote controls, car keys, and your computer mouse.
21. Wash your pet’s bedding
Our pets’ bedding is another part of our homes that we often forget to clean. But pet beds can become full of ticks, fleas, mites, and even E. coli and Salmonella if left too long, so it’s important to add this to your to-do list.
First, you’ll want to remove as much hair from the bed as possible and pre-treat any stains with a stain remover before washing all bedding on a cool setting and tumble-drying it, or leaving it to air dry. You can find more instructions on the process in this guide from Country Living.
22. Wash down outdoor furniture
Outdoor furniture can take a beating over the winter months, so spring is the perfect time to freshen it up and get it summer-ready.
While methods may vary depending on what material your furniture is made from, washing outdoor furniture is pretty simple – you’ll just need a microfibre cloth, a soft-bristled brush, and some washing-up liquid and warm water in a bucket.
You can find easy-to-follow instructions for cleaning your garden furniture in this guide from Merry Maids.
To protect your outdoor furniture going forward, it can be helpful to store it in a shed or garage during the colder months, and keep cushions indoors if possible.
23. Remember to refresh your cleaning devices
Once you’re finished with your spring clean and everything’s looking wonderful and spotless, don’t forget about the cleaning devices themselves.
To keep your vacuum cleaner in tip-top condition and working as well as it should, remember to empty it properly, clean out the dust cup, and either wash or replace the filters. It’s also worth using scissors to cut threads or hairs stuck in the brush.
Brooms will also accumulate lots of dust and hair when used for cleaning, so it’s a good idea to give them a soak in warm, soapy water, or use a vacuum to get stubborn bits off.
24. Consider adding a finishing touch with some flowers
Once you’ve reached the end of your spring clean, you can take a sigh of relief and appreciate the labours of your hard work.
To add colour to your new clean space, why not treat yourself to some flowers?
For some flower arranging ideas, check out our article: 17 of the most popular and classic flower arranging styles.
Give unwanteds a better next chapter
Your once-loved items are just waiting to be useful again. Pop them in a box, send them to Vintage Cash Cow for free, and they’ll make you an offer to rehome them all.
Final thoughts…
There are countless benefits to spring cleaning. Not only will you be left with a sparkling clean home to enjoy, but the process has also been proven to boost mood, increase productivity, and fend off illness.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of tasks you need to do, try to take it one step at a time, and one job at a time. Before you know it, you’ll already be seeing the benefits.
With the first signs of spring on the way, there’s never been a better time to have a thorough spring clean, separate the old from the new, and start the season afresh with a squeaky clean home.
For more tips on cleaning and organising your home, why not check out our home and garden section?
Have you done a spring clean recently, or are you planning on doing one soon? Have you got any further tips and tricks you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
* Links with an * by them are affiliate links which help Rest Less stay free to use as they can result in a payment or benefit to us. You can read more on how we make money here.
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