The ultimate spring cleaning checklist – 28 tasks professional cleaners urge you to tick off now

Spring is the perfect time to deep clean your home. The weather is warm enough to open windows and blow away the staleness of winter, but it is not so hot that you melt into a puddle just trying to vacuum.

However, with so many tasks to tackle on top of our regular routines, it can quickly become overwhelming.

Luckily, professional cleaners have broken down the tasks into the ultimate spring cleaning checklist, complete with expert cleaning tips to help you breeze through your seasonal spruce-up with ease.

Spring cleaning list

A great spring cleaning tip to make spring cleaning less overwhelming is to break the tasks down into rooms and areas, tackling one a day, or a few per week, to avoid exhaustion and burnout.

Whole house tasks

Some tasks need to be completed in every room. The one-tool cleaning method, where you move from room to room completing the same task in each until you reach the beginning again, can be a great way to make this a little quicker.

For example, vacuum every room with your best multi-surface vacuum cleaner, moving from space to space continuously, then dust every room, etc.

1. Dust shelves, frames, and mirrors

Give your shelves a thorough dust and use this as an opportunity to move things around and restyle with some cute spring decor ideas. Taking everything down and mixing up decor pieces, books and plants can make things feel new again. Dust any picture frames and mirrors at the same time, removing any cobwebs up high.

A smart habit to spend less time cleaning is to work from top to bottom. This way, any dust you knock down from up high does not fall on an already clean surface, reducing how long you have to spend re-doing tasks on your spring house cleaning checklist.

2. Clean baseboards

Sara San Angelo, a professional house cleaner of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady says, 'Cleaning baseboards are a must on any spring cleaning list. And that goes for all the baseboards and not just the ones you can see.' Move all of your furniture away from the wall and get every inch of your baseboards.

Sara swears by a Swiffer duster with extension pole, at Amazon, saying, 'They have a three-foot and six-foot version for high or hard-to-reach places. This really helps with baseboards as you don't have to do so much bending down.'

3. Dust lights and lamps

Sara continues, 'Clean lampshades, light fittings, and lightbulbs. Just a thin layer of dust on a light bulb dramatically reduces the amount of light the bulb provides.

'For light bulbs, a gentle wipe with a microfiber cloth works, but sometimes the dust is stuck on, especially if the bulbs are in the kitchen and they collect grease. Then you would want to take them out and gently wash them with dish soap, such as Dawn, from Target, and water. Be very careful to avoid breakages, and ensure they are completely dry before putting them back.'

For lampshades, consider using a lint roller, available at Walmart, to quickly pick up debris and refresh the fabric.

4. Target under furniture

We might be good at vacuuming under furniture, but have you ever looked at the underside of your pieces? They are some of the hidden dirty areas we forget to clean.

Cleaning professional Sara points out that this is where lots of dust and cobwebs end up hiding, saying, 'It's also worth flipping chairs and coffee tables over and giving them an extra-thorough clean.'

It might seem over the top, but tackling the areas we usually neglect is the main reason why we spring clean.

5. Freshen up floors

Scott Johnston of Carpet Care of the Carolinas is an expert when it comes to how to clean area rugs, carpets, upholstery, and floors. He says the number one thing that should always be done as part of your spring cleaning is a deep cleaning of your textiles, including your carpet, rugs, furniture, and drapes.

He explains, 'Deep cleaning should always start with a thorough vacuuming of all of your textiles. This is the first step in removing dry particles, pollens, and other matters that have settled in over the winter.'

How you progress will depend on your floor type:

• To clean real wood floors: mop gently using a small amount of water and a dedicated wood floor cleaner, such as Method Wood Floor Cleanser, from Walmart. Then dry thoroughly.
• To deep clean carpets and rugs: use a specialized carpet cleaning machine to shampoo carpets and suck out moisture, or steam clean carpets to remove odors and kill bacteria. It is possible to clean carpets without a machine, but it is tiring work, requiring you to hand scrub each section with a DIY carpet cleaning solution.
• To clean tile floors: use a tile cleaner or a steam mop to mop floors. For grout, consider using a Rubbermaid power scrubbing brush, available at Target, and an abrasive cleanser such as The Pink Stuff, also from Target, to remove grime and staining.

6. Remove scuffs with a Magic Eraser

Scuff marks on walls and baseboards can quickly make a house look run down. While spring cleaning, take the time to clean walls using a duster, and then remove scuff marks from walls using Mr Clean Magic Erasers, available at Target.

Using light pressure, rub the scuffed area back and forth to lift the mark. Do not press too hard, as you might remove paint or damage wallpaper.

7. Wipe window tracks

Head of Solved, Punteha, says, 'Besides polishing the glass, you might not think about cleaning windows all that often. However, you should be cleaning window tracks regularly, especially during spring cleaning. Cleaning grease and grime from tracks means your windows will open and close more smoothly, and reducing wear and tear, prolonging their lifespan.'

To quickly clean window tracks, use a dish sponge, available in packs from Walmart, and a degreasing spray, such as the Method Heavy-Duty Degreaser, also from Walmart, to brush away dirt.

You can also take some time to lubricate the window hinges using a lubricant such as WD-40, from The Home Depot, to protect from damage during summer.

8. Disinfect high-touch points

Some quick target hygiene cleaning high-touch points can be a great way to reset your home after winter, fending off lingering winter germs. It's one of the tasks we recommend in our ultimate spring cleaning checklist.

Callum Couser, R&D operations manager for hygiene at Reckitt says, 'People often forget to disinfect high touch surfaces like light switches, TV remotes, and game controllers and even sanitize soft surfaces like your couch, cushions, backpacks. Use Lysol Disinfectant Spray, at Walmart, to disinfect and kill 99.9% viruses and bacteria, when used as directed. '

Don't forget to clean kitchen cabinets, and any handles, as well as the exterior of your fridge and freezer.

9. Refresh household filters

There are countless filters in your home that need refreshing come springtime, from cleaning a vacuum filter to cleaning water pitcher filters, and cleaning an air purifier.

Perhaps the most important filters are those in your HVAC system, however, warns Justin Cornforth, the CEO at Ace Home Co.

They say, 'One thing people always forget is filters. A filter in your air conditioner, filter in your air purifier, and even your vacuum cleaner’s filter make sure they are replaced or washed during the spring cleaning so they can do their job perfectly and maintain comfort in your home. If you have washable AC filters, remember that just rinsing them isn’t enough.

'Scrubbing your AC filter with soapy water and soaking it in a vinegar solution is a must if you want to get rid of stubborn dirt and mold spores.'

Kitchens

We should be cleaning kitchens weekly, and tackling counters, sinks, and stoves to prevent germs and grease build-up. So, to make the most of spring cleaning, focus on the areas you usually forget or neglect week to week in order to save time.

10. Clean the cutlery drawer

Forrest Webber, cleaning expert and owner of Bear Brothers Cleaning begins, 'Food gets in places you wouldn't believe, that old food turns moldy and could cause you to get sick! You need to be very thorough about your kitchen cleaning.'

That includes inside your cutlery drawer, where crumbs or lingering soap and food residue can end up festering.

Remove all your cutlery from the drawer and your cutlery organizer before vacuuming the drawer to remove debris. A disinfectant spray, such as the EWG-approved non-toxic Attitude Multi-Purpose Spray, from Walmart, can then be used in the drawer and divider to remove bacteria and sticky residue.

Finish by washing your cutlery, or at least polishing it with a cloth, before organizing kitchen drawers again.

11. Clean the pantry and fridge

Laura Price, professional home organizer and founder of The Home Organisation says, 'Reset your fridge and pantry by using up as many leftovers as you can, throwing away food that’s gone bad, cleaning shelves, and regrouping items into categories.'

Cleaning a pantry and cleaning a refrigerator follow the same steps. Start by removing all the food, then wipe down the shelves with either a disinfecting spray or a cloth dampened with warm soapy water. The best fridges usually have removable shelves to make this easier.

Dry the shelves before putting the food back in, with the oldest food at the front so it is used up more quickly, helping to reduce food waste.

Barbara Brock, professional home organizer and home stager adds, 'When organizing a pantry or fridge, check out dates on items and discard old or unused items. Toss out the cans which have expired dates, or anything that has been open for too long. Chips, crackers, and nuts became stale and tasteless the longer the box or package is opened, for example.'

12. Address under the sink

Few areas of the home attract chaos like the area under the kitchen sink.

If yours is full to the brim with products, edit, categorize, label, and organize cleaning supplies and you'll quickly be able to use this storage space much more effectively.

You'll never regret organizing under the sink, and it doesn't take long.

13. Clean the oven

We hate to say it, but it's time to clean the oven.

Bryan Griffin, professional cleaner and founder of Patriot Maids says, 'Where to focus? Hit the big appliances in your kitchen, such as your oven. It is hard work, but it really makes your whole kitchen feel fresher and more efficient.'

It is preferable to clean an oven without chemicals, as studies have shown that many commercial oven cleaners contain toxic ingredients such as sodium hydroxide, a corrosive or potassium hydroxide, a main ingredient in battery manufacturing.

To do this, you can either clean an oven with lemon, using much safer citric acid (in the form of lemon juice, from Walmart) to tackle grease or use a steam cleaner to deep clean a kitchen, including the oven, to melt grease and kill bacteria.

Bathrooms

As with kitchens, we should be cleaning a bathroom weekly to keep it hygienic, so spring cleaning should focus on the tougher tasks we usually forget about or don't need to be done as regularly.

14. Soak the shower head

Approximately 85% of Americans have hard water in their homes, which means limescale will build up more quickly.

One of the worst places for this is showerheads – an area many of us forget to clean regularly.

To clean a shower head and get rid of limescale, Sarah Jennings, a professional cleaner with Plumbworld says, 'Hard water stains build up fast, especially on taps and showerheads. Soak a cloth in white vinegar, wrap it around the affected area, and leave for 30 minutes before wiping it away.'

15. Wash bathroom textiles

Many of us wash towels weekly, or every few showers, to prevent bacteria, make towels soft again, and get rid of musty smells in the bathroom. But how often do you wash a bathmat? Or clean a shower curtain, for that matter?

Punteha van Terheyden says, 'Many bathmats and shower curtains can go in a warm water cycle in the washing machine to banish any odors and maintain a high level of hygiene. Double check the laundry symbols on the care tag first to avoid damage. I have some bath mats that have a rubber non slip backing and they dont cope well with high heat and need to be air dried.'

If you have glass doors instead of a curtain, clean shower glass with The Pink Stuff and a mildly abrasive sponge. It eats away at limescale without the need to scrub and takes less than 10 minutes.

16. Declutter linen cabinets

Decluttering and organizing a bathroom closet is a must every spring. Products have a habit of building up without us realizing, be it free samples, or mini toiletries from the holidays, it can cause a clutter tsunami by the time spring rolls around.

Brenda Scott, professional home organizer and owner of Tidy My Space says, 'A tidy home takes less money to maintain because you aren't buying duplicates. A tidy home allows you to know and find what you have, which will save you from buying items before you need them and reduces the chance of having to throw them away if they expired before you could use them.'

17. Scrub tile grout

Cleaning grout is no one's favorite task, but it needs to be done every spring to help avoid damage and permanent mold stains.

For general cleaning, Chris Willatt, founder of Alpine Maids says, 'Grout can be tough to clean. I suggest using Dawn dishwashing liquid and warm water. Mix a small amount of Dawn and warm water until you get a good amount of suds. Use a small brush, toothbrushes work great. Wet the brush and scrub the grout. Once done scrubbing wipe down the area with a wet microfiber cloth.'

To brighten old grout, Marla Mock, president at Molly Maids USA adds, 'Over time, grout and tiles can accumulate mold and mildew. To ensure they remain spotless and sanitary, use a specialized grout cleaner or a mixture of baking soda, such as Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda, from Amazon, and vinegar to scrub these areas.'

Bedrooms

Cleaning a bedroom in spring focuses more on decluttering tips and washing bed sheets than dusting, as this is something you should be doing weekly to reduce allergies and sleep better.

18. Switch to spring clothing

Out with winter and in with spring! Christina Giaquinto, a professional organizer from Modular Closets, recommends spending an afternoon decluttering spring clothes you've fallen out of love with. 'Organize your closet so all your spring clothes are front and center.

'This means putting your snow coats, snow boots, and ski outfits in storage and getting your light jackets, dresses, shorts, and flowy shirts ready to wear.'

To save space in your seasonal under-bed storage, pick up some large vacuum storage bags, from Walmart, reducing your clothing's footprint while protecting them from damage.

19. Clean and flip your mattress

Spring cleaning is all about tackling those tasks you usually put off, like cleaning your mattress.

Cleaning expert Tina Dawson from Toronto Maids says, 'Take off the bedding and vacuum it thoroughly. Then, lightly spray it with a mixture of water and white vinegar, and let it dry completely.' This will help get rid of any dirt and germs that may have accumulated over time.

Some mattresses benefit from being flipped or rotated to promote even wear and avoid the need to fix a sagging mattress. How often you turn your mattress will depend on your mattress type:

• Double-sided mattresses: such as innerspring mattresses, should be flipped every few months.
• Single-sided mattresses: such as memory foam or natural fiber mattresses, should be rotated, not flipped, every month to avoid sagging.

20. Wash comforters and pillows

Molly Freshwater, Founder of Secret Linen Store says, 'When transitioning from winter to summer, properly clean and store winter bedding items such as heavy blankets, winter duvets, and brushed cotton bedding. Wash or dry clean them first, then store them in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags [Target stocks XL Vacuum Bags to fit comforters] to protect them from dust, pests, and moisture. You may want to air out first before storing.

'Air your spring textiles thoroughly to remove any moisture and odors. Hang bedding and throws outside on a sunny day, or use a clothesline indoors if the outside is not an option for you.'

Most bedding can go in a washing machine, making washing a comforter and washing pillows quick and easy. The main limitation on this is the drum size of your best washing machine, as some may not be large enough for comforters. In this case, have your bedding professionally cleaned at a laundrette to avoid damage and make your washing machine last longer.

Living rooms

Cleaning a living room in spring should focus on your larger furniture pieces, removing a year's worth of grime.

21. Clean upholstery

Cleaning upholstery will be your main task in the living room, sucking dirt from sofas and armchairs after a long winter spent hunkering down.

Jennie Holmes, cleaning expert and branch manager at ServiceMaster Clean says, 'Use a microfibre cloth to remove any loose debris, and then use your vacuum to remove smaller bits of debris, paying special attention to around buttons and seams, where crumbs tend to hide.

'Then, check the care label on the chairs for the fabric. Some fabrics are “wet cleanable”, and some are not, so always check and, if unsure, try a cleaner in an inconspicuous area first.

'For food stains, it is generally best to use an enzyme-based cleaner [Such as Nature's Miracle Spray, from Walamrt] as this will “eat” into the stain and remove it – always blot and never rub as this can damage the face of the fabric. It is always best to start at the edge of the stain and work your way into the middle. This prevents the stain from spreading.'

To remove odors from upholstery, sprinkle a fine layer of baking soda over the cushions and leave to sit overnight. Then, brush away the excess powder before vacuuming.

Home offices

Home offices don't tend to get too dirty, but it is worth spending a little time in them each spring to declutter a home office and sanitize after flu season.

22. Clear out paperwork

Organizing paperwork at home is a must around springtime, as tax season is on the horizon.

Go through old bills, magazines, and papers, shredding anything that includes personal information. Clear out old notepads, brochures, leaflets, cards, and user manuals as long as you can find them as a PDF online.

When organizing important documents such as tax information, social security documents, or passports, use a fire-proof safe, such as the SentrySafe from The Home Depot, to keep them safe even in the event of a fire.

23. Clean your desk tools

Punteha, head of Solved, works from home and understands the importance of a clean, tidy office desk to improve home office productivity.

She recommends, 'Disinfecting your keyboard, monitor, mouse, and chargers, and tidy up unruly drawers. Don't forget to also wipe over your desk and office chair to kill germs for a sanitary space.'

Keeping a pack of disinfectant wipes, such as the Lysol wipes from Walmart, in your desk drawer makes this task quick and easy.

Outdoors

Spring cleaning doesn't stop when your home is looking fresh. Backyard cleaning is just as important to prepare outdoor spaces for the nicer weather ahead.

24. Refresh your patio and decks

Jeremy Yamaguchi of Lawn Love says, 'Spring is the perfect time to do a deep clean on outdoor spaces like patios, decks, and porches. You might consider spending time power washing surfaces to remove dirt, grime, and mildew in order to make the spaces look new again.'

If you do not have a powerwasher, using a moss and algae remover, such as Wet & Forget from Amazon, is a more affordable alternative.

25. Brush up outdoor furniture

When cleaning porches and patios, Jeremy adds, 'You'll also want to clean any outdoor furniture and rugs to help remove dirt and debris that have accumulated over the winter and get them ready for the warmer months.'

It is not recommended to use a pressure washer to clean patio furniture, as it can damage finishes. Instead, use warm soapy water, made with grease-fighting dish soap such as Dawn, from Walmart, and a soft sponge. Finish by drying with a towel to prevent streaks.

Laundry areas

Checking your laundry room essentials, cleaning appliances, and working through the things to declutter from a laundry room will make doing laundry easier for the rest of the year.

26. Clean you washer and dryer

Generally speaking, washing machines and dryers should be cleaned every month or two, to sanitize the drum and remove lint. However, with all the things you'll be freshening up over spring, it is worth doing a deep clean to ensure perfect results.

To clean a washing machine, Tim Conn, founder and president of commercial cleaners Image One USA says, 'The best things are white vinegar and baking soda. Run a hot cycle with one to two cups of white vinegar, followed by a second cycle where you sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda directly into the machine’s drum.

'Wipe down seals, dispensers, and other high-moisture areas that often harbor mold and grime using a damp cloth and mild detergent. This combination helps eliminate odors, dissolve detergent residue, and combat mineral buildup.'

To clean a dryer, unplug the appliance at the wall before emptying and cleaning the dryer vent, throwing lint in the trash. The drum can then be wiped down with a cloth dampened with vinegar before leaving to air dry.

27. Declutter toxic laundry products

There are several toxic laundry room items lurking in cabinets that could be damaging your laundry and your health.

Many commercial laundry detergents, for example, were found in a 2023 study to 'impair the epidermal barrier [...]. Daily exposure to detergent may cause skin barrier disruption and may contribute to the development of atopic diseases.'

Decluttering detergents and softeners full of artificial dyes and fragrances, and switching to natural alternatives, is a great way to boost your spring cleaning efforts and protect your health, especially as you don't need harsh chemicals to clean well.

28. Clean your laundry hampers

Cleaning clothes is all well and good, but if you put them straight back into your dirty laundry hamper, your work will be undone.

How you clean a laundry basket or hamper will depend on the material.

Plastic hampers can be cleaned with a mixture of white vinegar and warm water with a microfiber cloth.

Fabric laundry hampers may be machine washable if you can remove any hard wooden or metal components. Otherwise, spritz the fabric with distilled white vinegar before placing it in bright sunlight to air dry. Vinegar will kill germs and mold.

Meet the experts

Sara San Angelo

Sara San Angelo, a.k.a The Cleaning Lady, is a professional house cleaner with over 20 years of experience cleaning houses. She also runs a successful blog, Confessions of a Cleaning Lady.

Forrest Webber

Forrest is the founder and CEO of Bear Brothers Cleaning. Forrest spent the last year as a residential electrician with the goal of obtaining the knowledge to run his own home service company.

Laura Price

Laura Price's goal is to help others experience the benefits of living an organized life after discovering that organized homes brought her peace when raising three children in a hectic home. Hence the birth of The Home Organisation, a dedicated team of professional organizers.

Bryan Griffin

As the founder of Patriot Maids, Bryan spent the last several years connecting hardworking cleaning professionals with busy homeowners to turn even the messiest of homes around. Since launching in 2017, Patriot Maids have served over 2,000 homes annually across 12 major cities.

Brenda Scott

Brenda Scott is passionate about home organizing, decluttering, and creating a safe home. At Tidy My Space, she helps people to keep their homes tidy when life gets busy. Brenda shares useful tips and gives practical help with sorting and editing her clients' spaces, leading them to feel less stressed and bringing the luxury of time to be spent with family, friends, or on themselves.

FAQs

How long should a spring clean take?

How long it takes to spring clean your home will depend largely on the size of your property, which tasks you decide to tackle, and if you are working alone or not. Generally, people take three to five days to spring clean a house, breaking tasks down and scheduling breaks to make the tasks more manageable and prevent exhaustion.

If you suffer chronic pain, fatigue or are recovering from an injury, using adaptive pacing when cleaning will help reduce the risk of a flare.

What month should I start spring cleaning?

People start spring cleaning at different times, however, it usually falls sometime between March and May, when the days get longer and the weather gets warmer.

Remember, spring cleaning is not a sprint. To avoid burnout and maintain your energy levels, you can embrace slow cleaning this spring, taking time over a few weeks or even months to tackle tough deep cleaning tasks.