Give your living space a little extra love by following this room-by-room
checklist on how to deep clean your home this spring or throughout the year.
Before
you begin
1. Clear away the clutter. Pick-up any items that have accumulated
on the floor, on top of counters and table tops, or draped across furniture, so
that you can get to the places you need to.
2. Make a game plan. Plot out which rooms you’ll
tackle and when, keeping in mind how much time you think it will take to do a
thorough job. Don’t be afraid to break the work up into multiple days or even
weeks.
3. Take stock. The last thing you’ll want to do is
mess up your rhythm by running out of something you need. Suggested supplies
include: baking soda, broom, stiff bristle brush, cleaning caddy
(optional), dish soap, dusting cloths (microfiber works best), garden hose (for
yard work), gloves to protect your hands, lint roller, mineral oil, mop, multi-purpose
cleaner, sponges, telescoping pole for high and hard-to-reach spaces, vacuum
cleaner with extension accessories, white vinegar, window and glass cleaner,
wood cleaner and/or polish.
#1 Bathrooms
Start by spraying
down your tub with multi-purpose cleaner so that it can soak for a while and
break up any soap and oil that have accumulated. Do the same with the toilet
bowls and sinks. That will make scrubbing that much easier when you circle back
to it later on.
- Tip: Don’t forget to wipe down the base of
the toilet near the floor, where dust and dribbles can sometimes land.
Wipe down light fixtures, mirrors and window treatments. You can use a little bit of vinegar on a damp rag.
Wash glass shower doors. To clear off that soap scum or
water spot, apply some warm distilled white vinegar and let it sit for a half
an hour or so; reapply if needed. Then sprinkle some baking soda on top, and
gently scrub the spots away.
- Tip: A slightly damp dryer sheet
will also remove buildup.
Toss any
cloth curtains or bath mats in the washing machine. Just be sure to
check care tags to verify what cycle items should be washed on. To keep anything
from wrinkling in the dryer, set the heat setting on low and take items out
when they’re still a little damp. Then, hang them back up in the shower to
finish drying completely. If you also have a plastic shower curtain liner, wash
it in the laundry on cold, and rehang it to dry, or replace it with a new one.
Clean out under the sinks and inside drawers. Over time,
these spaces tend to get cluttered. Take everything out so that you can wipe
the bottom of the cabinets and drawers and clear out any cobwebs that might
have formed. As you’re putting items back, toss what you no longer need, and
organize the rest.
- Tip: place items
you use most frequently near the front for easier access.
Don’t forget
the grout. You can make a homemade grout cleaner by using vinegar,
baking soda and water. First, spray down the grout with a
half-vinegar/half-water solution until the area is good and saturated. Let it
sit for a few minutes, scrub with a bristled brush (an old toothbrush will
do!), and then rinse. Then, mix some baking soda with water until it forms a
paste, apply it to the grout using your brush, and spray it with the water and
vinegar. The bubbles that form will start to clean away some of the grit and
grime, and your brush will do the rest. When you’re done, rinse the grout with
warm water.
- Tip: In a pinch, carpet cleaner also works great
on grout.
Disinfect
handles and door knobs. These neglected pieces of hardware are some of
the germiest places in the house. If you haven’t wiped them down in a while,
it’s a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning with a multi-purpose cleaner
or disinfectant wipes.
#2 Kitchen
Wipe down cabinets. With
a damp rag, gently clean off any dust or dirt on the inside and outside of the
cabinets including the doors. For grease-splatter, dip your cloth in undiluted
vinegar to rub off the grease, then rinse the rag in warm water to wipe off the
vinegar.
- Tip: After wiping down the top of the cabinets, cut
a newspaper to size to fit the space. As the months go by, the paper will
collect the dust — not your cabinets — and you’ll only need to swap out the
paper for next year’s spring cleaning.)
Some cabinets will swell if they encounter too much moisture, so be sure to
always ring out your rag well before wiping down the wood, and dry the surface
quickly with a paper towel after cleaning.
Vacuum out the refrigerator coils and vent. Use the
vacuum’s hose or brush extension to remove all the dirt and dust from the
fridge coil and vent, or rent an air compressor to blow it out.
Clean out
the fridge and defrost the freezer. Take everything out, so that you
can remove food debris from the shelves and inside walls — starting from the
top and working your way down. When you put food back, be sure to check
expiration date, and toss anything that’s past its prime. Don’t forget to wipe
down the fronts of the fridge and freezer, paying close attention to
disinfecting the door handles.
Throw out
old sponges. These kitchen tools are germ magnets. Even zapping them
in the microwave won’t kill all the bacteria that find their way inside.
Disinfect sponges every few days by letting them soak in a bleach-water
solution (¾ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) for five minutes. After a couple
of weeks, however, they should be thrown out completely and replaced, or
swapped for reusable silicone scrubbers that can be more easily
disinfected.
Scrub down the stove top and vent. For range hoods and
stove tops covered in greasy dust, use a mineral oil to wipe away the film,
then remove the oil with some warm water and dish soap.
- Tip:
Coat gas stove top surfaces (not the grates) with car wax, then wipe it off.
This will make it easier to clean up future spills.
Clean the oven. If your oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning
function, you can make a DIY cleaner by mixing 5 tablespoons of baking soda, 5
drops of dish soap, and 4 tablespoons of vinegar into a paste and slathering it
on the worst spots. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub at it with a
sponge or non-abrasive brush. For extra stubborn grease stains, place a few
drops of dish soap on half a lemon, and rub it on the problematic areas. Then,
scrub or wipe it clean.
Organize the
pantry. After you’ve removed everything from the shelves and wiped
them off, replace and organize the pantry items by purpose. For example,
instead of having baking items stacked on a shelf or spread throughout the
pantry, place all ingredients used exclusively for baking inside a clear bin or
tub. That way, when you’re ready to make cookies, you already have everything
you need and can easily carry the items to the counter and back. Similarly, use
racks and clear containers to separate breakfast items from snacks or dinner
ingredients, and so on.
- Tip: Mount a dry-erase board inside
your pantry to keep notes of what you have or what you need.
Clean out the microwave. While a spaghetti-splattered
microwave can seem daunting, this might be the easiest task in the whole
kitchen. Mix a tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of water, and microwave it on
high for 5 minutes. The vapor from the boiling solution will coat every inch of
food debris, and make it easier to wipe away.
Disinfect the sink. If you cook with raw meat in your home,
chances are the kitchen sink is the germiest spot in the whole house. Give the
basin a good scrub with a disinfectant or bleach solution to kill any bacteria
lurking inside.
Wipe down
the countertops. Remove any items on the counters, including
appliances and knife blocks, and then use a disinfectant spray or cleaning
wipes to get corners and spaces in the back that might not get as much
attention throughout the year. While you’re there, wipe down the walls or
backsplashes, too.
#3 Common
areas
Take off all cushions from couches and chairs, and vacuum the spaces
underneath. Pay special attention to the nooks and crannies where
crumbs or dust might have made a home.
- Tip: Use isopropyl alcohol
(rubbing alcohol) to remove stains from microfiber fabrics by dabbing it
on with a white sponge — to avoid any dye transfers — and scrub with a
white bristle brush.
Shampoo your rugs and carpets. Or, if you’d rather not
spend the time, money, or effort to shampoo the whole house, spot clean stains
using pet stain remover or a steam cleaner.
- Tip: In a pinch, the
“steam” function on your clothing iron works great as a steam cleaner.
Polish your wooden furniture. Remove any items from
bookcases or coffee tables to clean every surface with a dust rag, followed by
wood cleaner or polish. Fix scratches by rubbing a walnut along the scratch or
by using a stain pen.
- Tip: Remove water stains
on your wooden furniture by blasting it with a hair dryer at close range
and treating the wood with a furniture polish or mineral oil.
Wipe down baseboards, window treatments, light fixtures and ceiling
fans. Use a telescoping pole or the vacuum cleaner extension
attachment to reach high ceilings and corners. Remove and launder the drapes,
and clean the windows with glass cleaner. Don’t forget to disinfect door
handles!
- Tip: Use a lint roller on
lamp shades to remove any dust or pet hair that have accumulated there.
Dust your decor. Gently wipe or brush away dust from all of
your knick knacks, picture frames, and clocks. Depending on how many decorative
items you keep in your home, this may be the most time-consuming activity you
do during your spring cleaning.
Clean your electronics. Another germy place in your house?
The TV remote. Just think of all the (sometimes sticky) hands that touch it.
Give your electronics a good wipe down, including the top of your TV and DVD
player. Dust the front of any screens with a microfiber rag or a feather
duster, making sure to get the corners.
#4 Bedrooms
Wash the bedding, including bed skirts, shams and duvet covers. Don’t forget the pillows!
Flip your mattress. Or if you have a pillow top, rotate it
to prevent grooves from forming due to sleeping in the same spot for too long.
Freshen the mattress by spreading on some baking soda, letting it sit for 45
minutes to an hour, and vacuuming it back up.
- Tip: Use foam shaving
cream to remove mattress stains by letting it sit for 15 minutes before
wiping it off with a slightly damp rag dipped in a half-water/half-vinegar
solution.
Dust neglected surfaces, like window treatments, headboards and
ceiling fans. If you have drapes, vacuum or launder them, too.
- Tip: Be careful wiping off
ceiling fans, as dust clumps can fall on you while dusting. To prevent
this, slide each fan blade into a pillowcase to get the bulk of the dust
off before taking a rag to it.
Vacuum or mop under furniture, including behind dressers and under
beds. Pay extra attention to corners and baseboards.
- Tip: If your furniture is
too heavy to move, use the vacuum cleaner attachments or a telescoping
pole to swivel a mop head or rag to get to hard-to-reach places.
#5 Closets
Sort through items and get rid of anything you no longer need or
use. If you’re really wanting to keep something, ask yourself:
1. Does
it fit?
2. Is it flattering on me?
3. Have I used it in the past year? If you
answer “no” to any of the above, strongly consider donating or selling it.
- Tip: Turn around all of
the hangers so that they are hanging backward, and throughout the year,
only turn each one back the right way if you’ve worn the item. If
something is still hanging backward during next year’s spring cleaning,
you’ll know which items to get rid of first.
Rotate seasonal items. If you’re doing spring cleaning, pack up those bulky sweaters and heavy coats and store them on a
shelf or in the back of your closet until next winter. The same can be done in
the fall for summer clothing and accessories.
Vacuum carpet and ceilings. Remove any items from the
floor, and vacuum up any dust that might have built up under your shoe rack or
nostalgia box. Don’t forget to get into the corners of the ceiling to capture
any cobwebs or dust bunnies.
Wipe down shelves and inside drawers. Remove all items, and
wipe down the space with a damp rag. As you replace the items, think about how
they can be organized so that you’re more likely to keep the space tidy.
- Tip: Use drawer dividers
or fabric bins to organize small items like hand towels or underwear.
#6 Laundry
room
Wipe laundry machines and countertops. Use a damp rag to
remove the light dusting of lint that tends to settle on every surface in the
laundry room.
Toss any rogue dryer sheets and empty detergent bottles. Look
between the machines, behind doors, and under cabinets to catch any pesky dryer
sheets or lint clumps. Dispose of any outdated cleaning supplies, taking
special care to follow your city’s instructions, as not all cleaning supplies
can go in the regular municipal trash pick up.
Organize supplies. If things have gotten a little
cluttered, neatly line up cleaning supplies, so you can more easily see and
access the items you need. If small children are in the home, ensure dangerous
cleaning supplies are out of reach or kept in a secured cabinet.
Sanitize your washing machine. After every load of laundry,
it’s a good idea to leave the washing machine door open to let it air out and
prevent mold from growing inside. Once a year, however, it’s a good idea to
sanitize the machine to remove any mold and get out detergent that has started
to build up. Use multi-purpose disinfectant or a vinegar solution to clean the
rubber seal around the door of the machine, as well as inside the dispensers.
If your washer doesn’t have a self-cleaning cycle, run the empty machine using
hot water and a little bleach.
Clean out your lint trap filter and dryer vent. Clogged
dryer vents can pose a fire hazard for your home, and poor airflow can allow
condensation to accumulate behind your walls, so it’s especially important to keep
these passageways clean. After every load of laundry, remove lint from your
lint trap, and at least once a year, vacuum out any lingering debris on the
trap itself, as well as the space where it’s housed inside the dryer. Then,
unplug the dryer, and disconnect the dryer duct — a 4-inch pipe, typically
located in the wall directly behind the machine. Gently pull the dryer away
from the wall just enough to access the duct. If you have a gas dryer, be extra
cautious not to mess with the gas line. You can use a vacuum or special duct
cleaning kit to remove debris inside the line, as well as wherever the dryer’s
vent is housed outside your home. When you’re done, reconnect everything, and
place the machine back into its position.
- Tip: If your vent line is
much longer than your vacuum hose can reach, or the outside vent outlet is
inaccessible, consider hiring a professional duct cleaning service every
few years to ensure the entire line is clear.
Mop or vacuum the floor. When you’ve cleaned everything
else in the room, vacuum or mop the floor, taking care to reach the corners and
behind the machines, using periscoping handles or vacuum extensions.
#7 Mud Room
Remove items and wipe down hooks and shelves. Use a damp
rag or multi-purpose cleaner to clean dirt off of any shelving and hooks,
especially where shoes are kept.
Toss or store unused items. Get rid of any items you no
longer use or items family members have outgrown, including seasonal jackets or
shoes. Wash and store items you want to keep, and donate or sell the rest.
Organize items by purpose and practicality. It doesn’t take
much for the mudroom to fall into disarray. Give yourself and your family the
best chance at keeping the space clean by thinking through where items are
normally placed, and organize from there. If shoes are often thrown on the
ground, for example, bins to store them should be on or near the floor. Baskets
can be used to catch small items (like keys or earphones), and multiple hooks
are great for storing winter gear and backpacks.
#8 Garage
Declutter. Now’s the time to take a good, long look at
everything in your garage and ask yourself, “Do I need this?” Dispose of old
cleaners, broken equipment, and abandoned projects, and anything else that no
longer has a use.
Sweep the floors. If you can, remove everything at ground
level in the garage, and use a broom to sweep out the dust, leaves, and mystery
gunk that have settled there.
Maximize your (vertical) space. Many garages have empty
space above the garage door or near the ceiling that can be used for storage.
Investing in sturdy shelves near the ceiling is a great way to store those
rarely used items like Christmas trees or beach umbrellas. Similarly, bikes and
seasonal garden equipment can be hung from the ceiling or high up on a wall to
best utilize the space available.
#9 Outdoor
spaces
Get out the hose. Spray down patios, decks, porches, lawn
furniture, playground equipment — and any other large item or space you have
outside your home. For the siding, you may want to rent or invest in a
power-washer to remove buildup on the
outside of the house.
Tidy the yard. Pull any weeds sprouting up in your lawn or
garden. Lay down mulch or compost (if needed), and plant any flowers or edible
greens you’d like.
