Taking it One Room at a Time!
A thorough spring cleaning can take awhile, but you will feel fantastically free when
you finish. Break up this detailed spring cleaning checklist and clean one room a
day. Gather together cleaning supplies in a plastic bucket with a handle so it is easy
to transport them from room to room as you work toward a fresh spring start.
dislodge greasy
Turn off the power at the circuit breaker or particles. Rinse in
fuse box. Empty freezer’s contents, discard hot water and dry
items past their prime and store food in a thoroughly before
cooler with ice packs. Wipe down freezer replacing.
interior with a solution of 2 tablespoons
baking soda per 1 quart hot water to
deodorize and clean thoroughly. Replace
food items and your baking soda container
Check your owner
in the freezer.
manual for cleaning
instructions.
Turn off the power at the circuit breaker or
fuse box. Clean coils with vacuum crevice
attachment. Remove food, discard expired
Check your owner manual for cleaning
items, wipe down drips or messes and place
instructions.
items in a collar with ice packs. Wipe down
interior with a solution of 2 tablespoons
baking soda per 1 quart hot water to
deodorize and clean thoroughly. Replace
Don’t forget airvents, sconces, light
food items and baking soda container in the
switches, door moldings, and doorknobs
refrigerator.
(vacuum floor airvents.)
Work shelf by shelf to consolidate, donate,
Wipe down slat blinds and send curtains and
and throw away expired items.
draperies to the dry cleaners. Re-hang slat
blinds and summer window treatments.
Shelf by shelf, donate items you no longer Lightly steam in place if drapes have any
use, discard broken items, and reshelf all wrinkles. Roll clean material around acid-
others. free tubes, then wrap with a clean sheet of
cotton muslin, secure with tape and label
each bundle.
Drawer by drawer, donate items you no
longer use, discard broken items, and put
back all others. With a brush attachment, vacuum the sill,
the molding, and windowpanes. If dirt
lingers, wipe clean with a damp Miracle
cloth. Wash windows inside and out with a
10 to 1 white vinegar water dilution; dry
with a squeegee and follow with a dry cloth.
After you wipe down the counters, rinse your
sponge and place it in the microwave. Press
start and “cook” for 1 minute. In addition to
disinfecting your sponge, the steam from the
wet sponge helps loosen dirt in your
microwave. After, remove sponge and wipe Move appliances and vacuum and mop all
down the interior with a damp Miracle cloth. hardwood, tile, and vinyl, floor surfaces with
a ¼ C vinegar and 1 gallon of water mixture.
Wax vinyl and linoleum floors with a polish
Wipe hood with a damp Miracle cloth. Soak
designed for these surfaces. Re-seal stone
filter on hot water with a dash of
and tile floors a paste or a liquid wax
dishwashing liquid. Brush gently with a
designed for these flooring materials.
plastic brush to prevent scratching and to
lingers, wipe clean with a damp Miracle
Take care that dust doesn’t fall on clean cloth. Wash windows inside and out with a
surfaces. 10 to 1 white vinegar water dilution; dry
with a squeegee and follow with a dry cloth.
Wipe down each piece with a damp Miracle
cloth and dry with a rag. Apply wax to
surfaces a few feet at a time with a folded
Don’t forget airvents, sconces, light
cotton rag. Let wax dry to a hazy finish and
switches, door moldings, and doorknobs and
then buff to shine with a clean cloth. Repair
vacuum floor airvents.
felt foot pads on the bottom of chair and
table legs and spot clean upholstered seats.
Professionally clean wall-to-wall carpets and
send area rugs to a professional rug cleaner.
Wipe down slat blinds and send curtains and
draperies to the dry cleaners. Re-hang slat
blinds and summer window treatments.
Lightly steam in place if drapes have any
wrinkles. Roll clean material around acid-free
tubes, then wrap with a clean sheet of
cotton muslin, secure with tape and label
Store away winter items neatly bubble
each bundle.
wrapped in labeled plastic bins.
With a brush attachment, vacuum the sill,
Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum,
the molding, and windowpanes. If dirt
and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces. A
natural deodorizer, white vinegar absorbs odors
instead of covering them up.
Make your own cleaning solution by mixing a 1:1
white vinegar to water dilution and decant into spray
Ask your pharmacist about how to dispose of bottle. In the bathroom, use vinegar spray cleaner to
them properly. clean countertops, floors, and exterior toilet surfaces.
Source:organizedhome.com
Secure these items in a plastic trash bag, With a brush attachment, vacuum the sill,
and keep it out of reach of children and the molding, and windowpanes. If dirt
animals. You can also give away cosmetics lingers, wipe clean with a damp Miracle
and other personal-care items you've never cloth. Wash windows inside and out with a
used to invited friends at a beauty swap 10 to 1 white vinegar water dilution; dry
party. Ask everyone to bring their unused with a squeegee and follow with a dry cloth.
items (the wrong color lipstick, perfume
samples.)
Don’t forget airvents, sconces, light
switches, door moldings, and doorknobs and
vacuum floor airvents.
Wipe down slat blinds and send curtains and
draperies to the dry cleaners. Re-hang slat
blinds and summer window treatments.
Lightly steam in place if drapes have any
wrinkles. Roll clean material around acid-free
tubes, then wrap with a clean sheet of
cotton muslin, secure with tape and label
each bundle.
Vacuum box spring, mattress, and bed Don’t forget airvents, sconces, light
frame. Flip and rotate mattress. Launder all switches, door moldings, and doorknobs
cool-weather bedding, comforters, mattress (vacuum floor airvents.)
pads, and pillows according to manufacturer
instructions. Remake bed with summer
Wipe down slat blinds and send curtains and
coordinated duvet cover and bed linens.
draperies to the dry cleaners. Re-hang slat
blinds and summer window treatments.
Outside, shake vigorously to release Lightly steam in place if drapes have any
allergens and hang in the sun for a day. wrinkles. Roll clean drape material around
Launder duvet cover. Fold duvet and acid-free tubes, then wrap with a clean
comforter separately and pack away in sheet of cotton muslin, secure with tape and
zippered canvas bags. label each bundle.
Create a calming sanctuary. A good feng shui
Give away items you no longer use, recycle bedroom will invite you to enter to rest, relax, and
damaged items, mend any items before sleep. Remove TVs, excercise equipment. Add an air-
washing or dry-cleaning. Wrap cool-weather purifier, subtle lighting, and neutral organic colors like
garments in acid-free tissue to prevent olive or chocolate brown. Eliminate clutter to achieve
crease marks and store in labeled balance and harmony.
breathable boxes. If you are storing clothing Source: fengshui.about.com/od/love/qt/perfectbedroom.htm
in plastic containers, add desiccant packets
to absorb moisture. Hang cedar blocks in
clean old socks or hosiery near clothing to With a brush attachment, vacuum the sill,
deter moths. the molding, and windowpanes. If dirt
lingers, wipe clean with a damp Miracle
cloth. Wash windows inside and out with a
10 to 1 white vinegar water dilution; dry
with a squeegee and follow with a dry cloth.
Professionally clean wall-to-wall carpets and
send area rugs to a professional rug cleaner.
Place a lavender or vanilla bean tea bag in a sachet
pouch, leave partially open, and hang on hook in your
closet so the aroma can scent your wardrobe.
Put Ivory Soap shavings or a dab of lemon or rose
essence oil on a tissue in a small sachet pouch and
place them in each dresser drawer to keep your
clothes smelling fresh.
Sources: Easy Closets.com, www.eHow.com
Lightly steam in place if drapes have any
Keep: bank statements (keep only what you wrinkles. Roll clean material around acid-
need for tax purposes); bills (one year); free tubes, then wrap with a clean sheet of
credit-card records (seven years); pay stubs cotton muslin, secure with tape and label
(one year; then shred once you've received each bundle.
your W-2 form); tax returns and records
(seven years). Reduce paper overload by
With a brush attachment, vacuum the sill,
digitally scanning and storing important
the molding, and windowpanes. If dirt
documents and receipts. Shred the rest to
lingers, wipe clean with a damp Miracle
protect your financial identity.
cloth. Wash windows inside and out with a
10 to 1 white vinegar water dilution; dry
Take everything off the shelves and wipe with a squeegee and follow with a dry cloth.
shelves with a damp Miracle cloth. Wipe
books with a dry Miracle cloth. Use the dust-
brush or crevice tool on a vacuum to reach
into tight spots.
Professionally clean wall-to-wall carpets and
send area rugs to a professional rug cleaner.
Don’t forget airvents, sconces, light
switches, door moldings, and doorknobs
(vacuum floor airvents.)
Turn off the power strip. Wipe surfaces and
cords with a damp Miracle cloth, and dry
with a rag. Bundle excess cord with a twist
tie, and fasten a plastic bread bag tag to
labeled with the cord’s source.
Wipe down slat blinds and send curtains and
draperies to the dry cleaners. Re-hang slat
blinds and summer window treatments.
the molding, and windowpanes. If dirt
Sort through items, divide them among the lingers, wipe clean with a damp Miracle
recycle, give-away, trash, and keep piles. cloth. Wash windows inside and out with a
Organize the keep items in labeled clear 10 to 1 white vinegar water dilution; dry
plastic bins. with a squeegee and follow with a dry cloth.
Don’t forget airvents, sconces, light
switches, door moldings, and doorknobs
(vacuum floor airvents.)
With a brush attachment, vacuum the sill,
Set out umbrellas and other warm-weather
coat-room items.
Don’t forget airvents, sconces, light
switches, door moldings, and doorknobs
(vacuum floor airvents.)
With a brush attachment, vacuum the sill,
the molding, and windowpanes. If dirt
lingers, wipe clean with a damp Miracle
cloth. Wash windows inside and out with a
10 to 1 white vinegar water dilution; dry with
a squeegee and follow with a dry cloth.
Lemon is a great substance to shine brass and copper
hooks for jackets or keys and front-door handles. Cut a
lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section
and use to scrub metal surfaces. Or, mix 1 cup olive oil with
½ cup lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for your
hardwood furniture.
Source:housekeeping.about.com/cs/environment/a/alternateclean.htm
carefully. Re-hang slat blinds and summer
window treatments. Lightly steam in place if
drapes have any wrinkles. Roll clean
material around acid-free tubes, then wrap
Don’t forget airvents, sconces, light
with a clean sheet of cotton muslin, secure
switches, door moldings, and doorknobs
with tape and label each bundle.
(vacuum floor airvents.)
With a brush attachment, vacuum the sill,
the molding, and windowpanes. If dirt
lingers, wipe clean with a damp Miracle
Check entertainment system cords for cloth. Wash windows inside and out with a
fraying and wear. Replace all that are not in 10 to 1 white vinegar water dilution; dry
good condition. with a squeegee and follow with a dry cloth.
Outside, beat cushions by hand to remove
dust and allergens. Vacuum upholstery and
use a crevice tool to clean between
cushions. Clean slipcovers and accent
pillows according to manufacturer directions.
Professionally clean any stains.
Wipe down slat blinds and send curtains and
draperies to the dry cleaners and store
Restock your first aid kit with bandages,
ointments, and also include a list of
emergency numbers, especially the one
poison-control. Put a duplicate first-aid kit in
your car.
Check batteries in carbon-monoxide
detectors and flashlights; inspect pressure
gauges on fire extinguishers and replace
any that are low.
Sweep cobwebs and debris away with a
broom. Wash walls with a solution of all-
purpose cleaner and water using a polyester Vacuum and clean grates, coils, and
sponge. Scrub deck floor with a deck brush condensers on furnaces and air conditioners.
and a 10 parts water 1 part bleach dilution to Remove filters and either clean or replace
treat mildew spots. them.
Most materials, including aluminum, plastic,
wood, and wicker can handle a solution of
mild dishwashing liquid and water and a soft-
bristle brush. Check manufacturer cleaning
instructions for canvas umbrellas and
awnings.
Remove windows; replace cracked panes, re-
Empty out old contents, soak in warm water caulk windows, and repaint the frames
with dishwashing solution, and gently scrub before storing. Before installing screens,
the interior with a plastic brush. Rinse with repair holes with tweezers (or replace entire
hot water and allow them to dry completely screen).
before storing, or re-hanging.
Wash covers and repair any wire damage.
