Your Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist
Updated March 1, 2021 . AmFam Team
Any way you view it, spring cleaning your home is the best way to give it new life after a long winter. And what’s better than tackling it all in one weekend with our spring house cleaning tips? Study this handy spring cleaning checklist, throw some old clothes on, turn up the music and prepare to get dirty! We promise it’ll be worth it.
Table of Contents:
Spring Clean-up Ideas for Your Bedroom
Spring Cleaning Hints for Your Living Room
Spring Cleaning Ideas for the Bathroom
A Spring Cleaning Plan for the Rest of the House
Clean Up Your Coverage With an Insurance Review
Spring Clean-up Ideas for Your Bedroom
Your bedroom is where you start and end your day. And it’s usually the place you’re most comfortable! So the dirt, dust and clutter can add up faster than you might realize. Dive deep into this spring cleaning list and tips to help spruce up your bedroom in no time:
1. Clean your mattress
Start by stripping the sheets and mattress cover (throw them in the wash while you’re at it), then vacuum the mattress. Deodorize your mattress by sprinkling with baking soda and gently rubbing it in with a scrub brush (no water). Let it sit for 10 minutes then vacuum again.
2. Wash the curtains
Most curtains can be washed in your standard washing machine. For your curtains, use a gentle cycle with cool water and let them hang dry.
3. Clean closets and dressers
Take all of your belongings out of your closet and/or dresser and sort them into “keep,” “donate,” and “trash” piles. Wipe out all drawers, clean closet shelves and doors, and remember to vacuum the closet floor. Then return what you've decided to keep.
Spring Cleaning Hints for Your Living Room
When you’re busy living life, things can get messy. Take these spring cleaning hints to heart — to give your living spaces the refresh they deserve:
1. Freshen up furniture
Take your couch cushions and pillows outside and hit them with a clean broom, then vacuum the built-up crumbs and pet hair. Next, do a once-over with the vacuum after it’s reassembled.
2. Polish electronics
Using a microfiber cloth and electronics-safe cleaner, dust off your TV, gaming system, stereo and computer. Be sure to dust beneath, behind them and along the cords.
3. Clean light fixtures
Commonly missed in your regular cleaning, light fixtures build up dust and grime, too. So take time to dust off lightbulbs, their fixtures and any lamp shades. And remember to wipe down ceiling fan blades with warm soapy water.
4. Vacuum rugs
Shake your area rugs off outside then vacuum them on both sides, flipping them over to get rid of hidden dirt.
5. Clear clutter
Just like you did in the bedroom, take a look at all your belongings and sort them into those piles. Wipe them down too before you put the keepers back into place.
Spring Cleaning Ideas for the Bathroom
It’s no secret — the bathroom is the dirtiest room in your house. And even though you do your best to keep it clean throughout the year, now’s the time to tackle some hidden grime. Let these spring cleaning ideas shine:
1. Disinfect the shower, toilet and vanity
Spray each surface with a strong soap scum remover and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Then, using a cloth, a scrub brush and old toothbrush, really get into all those nooks-and-crannies.
2. De-clutter the storage areas
Remove everything from medicine cabinets or drawers and toss what you don’t need. Vacuum and then wipe down drawers and shelves as well. Dispose of expired medications properly by finding a drug take-back location near you.
3. Wipe it all down
Think doors, door handles, window sills, baseboards, towel racks, mirrors, etc. Now’s a great time to freshen it all up by using hot, soapy water and a cloth.
Kitchen Spring Cleaning Tips
Along with wiping down the counter tops and scrubbing down the sink, take these steps to clean the dirt and grime — to keep your appliances running great:
1. Scrub stove and oven
Your oven, stove top and range can get really greasy. Set the oven self-clean, remove burners and drip pans and get to scrubbing! Be sure to wipe out the oven after the clean cycle is over.
2. Refresh the fridge
Remove all food, and get in the crevices with hot, soapy water. Then wipe down the outside! Before you restock, be sure to dispose of expired food. If you’re thinking about going green, be sure to compost what you can.
3. Sanitize the dishwasher
Clean off the racks, wheels and spinning arm with hot, soapy water. Remember to clean out the trap inside. Then run the clean cycle, or place a cup of vinegar on the top rack and run a normal cycle, no soap.
4. Wash the trash can
Take out the trash, then bring the bin outside. Fill it with hot, soapy water and let it soak for 20-30 minutes, then scrub it down. Leave it to dry in the fresh spring air before you bring it back in!
5. Sanitize cutting boards
For wood cutting boards, wash gently with hot, soapy water. Then, let dry and rub down with white vinegar. For plastic cutting boards, soak in hot, soapy water for 20-30 minutes, let dry and rub down with white vinegar.
6. Organize cupboards
Take time now to reorganize Tupperware, getting rid of any pieces that don’t have a matching lid. Then, take all food out of your pantry/cupboards, wipe down shelves, and return food in an organized way, making sure to dispose of anything that’s expired.
A Spring Cleaning Plan for the Rest of the House
In addition to these room-by-room tasks, there are some deep cleaning jobs that apply to the whole house. To get the most of a spring cleaning plan that sparkles, make sure to take on these additional steps, too:
1. Clean trim and baseboards
Using hot, soapy water, go around your home and wipe down all the trim and baseboards that you often don’t pay much attention to.
2. Vacuum and mop
Run the vacuum over all carpet, and use its hose to get hard-to-reach dirt and dust along the bottom of baseboards and in corners. Then mop your hard surfaces — and use a towel to get into crevices your mop can’t reach!
3. Wipe down windows
Using glass cleaner, wipe down all the windows in your home — inside and out! And, pull in some fresh air by leaving them open as you go!
4. Clean the cobwebs
Using a long-handled duster or the hose of your vacuum, look up and take care of the dust and cobwebs.
5. Sanitize your laundry room appliances
If your washer has a sanitize mode, see your user guide to get that rolling. If not, run an empty load and set the water temp to high. Then, add chlorine bleach, run through a full cycle and scrub down the interior after. Be sure to run a hot rinse cycle for a super clean product afterwards.
Wipe down the inside of your dryer, then use the vacuum hose around the lint collector and run an empty sanitize cycle if possible. Detach the dryer vent hose and clean or replace it if possible.
Clean Up Your Coverage With an Insurance Review
After looking around at your clean home, it may be that things have changed. New furniture purchases, expensive gifts — maybe even a new car — all that can shift your insurance needs.
Be sure to reach out to your agent today (Opens in a new tab) and request an insurance review to better understand your coverage gaps. You may even find you qualify for additional discounts that really can save you money on your insurance premiums.
Related Articles
- 9 Steps to Create a Home Inventory for Insurance Claims
Your home is more than a roof over your head. It’s where your dreams grow, your family thrives and memories are made. But the possessions you keep inside are important, too.
Whether you’re renting an apartment or own your home, you’ve most likely got an insurance policy designed to protect your dwelling and the things inside. Should the unthinkable happen and you have to use that insurance policy, it’s important to have a plan in place. And a home inventory list is a great way to get started!
We’ll walk you through how to create a home inventory so — in the event of the unexpected — you’ll be more prepared and have a streamlined recovery.
What Is a Home Inventory?
Quite simply, a home inventory is a complete list of all the items, especially valuables, in and around your home. The best home inventories include photos, descriptions and dollar values of each of your belongings. The more detail, the better! It’ll help you provide a comprehensive list to your agent of items lost in the event your home is damaged or destroyed, allowing you to get the most out of your coverage.
When your describing the items in your list, remember that the more information, the better. Here’s a quick reference list of the type of information you should include in your home inventory list:
- An in-depth description of the items. For example, rather than writing down “diamond ring,” be more descriptive, such as: “an emerald cut diamond ring, with white gold shank, accent stones and initials inscribed below the bridge.”
- Make, model, and/or serial number of the items.
- Date of purchase, receipts and photos.
- Estimated replacement cost if you bought it today. Do note that the value of the items might be different today than it was when you first bought them. This is especially true with jewelry, and other valuables.
- Appraisals at time of purchase. Especially if your items were appraised for insurance purposes.
Why Do I Need a Home Inventory?
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, everyone can benefit from a home inventory!
If you ever have to make a claim, a home inventory is a great asset to have, especially after stressful events like theft, storm damage or a fire (take a look at how one renter used their home inventory after facing an apartment fire).
When you make a claim, you typically submit information on everything that was lost — which can be difficult to do off the top of your head for all your possessions. Remembering to replace your TV or computer are no-brainers, but when it comes to remembering each piece of jewelry in your jewelry box, things tend to get overlooked. Having a personal property inventory will help, along with knowing how to properly insure your jewelry.
When you have your home inventory checklist, you know exactly what needs to be replaced, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your entire household is protected.
- Reasons Why a Roof Leaks
You’re admiring the rain from the comfort of your home when you notice a sound — the unmistakable drip of water dropping onto your floor. The first and hardest step is figuring out why your roof is leaking. And with these tips, you’ll find the culprit in no time!
Here’s Why Your Roof Is Leaking
The list of reasons why your roof is leaking may seem long, but don’t worry — when it comes to finding the leak and fixing it, the finding is the hardest part. And the good thing about these problems? They can all be fixed. Check out the list and see what’s troubling your roof:
Your roof is old
Roofs don’t last forever. Protecting your home and everything inside it from the elements comes with a cost. And with all that rain, snow, ice, wind and even sunlight wearing down your roof, it becomes more susceptible to leaks. Every roof will eventually need to be replaced, so learn more about how long your roof should last based on what it’s made of.
- How to Check Your Roof for Storm Damage
There’s no good time to find out your roof needs repair — but you may be able to mitigate that pain by routinely checking your roof for damage after severe weather. Waiting for a leak or damage to present itself gives the problem time to grow and worsen.
And sometimes, you’ll be faced with expensive roof and interior damage repairs if you’re not diligent. By being proactive and checking your roof for damage after severe weather hits can help your roof — and your savings — stay healthy.
