The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist

 

Now, let’s get one thing straight. I don’t stay at home with the kids to clean all day, in fact i’d much rather be playing with them/out and about/blogging/socialising, BUT I hold my hands up that I am a bit of a neat freak, who thrives off a clean and tidy home. Too much ‘mess’ makes me seriously TWITCHY, which is weird considering I’m a big fan of crafts/messy play with the children. Once or twice a year, I make it my business to go crazy and blitz the house from top to bottom, as here lies the key to my sanity (or insanity if cleaning isn’t your thing). Failing that, it’s worth hiring a great cleaning service, such as Atlanta house cleaning services to do a great job for you!

However, if you’re looking to go it alone, you might need a bit of directio. So, behold: The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist!

Realistically, all the stuff on the list will probably take you a good couple of weeks to complete, maybe longer, depending on whether you work or not, how old your children are i.e. are they hanging off your leg whilst you try and get shit done, and if you have a life. Me? I like to work at a slow but methodical pace, where stuff actually gets done quicker than I think it will do, purely by breaking things up in to small chunks. PLUS I’m no martyr. Adam is fully involved in the completion of this list- I am a GOOD delegater!

Oh, And because I’m nice, have a Free Printable Checklist too, to help you on your way! 

Spring Clean PDF

I hope you find it useful. Please feel free to comment and remind me of anything I may have forgotten.

Here we go…

HALLWAY:

  1. Dust light fittings and wipe clean switches.
  2. Wipe/wash walls and skirting boards.
  3. Wipe/wash doors and door knobs.
  4. Wash hall shoe storage bench (and/or other furnishings).
  5. Sort out coats in hallway. Store away/sell/donate if applicable.
  6. Sweep and mop floor.
  7. Clean or replace entry mat.

KITCHEN:

  1. Open windows.
  2. Remove and clean window blinds.
  3. For each cupboard and drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly.  Donate unneeded items.
  4. Wash and clean chopping boards thoroughly.
  5. Sharpen knives.
  6. Clean, (or replace if needed) dish drainer.
  7. Wash cupboard doors and knobs.
  8. Clean and organise food cupboard/larder. Check food expiry dates. Chuck old/expired food. Donate in-date, unopened, yet unwanted food to your local food bank.
  9. Clean oven (the WORST job, sorry! If possible consider throwing money at this job and get a pro to come in and help).
  10. Clean cooker.
  11. Clean and organise fridge and freezer. Defrost freezer.  Check food expiry dates.
  12. Clean under fridge and cooker.
  13. Clean microwave.
  14. Clean crumbs out of toaster.
  15. Clean and descale kettle.
  16. Wipe down any other worktop appliances
  17. Wash worktops and back splash.
  18. Clean sink. Shine taps and descale of needed. Clean drain, using drain cleaner if needed.
  19. Clean dishwasher, and then put it on an empty, hot run (I stick half a lemon in the top for a fresh smell).
  20. Dust light fittings.
  21. Wash windows and window sills.
  22. Wipe light switches.
  23. Wipe walls and skirting boards as needed.
  24. Wipe doors and door knobs.
  25. Sweep and wash floor.
  26. Re-do kitchen tile grout, if necessary.
  27. Make sure all kitchen cleaning products/dishwasher tablets/washing up liquid/ kitchen roll etc is re-stocked as necessary.

DINING ROOM/KITCHEN DINER:

  1. Open windows.
  2. Wash curtains.
  3. Wipe down table and chairs.
  4. Wipe down or dust furniture.
  5. Polish table, if necessary.
  6. Dust any displayed items.
  7. Dust art.
  8. Wash windows and window sills.
  9. Wipe light switches.
  10. Wipe walls and skirting boards.
  11. Wipe doors and door knobs.
  12. Hoover carpet, or sweep and mop floors.

LIVING ROOM:

  1. Open windows.
  2. Hoover sofas.
  3. Spot clean sofas, if applicable. Freshen up with Febreeze/Shake n Vac or similar.
  4. Wash or dry clean throws, pillows and blankets.
  5. Dust shelves, furniture and picture rail (if you have one).
  6. Clean lamps and dust any lampshades.
  7. Wash windows and window sills.
  8. Clean TV and screen.
  9. Carefully dust DVD player/Router/ Virgin or Sky Box.
  10. Tidy electrical wires.  Tuck out of sight.  Label them, if you are really anal.
  11. Sort through music and DVD collections.  Donate/sell anything you no longer want. Music Magpie is a good place to make money for old DVDs/CDs (we made over £100 a while back).
  12. Sort books and magazines.  Donate or recycle ones you no longer want to keep. File away treasured magazines.
  13. Wash plastic toys with warm soapy water. Rinse and dry.  Wash stuffed toys.  Donate or store away toys that your children have outgrown.
  14. Wipe light switches.
  15. Wipe walls and skirting boards.
  16. Wipe doors and knobs.
  17. Hoover carpet.

UTILITY ROOM (if you have one):

  1. Open windows.
  2. Wash windows and window sills.
  3. Wash cupboard doors.
  4. Empty cupboards, wash and dry inside, put back and arrange contents neatly.
  5. Wash utility room sink.
  6. Wash outside of washer and dryer.
  7. Wash inside of washing machine, and washing liquid tray. Put washing machine on hot wash whilst empty to clean inside.
  8. Empty and wash condenser from tumble dryer (if you have one). Dry thoroughly before replacing.
  9. Wipe walls and skirting boards.
  10. Wipe doors and door knobs.
  11. Sweep and mop floors.
  12. Make sure all washing liquid/tablets/fabric softener/pegs are re-stocked if necessary.

BEDROOMS:

  1. Open windows
  2. Dust furniture.
  3. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly. Buy drawer dividers if necessary (I love ones by Lakeland personally).  Donate items you no longer need.
  4.  Remove everything from wardobes. Wipe clean inside of wardrobe. Put everything back neatly.  Donate items you no longer need.  Store out of season clothes in the loft.
  5. Move Bed (if possible- mine weights a ton!).  Sort and put away anything that was under bed.  Sweep and/or hoover under bed.  Try not to store things under bed (ha!)
  6. Put bed back.  Flip mattress. Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda. Leave for a while. Hoover up baking soda.
  7. Wash bedding and curtains.
  8. Wash pillows and duvet on a hot wash.
  9. Dust lights/light fittings.
  10. Wash inside of windows and window sills.
  11. Wipe light switches.
  12. Wipe skirting boards.
  13. Wash mirrors and dust art.
  14. Wipe doors and doorknobs.
  15. Hoover carpet or sweep and mop floorboards.

BATHROOM(s):

  1. Open windows
  2. Empty any cabinets/storage.  Wash inside, replace items neatly.  Discard expired medicines/make up.
  3. Cleanbath tub. Wax if necessary. Use drain cleaner to clean drain if necessary.
  4. Clean shower cubicle. Remove shower head and descale if necessary. Clean tiles, and bleach grout and sealant.
  5. Wash shower curtain or clean shower screen.
  6. Clean toilet, inside and out.  Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.
  7. Clean sink and drain.
  8. Shine taps.
  9. Clean and polish mirror.
  10. Dust light fittings
  11. Wash windows and window sills.
  12. Wash switch plates.  wash walls and trim.  Wash doors and door knobs.
  13.  Sweep and wash floors.
  14. Re-do grouting if needed.
  15. Clean and disinfect toothbrush holder.
  16. Replace and re-stock toilet roll.

STAIRS AND LANDING:

  1. Sweep/hoover stairs
  2. Wipe clean walls.
  3. Wash/wipe skirting boards.
  4. Wipe down banister(s).
  5. Dust any art/pictures and light fittings.

OUTSIDE AREAS:

  1. Sweep porch and garden paths (both front and back).
  2. Wash front step/porch floor.
  3. Wash exterior doors.  Treat doors to a new coat of paint if you’re feeling motivated, or a plant pot/hanging basket near the front door.
  4. Clean or replace welcome mat.
  5. Tidy and put away children’s garden toys. Dispose of any broken ones safely.

LIFE ADMIN:

  1. Sort through personal/family paperwork, shredding or recycling anything no longer needed.
  2. Make sure your mobile phone is on the best tariff possible.
  3. Sort through, and organise files and photographs on your laptop. Empty recycle bin on laptop, and remove any programs/Apps you no longer use, in order to free-up space.
  4. Sort through toiletries and make up, chucking anything more than a year old, or 6 months old (eye make up).
  5. Wash make up brushes in warm, soapy water, shake, and leave to air-dry on a towel.
  6. Make sure CV is up-to-date. Add any new work experience/achievements from the last year.
  7. Consider adding friends/family addresses to their contact phone number on your mobile. How many times have you gone to post something whilst out and about, or seen a card you’d love to send there and then, but you don’t have their address? In my case, LOADS.

So… what are you waiting for? Wine and Valium, probably…

Becky x

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9 Comments

  1. Lauren
    April 1, 2014 / 12:33 pm

    Wow, that is an impressive list! x

    • April 1, 2014 / 12:35 pm

      Haha, thanks! If i’ve forgotten something i’ll eat my own fist. 😉

  2. Morgana @ butwhymummywhy
    April 1, 2014 / 9:34 pm

    Oh wow! That’s fantastic,defo saving that list x

    • April 1, 2014 / 10:54 pm

      Thank you Morgana! It’s a ruthless and slightly unhinged one, but gets the job done! x

  3. Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)
    April 17, 2014 / 7:12 pm

    Whoa you are not kidding when you said MOST EPIC. This is like really really detailed list of the things thats needs attention. Bookmarked your blog as I need this in the future. I cant do this one go =P #NewbieTuesday

    • April 18, 2014 / 2:25 pm

      It really is epic! Glad you’ve found it useful!

  4. April 23, 2014 / 4:49 pm

    Awesome! I will totally use this in the coming weeks, as spring finally seems to be settling in here. 🙂 Thanks!

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