The Comprehensive Spring Cleaning Checklist: A Step-by-Step Guide

During fall and winter, you and your family spend a lot more time in the home. It’s during this time that rooms get cluttered and things tend to get dirtier. Before heading outdoors for spring and summer, you should strongly consider putting your home through a thorough “spring cleaning.”

If the thought of a springtime cleaning makes you cringe a bit, you are not alone. No one enjoys donning their rubber gloves and scrubbing the house from floor to ceiling. That’s exactly why professional cleaning companies like Clutter Trucker stay in business. We are willing and able to tackle the same cleaning tasks that you want to avoid. As professionals, we know exactly what needs to be done and how to get it done efficiently. We do that by employing our unique spring cleaning checklist. Here is a comprehensive look at the spring cleaning checklist our cleaners always use.

Making Preparations

When the time comes to really clean the house, it’s best done in an organized manner. That ensures nothing important gets missed. Number one on our house cleaning list is getting prepared for the battle.

If you are going to battle against the forces of dirt, grease, and grime, you need two (2) things. First, you need a plan, and that’s where the house cleaning checklist comes into play.

The other thing you need is the right cleaning supplies. That would include good rubber gloves, mops, sponges, dust rags, and vacuum cleaners. Of course, the right cleaning products and chemicals matter as well. At Clutter Trucker, we only use commercial-grade cleaning products that have been government-tested and certified as safe and eco-friendly.

The House Cleaning Checklist

The spring cleaning checklist is like a battle plan. It should be laid out as a plan of attack that leads the cleaner from task to task and from room to room. The checklist should include every cleaning task that needs to be addressed in each room, preferably in some kind of logical order. It should also include the following general kinds of cleaning tasks to be applied to each room where applicable:

Floor cleaning – sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, floor-waxing, carpet cleaning
Countertops/cabinets/cupboards – inside and outside
Appliances – inside, outside, and underneath
Walls, baseboards, and doorjamb washing
Scrubbing of plumbing fixtures – use disinfectants
Dusting and waxing of furniture
Bed-making and changing linens
Window and window cover washing
Cleanout and organize closets and cupboards
Safety checks throughout each room

Hint: It’s best to start at the back of the house and clean towards the exit (front or back door). This avoids having to track back through clean rooms. As a room is cleaned and cleared, the door should be shut (if possible) to guard against exposure to the dust created from the cleaning process in other rooms.

The Bedroom Cleaning Checklist

Ordering really matters in the bedroom. Here is what we would consider to be the proper ordering of tasks in each bedroom:

Cleaning out and organizing of closets and drawers
Window and window cover cleaning
Wipe walls, baseboards, HVAC vents, and doorjambs – some chemicals could harm paint
Dust and polish furniture – organize desktops and nightstands
Change linens, make beds, and gather laundry
Clean floor – vacuum, sweep, mop, wax, carpet clean as applicable
Clear out laundry and trash
Close the door

This checklist works well for each and every bedroom or guest room. In the master bedroom, the bathroom cleaning process will be treated separately in the next section. In fact, the master bath should be cleaned before the bedroom portion.

The Bathroom Cleaning Checklist

Here is where the scrubbing begins and the application of a little “elbow grease” is needed. Here is what we would consider to be the proper ordering of tasks in each bathroom:

Scrubbing entire shower/bathtub enclosure – includes walls, soap dishes, doors, tub/floors, and facets (use disinfectant)
Clean the outside of the shower door where applicable
Scrub the toilet inside and outside – including the inside of the toilet basin if possible
Clean the sink including facet
Clean medicine cabinets inside and outside (check prescription expiration dates)
Clean cabinets/drawers/cupboards inside and outside
Window and window cover cleaning (if applicable)
Wipe walls, baseboards, HVAC vents, and door jambs – some chemicals could harm paint
Clean mirror(s)
Clean floor – mop and wax (remove throw rugs for washing)
Clear out laundry and trash
Close the door

Commercial-grade disinfectants should be used in bathrooms.

The Living Room / Family Room Cleaning Checklist

Moving into the living room results in encountering a bigger room. Family rooms and playrooms should also be included in this category. Here is what we would consider to be the proper ordering of tasks in the living/family/play rooms:

Cleaning out and organizing of closets and drawers
Window and window cover washing
Wipe walls, baseboards, HVAC vents, and door jambs – some chemicals could harm paint
Clean the fireplace area
Clean shelves, artwork, and light fixtures (caution when cleaning delicate light fixtures)
Dust and polish furniture (includes TV and entertainment center) – clean trinkets and collectibles and organize them when putting them back (caution when cleaning delicate trinkets)
Vacuum cushions and wash furniture coverings if applicable
Clean floor – vacuum, sweep, mop, wax, carpet clean as applicable
Collect trash

Reminder – Be careful when moving heavy furniture to prevent damage and injury.

The Dining Room Cleaning Checklist

If you have a formal dining room, it’s likely you will have expensive items like china and silverware. Caution is warranted when cleaning such items. Here is what we would consider to be the proper ordering of tasks in the dining room:

Clean china cabinet inside and outside, including contents
Clean light fixture – caution when cleaning a delicate chandelier
Window and window cover washing
Wipe walls, baseboards, HVAC vents, and door jambs – some chemicals could harm paint
Dust and polish dining room furniture
Clean seat cushions
Clean floor – vacuum, sweep, mop, wax, carpet clean as applicable

The Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

The kitchen is where you will most likely encounter the worst dirt, grease, and grime. That’s a problem because the kitchen is where you store and prepare food and drink. With that in mind, extra elbow grease is needed when cleaning the kitchen. Here is what we would consider to be the proper ordering of tasks in the kitchen.

Cleaning out and organizing of cabinets, drawers, closets, and cupboards – use safe disinfectants if at all (throw out open and stale-dated food items)
Wipe down outside of cabinets, drawers, closets, and cupboards
Clean out refrigerator inside and outside – use safe disinfectants if at all (throw out open and stale-dated food items)
Wipe down outside of refrigerator – move the fridge and clean underneath if possible for hidden grime
Scrub the oven/stove inside and outside (use safe non-toxic chemicals)
Scrub the sink and faucet with disinfectant chemicals
Clean countertop appliances (microwave, blender, toaster, food processor, can opener, etc.)
Wipe down countertops/tables/chairs and light fixtures
Window and window cover washing
Wipe walls, baseboards, HVAC vents, and door jambs – some chemicals could harm paint
Clean floor – vacuum, sweep, mop, wax, carpet clean as applicable
Collect trash

Note: Clean really well under the sink since that’s where mold and mildew tend to accumulate.

The Laundry Room Cleaning Checklist

Before doing the laundry room, finishing the laundry collected from the other rooms is necessary. Then, one can proceed to clean this room. Here is what we would consider to be the proper ordering of tasks in the laundry room.

Window and window cover washing
Wipe walls, baseboards, HVAC vents, and door jambs – some chemicals could harm paint
Clean out dryer vent and lint trap
Clean washer and dryer inside, outside, and underneath if possible
Scrub laundry sink if applicable
Clean floor – vacuum, sweep, mop, wax, carpet clean as applicable
Collect trash

The Entryway Cleaning Checklist

By now, it’s time to start heading out of the house. The last part of the interior should be the entryway. Here is what we would consider to be the proper ordering of tasks in the laundry room:

Clean out and organize the coat/shoe closet
Window and window cover washing
Wipe walls, baseboards, and door jambs
Clean and polish the front door hardware
Clean floor – vacuum, sweep, mop, wax, carpet clean as applicable

The Exterior Cleaning Checklist

The exterior of your house can be broken down into two categories; things connected to the house or your rental property and things connected to the yard. A spring cleaning checklist is only necessary for things connected to the house or your rental property. That would include:

Clearing and cleaning the trash storage area (get new trash cans if needed)
Cleaning of the doorsteps leading directly into the home
Washing outside windows, screens, and window sills
Clean out gutters and chimney
Power washing the home’s exterior, including gutters
Clean all patio furniture and outdoor cooking areas
Consider house painting

Obviously, this part of the springtime cleaning process will need to be done when the weather is appropriate.

The Garage Cleaning Checklist

That leaves the garage. If it’s connected to the home, it could be treated as part of the home and placed on the springtime cleaning list. Otherwise, cleaning a connected or stand-alone garage or carport could be treated as a project unto itself. If it’s on the spring list, the following cleaning tasks should be included:

Decluttering of the garage (call Clutter Trucker)
Clean and organize tools, gardening equipment, sports equipment, and stored assets
Degrease and wash garage floor
Wash windows and inside/outside walls
Test and clean garage door opener and hardware
Check garage door for damage

The Safety Checklist

Child-proof cabinets, closets and drawers

At least once a year, home security should be high on your priority list. Why not make it when it’s time for springtime cleaning? As part of the safety review, you would want to focus on the safety of your family, the home, and your personal assets. Here are some items that are worthy of consideration:

Hire a professional “chimney sweep” to clear debris from the chimney stack
Check and test all electrical outlets
Child-proof cabinets, closets and drawers
Check and refill the first-aid kit (get one if one is not available)
Check and replace door and window locks (if necessary)
Have the electronic home security system tested
Have fire extinguishers tested and refilled (replace if necessary)
Consider having a pest control expert inspect the home

Professional Cleaning Services

As you can see, spring cleaning is a tall task. It takes a lot of time and effort if it’s going to get done right. Assuming it’s not something you are ready to tackle, we offer you this good news!

Clutter Trucker is one of the best all-purpose cleaning companies in the region. For a price that is fair and affordable, we would be happy to help you go through the checklist we have provided here. It’s a hassle-free way to get your home clean and smelling fresh before summer vacation arrives.

Give us a call for a quote and to schedule an appointment

720-982-7856

About Jennifer Hanzlick

Clutter Trucker is a Denver-based hoarding clean-out company founded by Jennifer Hanzlick. Jennifer leveraged 15 years of corporate experience in to start the company in 2008. Her mission is to help and educate individuals and their loved ones who have hoarding disorder. A featured speaker at Ted X Boulder, Jennifer works directly with community and non-profit organizations to boost public awareness about the condition. To that end, she founded the Colorado Hoarding Task Force in 2015.