This came in our city paper last year, but I thought I’d pass it along.  It’s a great room by room checklist that really gets everything!

The weather may be getting warmer, the flowers are blooming, and you’re ready to throw open the windows and let in some fresh air.  Now is the time when many homeowners decide to cast away the winter blues and ready their home for the warm weather season.

Spring cleaning can be the perfect time to redecorate or make space for new renovations.  While the notion of cleaning and organization can seem overwhelming to some, if you tackle a room a day, you will see progress in no time.

   The bathroom is generally the smallest room in the house.  It can be a great place to start your spring cleaning and build up to larger rooms.

• Dust the vents and fans.
• Take down dark-colored draperies and linens and replace with lighter colors and fabrics.
• Give the shower and bath a thorough cleaning.
• Wipe down moldings and the corners of the ceiling.
• Mop the floor.
• Wash down the toilet, sink and other fixtures.
• Clean expired drugs out of the medicine cabinet.
• Empty the trash pail.
• Replenish tissue and toilet paper supplies.

   Bedroom
   The bedroom may be a collect-all room for items that have to remain out of sight.  Now is the time to tackle the clutter.

• Remove and launder bed linens and draperies.
• Dust the ceiling fan and window blinds.
• Dust down all furniture and decor items.
• Vacuum the floor.
• Switch out winter clothes for spring wear in closets, removing little-worn or old items as you go.
• Organize bureau drawers, especially the sock or lingerie ones.
• Tackle under-the-bed cleaning.

Kitchen
   You likely spend the bulk of your time in the kitchen.  It may need the most clean-up work.

• Empty the refrigerator of expired foods.  Load the dirty dishes in the dishwasher as you go.
• Remove refrigerator / freezer items to a cooler and thoroughly clean all the shelving, bins, etc.
• Dust ceiling fans, shelving, blinds, light fixtures and ceilings.
• Spot clean any wall surfaces that have been splattered by cooking.
• use a wood cleaner to scour grease or cooking residue from cabinetry.
• Apply oven cleaner to the stove or run the self – cleaning cycle.
• Remove the knobs from the stove top and clean the surface and burners.  Don’t forget to also clean the range hood.
• See if any food has accumulated in the dishwasher catch drain.  Remove.
• Wipe down the surfaces of all other appliances, and clean the interior of the microwave.
• Launder draperies.
• Sweep and mop the floor.
• Organize or sort through pantry items for expired ones.

Living / Dining Room
   The bulk of cleaning in these rooms will likely entail dusting and surface cleaning.

• Dust down all artwork, lampshades, furniture, ceiling corners, fans, fixtures, etc.
• Move furniture down the walls.
• Vacuum furniture, including under sofa cushions.
• Remove draperies and launder.
• Remove books from bookcases and dust.
• Clean electronics after unplugging.
• Dust decorative accents.
• Swap throw pillows and blankets for lighter hues.
• Remove items from china cabinets and clean.
• Polish silver flatware.
• Thoroughly vacuum flooring, carpeting and accent rugs.
• Steam clean or shampoo the carpet.

I hope you find this checklist helpful.   Happy Spring!