20 Easy Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do Today
Spring is in the air, and you know what that means: it’s time to freshen up your space! Whether tackling a full-on deep clean or just looking to spruce things up, you can do plenty of easy tasks today to renew your home. From decluttering to dusting, here are 20 simple spring cleaning tasks to tackle today. JOYMOOP Mop and Bucket with Wringer
I’m in the mood for some easy spring cleaning tasks that I can do today. It’s a great time to rotate, toss, donate, and re-stock as part of cleaning. I want to help you develop a spring cleaning checklist so you don’t overlook anything when creating your cleaning schedule.
1. Declutter Your Junk Drawer
We all have that one drawer that seems to collect everything from old receipts to spare buttons. Please take a few minutes to go through it and toss out anything you no longer need. You’ll be amazed at how much better it feels to have a clutter-free drawer! How to Declutter Your Home Do you still have some of those masks stored away that we used for so many months?
2. Dust Those Hard-to-Reach Places
Grab a duster or a microfiber cloth and tackle those forgotten areas like ceiling fans, light fixtures, window blinds, and the tops of bookshelves. Dust can accumulate quickly, particularly if you have pets or live in a windy environment, so giving these spots a once-over will help keep your home looking fresh. 30 Spring Cleaning Tips Every Prepper Should Follow
3. Organize Your Closets
Take some time to go through your various closets and donate any clothes you no longer wear or see needing in the future. Not only will this free up space, but it’ll also make getting dressed in the morning a breeze.
Sometimes, we collect items in closets when we don’t know what to do with them. Old umbrellas, boots, sneakers, and out-of-season or out-of-fashion coats are prime examples. We will keep some items for emergencies, but too many may be too much. It’s a personal preference, for sure.
4. Wipe Down Kitchen Cabinets
Grease and grime can build up on kitchen cabinets over time, so give them a good wipe-down with a damp cloth or sponge and some mild detergent like dish soap. Your kitchen will instantly feel cleaner and more inviting. Cleaning Gloves, Hard Bristle Crevice Cleaning Brush
5. Clean Out Your Fridge
Remove everything from your fridge and give the shelves and drawers a good wipe-down. Toss out any expired or moldy food, and quickly organize the rest to find what you need. You probably want to do this more often than every spring, but maybe this year, you will do a deep clean that you have never performed before.
Both fridges and freezers have coils that should be cleaned periodically so they run more efficiently. Special brushes are designed for this, but even your vacuum cleaner attachments should work well.
While you’re at it, check out the freezer. Sometimes, we forget how long an item has been stored there, particularly if you have a chest freezer. If the freezer is relatively empty, you may want to defrost it, wipe down the insides, and maybe even pull it out from the wall and clean behind it.
6. Vacuum Under Furniture
Remember to vacuum under your couches, beds, and other furniture. Dust bunnies love to hide in these hard-to-reach spots, so clean them thoroughly. This may be best accomplished with a helper—don’t try to lift that couch on your own!
7. Freshen Up Your Mattress
Sprinkle baking soda on your mattress, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up. This will help absorb any odors and leave your mattress smelling fresh and clean. Replace your mattress if needed. If your pillows are not washable, you may want to replace them once a year.
We wash our sheets weekly but don’t often include the mattress cover. It can get stains from midnight snacks or when young children have an “accident,” so it may be time to run it through your washer, too.
8. Clean Your Windows
Give your windows a clean inside and out to let the sunshine in. You can make your window cleaner with equal parts water and white vinegar for a streak-free shine. Be careful if you decide to also clean the outside of those windows. Accidents using a ladder are very common. Be prudent and have a professional take on that task if you have high windows, like those found in two-story homes.
9. Scrub Your Shower
Use a scrub brush and bathroom cleaner to clean your shower thoroughly. Pay special attention to grout lines and soap scum buildup for a sparkling clean finish. Using old toothbrushes on the grout can make a real difference since the grout is recessed, and a cleaning cloth be used afterward.
10. Wash Your Curtains
Take down your curtains and/or drapes and place them in the wash to remove any dust and dirt (if they are washable). Check the care instructions first to ensure they can be machine-washed. Having them dry cleaned can prove costly, but well worth it if they haven’t been cleaned for a while.
Check them out for mildew and cigarette smoke if you question whether it’s time for them to be cleaned. Also, check for sun damage and fading. It may be past time for them to be replaced with fresh, new, trendy curtains. While the curtains are down, it’s a great time to clean the window sills and sliding window tracks for dirt and debris.
While we talk curtains, don’t forget those shower curtains if you have them instead of a glass shower door. They also are subject to mildew from constant contact with water.
While you’re in the laundry room, it’s an awesome time to wipe down the outside of your washer and dryer. You should probably pull out the dryer and clean out the lift vent of any major obstructions.
11. Polish Your Furniture
Give your wooden furniture a good polish to restore its shine and luster. You can use a commercial furniture polish or make your own with olive oil and lemon juice as a DIY approach.
12. Clean Your Baseboards
Grab a damp cloth and wipe down your baseboards to remove dust and dirt. This often overlooked task can make a big difference in the overall cleanliness of your home. Hallways are one place to pay special attention to. While you’re at it, you may want to pull any furniture away from the wall so you can clean those hidden baseboards too. Put some cleaner in a spray bottle and then clean the baseboards from top to bottom.
This is a great time to also clean the door jams and frames for dirt and fingerprints. The exterior doors tend to get pretty dirty as you from outside to indoors, especially if you work in the garden or garage.
13. Organize Your Pantry
Take everything out of your pantry and toss any expired or unused items. Then, organize the rest by category to find what you need when cooking or baking. 20 Staple Pantry Items for Making Cheap Meals
14. Disinfect Your Light Switches and Doorknobs
These high-touch areas can harbor germs, so clean them with a disinfectant. This simple step can help keep your home healthier year-round.
15. Clean Your Air Vents
Use a vacuum attachment or a damp cloth to clean the dust and debris from your air vents. This will help improve the air quality in your home and keep your HVAC system running efficiently.
We had a professional service a few years ago, and they not only cleaned the vents but they checked for leaks where the vent run attaches to the part you see attached to your wall, ceiling, or floor.
I’ve been surprised at how many people hold off replacing their air filters. We made a change a few years ago and went with cheaper filters when an HVAC tech told us we’d get more airflow. Unless your family has allergies, you can probably get away with cheaper filters. However, you still need to replace them consistently.
16. Freshen Up Your Entryway
Sweep or vacuum your entryway to remove any dirt and debris tracked in from outside. You can also add a fresh coat of paint to your front door for an instant curb appeal boost.
Entryways are the natural approach from a patio and porch. You may want to get your hose out and spray those clean this time of year. If the patio and porch have furniture you enjoy during the summer months, now would be a great time to clean them. Some outdoor furniture can be sprayed off with your high-pressure hose, those with upholstery could require a special upholstery cleaner and scrub brush.
17. Organize Your Desk
Tackle that pile of papers on your desk and file away anything you no longer need. Invest in some desk organizers to keep things neat and tidy moving forward. 20 Tips For Organizing a Super Messy Pantry
18. Clean Your Electronics
Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your electronics, including your computer, TV, and smartphone. Dust and fingerprints can accumulate quickly, so clean them regularly. A World Without Technology: A Glimpse into the Unplugged Life
19. Wash Your Throw Pillows and Blankets
Toss pillows and blankets in the wash to remove dirt and odors. Check the care instructions first to ensure they can be machine-washed. 6 Reasons To Store Blankets For Any Emergency
20. Sweep and Mop Your Floors
Finish your spring cleaning spree by giving your floors a good sweep and mop. This will remove any lingering dirt and dust, leaving your home looking and feeling fresh. Prepping Items You Can Buy From The Dollar Tree
This would especially apply to the kitchen area since there is a lot of meal prep activity and foot traffic there. While you’re there, it’s probably an appropriate time to clean all the appliances. This week, Mark took out all the cooking racks from our gas stove and gave the oven a deep clean. The microwave is probably cleaned fairly often due to spills and splatters. Be sure to take the glass tray out, clean it off, and clean under it so it will turn efficiently.
More Tips
- 30 Spring Cleaning Tips Every Prepper Should Follow
- Prepping Tips for Spring
- Purified Water vs. Spring Water: The Differences
Final Word
With these 20 easy tasks, you can confidently tackle your spring cleaning and quickly breeze through your to-do list. I always like to put on some music, roll up my sleeves, and get ready to welcome the new season with a clean home. One thing I didn’t mention was to consider getting your carpets cleaned. That can be a heavy-duty task best done by some professionals. What are some of your favorite spring cleaning tips? May God Bless this World, Linda
Copyright Images: Cleaning Products Depositphotos_394533370_S By Matucha12, Clutter Before and After Depositphotos_46720083_S By Luanateutzi
I do some spring cleaning during the winter months when it’s too cold to be outside!
Hi Paula, that’s a great idea! I’m a little OCD and I spring clean more often than most people. Even my garage, Mark golfs, and his friends will say , wow what a clean garage. And he points to me! LOL! Life is good when we live in a clutter free home! Linda
I was raised by a mother who taught us to spring and fall clean. Although it’s an old tradition and the younger generation likes to do it throughout the year, I still love the feeling of having gone through and deep cleaned and organized the whole house. Since I’m doing it twice a year, things don’t get too out of control. I read all these decluttering articles and since I spring & fall clean, I only have 1-2 hotspots that really are in rough shape – not the whole house needing decluttering.
Hi Kay, oh this is such a good feeling, twice a year! I think that’s how I was raised. I like your term “hotspots”, I think we all have some of those! Love it! Moving is one of the biggest decluttering projects! LOL! I told my daughter yesterday, I can’t even remember everything we have in climate controlled storage units, it’s been 2-1/2 years waiting for this house to be finished! I’m sure I will be decluttering even more! Linda
Linda,
I can’t imagine living with most of your stuff in storage for that long! You have been very patient. I hope you really enjoy your new home and having access to your things again (especially the cooking stuff!). LOL. I bet you don’t declutter much – it will be a thrill getting your things back and they will feel new. I have some decoration boxes in storage I’m looking forward to getting back when a remodeling project (that seems to go on forever) gets done. It will be interesting to see what I keep or get rid of.
Hi Kay, LOL! I haven’t been very patient! LOL! I had to purchase all new stuff to use for my blog (cooking stuff). You are so right I will be thrilled to get my stuff back, and situated where we have planned. I am worried about having enough room for my 5 gallon buckets. The wheat is in 6 gallon buckets. LOL! Freeze dried food we should have plenty of shelving if the builder understands how I want the spacing of my shelving. Fingers crossed! So you are in the middle of a remodel as well? How fun!! You can organize your decoration stuff once it’s done! I love it! Linda
Please let me be a proud grandmother for just a minute. Two of my grandsons, ages 13 and 15, took THEIR OWN MONEY to Lowes without their Dads knowledge and purchased supplies to start their own window washing business. They already work bussing tables and cutting grass. These boy are homeschooled and hard working. They are the spitting image of their dad and they make us so grateful to have them in our lives.
Hi Chris, SQUEAL!!!! I love love love your comment about your grandsons! Oh my goodness, I bet you are beaming from ear to ear! Life is so good when our skills and actions are handed down without even thinking about it. And they use their own money, life is so good! Linda
We are always remodeling something . . . this time we have several projects going at once and it is a lot to deal with. Good luck with your shelves – that will be great! Finding room for food storage is always a challenge. I’m looking forward to putting out those decorations! I love Victorian decor and I have two Waterford candle holders and some things I made I’m dying to use again. I’m not part of the modern, plain, no decor movement that seems to be in style now. It looks cold and uninviting to me.
Hi Kay, remodeling is harder than building I think. There is tear out and rebuild. I can’t wait for your remodel to finish and you can decorate just the way you want to!! Yay! Linda
I try my best to keep clutter to a minimum. Since I made a major move in the last 8 months, I had a few months to downsize/declutter before the move. So, I don’t have quite as much to declutter.
One major thing that I did several years ago: I determined that if I purchased new clothing, I had to get rid of (donate) clothing from my closet. I have 2 basic wardrobes – cold weather and warm weather. Some items of clothing stay in my closet or drawers year round but some are specific to the season.
I have also done a 30 day/30 bag purge, although it took me longer than 30 days. Basically, you create keep, trash, donate boxes or bags. I started in my bedroom with clothing, bedding, trinkets, etc. Then I moved on to another room. It was sort of a do I wear it, use it, love it type of cleaning out. The hardest part, however, was my second bedroom which is my storage and craft room. Storage of long-term preps and camping gear was really a no brainer – keep it all. But I did check things to make sure they were all still in top condition. As for the crafting, I did get rid of A LOT of crafting things that I no longer used or hobby things that I found I didn’t really like doing.
I also determined, when I moved into my little house, to keep things dusted, swept and mopped. When I rented the house, I spent a few weeks deep cleaning just to make sure any dirt remaining was MY dirt!!! One of the “joys” of renting!!
All of this said, though, I do still need to re-organize a lot of things. Always a work in progress!
HI Leanne, I agree, moving makes us declutter! I love your 30 day idea. I wrote a post on one like that I may look at fixing it up and reposting. Yeah, our preps we keep if not broken. I got rid of a lot of my crafting stuff, this house is way to small to store too many extra items. I love your statement “my dirt”, I totally agree! It’s always a work in progress. Linda
Right now our house is a mess–the aftermath of a huge garage sale we had last weekend. We’re going through boxes and pricing items for the next garage sale, probably in a couple of weeks. In effect we are decluttering our entire property. I can’t wait to be able to use my 20’x22′ storage shed for something other than storing stuff we don’t use or need.
Our two German Shepherds make sweeping and vacuuming a twice a week chore. Otherwise their hair takes over the house.
I have one more bathroom to remodel and then the clutter from that work will disappear and we’ll be able to have visitors without being ashamed of how our house looks.
In garden news we are harvesting snow peas, lettuce and other cool weather goodies. And it’s finally warm enough I’ll be able to transplant the tomatoes I started inside in January.
Hi Ray, oh, garage sales are the best, You get rid of stuff and save the money or buy stuff on your wish lists. Having a guest bathroom will be nice. You know for how long you and Jane and Mark and I have been married we collect a lot of stuff. I guess I should talk about just Mark and I but over 50 years together well, you get it. It’s a lot of work and you add remodel to that well….it’s life. I bet you garden is looking fantastic! Life is good especially when you see that first red tomato! Linda