Spring Cleaning Checklist & Printout

12 November 2015

Top Tips for Successful Spring Cleaning

Spring is upon us, and we all know what that means: it’s time for spring cleaning! Cleaning the whole house at once might seem like a daunting task, but separating your chores by room can help you tackle the whole house before the hot summer weather arrives and all of a sudden it’s Christmas! Our checklist will also help you delegate tasks to the whole family!

Preparation and Universal Cleaning

There are a few things that can help you prepare for cleaning the whole house, because some things will need to be done in more than one room: dusting, cleaning windows and floors, and clearing out excess stuff. These chores should be done in every room in the house.

Dusting & Vacuuming

Make sure your vacuum cleaner is ready to go: check the filter, clean out the old bag or dust compartment, and remove dust and hair from the brushes and accessories.

Windows & Mirrors

Cleaning the insides of windows and mirrors can be done with a vinegar based solution and a soft cloth. For outside of your home, look into hiring a professional or purchasing a water and pressure based cleanser that you can use with your hose and no ladder.

Floors & Carpets

Depending on your flooring materials, you may need different kinds of cleansers: wax, a carpet shampoo, polish, etc. Look into the type of materials you’ll need, and make sure to clean floors last.

Trash & Junk Clear-out

One of the best things to do in the spring is to get rid of the old and excessive – clutter, knick-knacks, old clothes, old furniture, old things that no longer serve a purpose. Hire a skip to dispose of and recycle unwanted items and help keep your neighbourhood clean. When choosing a provider make sure to choose a green one (like us!) that has a materials recovery plant where they take your waste to recycle anything they can before taking what’s left to the landfill.

We offer short-term small-medium skip bin hire for home clear-outs like this – grab one for the weekend or a week to give you some extra time! Find out more here.

Going the Extra Mile for Spring Cleaning

For that extra spring-cleaning mile we’ve made a room by room checklist of additional items to be cleaned or spruced up, as well as things in the room that you might want to throw in the skip or give to goodwill. We’ve also left some extra space for you to print out the checklist and add anything else that might be relevant to your home.

Bedrooms

In addition to regular upkeep, spring is the time to take care of big bedroom tasks.

Additional Cleaning / Sprucing Up	Done?	Throw in the Skip / Recycle / Goodwill	Done?
Flip the mattress		Old books and magazines
Change out heavy doonas for lightweight linens and blankets		Knick-knacks / Clutter on beside locker or dresser
Clean or replace pillows; most can be machine washed		Clothing you no longer wear
Empty, wipe and air out drawers		Old linens
Empty, wipe and air out cupboards and robes		Old furniture

 

Bathrooms

Bathrooms can be one of the messiest rooms in the house.

Additional Cleaning / Sprucing Up	Done?	Throw in the Skip / Recycle / Goodwill	Done?
Change out old brushes and sponges used for cleaning		Old, dirty and broken cosmetics
Tidy and update your first aid kit – replace expired medicines		Used/nearly empty shampoo bottles
Clean makeup and hair brushes		Ratty towels or washcloths
Empty, wipe and air out cupboards and drawers		Expired products
Clean or replace your shower curtain
Soak toothbrush holder and soap holder in antibacterial solution
Clean hard to reach places – behind the toilet, the vents etc.

 

Kitchen

Most of the kitchen cleaning tasks have to do with big appliances that collect dirt in tiny nooks and crannies.

Additional Cleaning / Sprucing Up	Done?	Throw in the Skip / Recycle / Goodwill	Done?
Defrost your freezer and wipe it out		Tupperware containers with no matching lid
Remove food from the refrigerator; get rid of anything expired or old condiments		Appliances that you no longer use
Clean the refrigerator inside and out. Remove and clean shelves and drawers and the coils		Ratty towels
Empty, wipe and air out cupboards and drawers		Expired food
Wipe the front of cupboards and kickboards		Broken utensils
Clean furniture in the seating area or dining room, including the bottoms of the legs		Chipped crockery
Degrease and clean the oven and stove until grates are spotlessly silver		Stained teaspoons
Clean the vent above the cooker

 

Living Room/Common Areas

These areas are used almost daily, and tend to collect a lot of dirt and dust.

Additional Cleaning / Sprucing Up	Done?	Throw in the Skip / Recycle / Goodwill	Done?
Vacuum and steam clean sofas and chairs		Old books
Removable furniture covers should be removed and laundered		Old magazines, newspapers or TV Guides
Launder blankets, cushions and throws		Unused or outdated furniture
Dust and organise electric wires		Old or outdated décor and ornaments
Wipe remote controls		Un-cleanable pillows or blankets

 

Laundry Room

The laundry room is often overlooked throughout the year, and may need a lot of work.

Additional Cleaning / Sprucing Up	Done?	Throw in the Skip / Recycle / Goodwill	Done?
Clean the laundry sink and faucet		Anything that has been collected in your laundry room
Use washing machine cleaner to clean out the washer		Old bottles of detergent or dryer sheets
Vacuum the lint out of the lint collector in the dryer		Broken laundry baskets