Spring is finally here and along with the longer days and sunnier weather comes the dreaded annual task of spring cleaning. To make it a little easier this year, Bailey Carson, Home Expert at Angi (formerly Angie’s List), has some tips for cleaning and refreshing the whole home—inside and out!
Here are some of Bailey’s cleaning tips for a few spaces around the home to get you started:
Kitchen
Less time in restaurants over the past year and a half has meant more time in the kitchen—even if it’s just to plate takeout—and the heart of our homes likely needs a deep clean. Sure, we do the dishes regularly, wipe down the countertops and clean out the fridge of food going bad, but there are a surprising number of areas that are often ignored in day-to-day cleaning. It’s worth it to take some extra time to tackle the kitchen and make sure you have a fresh, clean place to feed yourself and your family.
- To start, disinfect your sponges by microwaving them damp for 1 minute on high. When you’re done cleaning, do it again.
- Empty your fridge and wipe down shelves, drawers and doors. Check each item before returning it and toss anything that has gone bad.
- Scrub your sink with a bleach solution.
- Sanitize and wipe down the inside of your oven, microwave, toaster oven, dishwasher and air fryer, as well as your stove top.
- Take off and clean your oven hood gently with dish soap and a scrub brush.
- Clean your pantry shelves. Clear all items and wipe down the shelves from top to bottom. This is also a good time to reorganize and consolidate.
- Empty out drawers and cabinets, wipe them down, and only put back what you actually use. Then donate or discard the rest.
- Don’t forget to vacuum and mop the floors!
Living/Family Room
Over the past year and a half, living and family rooms have become so much more than just living and family rooms. They are offices, playrooms, classrooms, entertaining spaces and more. With more use comes more dirt and clutter, and spring is the perfect time to clean up and organize these spaces. Here are a few steps to help with these rooms:
- Work your way through shelves and surfaces from top to bottom and one end of the room to the other. Remove everything from one shelf, clean it and wipe down the shelf.
- When you finish a full bookcase or set of shelves, try to put everything back in a new place. This will give the room a fresh feel. Also try to store, discard or donate at least a few things in each room to help declutter.
- Dust and wipe down electronics including remotes, as well as coffee tables, lamps and blinds.
- Vacuum curtains, sofas and chairs. Take pillows outside and hit them with your hands to knock out dust.
- Vacuum and mop the floor – even if it means moving some furniture. For a deeper clean, roll up rugs and beat them outside. For carpets, consider renting a steam mop or hiring a pro for a carpet deep clean.
Home Exterior
When getting started with spring cleaning, it’s easy to focus on the interior of your home and forget about the exterior. However, winter wrapping up means it’s an important time to do home care and cleaning—both inside and out. Here are some outdoor spring cleaning recommendations:
- Clean your gutters and downspouts. While you’re up there, add new sealing to any cracks you find. If it’s not safe to climb on your roof, please bring in the pros!
- Remove, soak and gently scrub window screens. While they’re off, use window cleaner on windows. Rinse and dry with a towel to prevent streaks.
- Clean debris off your driveway and power-wash it. Patch any holes with concrete mix.
- Power-wash any siding to prevent mold and mildew.
- Clean out and fill any holes in your foundation, basement walls or floor with epoxy or concrete.
- Sweep and wash your front walkway and shake out any entrance mats.
- Take down any holiday lights or decorations and store them for next year!
We’ve also put together some handy room-by-room printable checklists and an infographic of do’s and don’ts:
Happy Cleaning!