Spring cleaning.

 Spring is in the air, and you know what that means Spring cleaning.  

The sun is shining and showing you those dirty windows and layers of dust that you just hadn't noticed the past several months. And oh look there is a nasty looking cobweb in the corner of your laundry room with a couple dried bugs.  Well, its time to start the spring cleaning.  To make your home feel as light and airy as your soul does when you look outside and see that gorgeous sunlight shining on the new sprouts of greenery outside.  

Spring cleaning is something I really enjoy doing. I love seeing everything when it's all done.  And it keeps me busy. Being busy is a must on my list.  I need to stay busy, and when I get busy I get more energy to do more and more(Coffee helps of course).
So Here are some tips and tricks as well as a list(I LOVE LISTS) to get you through your annual household deep clean. Or maybe you're like me and do it more than once a year.

Tips

1.  I like to tackle a different room each day and I always work top to bottom.  And the reason for this is because don't want my clean flood or counter to be blemished by the dirt from above.
2. Each room that I go into I take an empty cardboard box and I load it up with yard sale stuff.  And I also take a plastic bag for garbage.
3. If I haven' used it is the past year and I can't think of a use for it I throw it in the yard sale bin.
4.  Vinegar is a must when cleaning. Dilute with water and you can clean almost anything with it.

Bedroom(s)

—Dust light fixtures(Overhead lights, bedside lights, and lamps) 

—Wash walls and ceilings

—Wash windows, clean out window track, and the blinds)

—Wash door and window frames

—Wash Doors and Handles(Get the tops of the door and the hinges too)

—Wash Baseboard 

—Spot clean or steam clean carpets

—Change Batteries in light detectors, and air filters

—Wash Curtains (Read the directions first before you wash)

—Dust under and on everything

—Flip mattress(If applicable)

—Wash mattress(If you don't want to wash it, at least get a high powered vacuum and clean it with th

—Wash sheets, pillows, Pillowcases(Decorative pillow cases as well as regular pillowcases), and blankets. (Read the directions first before you wash)

—Vacuum floor and under/behind everything

—Empty your dresser, side table and anything else that hold stuff and vacuum them out. 

—Sweep and mop (if applicable)
—Dust any light switches
—Clean anything out from under or hehind the bed and any furniture
—Clean out the closet and get rid of any unused clothing

Bathroom(s)

-Dust light fixtures(Overhead lights, bedside lights, and lamps) 

-Wash walls and ceilings

-Wash windows, clean out window track, and the blinds)

-Wash door and window frames

-Wash Doors and Handles(Get the tops of the door and the hinges too)

-Wash Baseboard 

-Spot clean or steam clean carpets

-Change Batteries in light detectors, and air filters

-Wash Curtains(Read the directions first before you wash)

-Dust under and on everything

-Scrub and Disinfect showers, toilet, sink and counter, tile wall, shower walls, tubs, floors, and any tile surface
-Wash the outside of any cabinets or vanities
-Wash the whole outside of your toilet

-Wash material shower curtain and replace plastic liner with a new one(They can hold mildew and molds).

-Wash floor mats, towels, hand towels, and washcloths

-Clear out vanities and anything that hold storage and vacuum inside them

-Wash trash can(You don't really realize how dirty it gets)

-Throw out anything you don't use or expired medicine.
-Vacuum or sweep and mop everything
-Dust any light switches
-Clean mirrors 

Kitchen

-Dust light fixtures(Overhead lights, bedside lights, and lamps) 

-Wash walls and ceilings

-Wash windows, clean out window track, and the blinds)

-Wash door and window frames

-Wash Doors and Handles(Get the tops of the door and the hinges too)

-Wash Baseboard 

-Spot clean or steam clean carpets

-Change Batteries in light detectors, and air filters

-Wash Curtains(Read the directions first before you wash)

-Dust under and on everything( Including on top of cabinets and the fridge)

-Scrub the fronts of the cabinets and cupboards 

-Remove everything and clean the insides of the cabinets(Some of the items in the cabinets might need to be cleaned as well)

-Organize the cabinets as you place everything back

-Clean Countertops and backsplash 

-Clean outside the fridge. Pull the fridge forward and wash behind and don't forget to open the doors and clean the parts that you don't usually see like inside flaps and the hinges

-Empty the inside of the fridge and wash the whole thing down and take any shelves or drawers out you can and wash those in the sink. Wash and bottles and containers before you put back in the fridge

-Clean the stove. Top(take all the cooking parts off and wash in the sink along with the oven racks), clean the inside and the door too

-Clean the dishwasher (take the drawers off and wash the whole inside even getting around the spinners at the top and bottom.

-Washing the oven hood. wash the whole thing and take the air filters out(TIP you can run them through the dishwasher a couple times and that gets rid of most the gross cooking residue)

-Clean the inside and out of the microwave (wash any removable parts in the sink)

-Throw out any old food that you find in the pantry or fridge, This will help you not waste food

-Scrub sink and faucet 

-Clean tarnished silver

-Vacuum or sweep and mop everything
-Dust any light switches

-Wash out trashcan (Great to do outside)

Living Room

-Dust light fixtures(Overhead lights, bedside lights, and lamps) 

-Wash walls and ceilings

-Wash windows, clean out window track, and the blinds)

-Wash door and window frames

-Wash Doors and Handles(Get the tops of the door and the hinges too)

-Wash Baseboard 

-Spot clean or steam clean carpets
-Vacuum under couches, chairs, and furniture

-Change Batteries in light detectors, and air filters

-Wash Curtains(Read the directions first before you wash)

-Dust under and on everything

-Spot clean chairs and couches

-Wash slipcovers and  throw pillow cases Read the directions first before you wash 

-Wash electronics with a damp cloth or special electronics cloth(remotes, tv, computer, etc..)

-Wipe down and dust the inside of cany drawers
Polish Wood
-Vacuum or sweep and mop everything
-Dust any light switches
-Organize misc items

Dining Room

-Dust light fixtures(Overhead lights, bedside lights, and lamps) 

-Wash walls and ceilings

-Wash windows, clean out window track, and the blinds)

-Wash door and window frames

-Wash Doors and Handles(Get the tops of the door and the hinges too)

-Wash Baseboard 

-Spot clean or steam clean carpets

-Change Batteries in light detectors, and air filters

-Wash Curtains(Read the directions first before you wash)

-Dust under and on everything
-Vacuum or sweep and mop everything 
-Wash the table top, bottom, and legs along with the chairs.
-Clean any hutches or other furniture inside and out.
-Dust any light switches
-Polish silver 
-Organize misc items

Laundry Room

-Dust light fixtures(Overhead lights, bedside lights, and lamps) 

-Wash walls and ceilings

-Wash windows, clean out window track, and the blinds)

-Wash door and window frames

-Wash Doors and Handles(Get the tops of the door and the hinges too)

-Wash Baseboard 

-Spot clean or steam clean carpets

-Change Batteries in light detectors, and air filters

-Wash Curtains(Read the directions first before you wash)

-Dust under and on everything
-Clean washer and dryer( if its a front loader clean out the seals of the washer)
-Vacuum or sweep and mop everything
-Toss out any old or never used cleaning products
-Organize the remaining products
-Clean out the dryer vent hose and vacuum in the machine
-Run Cleaning cycle through the washing machine
-Dust any light switches

Kids Bedroom

-Dust light fixtures(Overhead lights, bedside lights, and lamps) 

-Wash walls and ceilings

-Wash windows, clean out window track, and the blinds)

-Wash door and window frames

-Wash Doors and Handles(Get the tops of the door and the hinges too)

-Wash Baseboard 

-Spot clean or steam clean carpets

-Change Batteries in light detectors, and air filters

-Wash Curtains(Read the directions first before you wash)

-Dust under and on everything
-Vacuum or sweep and mop everything
-Dust any light switches
-Get rid of any old toys or baby stuff that you have been keeping. 
-Get rid of any worn out, too small, or unused clothing
-Wash Sheets, pillows, and blankets
-Flip mattress (if Applicable)
-Clean anything out from under or behind the bed and any furniture

School/Office/Catch-all Room

-Dust light fixtures(Overhead lights, bedside lights, and lamps) 

-Wash walls and ceilings

-Wash windows, clean out window track, and the blinds)

-Wash door and window frames

-Wash Doors and Handles(Get the tops of the door and the hinges too)

-Wash Baseboard 

-Spot clean or steam clean carpets

-Change Batteries in light detectors, and air filters

-Wash Curtains(Read the directions first before you wash)

-Dust under and on everything

-Vacuum or sweep and mop everything

-Dust any light switches

-Dust and/or polish desk
-Clean and organize desk(s) and other storage
-Clean electronics with a damp cloth or electronics cloth
  -File any loose documents or papers
-Get rid of anything you haven't used
-Get rid of any old toys or craft supplies

Misc

Clean Banisters (Polish is necessary) 

Mop or clean staircase

Clean floor vents

Clean ceiling fans 

Clean and organize any closets

Garage 

Sweep floors and clean up any oil spills
Clean Out cars
Organize and put away everything. (Gardening tools, sports equiptment, decor, and other tools)

If you like this! Checks these out tooSpring Cleaning Purge 
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I hope this helps you with your spring cleaning. Iam going to do another post with mor tips and tricks. So stay tuned