If you’re like most Minnesotan, when it comes time to do the spring cleaning you probably get a little excited. Not because cleaning is fun, it’s not. In fact, it’s a chore. No, you’re probably excited because spring cleaning means it’s finally spring.
We earn what little springtime we get in Minnesota and it tends to be pretty muddy and messy. The good news is, the spring rains bring out lush lawns that put an end to the mud soon enough. It’s really all about timing when it comes to doing your spring cleaning.
If your spring cleaning consists of doing the things that show – cleaning windows, cleaning out the gutters and putting down grass seed there’s plenty more to do that is often overlooked. This spring cleaning checklist will help you get your indoors in tip top shape (next week, we’ll talk about the outdoors and getting your patio spiffied up) so you can enjoy the rest of the warm months without having to do home maintenance.
Wash Windows and Screens – Wash windows inside and out with a commercial cleaner such as Windex or make your own eco friendly cleaner out of water and vinegar. Clean windows in the sun so you can spot any streaks that might be overlooked. Don’t forget to remove screens and spray down with the garden hose to remove dust and dirt.
Shampoo Carpets and Rugs – Now that the pollen has fallen and the mud is drying up, it’s a good time to steam clean your carpets and rugs. Hire a professional for the best results, or you can rent the equipment from your local hardware or big box store and do it yourself. Be sure to keep pets and children off of your carpets until they are completely dry.
Dust Bookshelves and Books – Use a hand held vacuum to vacuum up the dust that has settled in hard to reach areas of your book cases – don’t forget to do the tops of the books too. For the finer dust, use a feather duster or Swiffer to remove that thin layer.
Dust Walls and Ceilings – Dust collects on walls and ceilings too, believe it or not. You can use a vacuum attachment with a soft brush at the end or a soft cloth if there is no texture for it to get caught on.
Clean Under Tub – If you have a claw foot tub be sure to clean underneath it. Dust that has settled under the tub can be difficult to remove since it is likely damp. A duster won’t usually work under the tub. You’ll need to get under there with a sponge and some soapy water or a vinegar/water mixture to get it sparkling clean.
Mop Floors – You probably do weekly mopping in high traffic areas like the kitchen and bathroom. For spring cleaning you may want to do a more thorough cleaning to get into all the nooks and crannies. Consider hiring a professional to steam clean your hardwood or laminate floors.
Clean Underneath Couch and Chairs – It’s amazing what can be found underneath the couch and chairs (as well as under the cushions). Pull furniture away from the wall so you have access to all that has settled underneath and don’t forget to give a good vacuum or mopping to the flooring that is underneath.
Clean Under the Bed – Same goes for under the bed. If the room is carpeted used a vacuum attachment to vacuum under the bed after removing anything that doesn’t belong there.
Clean or Replace Shower Curtain – Wash fabric shower curtains in the washing machine following manufactures instructions on the tag. Replace worn out and moldy shower curtain liners with new ones.
Clean Picture Frames – Like windows, picture frames get dirty. Use Windex or like cleaner to clean the glass and a soft cloth to wipe away dust.
Deep Clean Refrigerator – Now is the time to throw out anything that has expired. It is also time to get rid of anything you don’t like.
Clean out Pantry – Same goes for the pantry. Toss anything that has expired and weed out the things you don’t like and know you will never use. Dust off cans and organize by type of food or alphabetically if you are so inclined. Donate what hasn’t expired to your local food shelf.
Rotate Mattresses – Most mattresses these days can’t be flipped over, and are not designed to be. However, they do need to be rotated for even wear. Wash any mattress pads that might not get laundered as often as sheets as well as bed skirts or dust ruffles.