Spring is in the air, and for many of us, that means taking a day or two out of our busy schedules to give our homes a good cleaning. We all know the basic checklist items that spring cleaning entails: putting away winter clothes, dusting every surface, sweeping under the rugs and washing the windows. But what tasks might you be neglecting in your spring cleaning campaign? We put together a list of oft-forgotten items that need doing annually. Take care of them during spring cleaning, and enjoy a clean, green, and healthy home all year round!
Vacuum and wipe down walls and vacuum ceilings. This can be done in every room, since dust, cobwebs, and fingerprints have a tendency to collect in these areas and remain unnoticed during regular cleanings. But this task is especially important for the kitchen and bathrooms! In the kitchen, move the appliances to vacuum around them, and be sure to wipe down the walls around the stove and sink. In the bathroom, pay special attention to the wall behind where you stand when you use hair and skin products. Residue from hairsprays and colognes can build up over time and turn into a gunky mess that’s nearly impossible to clean.
Wash throw rugs. Once a year, your throw rugs, kitchen and bathroom mats, and welcome mats need a good washing—so what better time than spring cleaning to tackle this task? If your rugs and mats are machine washable, you can just throw them in the washer while you complete one of the other tasks on the list.
Wash drapes, curtains, and linens. Window treatments gather dirt and dust throughout the year, and can be a major source of allergens in the home. You probably wash your bed linens fairly regularly, but spring cleaning is a good time to freshen the bedding in guest bedrooms, as well as blankets and throws that are kept on living room furniture.
Clean kitchen appliances. Take everything out of the refrigerator and freezer, wipe down the walls, and take the drawers out to be washed in warm soapy water. Degrease the oven and stove, wipe down the inside of the microwave, and empty crumbs out of the toaster or toaster oven.
Empty and dust cabinets. And while the contents are out of the cabinets, take the opportunity to clean and polish those dishes, glasses, and utensils that are used only rarely, like crystal goblets and fine silver.
Laundry machine maintenance. Wipe down the inside of the washer. Even though we think of the washing machine as a self-cleaning object, residues can build up on the walls and agitator from detergents as well as minerals in the water. Now is also a good time to clean out the dryer air filter. NOT the lint filter in the front or top of the machine that you clean every time you run a load of laundry, but the air intake filter in the back of the machine.
Vacuum and wipe down light fixtures. You might want to wipe down the light bulbs, too, since dusty light bulbs can cast murky light.
Clean upholstery and vacuum underneath cushions. If the upholstery on your chairs and sofa zips off, launder it according to the instructions on the tag. If not, you might consider renting a steam cleaner or hiring a professional upholstery cleaning service to do the job.
Air out the bedrooms and living areas. It’s spring! Open the windows and let the fresh air in! While you’re at it, now’s probably a good time to wash the insides of those windows.
Clean electronics and cables. TV screens tend to get cleaned a lot more frequently than the parts of our electronics that we can’t see. But spring cleaning is an excellent time to clean behind, underneath, and on top of your electronics. Trust us: nothing gathers dust and cobwebs like a bundle of cables snaking behind an entertainment center.
Wipe down doorknobs, cabinet hardware, and light switch panels. It may seem like a small thing, but paying special attention to these areas can really make a room sparkle. The best part? It’s really easy to do, and right at kindergartner eye level!