At its most basic level, spring cleaning is the sort of deep cleaning we’d do weekly if we had the time.  It’s cleaning thoroughly instead of dusting around stuff, moving furniture to sweep underneath, etc. The following room-by-room list is in order of priority. Get as far down each list as you can!

Bedrooms:

• Change linens.
• Fluff pillows.
• Launder blankets and comforters.
• Hang up clothes.
• Take winter clothes to the dry cleaner if necessary and then store.
• Launder pillows and mattress pads.
• Flip or rotate mattresses and vacuum box springs.
• Replace winter bedding with lighter bedding.
• Make a pile of clothes requiring repair.  Develop a plan for repairing them or having them repaired.

Living Room/Dining Room:

• Launder slipcovers and tablecloths.
• Vacuum sofa and chair cushions (including dining chairs).
• Designate a spot for mail and errand materials.
• Spot clean furniture.
• Polish wooden furniture.
• Clean fireplace.

Kitchen:

• Do all dishes and put them away.
• Clear and scrub countertops.
• Scrub stovetop.
• Clean oven.
• Scrub sink.
• Clean refrigerator. (That means tossing out the science experiments hidden in the back and scouring away the apple juice spills from last month.)
• Scrub cabinet fronts.
• Prune fridge art gallery.
• Defrost freezer.
• Clear cabinets and use, donate, or discard foods approaching or past expiration dates.
• Match up plastic containers and discard the ones missing lids or bottom.
• Pull the refrigerator away from the wall and mop behind it.  Vacuum the refrigerator coils.

Bathroom(s):

• Scrub all fixtures.
• Wipe down shower walls.
• Wash shower curtain.
• Bleach or replace shower liner.
• Empty medicine cabinet, discarding outdated medications and cosmetics. (Note:  Do NOT flush medicines.  Many pharmacies provide containers for safe disposal.)
• Discard or donate any worn, stained, or torn linens or towels.  (Many animal rescue groups are happy to accept old towels, blankets, and sheets.)

In all rooms:

• Dust baseboards, doorjambs, vents, and walls, especially corners.
• Move belongings and furniture and dust or sweep under them.
• Put all possessions where they actually belong.
• Clean mirrors.
• Launder or beat rugs
• Vacuum, launder, dust, or dry clean window treatments as needed.
• Replace batteries and test smoke detectors (or replace with a smoke detector that lasts for 10 years).
• Clean all lighting fixtures (vacuum shades, wash glass globes, etc.).
• Wash windows (inside and out).