Here’s the post you’ve been waiting for/dreading. It’s the spring cleaning task list. (Please note that this list is comprehensive. You may not want or need to do everything on the list, but it will give you a sense of how extensive your deep spring cleaning can be.

In all rooms:

• Clean all lighting fixtures (vacuum shades, wash glass globes, etc.).
• Wash windows (inside and out).
• Dust everything, including baseboards, doorjambs, vents, and walls, especially corners.
• Vacuum, launder, dust, or dry clean window treatments as needed.
• Replace batteries and test smoke detectors.
• Dust mop, scrub, or vacuum floors and carpets.
• Move belongings and furniture and dust or sweep under them.
• Put all possessions where they actually belong.
• Clean mirrors.
• Launder or beat rugs.

Bedrooms:

• Empty closets and drawers, donating clothes that don’t fit or that you don’t wear and discarding/recycling clothes that are in poor condition.
• Make a pile of clothes requiring repair. Develop a plan for repairing them or having them repaired.
• Launder and fluff pillows and mattress pads.
• Flip or turn mattresses and vacuum box springs.
• Replace winter bedding with lighter bedding.
• Change linens.
• Launder blankets and comforters.
• Hang up clothes.
• Take winter clothes to be stored to the dry cleaner if necessary.

Living Room/Dining Room

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

Kitchen:

• 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.
• Scrub cabinet fronts.
• Prune fridge art gallery.
• 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.)

Bathroom:

• Empty medicine cabinet, discarding outdated medications and cosmetics.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

If you’ve done all that, treat yourself to the reward you picked before you started! You deserve it!