Here in Austin, we’ve felt the warm weather of spring for weeks now — but officially it’s only been one week or so! And one spring ritual we love here at Assisting Hands in West Austin is to take some time to make a fresh start for the year. The birds chirping, warm weather, trees blossoming and flower buds give us that sweet motivation to do a thorough spring cleaning–and this article, we’re going to discuss how to do a proper spring cleaning!

And as you look through this list — which can appear daunting at first — keep in mind that you don’t have to do it all in one go; in fact, pick one or two rooms each day to accomplish. Remember, you have all spring to get it done!

Not only is spring cleaning important to our mental health, we all strive better in a clean home, but it consists of those tasks that aren’t on the daily and monthly cleaning schedule. Items we sometimes forget to clean. During spring cleaning season dirt and allergens that build up when the house is closed up for winter are removed. It is a simple and great way to reset your home for the transition from cold to warmer weather. And we all know, having a clean house relives stress and makes us happier!

Before we dive in, make sure you have a donation bag or bin ready. As the decluttering process begins, it’s no secret things to donate and get rid of always pop up.

This list is divided up by what to clean in each room in your home. The beauty of the list is you can DIY your own schedule doing either a room a day or a task a day.

Bathrooms

• Go through your medicine cabinet and trash any items that have expired
• Clean out all of the drains
• Wash or replace shower curtains and shower curtain liners
• Clean grout
• Wash Rugs
• Wipe down cabinets
• Disinfect garbage cans
• Disinfect toothbrush holder
• Change the toothbrushes

Laundry Room

• Clean under and behind the washer and dryer
• For your washing machine, there are tablets made to clean the washer, but there are several more natural recipes online — it’s up to your personal preference
• Change the furnace filter
• Remove lint from the dryer hose
• Check your carbon monoxide detector

Kitchen

• Pantry – Tidy and organize. Toss any food you won’t be eating or anything that has expired. You would be surprised at the number of expired items you will find that have gotten pushed to the back
• Fridge – Not only does this include the inside, shelves, and drawers, but always make sure you pull it out and clean off the top, the sides, the underneath and even dust off those coils
• Inside of dishwasher – There are plenty of products to do this, but if you are a more natural cleaner, there are several “recipes” online to clean the inside with vinegar
• Wipe down the cabinets, stove top, and oven
• Disinfect the garbage can
• Drain – Again, there are several products designed to clean the drain, but the internet is a great place to look for something a little more natural
• Microwave – Lots of vinegar and citrus hacks online for this as well
• Wipe down the walls – Cooking in the kitchen, the walls and backsplash are expected to collect a lot of dirt and grime. Vinegar and water work wonders on this task
• Rugs – If you have a rug in your kitchen, or kitchen mats and runners, make sure you wash them and get all the cooking residue out of them as well

Living Room

• Rugs and Carpets – Make sure you not only vacuum them, but give them a good washing and/or shampooing
• Disinfect remotes
• Throw blankets – Wash. If you aren’t planning on using them throughout the warmer month, store them
• Spot clean furniture stains
• Vacuum upholstered furniture – Fabric is a wonderful keeper of dust
• Move your furniture pieces and make sure to dust underneath

Bedrooms

• Change your sheets and pillow cases
• Wash the mattress cover, comforter, and/or duvet covers
• Vacuum, flip and/or rotate mattress
• Move the furniture and vacuum underneath
• Swap out winter clothes for summer clothes – This is a wonderful time to declutter that closet and dresser
• Declutter surfaces such as dressers and nightstands

Around the House

• Change smoke detector batteries and check your fire extinguishers
• Disinfect and wipe down all the doorknobs and light switches
• Wash window curtains and clean the blinds
• Wash windows
• Tidy and organize the linen closet
• Wipe down baseboards
• Dust Ceiling fans
• Clean lampshades with a lint roller
• Wash light fixtures
• Cobwebs in the corners
• Replace any burnt out bulbs
• If needed, use leather conditioner any leather furniture to prepare it for the everyday usage

And remember, this list is just a great way to find inspiration to get started on your spring cleaning. It may seem overwhelming at first, but if you just start small with a few tasks, or a room a day, you will be fresh and cleaned in no time with a house reset and ready for spring and summer.

Depending on the style of your home, some of these may not apply, but the beauty of the list is just to remind you of the things we may forget to clean throughout the year, and you can do as much or as little as you feel.

Contact Assisting Hands

If you or someone you know is stricken with any type of illness or special need and needs assistance with daily living, consider Assisting Hands Home Care in West Austin. We provide professional and compassionate caregivers who can help with meal preparation, groceries, shopping, and full list of other services of in-home care. Contact or call us today at (512) 999-7379.