The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist [Infographic]

Grace Leddyy https://www.terrysfabrics.co.uk 8m 1,895 #springcleaning

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Time For Spring Cleaning Checklist

What is spring cleaning exactly? It is a decluttering regime, usually carried out at the beginning of spring. It’s a thought to be originated from the Persian new year.

Why do it? There are numerous reasons to carry out spring cleaning sessions that include, increasing productivity, removing allergens from the air, making your home life happier and comforting, helping you find lost items, and also help you make some extra money by selling unwanted stuff online.

When? March to April is the perfect time to start, as the weather will be a little warmer. But sometimes the mess and clutter is so big, that we are not able to decide what to do. Many people actually carry out the decluttering practice, whenever required, rather than waiting for the arrival of a specific date.

There’s no need to worry because, we at Terrys Fabrics have come up with a very helpful infographic, that would definitely make your job easier. It includes nine easy to follow tips for decluttering your home.

Some of the steps are:

1. Work from the top of your home to the bottom, that way you won’t be carrying dirt, mess or clutter through a clean home.
2. Do one room at a time.
3. Use rubber gloves during heavy cleaning sessions.
4. Go at your own pace.

We hope that you like our infographic, and it proves to be useful.

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The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring cleaning can be a very rejuvenating process and once complete will leave your home feeling fresh and new. But why do we carry out this strange annual practice? And are there any specific things you need to do? Well to find out, scroll through our ultimate guide to spring cleaning. Plus there’s also a free printable 100+ checklist to help you make a start.

The What, Why, and When of Spring Cleaning

What: Spring cleaning is a decluttering regime, usually carried out at the beginning of Spring. It is thought to originate from the Persian New Year, which coincides with the start of spring. The Persians carried out the “knooneh tekouni” thorougly cleaning and decluttering the house every year.

Why: There are a number of reasons to carry out a spring cleaning session including:

1. It increases productivity
2. It can remove allergens from the air
3. It can make your home life happier and more comforting
4. It can help you find lost items
5. It can help you declutter
6. It can allow you to make some extra money by selling unwanted stuff on eBay

When: March to April is a great time to start, as the weather will be a little warmer, and you’ll be able to spring clean the garden as well. However, if mess and clutter is piling up then you can always start early. A lot of people actually carry out the practice whenever required rather than waiting for a specific date. Some people even spring clean twice a year, once in Spring, and once at the beginning of Autumn.

Decluttering, Hoarding, and The Stress of Spring Cleaning

However, a lot of people find spring cleaning just too stressful. As a result, they find themselves hoarding paperwork, stacking up cardboard boxes, and just generally living surrounded by superflous clutter. But why is this?

1. Hoarding behaviours usually start in adolescence, due to stress of throwing away broken toys or outdated school work
2. Hoarders can struggle with anxiety and indecisiveness
3. Hoarders may have suffered some form of trauma, hence they hoard as a coping mechanism
4. Hoarders may be socially withdrawn, they therefore find comfort in all of their belongings and home surroundings

Hoarding is a serious condition as many people find spring cleaning or decluttering particularly upsetting. So if you are encouraging loved ones to join your spring cleaning regime, be understanding and sympathetic.

For anyone ready to get stuck into their spring cleaning, then here is our easy to follow spring cleaning tutorial.

9 EASY TO FOLLOW TIPS FOR DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME

1. Work from the top of your home to the bottom – that way you won’t be carrying dirt, mess, or clutter through a clean home.
2. Do a room at a time, that way you will get feelings of satisfaction throughout the spring cleaning process once you complete a single room. These little boosts will make you feel good and incentivise you to complete your home.
3. Have your designated spot for junk and clutter on each floor of your home. That way as you work your way down your home you will not have to go all the way to the ground floor to dispose of rubbish. This will save you a lot of time and energy.
4. Where possible, multi-task. So if your washing machine takes on hour to run, then make sure you utilize that time in another area of the home, rather than waiting for the cycle to finish.
5. User rubber gloves during a heavy cleaning session, as otherwise you will damage skin, especially when using strong cleaning chemicals.
6. Know your limits. If you feel comfortable doing repairs then not a problem but if not then don’t be afraid of hiring a professional.
7. Think about the order you are going to do things. For instance, dust and clean surfaces before you use the vacuum cleaner. If you don’t then you may have to vacuum the floors more than once.
8. Go at your own pace. It’s not a race, so if you feel tired, hungry, or thirsty, then take a little break. This is extremely important as cleaning can expose you to dust. Fumes from cleaning chemicals can leave you dehydrated. Take breaks when you need them.
9. Plus you’ll find our free printable checklist below to make it even easier for you to carry out your spring cleaning. Just download and print off the 100+ checklist below. Then all you have to do is tick off each item as you complete it.

http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/p/thorough-spring-cleaning-checklist.html

List available on Google Drive: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6dBVgGuoJnRRkg0NFVNQzRuSjQ/edit?usp=sharing

List below:

1. Dust lighting fixtures.
2. Wash walls and trim
3. Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.
4. Wash bench or other furnishings.  Launder bench cushion, if applicable.
5. Empty out coat closet.  Wash walls and floor, if needed.  Sort items as you return them to the closet.  Store out of season items, donate unneeded items.
6. Clean or replace entry mat.
7. Sweep and scrub floors.
8. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

BEDROOMS

1. Open windows
2. Dust furniture.
3. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly.  Donate Items you no longer need.
4.  Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly.  Donate items you no longer need.  Try not to store things on closet floor.
5. Move Bed.  Sort and put away anything that was under bed.  Sweep or vacuum under bed.  Try not to store things under bed.
6. Put bed back.  Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up.
7. Launder bedding and curtains.  Wash pillows and duvet in hot water.  Air out mattress pad, if you have one.
8. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades.
9. Wash windows and window sills.  Take out and wash window screens.
10. Wash switch plates.  Wash walls and trim as needed.
11. Wash mirrors or dust art.
12. Wash doors and doorknobs.
13. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
14. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.

 

BATHROOMS

1. Open windows
2. Empty all cabinets and vanity.  Wash inside, replace items neatly.  Discard expired medications and cosmetics.
3. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities
4. Clean tub. Wax if necessary. Clean drain.
5. Clean toilet, inside and out.  Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.
6. Clean sink and drain.
7. Shine faucets.
8. Clean mirror and frame .
9. Dust light fixtures.
10. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.
11. Wash switch plates.  wash walls and trim.  Wash doors and door knobs.
12. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
13.  Sweep and wash floors.
14. Reseal grout lines if necessary.

KITCHEN

1. Open windows.
2. Remove and clean window coverings.  Click here for instructions on cleaning mini blinds.
3. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly.  Donate unneeded items.
4. Wash and sanitize cutting boards
5. Sharpen knives
6. Wash cabinet doors and knobs
7. Clean and organize pantry.  Check food expiry dates.
8. Clean oven.
9. Clean stove top.  Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back.
10. Clean and organize fridge and freezer.  Defrost freezer, if necessary.  Check food expiry dates.
11. Clean under fridge and stove.
12. Vacuum refrigerator coils.
13. Clean microwave.
14. Clean crumbs out of toaster.
15. Clean and descale kettle.
16. Wipe down any other counter appliances
17. wash counters and back splash.
18. Wash and shine sink.  Shine faucet. Clean drain.
19. Clean Dishwasher.
20. Dust light fixtures.
21. Wash windows and window sills.  Remove window screens and wash.
22. Wash switch plates.
23. Wash walls and trim as needed.
24. Wash doors and door knobs.
25. Wash floor registers and other vent covers
26. Sweep and wash floor.
27. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

DINING ROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Wash curtains.
3. Wipe down table and chairs.
4. Wipe down or dust other furnishing.
5. Clean chair pads, if applicable.
6. Polish table, if necessary
7. Create a pretty spring vignette on table!
8. Dust any displayed china or serving dishes.
9. Launder table linens.
10. Shine silverware.
11. Dust art.
12. Wash windows and window sills.  Take out and wash window screens.
13. Wash switch plates
14. Wash walls and trim.
15. Wash doors and door knobs
16. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
17. Clean floors.

LIVING ROOM/ FAMILY ROOM/ PLAYROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Vacuum sofas.
3. Spot clean sofas, if applicable.
4. Launder throw pillows and blankets.
5. Dust shelves, furniture and decor.
6. Clean lamps and lampshades.
7. Wash windows and window sills.
8. Take out and wash window screens.
9. Clean television screen.
10. Carefully dust electronics.
11. Tidy electronics wires.  Tuck nicely out of sight.  Label them, if practical.
12. Sort through music and DVD collections.  Purge things that no longer suit your families interests.  Organize what is left in an attractive manner.
13. Sort books and magazines.  Donate or recycle ones that no longer suit your families interests.
14. Wash hard plastic children’s toys with warm soapy water. Rinse and dry.  Launder stuffed toys.  Donate or store toys that your children have grown too old for.
15. Wash switch plates.
16. Wash walls and trim as needed.
17. Wash doors and knobs.
18. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
19. Clean floors.

LAUNDRY ROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Wash windows and window sills.
3. Take out and wash window screens.
4. Wash cabinet doors.
5. Wash inside cabinets.
6. Wash laundry sink.  Shine faucet.  Clean drains.
7. Wash outside of washer and dryer.
8. Wash inside of washing machine.
9. Wash lint trap with soap and water to remove filmy build-up from laundry soaps and dryer sheets. Let air dry thoroughly before putting back in place.
10. Wash switch plates.
11. Wash walls and trim.
12. Wash doors and door knobs.
13. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
14. sweep and wash floors.
15. Reseal grout lines, if applicable.

STAIRWELLS

1. sweep/vacuum stairs
2. Spot clean walls.
3. Wipe down handrail.
4. Dust art and light fixtures.

OUTSIDE

1. Sweep porches and walkway.
2. Wash thresholds.
3. Wash exterior doors.  Give front door a fresh coat of paint, if necessary.
4. Clean or replace welcome mat.
5. Wash siding.

REMEMBER TO:

• Clean blades of ceiling fans.
• Sort through and organize family photographs (digitally or into albums).
• Sort and clean any extra zones such as linen closets, utility closets and office spaces.

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