Busy Bee: Top To Bottom Cleaning Checklist

By Greg Wiszniewski

When the winter weather fades away and the temperature starts to increase, many people set aside time for spring cleaning. This is a great way to get every room in the house to sparkle, but some people are too busy with their families and careers to spend days cleaning everything. It is possible to get the house clean without spending hours on each room. Use simple cleaning tips and environmentally-friendly products to leave every room looking clean and smelling fresh.

Living Room

Keeping the living room clean is important, as visitors often see the living room when they visit. Taking a few minutes to tidy it up each day is a great way to keep it company-ready at all times, but it still needs regular cleaning. Dust all of the furniture before vacuuming or doing anything else in the living room. This will cause the dust to fall to the floor, where it can be vacuumed from the carpet or hard floors. Fabric refresher sprays are great for adding a nice smell to couches and other soft furniture. Wash armchair covers, throw pillows, and other washable items to keep them clean and free of dust mites. Use a feather duster to dust off framed pictures, figurines, and other decorative items. Use a soft cloth to wipe down other surfaces in the room. After performing all of these other tasks, sprinkle carpet deodorizer and vacuum the entire room.

• Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks: This guide has several tips for cleaning carpets and wood floors.
• Upholstery Cleaning Tips: This resource explains how to remove different types of stains from upholstery.
• Living Room, Dining Room, and Bedroom Cleaning Checklist: This checklist contains tasks necessary to keep the living room, dining room, and bedrooms clean and tidy.
• Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide: This guide contains tips for cleaning every room of the house in less time.

Kitchen

Keeping the kitchen clean is tough, as this is the one room most people use several times each day. It is possible to keep the kitchen clean, however, with a few simple steps. Disinfecting all countertops and other surfaces is a good way to reduce the risk of food poisoning and other diseases related to contaminated foods. Bleach is an inexpensive disinfectant, but many people now want environmentally-friendly cleaning products that do not have harsh smells. Vinegar is a good way to clean surfaces without using harsh chemicals. Baking soda is also great for sinks and countertops, as it is abrasive and will remove stuck-on stains. Since the garbage can is one of the main sources of odor in the kitchen, use this spring cleaning time to wash it with disinfectant and let it air dry. Washing it will kill the bacteria responsible for odors. Line the new trash bag with baking soda, as baking soda absorbs odors. Toss out old or expired items before wiping down the cabinets and the refrigerator. Use this opportunity to add a new box of baking soda to the fridge to prevent odors from contaminating fresh foods.

• Cleaning the Kitchen Cupboard: Toss or Save? (PDF): This resource offers tips to help people decide when to throw out items in their kitchen cupboards.
• Easy Steps for Keeping the Kitchen Clean: Real Simple offers several tips for cleaning the kitchen.
• Spring Clean Your Way to a Safer Kitchen (PDF): This guide explains how to disinfect kitchen surfaces and improve food safety.
• Cleaning & Sanitizing the Kitchen (PDF): This guide contains a chart the compares the effectiveness of several household cleaners used to disinfect kitchen surfaces.
• Swing Into Spring: This article explains how to clean the refrigerator and the windows.

Bathrooms

The bathroom is another high-traffic room, so sometimes it seems impossible to keep it clean. Using automatic cleaning systems, such as toilet bowl cleaners or shower cleaners, can keep soap scum and dirt from accumulating in these areas. Wiping down the tile after taking a shower can also prevent the formation of tough stains, reducing the amount of time it takes to clean the bathroom. Throw away expired cosmetics and other products that are rarely used. Organize toilet paper and other products in baskets or organizers made for use under the sink. Wash the floors with hot water and lemon juice. Gather up all bath mats and wash them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If mats are not washable, take them to the cleaners. Before finishing the bathroom, restock towels, soaps, and other items.

• Bathroom Cleaning Tips: This guide explains how to clean porcelain tubs, ceramic tile, and other bathroom surfaces.
• Recipes for Cleaning Products: This resource offers several recipes for making cleaning products at home.
• Green Cleaning Tips: This page explains how to use non-toxic products like baking soda and vinegar to clean the bathroom and other parts of the home.
• Removing Mineral Deposits From Household Surfaces: This article explains how to remove mineral deposits from tubs and sinks.
• The Easiest Green Recipes You Can Make at Home: This article contains tips for preparing cleaning products at home.

Bedrooms

Keeping the bedroom clean is a great way to create a sanctuary to enjoy at the end of each day. Since the bed is one of the main features of the bedroom, keeping it clean is essential. Dust or wipe down the headboard and footboard to get rid of dust mites and dirt. Flip the mattress every year to prevent it from becoming lumpy and uncomfortable. For people who use plastic mattress covers, wiping down these covers with a damp cloth can help get rid of dirt and debris. Wash all bed linens and replace them before making the rest of the bed. Dust the furniture, blinds, and any electronics kept in the bedroom. Wiping the window sills and washing the windows is a great way to let more light into the bedroom in the morning. Finish off this room by vacuuming it or using a hardwood floor cleaner if it has wooden floors.

• Bedroom Cleaning Tips: This resource from HGTV offers tips for keeping the bedroom clean.
• Advice on Controlling House Dust: This article provides tips on controlling the amount of dust in the bedroom and other rooms of the home, which may reduce allergy and asthma symptoms.
• Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom: This resource offers a printable checklist of bedroom cleaning tasks.
• Spring Cleaning Room by Room: This article offers tips for making the spring cleaning process easier and less time-consuming.

Laundry Room

Although many laundry rooms are small, they still accumulate a lot of dirt and debris with regular use. During spring cleaning, focus on getting the laundry room cleaned and organized. Pick up stray pieces of dryer lint and throw them in the garbage. Wipe down the washing machine and the dryer to remove dirt and dust. If the laundry room has shelves or baskets, dust them or wipe them down with a damp cloth. Take time to throw away empty detergent bottles or fabric softener boxes. Organize any remaining supplies on shelves or in rolling carts to keep this room looking clean and tidy.

• Cleaning Checklists: These helpful checklists help organize cleaning tasks and reduce the amount of time it takes to finish them.
• Spring Cleaning and Organization Guide: This guide from Good Housekeeping offers tips and resources for cleaning every room of the home.
• 10 Ways to Organize the Laundry Room: This article includes 10 tips for organizing the laundry room.
• Washer and Dryer Best Practices: This article includes cleaning tips for the dryer, which can help reduce energy usage

Garage

While some people use their garages just for parking their cars, others use them as storage rooms or work rooms. This makes cleaning and organizing the garage a challenge. If the garage is used only for cars, washing the floor and getting rid of dirt and debris are the only major steps required. If the garage has multiple uses, then it will require a thorough cleaning and organizing. Wipe down all surfaces with a damp cloth to remove dirt and dust. If the garage has shelves, arrange tools, gardening supplies, automotive supplies, and other items according to their purpose and how often they are used. Something that is used weekly would be put on a lower shelf, while something that is used only once a year would go on a higher shelf. If necessary, purchase inexpensive containers to store loose nails, screws, and other small items. Use an industrial vacuum to clean dirt off of the floor and other garage surfaces.

• Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks: This article contains links to cleaning tips for the garage and other areas of the home.
• Household Cleaning Tips: This article offers several tips for making cleaning jobs less of a hassle.
• Tips for Cleaning the Garage: This resource includes tips to help garage owners keep their garages clean and organized.
• Tips for Organizing the Garage: This article contains six tips for organizing a garage.
• Garage Organization FAQ: This fact sheet offers tips for organizing a garage and keeping it clean.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Living Room

___ Dust furniture

___ Vacuum carpets

___ Clean hard floors

___ Dust electronics

___ Put away items

___ Wash pillows and covers

___ Wash stains off of upholstery

___ Wash windows and window sills

Kitchen

___ Wash dishes

___ Clean sink

___ Disinfect surfaces

___ Throw away expired food

___ Wipe down cabinets

___ Clean refrigerator

___ Wash trash can

___ Replace baking soda in fridge

___ Clean oven

___ Wipe down stovetop

___ Wash floor

___ Organize cabinets

___ Clean microwave

Bathroom

___ Clean toilet

___ Wash floor

___ Scrub sink, bathtub, and shower

___ Wash bath mats

___ Clean mirrors

___ Throw away expired products

___ Refill soap dispensers

___ Organize cabinets

___ Wipe down shelves and surfaces

Bedroom

___ Flip the mattress

___ Wash bed linens

___ Dust furniture

___ Wash windows

___ Wipe down window sills

___ Dust electronics

___ Organize closets

___ Vacuum carpets

___ Polish wood floors

___ Donate items no longer in use

Laundry Room

___ Clean dryer lint trap

___ Wipe down washer and dryer

___ Throw away empty boxes and bottles

___ Organize laundry products

Garage

___ Organize loose items in jars or containers

___ Put away tools, gardening items, and other products

___ Wipe down all hard surfaces

___ Wash the floor with a degreaser

___ Vacuum the floor, using an industrial vacuum if necessary

___ Discard unused items

___ Dispose of chemicals safely