Spring cleaning checklist: our room-by-room guide with tips from cleaning experts

Is your house full of dusty corners and cobwebs that have gathered over winter? Perhaps your kettle or showerhead is in desperate need of descaling? Now that springtime has arrived and the sun is finally shining again, maybe you’re starting to notice that it’s time for a spring clean.

The perfect way to welcome spring into your home is with a good, old-fashioned deep clean. Here at The Recommended, we want to help you declutter and look after your home and have compiled the ultimate guide to spring cleaning your space. From the equipment you need to a room-by-room checklist, we’ve got your whole home covered for dust-free, dazzling results, plus top tips from cleaning experts.

What is spring cleaning?

Spring cleaning is the process of thoroughly cleaning your home at the start of springtime. Highly renowned cleaning services Molly Maid explains that ‘after months of being cooped up indoors, it’s important to deep clean every nook and cranny and get rid of any clutter that may have accumulated over the winter.’ Spring cleaning provides the ‘perfect opportunity to start fresh and create a clean and organised home for the new season’.

When should you start spring cleaning?

Spring cleaning, as the term suggests, is best done at the beginning of the new season. This means your home will be refreshed and in sparkling form for springtime. According to the Met Office, ‘how you define the first day of spring depends on whether you are referring to the astronomical or meteorological spring.’

Astronomical spring is based on the Earth’s orbit around the sun, and the start date (known as the spring equinox) can fall on different days each year (typically around 20/21 March). In most countries, it’s the day that the clocks will go forward by an hour, with days becoming longer.

Meteorological spring is based on the annual temperature cycles, ‘coinciding with the calendar to determine a clear transition between the seasons.’ According to the meteorological calendar, ‘spring will always begin on 1 March, ending on 31 May.’

Ideally, spring cleaning should take place within the first few weeks of the spring season - mid-March to mid-April. Just make sure to dedicate enough time for it as it can take longer than you think - whether you designate a full day to blitz the whole space or spend several hours a day on each room.

Spring cleaning checklist: room by room

Tackle your home, room by room, with our spring cleaning checklist to get every corner in tip-top shape and sparkling clean. You can also download it here as a printable PDF.

Every room

• Vacuum/mop carpets and flooring
• Clean windows and frames
• Wash curtains/blinds
• Clean skirting boards
• Disinfect door handles
• Disinfect/dust surfaces and countertops
• Clean/dust light fixtures

Kitchen

• Clean and clear countertops
• Deep clean appliances including oven, microwave, fridge/freezer
• Descale kettle
• Bin expired food

Bathroom

• Deep clean toilet
• Descale shower and clean tiles
• Disinfect bathtub
• Wash bath mats
• Wipe clean mirror

Living room

• Vacuum sofa
• Vacuum rugs
• Dust TV and appliances

Bedroom

• Vacuum floor/carpet and under bed
• Dust surfaces and shelves
• Clean bed frame
• Turn over your mattress and refresh your bedding

Home office

• Wipe clean desk
• Clean keyboard on computer/laptop

Stairways/landings

• Vacuum/mop the floor of landings, corridors and stairs
• Disinfect and dust bannisters on stairways

The cleaning equipment you need

Before you start your spring clean, make sure you have all the right equipment you need at hand. This includes the following:

• Mop - we recommend this Shark Klik n’ Flip Automatic Steam Mop for a super thorough clean of your floors, removing 99.9% of common household bacteria and drying quickly. Check out our full round-up of some of the best steam mops to leave your floors spotless and gleaming in no time.
• Vacuum cleaner - we love the Dyson V10 Absolute Cordless Vacuum Cleaner thanks to its versatility and long-lasting power. It will take care of any dirt and debris lurking on your carpets and floors! Find more of our favourites in our round-up of the best cordless vacuums and in our buyer’s guide of the best handheld vacuums for a compact and convenient option to reach even the most difficult-to-access spots.
• Cleaning products - make sure you are equipped with the best products to tackle your home effectively, from dusters and cloths to different sprays, wipes and gels. All-purpose antibacterial sprays and surface disinfectants are suitable for most areas, eliminating household germs. Bleach is good for toilet cleaning, and polish will gather up dust and leave your home shining.
• Rubber Gloves - don’t forget to protect your hands while spring cleaning! Marigolds are always a popular choice, triple-layered to last longer and promising to keep you safe and chemical-free.
• Bin bags - dispose of any rubbish along the way with some strong bin bags at hand. These will also be useful for getting rid of dusters and cloths when they are worn out at the end of your spring cleaning.

Tips and tricks from cleaning experts

We spoke to leading cleaning services Housekeep to hear some of their expert advice when it comes to spring cleaning.

• Clean from top to bottom: Be methodical in your cleaning of each room - Housekeep suggests starting high with walls, and working down to the floors, working clockwise around the room. This ensures you target every nook and cranny, but also will help avoid re-cleaning any surfaces you’ve already done.
• Be thorough: To ensure a deep clean, Housekeep suggest ‘picking objects up and dusting & wiping beneath them’ - this way, no spot will be missed.
• Prioritise rooms: If you're short on time, Housekeep suggests prioritizing your kitchen and bathroom - ‘these are the most important rooms to keep clean, and they usually take the longest!’
• Remember to empty your vacuum cleaner: Avoid getting a clogged-up vacuum cleaner - ‘empty the bag and remove any hair or dirt from the floor tool before you get cleaning - it will make your job a lot easier!’
• Choose cleaning materials carefully: Housekeep recommends avoiding ‘abrasive materials and strong chemicals. Scourers, steel wool, oven cleaner and bleach can easily damage your surfaces.’

The benefits of spring cleaning

The process of spring cleaning may seem a boring chore, but once completed, you and your home will be happy to reap the positive effects. Here are some of the top benefits:

1. Keep allergies at bay: Having a clean home can help keep household allergies limited, whether allergic to dust or pet hair. Deep cleaning and dusting all your surfaces and spaces will help eliminate potential allergy triggers.
2. Reduced respiratory issues: Similar to those with dust allergies, keeping a clean home can help those with underlying respiratory issues, creating cleaner air to breathe in.
3. Improved sleep: According to the Sleep Foundation, ‘a sanitary bedroom is important for promoting healthy sleep.’ Having a clean and relaxing environment is essential for your sleep hygiene, allowing you to have better quality rest.
4. Reduced stress: A tidy, clean home can mean a tidy, clean mind, helping to reduce levels of stress. The actual practice of cleaning can also be effective at helping minimise levels of stress in a mindful way - although repetitive and requiring little brain power, it may be just what you need to try and switch off and destress.
5. Improved mood: A clean and refreshed environment is bound to make you feel better, as well as make you feel proud to have accomplished the task. Vitality Group, ‘the world’s largest behavioural engagement platform,’ states that a clean environment can help relieve and prevent unnecessary stress as you’ll feel in control and more relaxed when your environment is easy to navigate. The physical activity of cleaning can also help release endorphins, boosting your overall wellbeing.

If you would like to read more expert-recommended round-ups, check out our Household page, where you’ll find more home recommendations, including Declutter your home checklist: our step-by-step guide with tips from experts, the best cordless vacuum cleaners, and the best steam mops.