Keeping your home clean and organized throughout the year takes a lot of effort, and remembering all the tasks is a task in itself.
However, with a ready-made checklist, it’s easier to plan and stay on top of your tasks. So here’s a comprehensive seasonal cleaning checklist.
Spring Cleaning
After spending so much time inside, it’s time to refresh your home and prepare it for warmer months. Here is what to include in the biggest cleaning session of the year:
Declutter – Use the four-box method to declutter: Keep, Trash, Donate, and Relocate.
Carpets and rugs – Deep clean carpets and rugs, either by yourself or by hiring specialized services.
Windows – Thoroughly wash your windows, curtains, and blinds.
Light fixtures and ceiling fans – Dust and clean your fixtures to reduce allergens and irritants before spring brings some more.
Kitchen appliances – Deep clean the oven, microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher, without skipping the areas underneath and behind them.
Bedding – Wash all the bedding, including blankets, duvets, and pillows. Flip and air out mattresses.
Gutters – Clean and check your gutters and downspouts to prepare for rain.
HVAC – Replace air filters and consider scheduling a professional HVAC inspection.
Clean your backyard – Remove any remaining dry leaves and debris from the winter, and prepare your garden and patio for nicer weather.
Spring cleaning often results in trash, including bulky old decorations, yard waste, or appliances. We suggest dealing with it at once by scheduling professional junk removal. What about the costs? The national average is $210, while prices vary by state:
Minnesota – The average prices for junk removal are around $200. If you’re in the state, you can get reliable junk removal from a Minneapolis company.
Florida – The prices range between $100 and $400 depending on how full the truck is.
New York – The average price is around $250.
Summer Cleaning
Along with another change of seasonal clothing, it’s time to prepare your home for the summer heat:
Closets – Prepare for a seasonal change in clothing and donate anything you didn’t wear during the colder months.
Deep clean high-traffic areas – High temperatures cause germs to reproduce faster, so focus on your kitchen, living room, and entryway.
Bathroom – Deep clean your bathroom. Also, empty out drawers, wipe everything down and discard expired items. Re-caulk if necessary.
Grill – Ready your grill for the barbecue season.
Basement and attic – Clean and declutter these areas and check for signs of mold, moisture, or pest infestations.
Outdoor toys – Clean playsets and toys to ensure they are ready for use.
Pool – Clean the pool if you have one and ensure everything functions properly.
With each summer getting hotter, it’s also recommended to check for air leaks to reduce your cooling expenses. This is also a good time to make your home more energy efficient, either through insulation or alternative power sources. Insulating your home typically costs between $1.50 and $5.00 per square foot.
Fall Cleaning
Fall cleaning is all about cozying up your home for the colder months. It’s also the time to do all the chores you couldn’t because of the heat.
Declutter – Do another seasonal round of decluttering.
Carpets and floors – Deep clean your carpets and floors.
Furniture and upholstery – Hire deep cleaning services or steam clean your furniture. Flip the mattresses.
Seasonal clothing – Wash and store away summer clothing and bring out the winter things.
Kitchen appliances – Do another deep cleaning session like you did in the spring.
Chimney and fireplace – Call a professional to inspect and clean your chimney and fireplace.
Bring in toys – Bring in play sets and furniture that can’t be kept outside.
Gutters – Inspect and clean your gutters again.
In addition, put away or cover your grill, prepare your patio for the cooler days, remove and clean window and door screens, and mow your lawn one last time before winter. What about the costs of fall cleaning? If you do everything else on your own, you only need to pay for a fireplace and chimney inspection and cleaning, which is between $120 and $390.
Winter Cleaning
Once everyone starts sniffling, coughing, and spending more time inside, you’ll need to focus more on sanitizing your home. Here’s a checklist so you can think less about what to do and more about what you want for the holidays:
Disinfect and clean high-traffic areas – It’s germ season, so deep clean and then wipe down surfaces regularly with disinfectant.
Do the same with the bathroom – Deep clean the bathroom again.
Light fixtures and ceiling fans – Improve indoor air quality by dusting off high places, including ceiling fans, lights, top shelves, and other hard-to-reach places.
Check gutters again – Prevent ice and snow damage by making sure everything is working the way it should.
Turn off the water in the yard – If you have water fixtures in the yard, close the valves to prevent your pipes from freezing.
Yard maintenance – Prepare your yard for the holidays, shovel snow, and prevent your driveway from freezing.
Safety measures – Check your fire and carbon monoxide alarms.
