Your Comprehensive Spring Cleaning Checklist

Your Comprehensive Spring Cleaning Checklist

Things are starting to warm up in Oklahoma City. Soon flowers will be blooming and the kids will be spending most of their days outside. While spring is one of our favorite seasons, it’s also time to get your ducks in a row. And that means getting your house organized and clean for the busy summer season. Not sure where to start? We’re offering up our comprehensive spring cleaning guide!

Your Kitchen

Now’s the time to tidy up any pesky spots in your kitchen that tend to be overlooked during those busy evenings trying to get food on the table. Over time grease from kitchen splatters can build up on your kitchen cabinets. When you’re spring cleaning your kitchen make sure to use a good cabinet cream to cut through grime and leave your wood cabinets moisturized. If you have granite countertops make sure those are sealed at least once a year.

Take a Saturday afternoon and deep clean your appliances. Shine up stainless steel surfaces with a wax-based cleaner. Run special cleaners through your garbage disposal and dishwasher. While this should be done monthly to keep them fresh and germ free, make sure you at least do it during your spring cleaning session.

For everyone’s least favorite spring cleaning activity make sure you pull out your fridge’s interior shelving and wash them with soapy water. You’d be surprised how many germs and sticky things can make their way onto your refrigerator shelves during the year. If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, spray the burnt pieces with ammonia and sprinkle some baking soda and vinegar on the bottom, then wipe it up for a fresh oven and no stinky burnt food smells every time you use it!

Your Surfaces

If you have hardwood floors you might be surprised to hear that you should really only wet-clean them once every one or two months to avoid water damage. Don’t use any harsh chemicals either. In the meantime, just spot clean messes or use a broom to sweep up excess dirt, dust or pet hair. If you have carpet instead of hardwood floors now’s the time to have it professionally cleaned. Experts recommend you should have this done once or twice a year to draw up any dirt or bacteria, even if the carpet appears clean.

Have you done a deep cleaning of your moldy shower lately? Make baking soda and water for a homemade tile cleaner to shine up that shower or bath. If your grout looks extra moldy, think about bringing in a professional or arranging to re-grout problem areas.

All Your Stuff!

We all have a tendency of holding onto things we just don’t need anymore. As you’re reading this you’re probably thinking about those jeans in your closet that haven’t fit since 1994. The general rule is, if you haven’t worn or used something since the last time you spring cleaned then you probably don’t need or want it. Go through all your clothes, shoes, underwear, socks… reduce what looks shabby or doesn’t fit. You might feel a little better about getting rid of things if you donate them to a local charity.

Last but not least – tackle the “drawer.” We know you all have them. The catch-all drawer that has everything from 10-year phone bills to neon silly putty. What is all that stuff anyways? Finally sit down and tackle the junk drawer. Set out piles for “trash”, “keep” or “donate.” Find a place for everything in the “keep” pile so you don’t end up cleaning out that drawer again next spring.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be all that horrible. Turn on your favorite music. Flip on a movie if you’re working in a room with a TV (as long as you don’t get distracted). Or come up with rewards for yourself. For instance, once you finish cleaning out your closet you can go buy yourself a new pair of shoes or just buy  new house! Happy spring cleaning!