Make Cleaning Easier: Your Spring Cleaning Checklist (Updated for 2025)

Spending a long winter indoors makes spring weather that much more irresistible. You may want to go outside more when it begins to warm up, but the changing seasons can also inspire people to refresh their homes with a bit of cleaning. Use this room-by-room spring cleaning checklist to remember steps many people forget and make your home cleaner than ever.

1. Mop Your Floors

It might seem obvious, but mopping your floors is a great way to start off your spring cleaning checklist. It’s so easy to forget about mopping your floors. Vacuuming your carpets and rugs can seemingly remove any lingering dirt, but what about your vinyl or hardwood floors? 

This spring, ensure that you clean any flooring not covered in carpets. Whether that means mopping with homemade soap or using specific cleaning products for specialized vinyl floors, you’ll remove things like bacteria and pollen that could harm your health.

2. Clean Your Ceiling Fans

Your ceiling fans will help you cool down as your home warms up with the spring weather, but they could also irritate your lungs and sinuses. Fan blades collect dust and other floating particles as they turn. This is particularly problematic for people with dust allergies, who might experience symptoms like stuffy noses, itching and coughing.

If there’s a gray buildup along the edge of each blade, wipe your ceiling fans down with an anti-bacterial spray and paper towels. Your immune system won’t have to battle microorganisms that might make you sick, allowing it to stay strong with daily multivitamin use and a healthy diet.

3. Wipe Down the Oven

People often forget to clean the inside of their oven. The burned remnants of overflowing casseroles or muffins won’t go away on their own. Spend a few minutes scrubbing or run your oven’s cleaning cycle. Your oven will immediately become more food safe and you can start manifesting a cleaner kitchen, so it doesn’t have to wait another year to get clean again.

You can use an oven cleaner or degreaser to make the job quicker and easier. You can grab these on Amazon for $13.95.

4. Empty Your Pantry

Even the most strategic grocery shopper eventually has expired goods in their pantry. It will only take fifteen minutes to pull everything out and check the expiration dates. Toss anything past its expiration date and look into donating unwanted food that’s still good. It’s a quick, tedious job that deserves a reward, like napping to improve your mental health or meeting friends for a meal.

5. Inspect Your Dryer Vent

Your dryer’s lint trap collects much of the airborne particles that come off of your clothes, but others will slip through and clog your dryer vent. Professional teams can empty any blockages that prevent your clothes from drying or you can unclog the duct yourself.

All you need is a duct cleaning kit, a vacuum with a hose attachment and a dustpan. After disconnecting the dryer duct, vacuum inside the vent with the hose and extend it as far as possible. Your clothes will dry much faster and your dryer vent won’t push chunks of lint out into the environment.

6. Sweep Your Garage

The garage floor is another part of the home that many people ignore. If there are piles of leaves or other yard debris in the corners of your garage, grab a broom. It only takes a minute to sweep junk out of your garage and transform it into a cleaner part of your home. Plan on keeping it that way by using a leaf blower to push leaves, sticks and other debris off your driveway after each spring thunderstorm.

7. Clean Your Windows and Sills 

Windows are one of those things you don’t always think about, but they can get pretty grubby over time. Dust settles on your window sills and streaky windows can block out all that lovely natural light. Grab a glass cleaner or a mix of vinegar and water to wipe down the glass, then tackle the sills and screens, too. Fresh, clear windows can instantly make your space feel brighter and more welcoming.  

8. Scrub Bathroom Grout 

Grout lines in the bathroom are prime spots for dirt and mildew to hang out. To get them looking fresh again, mix up some baking soda and water or use a dedicated grout cleaner to scrub away stains. A small brush — like an old toothbrush — works wonders for getting into those tricky corners. A little elbow grease will make your bathroom feel a whole lot cleaner and fresher. 

You can use a grout cleaning bundle to make things easier for you, like this one from Amazon for $44.95.

9. Freshen Up Rugs and Furniture

Your rugs or furniture may not need a deep cleaning every season, but giving them a quick refresh can really make a difference. Shake out smaller rugs, or take them outside for good breathing to get rid of dust. For your couches and chairs, use an upholstery attachment on your vacuum or a fabric cleaner to lift away any dust or dirt. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, steam-cleaning will take things to the next level and leave your living room feeling brand-new. 

Try to find a beginner-friendly upholstery cleaner, like this one from Amazon for $123.59.

10. Clear Out Air Ducts 

Spring is a great time to take a look at your air ducts. Dust, pollen and all sorts of allergens can build up in there over time. You can hire a pro to clean them, or if you’re up for it, vacuum out the vents yourself. Clean ducts mean cleaner air, and who doesn’t want that, especially during allergy season? 

11. Declutter Your Space 

Spring cleaning isn’t just about scrubbing. It’s also the perfect time to get rid of anything you don’t need. Sort through your closets, drawers and storage spaces. Donate or toss anything you haven’t used in ages. The less clutter, the more peaceful and organized your home will feel, which means a lot when you want to enjoy those sunny days. 

12. Tidy Up Outdoors

Don’t forget the outside of your home while you’re at it! Sweep the porch or deck, clean your outdoor furniture and if you’ve got a grill, scrub it for all those future cookouts. A few little updates outdoors can make your space feel just as fresh as inside, and you’ll be ready to enjoy the sunshine in no time. 

Use a Spring Cleaning Checklist

Anyone can use this spring cleaning checklist to sanitize every last corner of their home. Add these steps to your to-do list and you won’t forget any essential parts of your house, like the ceiling fan blades and dryer vents. You’ll feel better after they’re clean and you can reward yourself with fun spring activities.

Originally posted 4/4/2022 – Updated 3/25/2025