Spring Has Sprung! Now Get Cleaning with This Ultimate Checklist (& Discover Where to Donate Your Stuff)

Spring has arrived early in Minnesota this year! While die-hard winter lovers lament the loss of prime skiing and snowmobiling weather, the rest of us are eager to get a head start on summer. Mild March and April weekends are the perfect time to deep clean your home.

Room-by-Room Spring Cleaning Checklist

Don’t leave a single room unscrubbed with this thorough checklist adapted from Better Homes and Gardens. Here’s a list of things to do in every room:

• Declutter and donate items you no longer use or want
• Wipe down walls, light switches, baseboards, and heat registers
• Dust lampshades and all surfaces
• Vacuum, mop, or shampoo flooring
• Dust, vacuum, or dry clean window treatments
• Check the batteries in your smoke detectors

And here’s a spring cleaning guide to get you through each room in your house.

Bedrooms

• Organize and declutter closets (and donate unwanted clothes)
• Switch out your seasonal wardrobe and bedding
• Clean mattresses and pillows
• Wash bed skirts and pillow shams
• Create a shopping list to replace worn-out socks, undershirts, and other necessities

Bathrooms

• Descale showerheads and scrub grout
• Replace shower curtains
• Clean out and scrub medicine cabinets and linen closets

Kitchen

• Clean out and scrub cabinets and drawers
• Deep-clean the fridge, oven, stove, vent hood, and microwave
• Rinse dishwasher and coffeemaker with vinegar
• Sharpen knives

Living Room

• Wash throws and pillows
• Vacuum upholstery
• Organize media
• Scrub remotes and phones

Entryway

• Scrub threshold
• Organize the coat closet
• Wash winter coats
• Replace or clean doormats

The Oprah Spring Cleaning Challenge

Love the list above but short on time? Take Oprah’s spring cleaning challenge and get it done in 8 hours. You’ll hit every room in the house and still have time to go out to dinner with friends. Pro tip: Take the evening before you start the challenge to gather your cleaning supplies and review your checklist.

Finish the Job and Pay It Forward

After you declutter, don’t toss out usable stuff. Donate to your local thrift store or charity. Here are a few of my favorites in the Rockford/Buffalo area:

• Wise Penny Thrift Shoppe in Buffalo
• RiverWorks Community Development Thrift Store in Rockford
• Goodwill in Monticello

Alright Minnesotans! It’s time to get your home prepared for the warmer weather. If you realize as you’re cleaning that you need a larger home (or want to downsize), get started on your free market analysis on my website or call Trent Shipley at 612-310-4770 today.