‘Tis the season of Spring Cleaning! The arrival of spring means warmer weather, less snow and slush, and, of course, the yearly spring cleaning.

“I tell my clients that every day is a good day to get organized, but many people experience a burst of energy coming out of the winter into the spring,” says Karen Windholz, founder of Sort, Toss, Repeat.

While spring cleaning might seem like a daunting task, there are some tried and true methods to maximize your efficiency and tackle your spring cleaning like a professional.

Prioritize Your Pain Points

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be one size fits all. When it comes to what to tackle first, Windholz tells clients to “prioritize your pain points. If it’s not your bathroom, that’s fine. It could be a pantry or even getting rid of and sorting old mail and paperwork.”

Knowing what you need to do (and seeing your progress) can help you avoid wasting time, getting discouraged or overwhelmed, or running out of time.

“Identify the most critical tasks and prioritize them,” says Di Ter Avest, home and lifestyle organizer and owner of Di is Organized.

Focus on high-impact areas first, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, where cleanliness is most noticeable.

“Tackling priority tasks first ensures that the essential areas are addressed even if you run out of time.”

To ensure your spring cleaning stays on track, Ter Avest recommends “making a detailed checklist of tasks that need to be accomplished. Break down the cleaning process room by room and list specific chores for each area. A checklist will help you stay focused and ensure no task is overlooked. Identify the most critical tasks and prioritize them. Focus on high-impact areas first, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, where cleanliness is most noticeable.”

Spring doesn’t have to be the only time you clean things up. Please read up on our guide to staying organized year-round.

Set a Schedule

Spring cleaning won’t happen overnight! Avoid getting overwhelmed by setting a schedule and sticking to it. Remember, while you might start out motivated, keeping a manageable schedule is key to long-term success.

“Establish realistic goals and timelines,” says Ter Avest. “Understand that you might not be able to clean your entire home in a single day. Setting achievable objectives ensures you stay motivated without feeling defeated by an unrealistic workload.”

Tracking your progress and seeing how much you’ve gotten done over time is also essential.

Windholz recommends setting aside time for cleaning and marking it off in the calendar as you would an appointment.

“Make it part of your routine,” she says. Even if it’s not every day, you could schedule a weekly Sunday reset. Once you start, you’ll see a Domino effect of how quickly you can get things done.

Want more Spring Cleaning tips? Check out our guide.

Do a Deep Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning is more than sweeping up the extra dirt or cleaning the windows. Take the time to get into those hard-to-reach spots and make those floors shine.

“Concentrate on spaces that are used most frequently, such as the living room, kitchen, and bathroom,” says Ter Avest. “These areas accumulate dirt and grime more quickly, and cleaning them will immediately impact the overall cleanliness of your home.”

As you clean, you can decide what stays and can be recycled, sold, or stored. While every home is different, some common areas will also likely need a spring touch-up.

Indoors:

• Window Treatments: We see them daily, but how often do you clean them? Spring cleaning is the perfect time to change your curtains, if you have seasonal curtains. Washing the blinds and dry cleaning your drapery will help brighten the room. Ter Avest notes that “even a quick wipe-down can make a noticeable difference.”
• Bedding: If you aren’t in the habit of stripping your bed down to the bare mattress and cleaning everything already, spring cleaning is an excellent time to complete this chore. This will also give you a chance to inspect your mattress for wear and tear, as well as flipping it if needed.
• Seasonal Clothes: Since many of us use plastic bins to store winter clothes, follow the “rules of clean, cool, dark, and dry.” This will help keep your clothes in good shape and ready for the next season.
• Appliances: A spring cleaning routine is an excellent chance to clean your appliances as well. Check heating elements, coils, drain pans, and dryer vents and clean them appropriately. This will help reduce dust in your home and increase the lifespan of your appliances.

Outdoors:

• Garage & Siding: Siding should generally be washed in the spring as well. Consider renting a power washer, or get a good stiff brush with a long broom handle to DIY it yourself.
• Patio & Deck: If your deck is made out of Trex board, you have little to worry about to maintain it. A quick blast with a power sprayer and maybe a quick scrub, and you’re done. However, if you have regular wood decking, you want to ensure it does not need a new coat of sealer or stain for the seasons. Most sealants and stains need reapplication every several years, and it is a good idea to keep track of when it was last put on. Patios are generally stone or concrete, so a quick power wash ensures that anything loose or broken is identified and repaired and keeps your patio in tip-top shape.

Clean Smarter, Not Harder

When it comes to a big task like spring cleaning, don’t make your life more difficult with inefficiency!

“Before deep cleaning, declutter each room,” says Ter Avest. “Removing unnecessary items makes it easier to clean surfaces and prevents you from spending time cleaning things that might later be discarded.”

Spring is a great time to do a solid decluttering session, as you’ll likely have items left over from the holidays, winter gear that needs to be put away, or clutter that has piled up when it’s been too cold to take to Goodwill.

“Don’t organize what you can declutter instead,” says Windholz. “This is a perfect time to get rid of everything you no longer need and everything that’s no longer serving you.”

When it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start cleaning, Ter Avest recommends that you “dust and clean from top to bottom to avoid having to re-clean lower surfaces. Start with tasks like dusting light fixtures and ceiling corners before moving on to countertops and floors. This method prevents dust and debris from settling on already-cleaned surfaces.”

Check out our tips for storing winter clothing on our blog.

Get the Family Involved

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a one person show.

“If you have family members or housemates, consider delegating specific tasks to share the workload,” says Ter Avest. “Assigning responsibilities based on individual strengths, preferences, and age can lead to a more efficient and enjoyable cleaning experience.”

If you have kids, having them help in age-appropriate ways can help get the job done, and teach them respect for their things and their space.

Guide them through the process of choosing old toys or clothing to give away, for example.

“Repetition is important for kids when it comes to learning how to be organized,” says Windholz. “It’s a skill and it can take time. Create (or buy) charts for them so they can check off tasks that have been completed, and reward them with a fun incentive at the end of the week if everything gets done.”