Spring Cleaning Checklist

Why these items are on the list

1. Declutter first. Both the American Cleaning Institute and Jen Hatmaker say to do this before scrubbing.
2. Inventory cleaning supplies. The American Cleaning Institute says to add whatever is missing to your grocery list.
3. Ceiling fan blades. Wipe or vacuum first, then spray the cloth, not the fan, to avoid staining the ceiling.
4. Cobwebs in wall corners. The American Cleaning Institute suggests a vacuum with a soft brush attachment.
5. Blinds and curtains, one room daily. The American Cleaning Institute warns later blinds get cleaned less thoroughly if you do them all at once.
6. Upholstery, including under cushions. Vacuum the cushions and under them, per the American Cleaning Institute.
7. Doorknobs, handles, light switches. The American Cleaning Institute lists these as high-touch surfaces to clean and disinfect.
8. Mattress and bedding. Deep clean the mattress and launder pillows and bedding, per the American Cleaning Institute.
9. Pet beds and stuffed animals. Jen Hatmaker lists these as often forgotten; The Crowned Goat also puts pet beds on its list.
10. Fridge and fridge coils. The American Cleaning Institute names the coils; Thanks For Visiting says they sit at the back or bottom.
11. Oven and stovetop. Listed under kitchen appliances by the American Cleaning Institute and Jen Hatmaker.
12. Behind and under appliances. Jen Hatmaker's often-forgotten extras include cleaning behind appliances.
13. Dryer lint trap and vent. Thanks For Visiting suggests cleaning the lint trap and checking the dryer vent.
14. Replace air filters. Jen Hatmaker lists this among the often-forgotten extras.
15. Heating elements and vents. The American Cleaning Institute says to wipe or clean these out carefully.
16. Purge expired medicines. Jen Hatmaker suggests clearing expired items from the medicine cabinet during the bathroom pass.
17. Smoke alarm batteries. The Crowned Goat lists replacing bulbs, filters and smoke alarm batteries as a 20-minute task.
18. Baseboards and door frames. The American Cleaning Institute puts these near the end, working from high to low.
19. Vacuum rugs and carpets. Then spot clean or steam clean as needed, per the American Cleaning Institute.
20. Sweep, then mop floors. Floors come last in the American Cleaning Institute's top-down order.

Most spring cleaning articles and PDFs are one long page you cannot mark up, and the forgotten jobs sit in a bonus section most people skip. A tickable list puts those jobs in the right place in the top-to-bottom order, so they get done. Since the sources suggest spreading the work over several days, you can tick items off as you go and share the list with whoever is helping.