Even if it isn’t actually spring, you can spring clean your home. The best times to schedule a true deep cleaning are during the early spring or late fall months when the weather is pleasingly cool and you can open up your windows and allow the fresh air in. The key to a really good spring cleaning is not that you do it in spring. The real key is in organizing your cleaning and not allowing the thought of spring cleaning to overwhelm you to the point that you cannot get anything accomplished.

Below is a list of several basic spring cleaning tasks that will help you to better organize your deep cleaning. Feel free to print off the list and keep it on your refrigerator with a pen so that you can go back and mark through various tasks as you complete them:
Kitchen:

• Empty out freezers and refrigerators. Throw out jars that have been stored for six months or more and anything in the freezer that is more than one year old.
• Sweep and mop under your refrigerator. You can also use your vacuum to get the coils behind the grill cleaned.
• Clean the top of your refrigerator off and scrub with a disinfectant. Use a disinfectant spray or solution to clean the doors and handles as well as the seals around the doors.
• Clean the inside of your microwave.

Bedroom:

• Clean out your closets. If you find clothing that you have not worn in the past two years, get rid of it. Pull everything out of your closets including clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. Go through everything and keep only those items that you will actually use. You may be surprised at how much you will get rid of.
• Flip your mattress and take the opportunity to vacuum or sweep under your bed. Be sure to move all boxes or any other items under the bed and really get the dirt out.
• Wash your comforter or send it off to the cleaners. You can also wash curtains or drapes while you are at it.
• When going through your kids’ rooms, be sure to throw out any toys that they have not played with in the past two years.

Around the House:

• Take down screens, blinds and other window coverings and clean them thoroughly. You can wash drapes in the washing machine, spray screens off with a water hose and even put your blinds in your dishwasher to get them really clean. Wash your windows while you have these things out of the way.
• Dust and clean all ceiling fans. You may be surprised at how much dust will accumulate at the top of your ceiling fans. Use Murphy’s Oil Soap or an equivalent to get those fan blades clean.
• Vacuum your furniture. Take the cushions off couches and chairs and vacuum underneath. Turn the cushions over and thoroughly vacuum and spot clean each one.
• This is also an excellent time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors. Replace them as needed.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind:

• If you have clothing, furnishings or other items that are in good shape but things that you no longer need, you can always donate them to your local charity. Of course, you should not donate things that you will use. Remember that if you have not used it or thought about it in two years or so, it can safely be donated without your wishing you had kept it.
• Begin at the beginning. You can start from the very top and work your way down. This means begin your spring cleaning on the top floor if you have more than one floor. Start at the ceiling or light fixtures, high shelves and ceiling fans, working your way down to the floor.
• A clean home is a happy and healthy home. Use these tips to keep your home clean each spring, fall or whenever you feel like really doing a deep cleaning.