Spring is in the air, but it’s still cold so that means you’re probably like me – cooped up inside. Not only is it probably still too cold out to open the windows, but I bet you’ve got some major winter piles stocked up: blankets, laundry that needs doing, winter dust that has settled in. It’s too early to open the windows and dust every inch of your home out throughout the week, but it’s not too early to do a one day spring clean.
Spring cleaning is not fun but you don’t have to feel overwhelmed by it. Follow my spring cleaning checklist (you can also download it below). Check off the list as you go and, when you’re done, your home will be as ready for the fresh spring air we’re all waiting for.
Start Gathering Like With Like
In one are of your home, designate a sorting space and start going through each room and gathering the items in sight that don’t belong. So if you have piles of clothes in each room, bring those piles into the main sorting space. Got makeup laying around? Bring it in and chuck it in a bin. This will help organize the clutter in each room and give you a clean slate the dust, vacuum, and wash. Make sure each item goes into a category pile that stays separated.
Next steps: Go through and see what needs to get washed in the laundry. Have loads running while you clean the rest of your home. Double duty!
Kitchen
First, empty your fridge and throw away old expired food and drinks. Then, using a mixture of 1 part baking soda and 1 part water, scrub the inside of the fridge with a cleaning rag. When dry, put everything back in an organized way: sorting like with like such as veggies, fruit, beverages, etc.
If you’ve done this quickly. try doing the same for each cabinet, except just dusting the inside. If you don’t have time, look around and take everything off the counters. Then using a mixture of 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water in a spray bottle, clean the counters. Then put everything back (don’t forget to clean appliances). If you’ve missed something in your sorting process, move it to the designated sorting space to organize later.
Bijou Tip: Use these kitchen organizers to store food or spices in your pantry. They will save you some much needed cabinet space!
Bedroom
Moving on to the bedroom, start by removing and washing all your bedding. Feel free to crack the windows open a bit so you can let in some fresh air. I do this for every room I’m cleaning because of my asthma. Remember, you’ve already removed everything off the floor and dressers. Any little knick knacks or “items” should be in the designated sorting space at this point. So all that’s left to do is clean.
Starting from the inside out, take out everything in any drawers, dust the inside of them with a dusting rag, and then fold or sort everything back in a neat fashion. Once that is done. starting from the top down, dust everything in site: dresser, mirrors, fans, bed, and then the base boards. Next you should sweep, vacuum, or mop depending on your bedroom surface.
Bijou Tip: For a mop that also sanitizes using the power of natural steam, check out the Shark Steam Mop that is also chemical free and has a washable mop head.
Bathroom
Using the same vinegar and water mixture from cleaning the kitchen, head to your bathroom and start by spraying the inside of the toilet, tub, shower, and sink with the mixture. Leave it to sit. Throw any towels or bath rugs into the wash. Next, take everything out of the bathroom drawers and go through and throw away any old medications, makeup, or bath products. While you’re organizing, dust the inside of anything and put everything back using a small storage bin with labels of your choice. I like these plastic storage bins and this under the sink organizer for my bathroom.
Next, using a toilet brush, clean the inside of the toilet. Then using a separate rag, clean the outside of the toilet with the vinegar mixture. Using a different rag, clean the counter tops, sink, handles, and other surfaces with the vinegar mixture. Lastly, sweep and mop the floors. Feel free to put back any washed towels or bath rugs.
Living Rooms + Other Rooms
Starting from the top down, dust everything in site: fans, cabinets, bookshelves, and baseboards. Then use a microfiber cloth or a vacuum with brush to clean the couch. Sweep and vacuum last. Do this for every remaining room. Spend less than 30 minutes in each room. Remember, you want to get all of this done within the day so you can spend the rest of your week enjoying your home! Instant progress is the best kind when it comes to cleaning.
The Designated Sorting Space
Now time to tackle the piles of things you’ve set aside in your designated sorting space. Here’s where extra bins, baskets, and storage drawers will be your BFF, so bring those in for the ride too.
First, start with one category and make 3 piles: keep, donate, throw away. Sort everything within that pile into those three. For the things you’ll keep, pick a bin or storage drawer to keep things in. If it’s clothes, go and put those away into your closet. For the things you want to donate, put them into a plastic bag to give away. For things you want to throw away, simply gather up a large garbage bag = you’ll be putting unwanted everything from your piles in there. Repeat for each pile and each category until you’re all done. Then dust and vacuum the area.
Congratulations! You’ve just spring cleaned your house in one day! If you’d like to do a more thorough clean of smaller spaces (like closets), save those for tomorrow. The point of doing it all very quickly is to actually see progress. The more clutter there is to sort through in a week, the more painful the cleaning process actually gets.
Here are some of my favorite storage, cleaning, and organizational items to have.
Need a cleaning checklist? Download your free printable checklist below.
Get your One Day Spring Clean Checklist
What a great post! I love pinning/reading organization advice, it always seems to spur me to do the same for my home 🙂
Beautiful pictures too!
Birdie Shoots
I think my wife would marry me all over again if I followed these tips. This is a perfect way for an guy with ADD to attack cleaning our house effectively.
Wow I really like how you’ve divided your tips room by room – really helps each room serve its purpose!
I love spring and spring cleaning because I’m so over winter! So ready for opening windows and letting the fresh air in! Its still a little too cold for that but I’m holding my breath in anticipation. AND thanks for the Checklist I am such a checklist girl
I am in DIRE need of getting some spring cleaning done around my apartment, thanks for sharing these tips!
This is awesome!! I’m totally needing to clean and reorganize. I’ll have to use these tips!
These tips are so helpful! I can’t wait to get started!
These are awesome tips! So far I have the fridge done. Great read!
I love all the product recommendations that we can go shop right away. Super helpful! I always struggle to decide which storage pieces to buy.
I love all the clear storage options! I have those canisters in my kitchen 🙂
-xo, Azanique | http://www.lotsofsass.com
WOW I love how bright your house is… and that hat rack is perfection
These are such great tips! I love spring cleaning – I tend to take way longer than I should though HAHA!
I need to do some spring cleaning! Love your cute place 🙂
Xx,
Lauren | lifestylesbylauren.com
ahhh i’ve just started with my closet for spring cleaning and that alone is taking more than one day LOL! you are so efficient! thanks for these tips! xo
Absolutely love spring cleaning! But I agree it needs to warm up and feel like Spring too! 🙂
I can’t even tell you how helpful this post was!!! I have been so stressed out and overwhelmed at the thought of spring cleaning but you have just made my life a lot easier!
These are such great tips! I have definitely been putting off Spring Cleaning but I really need to get it done – especially with tips on how to do it in a day!
These are great tips. We are in the process of moving everything we don’t need into the garage and sorting it in there!
This was SO helpful to read! I wish my current space was this easy to clean, but with a two-story, four bedroom home (still living with my parents) it’s a little more tricky. However, I’ll be in my own space in November, so I’ll need to remember those tricks for then! Thanks for sharing!
Oh how I need to do this. It is so satisfying to have a clean and fresh home. I’m the same way with my asthma…I should probably do the window thing. Thank you for sharing.
Oh my gosh! I need to save this and take a look for this upcoming weekend and get some cleaning done! I love the tip in the kitchen!
I love this post!! I’ve been Spring cleaning and these tips are so helpful!! Something so rejuvenating about starting fresh!
Kileen
cute & little
Thank you for these spring cleaning tips! It’s cold where I am as well, but I love spring cleaning and feeling like things are fresh!
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for stopping by. I think we’d like to pretend it’s warmer haha! But yes, cleaning makes it feel so much more like spring
Xo,
Mariam
I’m a clean freak so I love this post! so many great ideas that I can borrow. thanks for sharing!
Hey there!
Thanks for checking this out. Hope you enjoy the tips and the checklist!
Thanks,
Mariam
I like these strategies to spring cleaning, I will try some of these storage units.
Thanks Suzanne,
The best cleaning tip I have ever received was that you’ll never get clutter free if you don’t attack it all at once. I hope these strategies help you!
Thanks,
Mariam
Dude, this was my past weekend activity and I definitely did not finish in one day. Probably because my pregnant self keeps having to take naps lol
Gita,
Take it easy! I’m sure it’s difficult. How many rooms do you have? I think it’s time to call in some extra hands to help out haha!
Wishing you well,
Mariam