My Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist + Free Printable

I don’t know about you, but ever since it became March all I can think about is getting started with our spring cleaning! It was so much easier when we lived small in the bungalow, but now that we’ve got about 2000 sqft, my annual spring tidying ritual has gotten even bigger. I ended up creating a spring cleaning checklist last year to help me stay on top of it. So today I wanted to break down what and how I clean in our cabin, plus share a free spring cleaning printable to help you as well!

How I Tackle My Annual Spring Cleaning + Free Printable Checklist

Before we dig in to my entire cleaning routine, click here to get your FREE spring cleaning checklist printable!

Dust literally everything

Because we don’t have an HVAC system or anything that really filters our air, our home can get very dusty. I’m sure the woodstove doesn’t help with that, either! I always kick off my spring cleaning by dusting literally EVERYTHING. That includes the corners of every ceiling, the baseboards, window sills, ceiling fans, artwork, picture frames, light fixtures… literally all of the things.

Wash the windows, both inside and out

Spring here in the North Cascades is absolutely gorgeous, so why not make sure we can actually see it even if we’re inside?? Every spring, we take a weekend to clean every single window, both inside and out. It makes such a huge difference, especially on a gorgeous sunny day. Trust me, you don’t want to skip this step.

Disinfect door knobs and light switches

I do this task more frequently than just in the spring, but it bears repeating. While tackling my annual deep clean, I always make sure to disinfect areas that are touched all of the time, like door knobs, light switches, and handles. For this, I just use an all purpose cleaner and microfiber cloths.

Deep clean all appliances

I’d say that this is where the bulk of my time is spent when I’m doing my spring cleaning. I literally remove all of our food from the fridge and put it in a cooler, then go to town cleaning every nook and cranny. I do the same with our freezer.

I also take the time to clean the rest of our appliances, like the oven (do not use the oven cleaning setting, just scrub it!), dishwasher, and even our washer and dryer. While doing this, I take apart the machine as much as I possibly can and clean every little crevice that I can reach.

When doing our washer and dryer, I pay extra attention to the vents to make sure there isn’t any build up that could start a fire. That includes checking the exterior vent, too.

Wash bedding and curtains

Now is the time to clean as much bedding as possible, especially if you are able to leave things outside to hang dry! I usually wait until a little later in the season for this since it can be really rainy in the Pacific Northwest. That way I can hang things out to dry in the sun.

Basically, I strip all of the beds and wash the comforters, duvets, coverlets, throw blankets and even the pillows (read the label for washing instructions on all items). This is a great way to reset the freshness of all your textiles.

I also recommend washing your curtains in the spring, too. Always read the care instructions before washing to make sure you don’t accidentally shrink them. If you’re not able to remove them fully, I recommend using a handheld vacuum to clean them. I’ve even used a lint roller to clean our Roman shades!

Flip the mattress

Mattresses are expensive and an investment you should take care of. I’m obsessed with our Avocado mattress, so we treat it as well as we can. That includes rotating it in the spring and the fall. If your mattress is double-sided, I also recommend flipping it.

Burn the good candle

We all have that one candle that’s just too nice and fancy to burn. Well, after you’re finished with the spring deep clean, it’s time to finally light that one! Not only do you deserve it, but it will truly help you ‘seal the deal’ after a lot of intense cleaning.

Photography by Jojotastic.