Spring Cleaning Checklist for 2023 - Saint Louis Closet Co.

After a few long, cold months, many are ready to welcome warmer weather. Some people enjoy spring cleaning, while others view it as intimidating. Make this process easier and less stressful for yourself by following our spring cleaning checklist. The expert tips listed will help you along the way, and in the end, you’ll be glad you took the time to clean!

Refresh Window Treatments

When choosing when to wash windows, pick a cloudy day. If it’s too sunny, the cleaning solution will dry too quickly and leave streaks. You can effectively clean with water and a microfiber cloth or use a glass cleaner solution.

It’s also easy to mix a homemade glass window cleaner together with:

¼ cup white vinegar or lemon juice,
½ teaspoon liquid dish soap,
2 cups of water,
and, optionally, 10 to 15 drops of an essential oil.

To remove dust from blinds, curtains, and draperies, go over them with the vacuum attachment.

Eliminate Clutter

Your home and life can feel better organized and more manageable when clutter is removed. Go around your home and get rid of:

Clothes and shoes that are worn out or don’t fit.
Expired items, like food and medicine.
Items you don’t use, like kitchen appliances and toiletries.
Unnecessary papers, like old receipts and junk mail.
Old or broken toys or games.
Old or unused beauty products.
Random chargers and cords.

As you declutter, have a pile for items to keep and piles for items to donate, recycle, or trash. Work in small sections to avoid a big, overwhelming mess.

Properly Store Seasonal Clothing

When the weather warms up, it’s time to put winter apparel in storage to make room for spring and summer essentials. Simply tossing sweaters and coats in a bin is tempting, but these extra steps will help your clothes last longer.

Wash clothes before storing them. Otherwise, stains and odors could become hard to remove or attract bugs and pests.
Protect your clothes against moths. While you could use moth balls, other options include a sprig of lavender or fragrant pieces of cedar.
Don’t cram winter boots into a container, as they can come out misshapen. You can use boot shapers instead.
Store in a temperature-controlled attic or basement or place under the bed, on upper closet shelves, or in a spare closet.
Wrap expensive or delicate garments with acid-free tissue paper, a staple for long-term clothing storage.

Clean the Bedroom

In each bedroom, rotate and flip mattresses and wash blankets and comforters. Freshen pillows in the clothes dryer on the air-dry cycle, which does not provide added heat.

To clean area rugs, follow these steps.

Vacuum to remove dust, and if the rug is reversible, vacuum both sides.
Do not vacuum the fringe. Otherwise, the fringe will become twisted and tangled, which could result in permanent damage.
Brush out pet hair with a stiff brush, taking care to go in the direction of the nap.
Sunlight and foot traffic can put extra stress on area rugs. Turn rugs every year to even out the wear.

Wash Shower Curtains and Bath Mats

In the bathroom, safely discard any outdated items in the medicine cabinet. Wash or replace bath mats and shower curtains. If the care tag says it’s machine washable, wash in cold water with a mild detergent and tumble dry on low heat.

While you’re at it, organize the linen closet. These tucked-away closets are likely the most overlooked. They keep an assortment of household textiles organized, like:

Bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths.
Beach towels.
Blankets and quilts.
Cleaning supplies.
Extra toiletries.
Tablecloths and runners.

Clean the Refrigerator and Freezer

While cleaning out the refrigerator seems like a pain, once it’s clean and organized, you can see which foods you have and better prepare for grocery shopping.

Pull everything out and toss expired items. Then wipe down the inside with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. The vinegar’s acidity breaks down tough stains and neutralizes odors.

You can also maximize your pantry’s storage. Start by decluttering and then consider adding:

basket rim shelves.
broom and mop hooks.
canned good racks.
chrome baskets.
frosted basket liners.
pull-out bins.
pull-out tray shelves.
spice racks.

Stay Organized With Saint Louis Closet Co.

Since 1991, Saint Louis Closet Co. has offered 100% adjustable custom closets and organizational systems for both residential and commercial customers. Our specialties include delivering solutions for panties, home offices, laundry rooms, mudrooms, and more! Each piece is made in our 30,000 sq. ft. headquarters with state-of-the-art machinery, so you can create new spaces and foster organized living throughout your entire home.

Learn more or get started by registering for a FREE consultation today!