Spring Cleaning Checklist 2026: Room-by-Room Guide (Starts in March)

Okay, real talk. Spring cleaning used to stress me out so much that I’d just avoid it entirely until June, and by then it felt pointless.

The problem was never laziness. It was that I had no clue where to start. Every list I found online had like 87 tasks and assumed I had a whole week to dedicate to scrubbing baseboards. I don’t have a whole week. I have maybe 20 minutes here and there between everything else.

So I made my own spring cleaning checklist that actually works for real life. It’s broken down room by room, each task has a realistic time estimate, and you can do it in chunks over a few weeks. Start now in late February or early March, and you’ll be done by April without losing your mind.

Why Start Spring Cleaning in March (Not April)

Here’s what I figured out. If you wait until April to start spring cleaning, you’re already behind. The weather gets nice, the kids want to be outside, you have weekend plans, and suddenly it’s May and you never did any of it.

March is the sweet spot. It’s still kind of gross outside, so you’re not missing anything by staying inside. You have momentum from the new year that hasn’t totally worn off yet. And if you spread the tasks out over four weeks, it doesn’t feel like this huge overwhelming project.

I do one room per week. That’s it. Four weeks, four main areas. Some weeks I get ahead and knock out two rooms. Some weeks I only get half done. But by mid April, my house feels way better and I didn’t have to cancel plans or stay up late cleaning.

The Room-by-Room Spring Cleaning Checklist

Here’s the full breakdown. Pick your room, set a timer, and just work through the list. You don’t have to do everything in one day. I usually split each room into two or three shorter sessions.

Week 1: Kitchen Deep Clean

Task 1: Clean out the fridge (20 minutes)
Toss expired food, wipe down shelves, clean door seals. I found three condiments from 2024 in mine. No judgment.

Task 2: Organize and wipe down pantry (25 minutes)
Check expiration dates, group like items together, wipe shelves. This is also when you find out you have six half-empty boxes of pasta.

Task 3: Deep clean the oven (30 minutes)
Use the self-clean function if you have it, or scrub with baking soda paste. I avoid this task like the plague but it makes a huge difference.

Task 4: Clean under and behind appliances (20 minutes)
Pull out the fridge, stove, and microwave if you can. Sweep and wipe. You’ll find crumbs you didn’t know existed.

Task 5: Wipe down cabinets and drawer fronts (15 minutes)
Just the outside. You don’t need to empty everything. A damp cloth with a little dish soap works fine.

Task 6: Clean light fixtures and ceiling fan (10 minutes)
These get so gross and you don’t even notice until you look up. Microfiber cloth on a step stool.

Week 1 Total Time: About 2 hours

If that feels like too much, split it over two days. Do the fridge and pantry one day, appliances and cabinets the next.

Week 2: Bathrooms (All of Them)

Task 7: Deep clean toilet, inside and out (10 minutes per bathroom)
Including the base and behind it. I know it’s gross. That’s why we’re doing it now.

Task 8: Scrub shower and tub (15 minutes per bathroom)
Get the grout, the corners, the showerhead. If your grout is looking rough, check out this grout cleaning hack that saved me from regrouting.

Task 9: Clean mirrors and light fixtures (5 minutes per bathroom)
Streak-free mirrors make everything look cleaner.

Task 10: Organize under the sink (15 minutes per bathroom)
Toss empty bottles, expired medicine, mystery cleaning products you bought once and never used.

Task 11: Wash bath mats, shower curtain, and towels (5 minutes of work, but takes a few hours in the washer)
Throw the shower curtain in the washing machine with some towels. Sounds weird but it works.

Task 12: Wipe down cabinets and drawers (10 minutes per bathroom)
Just the fronts. You’re not reorganizing the whole thing unless you really want to.

Week 2 Total Time: About 1.5 to 2 hours (depending on how many bathrooms you have)

Week 3: Living Room and Common Areas

Task 13: Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and vents (15 minutes)
Use a microfiber cloth or a duster with an extension handle. Gets rid of the dust you’ve been ignoring since November.

Task 14: Wipe down baseboards (20 minutes)
This sounds tedious but it makes a huge difference. I use a damp cloth and just go around the room.

Task 15: Vacuum furniture and under cushions (10 minutes)
You’ll find crumbs, loose change, maybe a remote you thought you lost. Use the upholstery attachment if you have one.

Task 16: Clean windows inside (15 minutes)
Just the inside. We’re not doing outside windows unless you really feel like it. Use glass cleaner or a vinegar and water mix.

Task 17: Organize and dust shelves (20 minutes)
Pull everything off, wipe the shelf, put back only what you actually want displayed.

Task 18: Wipe down electronics and remotes (10 minutes)
TV, remotes, game controllers, speakers. All of it gets dusty and grimy. Microfiber cloth slightly dampened.

Week 3 Total Time: About 1.5 hours

Week 4: Bedrooms

Task 19: Wash all bedding including mattress cover (10 minutes of work, a few hours in washer/dryer)
Strip the bed completely. Wash sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover, mattress protector. Everything.

Task 20: Vacuum and flip or rotate mattress (10 minutes)
Vacuum the mattress, then flip it or rotate it depending on your mattress type.

Task 21: Dust furniture and wipe surfaces (15 minutes)
Nightstands, dressers, picture frames, lamps. Just go around with a microfiber cloth.

Task 22: Organize closet and drawers (30 minutes)
If you already did your February closet organization, this should be quick. Just tidy up and put away winter stuff.

Task 23: Vacuum under the bed (5 minutes)
Pull the bed out if you can, or use a vacuum attachment to reach under. Dust bunnies live under there.

Task 24: Clean mirrors and windows (10 minutes)
Same as the living room. Inside only unless you’re feeling ambitious.

Week 4 Total Time: About 1.5 hours (not counting laundry time)

Bonus Tasks (If You Have Extra Time and Energy)

These are the things I only do if I’m feeling particularly motivated or if they really need it.

Task 25: Wipe down walls and doors (20 minutes)
Especially around light switches and doorknobs. They get grimy and you don’t realize it.

Task 26: Clean out garage or storage areas (1 hour)
Sweep, organize, toss stuff you don’t need. This is a whole project on its own though.

Task 27: Wash windows outside (30 minutes)
If you want to. I usually skip this.

Task 28: Clean light switches and outlet covers (15 minutes)
Wipe them down with a damp cloth. Quick but makes things feel cleaner.

What to Tackle First vs. What Can Wait

If you can only do a few tasks, start with these:

1. Kitchen fridge and pantry clean out
2. Bathroom deep clean (at least the main one)
3. Dust ceiling fans and baseboards in main living areas
4. Wash all bedding

Those four things will give you the biggest impact. Everything else is gravy.

What can wait until later or even skip:

• Cleaning behind appliances (if you did it within the last year)
• Outside windows
• Deep organizing closets (if they’re functional)
• Garage or storage areas

Don’t feel guilty about skipping stuff. The point is to make your house feel fresher, not to make yourself exhausted.

How to Actually Get It Done

Here’s what worked for me. I put it on my calendar. Literally wrote “Week 1: Kitchen Spring Clean” on my calendar and blocked out time.

I didn’t do it all in one day. I did 30 to 45 minutes at a time, usually in the evening after dinner or on weekend mornings. Sometimes I’d put on a podcast or music and just knock out a few tasks.

If you have kids, get them involved. Even little kids can help wipe baseboards or dust low shelves. Older kids can definitely handle bathrooms or their own rooms.

And if you miss a week? Just pick back up. This isn’t a pass or fail situation. It’s just about getting your house a little cleaner than it was before.

The Checklist Printable

I made a printable version of this checklist that you can stick on your fridge or keep in a binder. It has checkboxes for each task and space to write in your own tasks if you think of something I missed.

You can grab it free when you sign up for my weekly newsletter. I send out one email every Sunday with practical tips for keeping your house running without losing your mind. No spam, no daily emails, just helpful stuff once a week.

Why This System Works Better Than Traditional Spring Cleaning

Most spring cleaning checklists are overwhelming. They have 50+ tasks, assume you can do everything in a weekend, and make you feel bad if you don’t deep clean your grout with a toothbrush.

This system is different because:

You can do it in chunks. 20 minutes here, 30 minutes there. No need to block out an entire day.

It has realistic time estimates. I’m not telling you a whole kitchen deep clean takes 45 minutes. That’s a lie. It takes about 2 hours, and that’s okay.

You can skip stuff. Not everything has to be done. Pick what matters most to your house and your sanity.

It’s maintainable. Once you do this spring cleaning, the 15-minute daily cleaning routine keeps things from getting terrible again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does spring cleaning actually take?

If you do all 24 main tasks, you’re looking at about 6 to 8 hours total. But you don’t have to do it all at once. I spread mine over four weeks, doing about 1.5 to 2 hours per week. Some people knock it out in two long weekends. Do whatever works for your schedule.

When should I start spring cleaning?

Start in late February or early March. That gives you plenty of time to finish before April without feeling rushed. If you wait until April, you’ll be competing with nicer weather and more outdoor activities. March is the sweet spot.

What’s the most important thing to clean during spring cleaning?

The kitchen and bathrooms should be your priority. These are the rooms that impact your daily life the most. If you only have time for a few tasks, focus on cleaning out the fridge, deep cleaning the bathroom, and washing all your bedding. Everything else is a bonus.

Do I need special cleaning products for spring cleaning?

Nope. You can do most spring cleaning with basic stuff like all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, baking soda, and vinegar. I use these seven cleaning products for everything. You don’t need fancy specialty cleaners.

How do I spring clean when I have kids at home?

Break it into short 20 to 30 minute sessions. Do one or two tasks at a time instead of a whole room. Get kids involved with age-appropriate tasks like wiping baseboards, dusting low shelves, or organizing their own rooms. Or clean during nap time, after bedtime, or while they’re watching a show. You don’t have to do it all perfectly.

What should I do with stuff I want to get rid of during spring cleaning?

Keep bags or boxes in each room as you clean. One for donations, one for trash. When you’re done with a room, take the donation bag to your car immediately so it doesn’t sit around. Drop off donations once a week or whenever the bags pile up. The faster you get it out of the house, the better.

One Room at a Time

The biggest mistake I made with spring cleaning in the past was trying to do everything at once. I’d start in the kitchen, get distracted, move to the bathroom, remember I needed to organize the closet, and end up with half-finished projects in every room.

Now I just do one room at a time. Finish it completely before moving to the next one. It feels way more satisfying and you can actually see progress.

If you’re tackling your whole house and feeling overwhelmed by all the organizing, my 30-day home reset guide breaks down every room step by step. It’s basically spring cleaning plus organization in a system that actually sticks.

But honestly, just getting through this checklist over the next few weeks will make a huge difference. Your house will feel fresher, lighter, and way less chaotic. And you won’t be scrambling to do it all in April when you’d rather be outside.

Start with the kitchen this weekend. 30 minutes on the fridge and pantry. You’ve got this.