Some of the hardest areas to address during spring cleaning are your home’s storage rooms. These spaces are used and cleaned less frequently than other rooms of your home, so they can become messy and cluttered. But don’t worry—with these spring cleaning tips, you can get your storage areas neat and tidy!
Closets
Photo via @amongallofthis
Coat closets, linen closets, and other storage closets are common dumping grounds. Use your spring cleaning project as an opportunity to finally clean out and organize closets!
Clean Shelving & Floors
Pull everything out of the closet so that you can dust shelves and rods. Then, clean the floors, corners, and baseboards. Wipe down shelves and cubbies, especially higher shelves and cubbies that are harder to reach since these may have bigger buildup. You might also consider cleaning clothes hangers, boxes, bins, or racks that you have in your closets.
Consider Washing Items
Unwashed items can cause unwanted musty smells in storage closets. Wipe down or wash any coats, jackets, shoes, bags, towels, and other miscellaneous items that have spent a long time in the closet.
Take Inventory
When going through closet items, think about what items you actually need in that closet. Some items may belong to a different area of your home and need to be moved there. If you come across items that you no longer need or use, consider donating, selling, or trashing them.
Add Storage Solutions
If you need more organization in your closet, install shelves or racks where you can store shoes, bags, gloves, and items you need to grab as you’re heading out the door. If possible, include drawers with dividers to create more separation and help keep your closet free of clutter. You can also maximize every inch of closet space by storing hats, scarves, umbrellas, and towels on the back of closet doors.
Laundry Room & Mudroom
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Laundry rooms and mudrooms can collect all kinds of dust, dirt, and other debris. While you’re spring cleaning, be sure to give these rooms some extra care so that they stay clean and accessible!
Take Inventory
Remove everything from drawers, cabinets, and cubbies so that you can take stock of the items you have. Get rid of expired cleaning supplies, pet food, outgrown coats and shoes, and other items you no longer need.
Clean Shelves, Drawers, & Cabinets
Grab a cloth and some cleaning solution to remove fingerprints, grime, mud, and dust from the outside of these spaces, especially cabinet handles. Open drawers and cabinets and inspect interiors as well. If there are any spills, clean them up.
Wash the Washing Machine
Pour bleach and vinegar in your hottest and longest cycle to help eliminate buildup and odors inside the washing machine. Wipe down gaskets, dispensers, and the exterior of the machine with a damp cloth. If you find your washing machine is giving off an odd smell, try pouring water down the drain in the floor next to it. Also, closely examine hoses to ensure there are no bulges or cracks that might keep the washing machine or dryer from functioning at their top level. Tighten the fittings at both ends of the hose.
Inspect the Dryer Lint Trap
Remove the lint screen and wash the lint trap in a sink with soap and warm water. Use a vacuum attachment to suck lint out of the slot the trap goes into. Ensure the lint trap and screen are completely dry before replacing them.
Sweep & Mop Floors
Dust and mop the floors, shake out dust and dirt from rugs and other floor coverings, and fix any cracks, scratches, or nicks along the floor. If you can move your washer and dryer, sweep and mop behind and around those areas. If not, use a vacuum attachment or a hand vacuum to get as far in as possible.
Wipe Down Trim
After going over the trim and baseboards with a vacuum attachment—especially the corners and hard-to-reach areas—use a sponge and a combination of dish soap and warm water to scrub away scuffs, stains, and grime. Finish by rubbing a fresh dryer sheet over baseboards to help repel future dust and dirt.
Attic
Photo via @tabulated_organizingco
Did you know that keeping your attic clean can improve your house’s air quality and energy efficiency? Here are some spring cleaning tips to take care of your attic and keep your home operating efficiently!
Empty the Attic Out
Remove everything from its storage space and take inventory. Sort items into piles: keep, relocate, donate, sell, or trash. You’ll need your attic to be nearly empty in order to conduct a proper deep clean.
Group Items for Storage
Keep your attic organized by grouping similar items like holiday decorations or children’s clothes and labeling each storage container with a clear description. Keep a detailed list of what’s stored in the attic so belongings aren’t forgotten over time.
Have Insulation Inspected
Insulation can last for up to 20-80 years, so you don’t need to replace it often. However, insulation can lose its effectiveness over time, and leaks may occur. It’s recommended that you have a professional check the status of your insulation once a year to check for breaks, monitor R-values, and address any issues.
Check for Leaks
Inspect the ceiling and insulation for cracks that could—or may have already led to—mold or mildew growth. If you find mold or water stains, have a professional remove them. Take a look at your windows to ensure they’re secure and not letting unwanted air or particles inside.
Clean Windows & Windowsills
Spray and wipe down any attic windows, then dust the sills. As you clean, pay attention to unwanted airflow or leaks. If you identify an issue, contact a professional to have it fixed.
Dust the Attic
Start dusting near the ceiling and work your way down, moving from beams and light fixtures to storage shelves and cabinets. Use a durable, flexible microfiber duster that’s efficient and can get into hard-to-reach areas. Don’t forget to also sweep up the floors!
Basement
Photo via @time4organizing
Whether or not your basement’s finished, chances are you’re using a portion of it for storage. Try these basement storage and cleaning ideas to keep this downstairs storage area neat and tidy!
Go Through Storage
Move all items out of your basement storage area so you can perform a proper deep clean. As you go through items, utilize a home decluttering method to identify what needs to stay, be donated, or thrown out.
Dust Everything
Basements and storage rooms are prone to dust bunnies and cobwebs. With a cloth and some cleaning spray, pay special attention to baseboards and walls. Use a broom to clean ceiling corners and hard-to-reach places.
Clean the Floor
Sweep and mop or vacuum the floor to remove unwanted dirt, dust, and spills. If you find any cracks, fix them immediately so debris and liquids don’t get in. If your basement has carpet, it should be cleaned at least once per year. You can hire a professional company, rent equipment, or use a DIY solution to remove stains and smudges.
Check the Utility Room
Examine your furnace and water heater to ensure everything is functioning properly. Consider having a professional come check things out once a year, especially if your units are more than ten years old. Doing so can prevent future breakdowns and prolong the life of your water heater and furnace.
Take Care of Air Ducts
Dead skin cells, bacteria, mildew, and other irritants can collect in your ducts and wreak havoc on allergies, trigger sensitive respiratory conditions, and more. Duct buildup also collects stale odors and blocks airflow, which can make your HVAC system work harder, increase your bill, and impact the environment. Whether you hire a professional or clean your air ducts yourself, add servicing your HVAC system to your spring cleaning to-do list!
Replace the Air Filter
Ideally, your air filter should be replaced every two to three months. Use spring cleaning as your reminder to replace it if you forgot throughout the year. Even if it has been replaced recently, remove and clean your filter to ensure your home is getting clean air.
Add Storage Solutions
Create and maximize your basement storage space by building or buying basement storage shelving units. Organize your belongings into plastic storage containers, then place labels on them to note the contents. This can help you quickly move through the basement and see what’s in each container.
Garage
Photo via @theorderlyspace
Shoes, sports equipment, lawn tools, and other household appliances without a permanent home are commonly left in the garage. As the bridge between indoors and outdoors, it’s important to keep your garage clean and well-organized.
Empty the Garage
Take everything out of the garage and determine what needs to stay. Separate garage items into boxes with one of four labels: Storage, Put Away, Donate/Sell, or Trash. Organize the “Storage” items in boxes or on shelves, move the “Put Away” items to another place in the home where they belong, place the “Donate/Sell” box near your door or in your car, and dispose of the “Trash” box.
Wipe Down the Walls
Take a microfiber cloth or wet cloth to wipe down garage walls so they’re free of smudges and stains. This step is essential if you plan on painting your garage in the near future.
Dust Everything
Use a vacuum to remove dust and cobwebs from the walls, especially in the corners. Then, use a towel or cloth and cleaning spray to wipe shelves, cabinets, and other surface areas. Don’t forget to dust the items you’ve temporarily taken out of your garage, too!
Sweep the Floors
Starting from the back of the garage, use a push broom to move dirt, dust, and debris out of the garage. Once the unwanted residue is in your driveway, sweep it up with a conventional broom and put it in the garbage.
Pressure Wash the Floor
Get your garage floor clean by erasing oil stains, ground-in dirt, and other debris with a pressure washer. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can rent one from a hardware or home improvement store like Ace Hardware or Home Depot. Start by washing the floor with warm water and detergent, then break out the pressure washer. Begin at the back of the garage and move forward to ensure you’re pushing everything outside.
Ensure the Garage Is Airtight
Check that your garage is completely sealed to help it maintain a consistent temperature and prevent unwanted dust and pests from entering. Start with the garage door, as broken or slack garage door springs can allow insects, dirt, rainwater, and more into the garage. Examine your garage door’s torsion springs and consider replacing them if your door doesn’t stay completely closed. Inspect the entire garage for air leaks or drafts and fix them with a spray-on foam or sealant.
Go Through the Freezer
If you keep a deep freezer in your garage, spring cleaning is a good time to clear it out. Make a list of everything in your freezer and throw out food that’s gone bad or has freezer burn. Use a cleaning solution to wipe down both the interior and exterior of the freezer before putting everything back in its designated spot.
Organize Garage Items
There are many ways to organize a garage, so try out a few new storage systems while cleaning and replacing items. Install hooks and racks on the ceiling for bikes and canoes. Hang lawn equipment, ladders, and any large sports equipment on the walls. Incorporate a pegboard to store tools and bags or invest in a tool chest. Or consider adding metal or plastic shelving to create vertical storage.
Shed
Photo via @velcrobranduk
A deep clean each spring can help keep your shed from becoming a mess of tools, garden hoses, and more. Check out these ways to clean and organize your shed to keep it in top form!
Remove Everything
Take all items out of the shed and determine what needs to go back in. Throw away broken equipment and donate tools you never use. Try to group seasonal items together—like snow shovels, snowblower, and boots in one area, and gardening tools and patio furniture in another.
Clean the Tools
Use the blast setting on your garden hose to remove caked-on dirt from tools. Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water and let tools soak for about 30 seconds, then rinse and dry them right away. When using tools in the future, try to clean them immediately after use. They’re much easier to clean in the moment than when dirt and mud has time to build up.
Sweep & Dust
Remove dust, dirt, and grass clippings with a push broom. Dust all surfaces, shelves, countertops, and other areas. Use a broom to knock down cobwebs from ceilings and in corners.
Wash the Windows
Start with the interior of the window by spraying it with a combination of vinegar and water or a trusted commercial cleaner. Use a clean, lint-free towel to dry the window, removing smudges and smears (This may take two or three rounds of spraying and wiping). For the exterior, spray the windows with a hose. Use a sponge and a vinegar and water solution to clean the window, then wipe it dry with a rubber-bladed squeegee, starting at the top and moving to the bottom. Thoroughly dry the window with a towel.
Clean the Exterior
Regardless of what type of material your shed is made of, cleaning it helps prevent mildew growth and removes stains before they become permanent part. If you have access to a power washer, use it to spray off dirt, mud, and stains from the exterior (A garden hose works, too!). Your strategy for removing mildew may change depending on if your shed has wood, vinyl, aluminum, or metal siding. If you’re running into sticky materials like tree sap, spray the area with organic white vinegar, let it sit, then scrub it away.
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