A spring clean goes better in short sessions than in one exhausting weekend. This checklist starts with a plan and supplies, clears the clutter, and then works room by room from the kitchen to the windows.
Within each room, work from high to low, so dust falls onto surfaces you have not cleaned yet. Read the labels on cleaning products and never mix them. Check the maker's instructions for appliances before using any cleaner on them.
Copy it into Tatask and each phase is dated from today. Skip any task that does not apply to your home.
What's in this plan
See every step
Plan and gather supplies(day 0)
Walk through each room and list what needs doing
Schedule 4 cleaning sessions in your calendar
Short sessions of one to two hours are easier to finish than one exhausting weekend.
Draft a room-by-room plan with an AI assistant
Paste this into an AI assistant to build a realistic plan.
Prompt to copy
Help me split a spring clean into short sessions. I have <hours> free per week for <number> weeks and live in <type of home>. Give me a room-by-room order with each session under two hours. Do not guess product amounts or prices.
Check your cleaning supplies and write a shopping list
Buy missing cloths, bin bags and cleaning products
Read the label before mixing products. Never mix bleach with other cleaners.
Set up a box for donations and a bag for rubbish
Declutter first(day 3)
Clear surfaces and floors of loose items
Dusting and mopping around clutter wastes time, so clear it first.
Sort one wardrobe into keep, donate and bin
Clear out the kitchen cupboards and discard expired food
Check the dates on tins, spices and dry goods.
Go through the bathroom cabinet and remove expired items
Check your local council for how to dispose of old medicines safely.
Sort papers and post into keep, shred and recycle
Take the donation box to a charity shop
Kitchen(day 10)
Empty and wipe down the fridge shelves and drawers
Clean the oven inside and the hob
Follow the maker's instructions for your oven, especially if it is self-cleaning.
Descale the kettle
Clean the microwave inside and out
Wipe the cupboard fronts and handles
Clean the dishwasher filter and run an empty cleaning cycle
Mop the kitchen floor
Living areas and bedrooms(day 17)
Dust shelves, ornaments and light fittings from top to bottom
Work from high to low so dust falls onto surfaces you have yet to clean.
Vacuum sofas, cushions and under the furniture
Wash cushion covers and throws
Turn the mattress if the maker advises it
Wash the duvet, pillows and mattress protector
Vacuum the skirting boards and behind the radiators
Vacuum the carpets and mop hard floors
Bathroom(day 24)
Descale the taps and showerhead
Scrub the shower, bath and grout
Clean the toilet, including under the rim and base
Wash the shower curtain or clean the screen
Wipe the mirror, sink and cabinet fronts
Check the extractor fan and clean its cover
Windows, outside and the extras(day 31)
Wash the inside of the windows and the frames
Wash the curtains or vacuum the blinds
Clean the window tracks and sills
Sweep the front step, balcony or patio
Wipe down the front door and door handles
Clean the washing machine drawer and run a hot wash
Use the temperature your machine's manual recommends.
Test the smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed
Do this on the same day as your clean so it does not slip.
Finish and keep it up(day 38)
Walk through each room and note anything missed
Put away everything left out of place
Pick 3 small habits to keep the home tidy
For example, wiping the kitchen after dinner or a ten-minute tidy before bed.