Your Smart 7-Step Spring Cleaning Checklist

After months of chilly weather, spring offers a fresh start—an opportunity to open the windows, let the sunlight in and, literally, clean house. It’s a task that can feel daunting, especially if you’ve let your typical routine slip during winter. Not sure where to start? Let this checklist of spring cleaning tips be your guide.

Step 1: Declutter

Before cleaning begins, go through each room and organize items into three buckets: keep, toss and sell/donate. The process of decluttering will instantly make your house feel more spacious and likely boost your mood.

Step 2: Wipe down walls

Between fingerprints, furniture scruffs and crayon masterpieces, our walls could use a good washing once in a while. A couple tablespoons of distilled white vinegar mixed with a gallon of warm water should do the trick (and is safe for paint), but for more stubborn smudges, wet a Scotch-Brite® Easy Eraser with water and scrub away.

Step 3: Wash windows

Before you welcome warmer temperatures with open windows, remove the screens for a deep cleaning with dish soap and water. This will not only prevent dirt and pollen buildup from entering your home but also improve airflow. Once you put the screen back in place, finish the job by wiping down the glass with a Scotch-Brite® Streak-Free Mirror Cloth.

Step 4: Freshen carpets

Carpet tends to hold on to smells and particles. For a quick freshening solution, sprinkle baking soda—a natural odor-absorber—over the carpeted area and let it sit. Then simply vacuum it up.

Step 5: Dust all surfaces

Be sure to use a microfiber rag, such as the Scotch-Brite® Dusting Cloth, which more effectively lifts and traps dust without chemicals, leaving you with a lint-free, streak-free and scratch-free surface.

Step 6: Clean upholstery

There’s no avoiding the food crumbs, wine spills and pet hair that find their way into the crevices of our furniture. Start by vacuuming up loose particles, then treat stains with a spray-bottle solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar, 3/4 cup of warm water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. To return leather to its natural shine, try 1/2 cup of olive oil and 1/4 cup of vinegar.

Step 7: Check your app

If you connect your phone and Filtrete™ Smart Air Filter when you install it, checking on filter life is as simple as opening the Filtrete™ Smart App. In addition to sending you a notification when it’s time to change your filter, the app will display outdoor air quality information and offer tips for improving indoor air quality.