Seasonal Cleaning List to Help Get Your Home in Order

Spring isn’t the only time we need to do some seasonal cleaning. Some cleaning tasks need to be done twice a year and some quarterly. This seasonal cleaning list can help you know what you should be cleaning.

This was originally written August 2016 and has been updated to be more useful and up-to-date.

I love watching the seasons change. Many people laugh at me but I always notice the smallest changes. For instance, right now it’s the end of August and it’s getting dark earlier, the light is getting softer if you look closely you will see some of the leaves already changing. I don’t think I could ever get tired of watching the seasons change.

This may be strange but I also look forward to my seasonal cleaning. That’s not to say there aren’t tasks I’m not looking forward to, like cleaning the oven or defrosting my deep freezer.

But once all of the tasks are done I will feel very accomplished. That’s also when I will allow myself to decorate for the upcoming season. I love decorating so that’s a good way to motivate myself.

I like to turn on an audiobook using the Libby app or listen to music, sometimes I’ll even put on a vinyl record while I clean.

So what should you be cleaning when the seasons change? It will depend somewhat on your home and what part of the world you live in but this list is a good place to start.

Seasonal Cleaning List

• Clean the oven. Or you can just wait until it start smoking to clean it, let’s be honest we’ve all done it.
• Turn mattresses.
• Clean your mattresses and vacuum the box springs.
• Wash or air pillows.
• Clean lampshades, globes, and dust lightbulbs. Be sure to change any that need to be changed.
• Wash windows, storm windows, and screens. This is a good time to check your screens for holes and patch them.
• Put away out-of-season clothes and pull out seasonally appropriate clothing.
• Wash window treatments. Be sure to clean curtain rods and such as well.
• Vacuum or dust books. Many vacuums have a good attachment for this.
• Clean baseboards.
• Organize the pantry. This is a great time to donate food that is still good but you know you won’t eat. And be sure to check all dates and get rid of expired food.
• Replace baking soda in fridge and freezer. Try replacing these with my citrus fridge deodorizer, it’s even better than just baking soda.
• Take everything out of the fridge and freezer and clean them thoroughly.
• If needed, defrost freezer.
• If you have any essential oil diffusers this is a great time to give them a good cleaning.
• Declutter as you go. As you clean you will likely find things you forgot about or know you don’t need anymore. Have a box ready to go for the items you no longer need.

You can also use my spring cleaning list to make sure you’ve covered everything. Somethings on that list only need to be done once a year but it’s good to review it.

Have your Seasonal Cleaning Supplies Ready

Making sure you have all your cleaning supplies ready to go can help make your cleaning easier. You don’t want to be in the middle of a project and have go searching for supplies.

I buy my cleaning supplies from Grove Collaborative and Thrive Market. I’ve been using Grove Collaborative concentrates for a lot of my cleaners and I love that they don’t take up much space when I have backups, they work, and they are more eco-friendly.

I like to get laundry detergent and dish soap from Thrive Market and I’m always trying new things from them and have always been happy with what I’ve tried. And I use Force of Nature disinfectant, it’s one you make at home and it’s great. It even kills norovirus!

You can also get a free spring cleaning checklist below. If you are cleaning during other seasons just put some washi tape over “spring” and add the correct season. Or you can get my cleaning planner pack and use the seasonal cleaning sheet. Hopefully this list and all of these tools will have you enjoying your seasonal cleaning at least a little bit.