skip to main content
SEATING EVENT
0
Your shopping cart is empty.
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
GET IDEAS
PHOTOS
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomPantryGreat RoomBreakfast Nook
Bed & BathBathroomPowder RoomBedroomStorage & ClosetBaby & Kids
LivingLiving RoomFamily RoomSunroom
OutdoorLandscapePatioDeckPoolBackyardPorchExteriorOutdoor KitchenFront YardDrivewayPoolhouse
WalkwaysStaircaseEntryHall
Bar & WineHome BarWine Cellar
UtilityLaundryGarageMudroom
More RoomsGame RoomHome OfficeBasementCraftLibraryGym
Popular Design IdeasKitchen BacksplashFirepit
FireplaceDeck RailingPergolaPrivacy FenceSmall Closet
MAGAZINE
Stories and GuidesPopular StoriesRenovation Cost Guides
DISCUSSIONS
Get AdviceDesign DilemmasBefore & After
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
FIND PROFESSIONALS
PROFESSIONALS
DesignArchitects & Building DesignersKitchen & Bathroom DesignersInterior Designers & DecoratorsDesign-Build FirmsLighting Designers & Suppliers
RemodelingKitchen & Bathroom RemodelersGeneral ContractorsHome BuildersTile & Countertop ContractorsMasonry & Concrete ContractorsExterior & Siding ContractorsStair & Railing ContractorsFireplace Contractors
RenovationCarpentersCabinetry & Cabinet MakersFlooring ContractorsWindow ContractorsDoor ContractorsGlass & Shower Door ContractorsCarpet Contractors
OutdoorLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsDeck & Patio BuildersFence ContractorsDriveway & Paving ContractorsSwimming Pool BuildersHot Tub & Spa Dealers
ServicesPaintersRoofing & Gutter ContractorsOrganizers & Closet DesignersHome StagersGarage Door ServicesWindow Treatment ServicesPaint & Wall Covering Dealers
Appliances & SystemsAppliance Sales & ServicesHVAC ContractorsHome Theater & AutomationOutdoor Lighting & AV SpecialistsSolar Energy Contractors
All ProfessionalsAll ServicesFor Professionals
SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
KITCHEN & DINING
Kitchen & Dining FurnitureSinks & FaucetsKitchen AppliancesTabletopCabinets & StorageKnobs & PullsKitchen LightingTileCookware & BakewareTools & GadgetsView All
FURNITURE
Living RoomKitchen & DiningHome OfficeOutdoorBedroomStorageBathroomView All
BATH
Bathroom VanitiesShowersBathtubsBathroom LightingFaucetsBathroom SinksTileBath AccessoriesBath LinensMedicine CabinetsView All
DECOR
RugsMirrorsWall DecorDecorative AccentsArtworkPillows & ThrowsHoliday DecorView All
BEDROOM
Beds & HeadboardsBeddingDressersNightstandsBenchesBedroom DecorLampsCloset StorageFutonsChaisesView All
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HardwareTileBathroom FixturesKitchen FixturesHeating & CoolingBuilding MaterialsTools & EquipmentView All
LIVING
Coffee & Accent TablesRugsSofas & SectionalsArmchairs & Accent ChairsTV Stand & Media StorageHome DecorLampsArtworkBookcasesFireplaces & AccessoriesView All
OUTDOOR
Patio FurnitureOutdoor DecorOutdoor LightingPool & SpaLawn & GardenOutdoor StructuresOutdoor CookingView All
LIGHTING
ChandeliersPendant LightsFlush-MountsBathroom & VanityWall SconcesCeiling FansTable LampsFloor LampsKitchen & CabinetOutdoor LightingView All
MORE
Storage & OrganizationHome OfficeBaby & KidsHome BarCleaning & LaundryPet SuppliesHoliday DecorView All
Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card!
SALE
ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
Bathroom VanitiesChandeliersBar StoolsPendant LightsRugsLiving Room ChairsDining Room FurnitureWall LightingCoffee TablesSide & End TablesHome Office FurnitureSofasBedroom FurnitureLampsMirrors
SEATING EVENT
Up to 45% Off
Bestselling Living Room Seating 
Up to 60% Off
Bar Stools With Free Shipping 
Up to 60% Off
Dining Room Essentials 
Under $499
Small-Space Patio Seating 
Most Popular
Most Popular
8 Tips for Harmony in the Kitchen
Top Ideabooks
8 Tips for Harmony in the Kitchen10 Bathroom Layout Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemHow to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops20 Things You Might Be Forgetting to Spring-Clean
Appears in
Latest From Houzz
See also
Trending Now
Housekeeping
Housekeeping
Pick and Choose Your Spring Cleaning Tasks
Top Ideabooks
Pick and Choose Your Spring Cleaning Tasks20 Things You Might Be Forgetting to Spring-CleanChoose Your Own Spring Cleaning PlanYour Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
Appears in
Life
See also
DeclutteringCleaning
Cleaning
Cleaning
Pick and Choose Your Spring Cleaning Tasks
Top Ideabooks
Pick and Choose Your Spring Cleaning Tasks20 Things You Might Be Forgetting to Spring-CleanChoose Your Own Spring Cleaning Plan7 Chores You May Be Doing Wrong
Appears in
Housekeeping
See also
7-Day Cleaning Plans
Sheltering at Home
Sheltering at Home
8 Ways to Keep Your Home Project Going While Helping Local Pros
Top Ideabooks
8 Ways to Keep Your Home Project Going While Helping Local ProsCleaning Routines to Keep Your Home Virus-FreeSimple Pleasures: The Art of the Bath15 Favorites for Your Summer Edible Garden
Appears in
Latest From Houzz

20 Things You Might Be Forgetting to Spring-Clean

Clean these often-neglected areas and your house will look and feel better

Laura Gaskill
Laura GaskillApril 6, 2021
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Freshening your house with a deep spring-cleaning right now can feel really good. If you’re ready to go beyond the basic vacuum-and-mop weekly clean, pick and choose from these 20 deep-cleaning tasks, and get ready to enjoy your sparkling clean house.
Jeff King & Company
1. Light Fixtures and Lamps

Ceiling-mounted light fixtures, fans and table lamps can accumulate an amazing amount of dust over time — which can dull the surface and block light. Get your light fixtures gleaming with a soft microfiber cloth or duster.

2. Doors, Knobs and Handles

It should take only a few minutes to go around the house giving knobs and handles a quick swipe with the cleaning product of your choice, but this little task can really make your space look cleaner. Give the front door some extra love by cleaning it inside and out with warm, soapy water on a well-wrung-out soft sponge, and dry it with a soft cloth.

3. Wall Scuffs and Dings


Using a damp, soft cloth and a bit of dish soap, or a product (like Magic Eraser), swipe off scuff marks. Fill any dings in the wall and touch up with paint.

Find household cleaning supplies in the Houzz Shop
Pike Properties
4. Tops of Window Frames

The baseboards are more likely to get cleaned during a cleaning spree, but what about the higher spots? Get out the stepladder and (carefully) get to work wiping away built-up dust and grime from the tops of window frames and upper moldings.

5. Bookshelves

Shelves full of books and decorative objects can become quite dusty. Working shelf by shelf, remove the objects from one section, dust and return them. For bonus points, declutter your books and decor as you go.

Find an organizing pro near you on Houzz
Masterwork Builders
6. Underneath Area Rugs

Move the furniture aside, roll up the rug and rug pad, and vacuum underneath. It sounds like a lot of work, but when you see what’s under there, you might be inspired to do this more frequently!

7. Picture Frames and Mirrors

Clean the glass fronts of picture frames and mirrors, and wipe away dust from the frames. Don’t spray picture frames, since liquid can potentially get in and damage the photo or artwork; use a barely dampened glass-cleaning cloth instead.

8. Upholstered Furniture


Get out the vacuum attachments and vacuum upholstered furniture, including under and between cushions. Rotate sofa cushions when possible for more even wear.

Shop for a vacuum cleaner on Houzz
Alair Homes Arlington
9. Oven and Range Hood

If you want to avoid oven cleaners, a thick paste of baking soda and water applied and left on overnight can do the trick — wipe it off with hot water the next day. Grease and dust tend to accumulate on the range hood. Stand on a step stool so you can see what you’re doing, and clear away the gunk using warm, soapy water.

10. Small Appliances

Spiffing up your microwave, toaster, blender and mixer doesn’t take long at all, but the cumulative effect of gleaming small appliances will make your kitchen really shine.

11. Grout

Light-colored grout looking icky? Remove grout discoloration and stains by scrubbing with oxygenated bleach.

12 Cleaning Projects That Go a Little Deeper — Naturally
Morey Remodeling Group
12. Inside Kitchen Drawers

Never mind how the crumbs got in there; the important thing is to give your drawers a fresh start now. Remove everything, wipe out the drawers and return the items.

13. Food Storage Jars

Storing dry goods in sealed storage containers can help them stay fresh longer and prevent bug problems. But that doesn’t mean the stuff in your jars will never go bad. Inspect the contents of your canisters for freshness, check expiration dates and toss old or stale food. In the future, remove the last bits of food (for instance, flour) before filling the canister with fresh food, then put the old bit back on top where it will get used up first.

Get It Done: How to Clean Out the Pantry
Eleven Interiors
14. Underneath Beds and Behind Furniture

Instead of sticking with the easy-to-reach spots when you vacuum this time, really get in there and hit the hidden, tucked-away places where dust goes to hide. Any allergy sufferers in your household will be grateful for the extra effort!
Find Pro For More Ideas
Need a pro for your home remodeling project?
Let Houzz find the best pros for you
North Fork Design Co.
15. Laundry Room Dust

What is it about the laundry room? The areas on top of and around the washer and dryer tend to be some of the dustiest in the house. Vacuum around the appliances and wipe down the surfaces.

16. Vents and Hoses

If you don’t want to get in there and clean out your dryer hose yourself, hire a pro (HVAC prosmay offer this service) to do it for you. Whichever method you choose, it is important to get it done, because lint buildup inside your dryer and hose can potentially cause a fire.
Chango & Co.
17. Kids’ Toys

Little ones — especially toddlers who are still exploring the world by putting things in their mouths — can benefit from regular cleaning of toys, particularly when colds are going around. Hard plastic toys can get dunked in warm, soapy water (kids usually enjoy helping with this); most soft toys can handle a gentle wash in the machine (but be sure to check labels first). “Loveys” and special stuffed animals should be hand washed and air dried, just to be on the safe side.
4R Builders, LLC.
18. Shower and Tub Walls

It’s natural to focus more on the tub floor when doing a light cleaning of the bathroom, but the walls can get just as much soap scum buildup. To maximize the cleaning power of whatever product you like to use, leave it on for at least 10 minutes before scrubbing.

19. Bathroom Shelves

Shampoo, lotions and soaps can leak onto shelves in the medicine cabinet and beneath the sink. Give your bathroom a fresh start by removing all products, wiping down the shelves and returning only the items you use.
Laura Design & Co
20. Tech

Computer screens and flat-screen TVs can get spotty. Pick up a cleaning spray or wipes designed specifically for monitors, and give all your screens a cleaning. Use a can of compressed air to clean crumbs out of your keyboard.

Share: What’s on your spring-cleaning to-do list? Tell us in the Comments!

More on Houzz
Your Guide to a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Home
Find a home pro
Shop for products
Feeling Inspired? Shop for Similar Products
Waterproof Gloves, Velvet Warm Cleaning Gloves, Dish Washing Gloves, 08
Tough Stuff All-Purpose Scrub Brush, White
Bubble Up Soap Dispenser/Dish Sponge Set, White
Skoy Scrub
Microfiber Cloths, 12 Count Cleaning Towels Dust Polish And Clean by Stalwart
Unger Click and Dust Multi-Purpose Dusting Kit
2 Gal. Green Plastic Cleaning Bucket Pail, 3-Pack
Clean Reach Bottle Brush Refill, Green
Discover More Products
Item 1 of 9
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 230 comments
Explore Related Topics
Most PopularHousekeepingCleaningSheltering at Home
Read Related Stories
Choose Your Own Spring Cleaning PlanChoose Your Own Spring Cleaning Plan
By Laura Gaskill·118
Housekeeping
10 Ways to Make Your Home a Haven10 Ways to Make Your Home a Haven
By Jo Simmons·79
Feel-Good Home
7 Chores You May Be Doing Wrong7 Chores You May Be Doing Wrong
By Pauline Morrissey·76
Housekeeping
The Quick and Easy Way to Clean a MicrowaveThe Quick and Easy Way to Clean a Microwave
By Marianne Lipanovich·144
Housekeeping
Your Guide to a Spotless, Beautifully Organized HomeYour Guide to a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Home
By Laura Gaskill·47
Housekeeping
Your Spring Organizing ChecklistYour Spring Organizing Checklist
By Laura Gaskill·78
Monthly Home Checklists
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Dining Room7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Dining Room
By Laura Gaskill·30
Housekeeping
Out, Darn Spot! Tips for Removing Carpet StainsOut, Darn Spot! Tips for Removing Carpet Stains
By Bonnie McCarthy·81
Housekeeping
10 Ways to Cope With Grief During the Holidays10 Ways to Cope With Grief During the Holidays
By Shelly Leer·241
Life
Your Clutter-Clearing Plan for the New YearYour Clutter-Clearing Plan for the New Year
By Laura Gaskill·223
Decluttering
Simple Pleasures: 15 Ways to Welcome SpringSimple Pleasures: 15 Ways to Welcome Spring
By Laura Gaskill·61
Feel-Good Home
Simple Pleasures: Scent and MemorySimple Pleasures: Scent and Memory
By Laura Gaskill·94
Feel-Good Home
Organized From the Start: 8 Smart Systems for Your New HouseOrganized From the Start: 8 Smart Systems for Your New House
By Laura Gaskill·59
Organizing
Three Magic Words for a Clean Home and a Better LifeThree Magic Words for a Clean Home and a Better Life
By Alison Hodgson·350
Decluttering
Got Frost-Damaged Plants? How It Happens, and When and How to PruneGot Frost-Damaged Plants? How It Happens, and When and How to Prune
By Noelle Johnson·19
Gardening Guides
Shop Related Categories
Trash Cans
Trash Cans
Wastebaskets
Wastebaskets
Laundry Hampers
Laundry Hampers
Vacuum Cleaners
Vacuum Cleaners
Ladders & Step Stools
Ladders & Step Stools
Household Cleaning Products
Household Cleaning Products
People who liked this story also liked
Choose Your Own Spring Cleaning Plan
Choose Your Own Spring Cleaning PlanFull Story
10 Ways to Make Your Home a Haven
10 Ways to Make Your Home a HavenFull Story
7 Chores You May Be Doing Wrong
7 Chores You May Be Doing WrongFull Story
The Quick and Easy Way to Clean a Microwave
The Quick and Easy Way to Clean a MicrowaveFull Story
Your Guide to a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Home
Your Guide to a Spotless, Beautifully Organized HomeFull Story
Your Spring Organizing Checklist
Your Spring Organizing ChecklistFull Story
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Dining Room
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Dining RoomFull Story
Out, Darn Spot! Tips for Removing Carpet Stains
Out, Darn Spot! Tips for Removing Carpet StainsFull Story
10 Ways to Cope With Grief During the Holidays
10 Ways to Cope With Grief During the HolidaysFull Story
Your Clutter-Clearing Plan for the New Year
Your Clutter-Clearing Plan for the New YearFull Story
  • United States
  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FOR BRANDS
  • SELL
  • Privacy & Notice
  • Terms
  • © 2021 Houzz Inc.