Sometimes it feels like a lot when spring and the thought of spring cleaning our homes are nearly upon us. Spring is the perfect time to dust off the cobwebs, declutter, and give our homes a refresh.
There may be a lot of things that we haven’t paid attention to cleaning for many months, things that the holidays cluttered and made dusty, and things that the weather has made dingy.
By spacing out the tasks over a week with the ultimate 7 day spring cleaning challenge a large task becomes much more manageable.
Why Do a 7 Day Spring Cleaning Challenge?
Cleaning our entire homes can be refreshing and make everything feel lighter. But it can also feel like too much at times.
It’s ok that deep cleaning has piled up by spring. Giving many household cleaning tasks our attention quarterly or even annually is actually what they require. But when all of those types of cleaning jobs need to be handled at the same time, it can feel like a lot.
Smaller, more manageable tasks done over a span of days or even weeks make something that once felt huge, now feel much smaller. With a list for what to tackle each day or a personal “challenge,” you will be flooded with a feeling of inspiration and less overwhelm.
If you are eager to feel the relief that a clean home provides, you may be inspired to complete your spring cleaning quickly. This 7-day spring cleaning challenge will bring the feeling of calm and refreshment that a clean home can bring in only a week.
If when mentally going through the tasks that you need to complete this spring feels like too much to handle in a week I have a solution for that as well.
I have also created a 30 day spring cleaning challenge for a bit of a slower pace while still accomplishing just as much. Spring is many months long.
There’s no need to push yourself faster than you can accomplish comfortably. If you follow this 7 day challenge or the 30 day challenge, you will still have a perfectly spring cleaned house before you know it.
Day 1: The High Traffic Zones
By tackling the most frequented areas on the first day, you open the home up to feeling lighter and more refreshed quickly. Your efforts will be noticeable on the first day.
Motivation becomes easier when you can clearly see the fruits of your labor. Focus on the spaces you use the most so you get an early sense of relief.
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Begin with the living room and family room.
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Declutter in drawers and on shelves. Begin by taking everything off or down, cleaning the space, throwing away or donating what no longer has a purpose in your life, and reorganizing what remains.
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Clear off surfaces and coffee tables.
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Sort everything that was on tables and shelves in those rooms. Throw away anything broken, donate or recycle anything that is no longer needed or wanted, and store away items that are seasonal.
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Dust and polish the tables and all visible surfaces.
- Replace only what you want out right now onto tables and shelves.
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Vacuum or sweep the floors, including under any area rugs.
- Mop if you have wood or tile floors.
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Clean and polish the baseboards if needed.
Day 2: Address the Kitchen and Dining Room
This day will be one of the heavier ones on labor because of the greasy nature of cooking and kitchens. The goal is a fresh space that is ready for making more memories and nutritious food.
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Clear and wipe down countertops. Also, clean the backsplash and walls while this space is cleared off.
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Clean the sink, faucet, and drain area, including down the sides of the garbage disposal, under the rubber ring of the garbage disposal, and in all the cracks and crevices of the faucet.
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Wipe cabinet fronts and drawer handles. Also, check the inside of the doors; they will have drips on them that need attention as well.
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Clean the exteriors of appliances, including the refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven. Use oven cleaning spray in the oven and on the stove. Allow it to sit while you complete other tasks.
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Declutter any drawers or cabinets that need attention, such as the “junk drawer” and Tupperware cupboards.
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Toss expired food, donate what you no longer want, and wipe pantry shelves.
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Clean the inside of the microwave, and now wipe down the inside of the oven and stove.
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Sweep and mop kitchen floors.
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Clean and polish the dining table and chairs fully.
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Shake out or wash rugs and mats.
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Clean the inside of the refrigerator if needed.
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Lastly, put away items that do not belong in the kitchen or dining area.
Day 3: Tackle the Bedrooms
Keep this day simple and focused. After the big accomplishment of everything you tackled yesterday, you deserve a lighter day of work today. The goal is to remove what you no longer need and want and to clean up what remains.
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Wash all the bedding, flip the mattresses if applicable, vacuum the mattress on both sides, run the pillows and stuffed animals through the dryer, and remake the beds.
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Empty shelves, nightstands, and desks, and dust and polish the furniture. Replace only what belongs in those spaces.
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Sort clothes for donation, trash, or storage for the correct season.
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Clean the baseboards and any spots on the walls. (Magic Erasers work wonders for these tasks to reduce the effort needed .)
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Vacuum or sweep floors.
Day 4: Bathrooms and Laundry Areas
These spaces benefit from regular deep cleaning. Chances are that you frequently give these spaces a lot of attention already, so today’s tasks may feel light, and that’s ok.
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Clean the sinks, counters, backsplashes, walls, and mirrors.
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Scrub the toilets, tubs, and showers.
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Declutter bathroom drawers and cabinets. Begin by removing everything in them, cleaning the shelves and drawers, tossing old and expired items and things you didn’t end up liking, and reorganize what remains.
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Wash bath mats, towels, shower curtains, and shower curtain liners.
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Wipe down the washer and dryer on the outside. Clean any spots or powders inside the washer and run a cycle with a washing machine cleaner. Clean out the lint trap in the dryer as well with your vacuum attachment.
Day 5: Entryways, Storage, and Paper Clutter
This day helps your home feel more organized overall. Making these fixes now will make your days run more smoothly and save you time in the future.
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Tidy entryways and drop zones. Remove everything, clean the storage, sort, and replace what you want to keep.
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Sort shoes, coats, and bags. Reusable bags can accumulate and shoes may be damaged, dirty, or out of season. Choose what to toss, what needs cleaned, and what to pack away.
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If you have an office, organize that today. Organize mail and paperwork that has accumulated. Sort it into file folders, digitize what you can, and shred the rest.
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Declutter storage spaces you have throughout the house. This includes coat closets, under the stairs, and any additional storage space you have within the interior of the home.
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Empty trashes and recycling bins and clean the inside and outside of the cans.
Day 6: Garage and Outdoor Spaces
These days are set up in an order that normally works well, but they can be rearranged if it better suits your needs. If you are given a day of fresh air and sunshine, consider handling the garage’s needs on that day.
- Begin by sorting things into 3 piles: trash, donate, and keep. When there are less items, it’s easier to put everything back.
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Clear and sort garage items by category or season for easier storage and better accessibility throughout the year.
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Organize tools and equipment.
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Tidy outdoor furniture and storage.
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Sweep porches, patios, and walkways.
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Finally, finish by sweeping out the garage.
Day 7: The Final Touches
This day is about finishing gently, not starting something entirely new. After today your home will feel less heavy, more fresh, and ready for the bright new season.
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Spot clean areas that you may have noticed need some extra attention.
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Wash windows inside and out and thoroughly clean in the tracks.
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Replace air filters throughout the house. (Stove fans, air conditioners, air purifiers, etc.)
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Walk through your home and enjoy the progress and tend to anything left that needs your attention.
Final Thoughts About the 7-Day Spring Cleaning Challenge
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be rushed to be effective. Taking an entire week to do it or even an entire month is perfectly fine. When large tasks are broken into more manageable pieces, we are able to accomplish more. Gradually refreshing your home this time of year will make everything brighter and renewed for the spring season.
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