Spring is the traditional time for a proper top-to-bottom clean. After months of closed windows, central heating and muddy boots, homes collect more dust and grime than usual. A good spring clean clears all of that out and resets your home for the year ahead.
This checklist covers every room. Tackle it over a few weekends, or book a professional deep clean and let someone else do the hard work.
Before you start
- Declutter first. Cleaning is quicker and more satisfying when surfaces are clear. Donate, recycle or bin what you don’t need.
- Work top to bottom. Ceilings, light fittings and high shelves first; floors last.
- Open the windows. Fresh air helps products work and clears lingering smells.
- Go room by room. Finishing one room before moving on is more motivating than doing a bit everywhere.
Kitchen
- Degrease the extractor hood and clean or replace the filter
- Clean the hob thoroughly, including knobs and edges
- Clean the oven inside, including racks, trays and door glass
- Empty, defrost and wash the fridge and freezer; throw out anything out of date
- Wipe cupboard doors and handles, especially those near the cooker
- Clear and wipe inside cupboards and drawers
- Clean the tops of wall units and appliances
- Descale the kettle, taps and sink
- Clean the washing machine drawer and seal; run a maintenance wash
- Clean the dishwasher filter
- Wash the bin inside and out
- Clean behind and under appliances where possible
Bathrooms
- Descale shower screens, showerheads, taps and tiles
- Scrub grout and sealant; treat any mould spots
- Deep clean the toilet, including the base, behind the pan and seat hinges
- Clear out and wipe the bathroom cabinet; bin expired products
- Wash or replace the shower curtain and bath mat
- Clean the extractor fan cover
- Polish mirrors and chrome
Bedrooms
- Wash duvets and pillows (or have them cleaned) and flip or rotate the mattress
- Vacuum the mattress
- Clear out wardrobes and drawers; wipe inside
- Dust the tops of wardrobes and high shelves
- Vacuum under the bed and behind furniture
- Wipe skirting boards, doors, handles and light switches
- Wash curtains or vacuum blinds
Living areas
- Dust light fittings, lampshades and picture frames
- Vacuum sofas and chairs, including under cushions
- Wipe down skirting boards, door frames and radiators
- Clean window sills, frames and internal glass
- Dust electronics and behind the TV
- Move furniture and vacuum underneath
Throughout the house
- Cobwebs from ceilings and corners
- Light switches, sockets and door handles
- Stairs, banisters and handrails
- Radiators, including behind them
- Carpets deep cleaned (especially hallways and living rooms)
- Hard floors mopped, including edges
Jobs worth handing to a professional
Some spring cleaning jobs take far longer than people expect, or need products and equipment most homes don’t have:
- Heavy limescale — very common in Surrey and Sussex because of hard water
- Greasy extractor hoods and ovens
- Carpets — a proper clean lifts dirt that vacuuming leaves behind
- One room that’s got out of hand — we can deep clean individual rooms on a custom quote
A realistic spring cleaning plan
Trying to do everything in one weekend is how spring cleans stall halfway. Spreading it out works far better:
- Weekend 1: Declutter the whole house and tackle the kitchen
- Weekend 2: Bathrooms and bedrooms
- Weekend 3: Living areas, hallways, stairs and carpets
Alternatively, book a professional deep clean for the heavy-duty jobs — kitchen, bathrooms and floors — and spend your own time on decluttering and organising, which only you can do.
Products you’ll need
- A good degreaser for the kitchen
- Limescale remover (essential in hard-water areas)
- Mould and mildew spray for bathrooms
- Multi-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner
- Plenty of microfibre cloths
- Non-scratch scourers and an old toothbrush for grout and edges
- A vacuum with attachments, and a mop and bucket
Making it last
The hard part is the first big clean. Keeping on top of it afterwards is much easier:
- Squeegee the shower screen after each use to slow limescale
- Wipe the hob and splashback after cooking
- Run the extractor fan when showering to reduce condensation and mould
- Do a quick weekly dust of the most-used rooms
- Book a deep clean once or twice a year to reset everything
Not sure whether you need a deep clean or something else? Read what is a deep clean? or see our deep cleaning prices.
Quick answers
How long does a professional spring clean take?
As a guide, a professional deep clean of a one-bed home takes around 5–6 hours and a three-bed home 7–9 hours, depending on condition.
Do I need to be home?
No. Many customers arrange access and come back to a finished home. We’re fully insured and DBS checked.
Can you just do the kitchen and bathroom?
Yes. We deep clean individual rooms on a custom quote once we’ve seen the condition.