With the weather warming up, the days getting longer, and the prospect of spending time outside looking better and better, spring is on the horizon. With spring so close, it's time for the thing many of us look forward to the least: spring cleaning. Though you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who sees spring cleaning as an enjoyable process, most of us can admit that the results speak for themselves. While no doubt daunting, annual deep cleaning is essential to ensure that some of those forgotten chores get done and your home stays happy and healthy.

To make this process a whole lot easier, we've assembled a spring cleaning checklist to make this cleaning season easy and efficient. So, before you roll up your sleeves and grease up your elbows, check out our nifty tricks and tips to make your home as clean, bright and refreshing as the first day of spring.

The Checklist

It may sound crazy that we'd suggest a checklist within a checklist, but before you click away, hear us out; a spring cleaning checklist ensures you won't miss some of those more forgettable sections of your home. Before you start cleaning, walk around your home, room to room, and markdown every space you think needs cleaning. The best process for ensuring you don't miss any areas is to begin by surveying the top of the room check the ceiling, ceiling fan and lights that may need dusting and wiping down. Then, begin working your way to the bottom by looking at the walls, windows and any and all furniture pieces. Finally, look to the floors and make sure you mark down every corner and hard-to-reach spot. Beyond top to bottom, the best practice is to start at the front of your home, like the entryway, move toward the back, go upstairs, one level at a time, and finish with the basement.

Schedule

After completing your spring cleaning checklist, you'll likely wonder, "how am I going to find the time to clean all this?!" Unfortunately, sometimes life gets in the way, so if you genuinely feel you just can't find the time, you may want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service to at least achieve a surface-level clean throughout your home. However, by simply examining your schedule, you'll likely be able to set aside time to accomplish your spring cleaning checklist. Setting aside a Saturday or two can work wonders for ensuring your home gets the cleaning it deserves, but just putting aside an hour or so a day over a few weeks will still get the job done. The purpose of the checklist is to ensure you don't forget any spaces that need cleaning, so it won't make much difference if you clean everything all at once or spread it out over time.

Involve the Whole Family

Spring cleaning is not a job for just one person; that's why it's crucial to divide the work up into more manageable tasks among the family or roommates. Have them help with the more complicated tasks like scrubbing windows and walls or vacuuming the carpets if you have older children. At the same time, younger children can make life a bit easier by putting away their toys and folding their clothes. By splitting up the jobs on your spring cleaning checklist, you'll finish much faster and have more time to enjoy the spring.

Deal with the Clutter

It's not just about wiping, scrubbing, vacuuming and organizing; spring cleaning is also the perfect time to get rid of all the stuff you no longer want or need. Take a moment to look at all your clothes and ask yourself, 1) does this fit? and 2) will I wear it? If you answer no to either of these questions, it's probably time to donate them and minimize your wardrobe. Whether you get rid of a significant number of belongings or simply go through the stacks of papers that have been taking up room on your counter, there's one thing to remember; The more you clear out, the less you have to clean!

Functional Storage

After you clear out the old, make sure the new and remaining items stay neat and tidy with the addition of some functional storage options. Bedroom storage pieces are ideal to clean up any errant clothes, extra shoes or spare blankets. The best part about these options is that many are multi-functional. A storage bed can provide you with a stylish bed upgrade, as well as valuable storage drawers under the bed. Storage ottomans offer exceptional extra storage at little cost in space for bedrooms, as well as hallways, living rooms and entryways. Don't forget about new shelves, bins and caddy's. They provide dedicated spaces for your belongings and help you stay organized throughout the year.

Quick Tip: Mattresses

The best way to clean a mattress is to follow this simple step-by-step procedure. First, strip the bed and wash everything. Second, vacuum using an upholstery attachment. Third, take care of stains and dirty spots with some water and soap, sprinkling a little baking soda to combat any smells. Fourth, air out your mattress. Fifth, rotate your mattress when you put it back on. Some mattresses should be flipped periodically, but many of today’s mattresses are built to be one side up only. Finally, consider some new bedding if your old bedding is particularly old.

Quick Tip: Furniture

Don’t overlook furniture when you are scrubbing, scraping and sweeping. You can clean wood furniture with a good dusting, and use a damp cloth with plain water if needed. Make sure to dry the furniture quickly with a clean cloth. For upholstery, you can start with the cushions. Rotate them where you can, either by flipping them over or swapping positions. Vacuum them with repetitive, quick strokes. If there are slipcovers or pillowcases, remove them and wash them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Quick Tip: Flooring

Another area that many people struggle with, floors benefit from more attention than the rudimentary vacuuming and scrubbing. Hardwood, tile, vinyl, and laminate don’t get cleaned in the same way, but there are a few spring cleaning principles they have in common. First, start by giving hard surfaces a good sweeping. Second, always follow the manufacturer's instructions so you don’t use products or tools that could damage the floor. Third, check the floor protectors on the legs of your chairs, tables and any other furniture to ensure they are in working order and not scratching your surfaces. Finally, consider replacing any old rugs that have seen better days or simply adding a new rug over hard flooring or carpeting to give your space a style upgrade.

Outside

If you thought the inside of your home was all that needed attention, just take a look outside, and we're sure you'll see that it could benefit just as much from a little spring cleaning. Washing the siding, scrubbing the other side of the windows, and cleaning up the deck and patio furniture can really make your whole home sparkle in the sun.

Spring cleaning might be daunting, but it's not insurmountable. By just making a simple spring cleaning checklist and getting the family involved, you'll be sure to make this season a breeze.

Need more spring cleaning tips? Learn more:

Spring Cleaning: Mattresses

Spring Cleaning: Furniture

Spring Cleaning: Flooring and Area Rugs

Spring Cleaning: Organization