Spring is here and so is spring cleaning! I know I’m good at keeping the house decently clean, but what I’m personally not good at is all those little extra deep cleaning items. Here is a list of some things to think about when making your spring cleaning checklist this year.

Reseal Grout Lines: The cement-based material between wall, floor, and countertop tiles is extremely porous and stains easily. Protect it with a penetrating grout sealer. Your particular tile/grout may have it’s own cleaning and sealing instructions so check with the manufacturer.

Shampoo or steam-clean carpets and area rugs. Some manufacturers will void the warranty if you can’t prove that you’ve had your carpets professionally cleaned every year. Either buy a professional-grade carpet cleaner (which costs around $400) or rent one (many supermarkets now offer this service). There are also many companies that can come out and provide the service for you as well.

Dust Books and Shelves: Take everything off the shelves, and brush shelves and books with a duster. Use the dust-brush or crevice tool on a vacuum to reach into tight spots.  Have a china cabinet? Include dishing all dishes, glasses, and shelving in there too!

Clean Upholstered Furnishings: Take cushions outside and gently beat them by hand to remove dust. If there are stains, check the pieces for care labels. Use a vacuum’s upholstery and crevice tools to clean under seat cushions. It never ceases to amaze me what makes its way down under those cushions!

Dust Your Home Thoroughly: Think about those hard-to-reach places that don’t get hit every time you dust, such as the tops of ceiling fans and window casings. Always work from the top of a room down, vacuuming the dust that settles on the floor.

Clean Walls, Doors, Knobs, and Wall Plates: If you clean them annually then you won’t have to deal with the impossible-to-remove kind that can accumulate if they’re left untouched for a few years.  Wipe them with all-purpose cleaner, which is fine for painted walls. Don’t forget the wall that’s behind you every morning when you do your hair and makeup!

Ensure Fire Safety: Change batteries in smoke detectors (this should be done twice a year), and make sure units are free of dust. This can also save you from that annoying chirp starting in the middle of the night!

Clean Out Closets: Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly.  Donate items you no longer need.  Try not to store things on closet floor, I learned this rule the hard way this year when we had mice!

Clean window treatments. For heavy drapes, use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum, or have them dry-cleaned; light drapes can go in the dryer on the fluff cycle with a dryer sheet.