Part of owning a home is keeping it clean. If you don’t keep your home clean, you may have to deal with problems down the road such as dust buildup, bugs, and an overall dingy and dirty look. This is where spring cleaning comes into play. The name is a nod to the fact that it’s usually the time of year when many people like to open their home up, clean, and let the fresh air in.

But what does spring cleaning involve, and what cleaning tasks should be on your to-do list? As you move through your home, there are certain things you should focus on in each room, as this article outlines.

Cleaning the Entryway

The entryway is the first place that you and visitors see upon entering your home. As such, you should try to

keep it as clean as possible

. You can do so by performing the following tasks when cleaning:

Dust the blinds/clean the curtains and clean the window sills.

Wash the windows and open them to let the air in.

Wipe down the walls.

Clean the door.

Wipe down the baseboards.

Remove any area rugs and take them outside for cleaning.

Dust all furniture.

Sweep and mop the floor.

Cleaning the Kitchen

Homeowners spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing meals. This is also the room that is most likely to attract bugs due to the presence of food. When cleaning your kitchen, you should perform the following tasks:

Dust the blinds/clean the curtains and clean the window sills.

Wash the windows and open them to let the air in.

Discard old or expired food from the

pantry

fridge

, or freezer.

Remove perishable items from the the fridge or freezer before wiping down the appliances and returning the items; defrost the freezer if needed.

Clean the dishwasher, microwave, and oven.

Remove items from cabinets and wipe down the shelves before returning the items.

Dust the tops of high surfaces, including the refrigerator, cabinets, and the range hood.

Wipe down the walls and the fronts of upper cabinets.

Wipe down the stovetop, countertops, and tabletops, making sure to remove any items first.

Wipe down the fronts of lower cabinets to remove any stuck-on food.

Wipe down the baseboards.

Remove any area rugs and the trash can, taking them outside for cleaning before returning them.

Sweep and mop the floor.

Cleaning the Laundry Room

One often overlooked area in the home is the

laundry room

. And while you wouldn’t think it would get that dirty, it can if left unattended. Here are some important tasks you should do when cleaning your laundry room:

Dust the blinds/clean the curtains and clean the window sills.

Wash the windows and open them to let the air in.

Clean the washing machine.

Clean the dryer, including the lint trap and dryer vent.

Wipe down the walls.

Wipe down surfaces such as the washer, dryer, and any tables in the room.

Wipe down the baseboards.

Sweep and mop the floor.

Cleaning the Dining Room

In an increasingly busy world, dining rooms in many homes are seeing less and less use. Regardless, it’s still important to keep them clean because this is where many special family gatherings are held, including holiday meals. When cleaning your dining room, don’t forget these important tasks:

Dust the blinds/clean the curtains and clean the window sills.

Wash the windows and open them to let the air in.

Remove any items from cabinets and wipe down the shelving and the items before returning them to their rightful place.

Polish any silver.

Clean the light fixtures.

Dust the top of the cabinets, and dust and polish any furniture.

Wipe down the walls.

Wipe down the baseboards.

Remove any area rugs, taking them outside for cleaning before returning them.

Sweep or vacuum, depending on whether you have hardwood or carpeted floors.

Mop the floor if you have hardwood flooring.

Shampoo the rug if you have carpeting.

Cleaning the Living Room

One area that families do spend a lot of time in is the living room. This is usually where you watch TV, spend time together, or entertain guests. This makes it an important area of your home to keep clean. When doing so, make sure to attend to the following tasks.

Dust the blinds/clean the curtains and clean the window sills.

Wash the windows and open them to let the air in.

Remove any blankets, pillows, or slipcovers to wash them.

Clean the ceiling fan if you have one.

Dust and clean the lampshades.

Dust and polish any furniture, including your electronics.

Sanitize your remotes.

Wipe down the walls.

Wipe down the baseboards.

Remove any area rugs, taking them outside for cleaning before returning them.

Sweep or vacuum the floor, depending on whether you have hardwood or carpeting.

Mop the floor if you have

hardwood flooring

Shampoo the rug if you have carpeting.

Cleaning the Bathroom

On average, people living in a home spend about

30 minutes each day

in the bathroom. Most of this time is spent using the facilities and getting ready to go outside, so it’s important to keep this area clean. When cleaning your bathroom, make sure to do the following tasks:

Dust the blinds/clean the curtains and clean the window sills.

Wash the windows and open them to let the air in.

Discard any expired medication, makeup, or personal-care items.

Clean the light fixtures.

Wipe down the mirror.

Clean the vanity area, including surfaces, the sink basin, and any fixtures.

Clean the toilet, including the water tank, seat, and around the base.

Remove any used towels or washcloths for washing later.

Clean the showerhead.

Clean the shower doors if you have them, making sure to get both sides.

Clean the inside of the shower/bathtub using a cleaner specifically designed for this purpose.

Clean any fixtures in the shower/bathtub.

Remove any bath mats or area rugs, taking them outside for cleaning before returning them.

Wipe down the walls.

Wipe down the baseboards.

Sweep and mop the floor.

Cleaning the Bedroom

The bedroom is where you relax or rest up for the next day. In addition to sleeping, many people also use their bedroom to read, watch TV, or listen to the radio. Seeing as you spend a lot of time in the bedroom, it’s important to clean it frequently. When spring cleaning your bedroom, make sure to complete the following tasks.

Dust the blinds/clean the curtains and clean the window sills.

Wash the windows and open them to let the air in.

Remove any bed linen to be washed later.

Clean the ceiling fan if you have one.

Flip the mattress, if needed.

Dust high surfaces, such as wardrobes, cabinets, and entertainment centers.

Wipe down the walls.

Wipe down the baseboards.

Remove any area rugs, taking them outside for cleaning before returning them.

Sweep or vacuum the floor, depending on whether you have hardwood or carpeting.

Mop the floor if you have hardwood flooring.

Shampoo the rug if you have carpeting.