Creating a spring cleaning list may be a tradition, but winter cleaning slaps. Don't wait until spring to focus on how cleanliness influences your health, home, and well-being during the season we're indoors the most.
“It’s common for people to spend more time indoors during the winter season, which can increase indoor air pollutants," echoed Kelsey Hei, 3M Filtration and Indoor Air Quality Specialist. "Many use the springtime to do major home cleanouts, but it’s important to use the colder months as an opportunity to deep clean your space, especially if you use your home heating system to have a more comfortable season."
To break it down, we rounded up the experts and listed nearly 50 ways you can make a difference in your home during the winter months:
Step 1: Improve Your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
During winter, we tend to keep windows shut and rely more on indoor heating, trapping dust, allergens, and pollutants. A winter cleaning checklist can tackle IAQ issues:
- Dust surfaces. Cleaner air reduces the risk of allergies, asthma flare-ups, and cold and flu transmission. Remember to dust blinds, dust ceiling fans, bathroom exhaust fans, and clean light fixtures and their light bulbs.
- Get in a vacuuming routine. Whether you preset your Roomba to a daily house cleaning schedule to vacuum floors and carpets, or just commit to using an upholstery brush attachment to dust furniture more often, every bit helps.
- Clean baseboards. This is our ultimate feel-good chore. Dust accumulation on baseboards around your home can be intense. Your HVAC system can circulate it around and affect the indoor air.
- Wash all your bedding. Sure, this might be a routine chore on your list, but duvet covers, quilts, mattress covers, and bed skirts are laundered less frequently. Over time, these accessories harbor a lot of dust which can affect how well you sleep. Throw it all in the washing machine, and remember to vacuum the mattress while the bed is naked.
- Wash your dog bed, too. Arbour makes great pet-safe cleaners that're really powerful against pet dander, stains, oils, and feces. We've also been using it for our bed comforters, since the dog regularly naps on human beds.
- Dust buildup on electronics. It helps protect the technology and prevents systems from overheating.
- Change your air filters, too. "We recommend changing your HVAC filter every three months, but check it monthly, especially if you have pets, doing home improvement projects, or burn candles," says Hei. "Those factors can affect the amount of particulates in your air, as that could require you to change it more frequently.”
She adds, "Household dust is one of the allergens that can negatively affect indoor air quality, so it’s important to change your HVAC air filter and replace it with a filter like the Filtrete™ MPR 1900 (CDC recommends MERV 13 filters) that attract and capture microscopic particles such as smoke, bacteria, viruses, and larger particles, including lint and dust."
Step 2: Complete Routine Home Maintenance Tasks
With less outdoor activity, colder weather is a prime time to make a winter cleaning list for all your home maintenance needs:
- Clean windows. Take some window cleaner to the inside of every window—it's the perfect time to clean off every pet nose boop and fingerprint, and dust window sills. Remove and clean the window screens if necessary. Take advantage of clear winter skies for the best results.
- Clean and store outdoor furniture. Extend the lifespan of your patio furniture by properly cleaning and storing it before harsh weather arrives.
- Touch up paint on walls and trim. Dedicate a full day to touch-ups in your living spaces (that way, you only have to wash the paint brushes once).
- Inspect and clean gutters. Pick a warm winter day and prioritize gutter cleaning. Making repairs and performing regular maintenance will help prevent ice dams and water damage.
- Clean grout. It's hard to find time to deep clean the grout on kitchen and bathroom tile floors, but dedicating a Saturday afternoon to the chore is well worthwhile. While you're at it, clean your tile backsplash, too. (We cover lots of steam cleaner chores, and you'll be thrilled to know that this is one of them.)
- Deep clean the glass on your shower doors. Remove hard water buildup and mineral deposits.
- Replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. We like to do this twice a year–with each time change–but if you've forgotten, add this necessary task to your list. Remember: some carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms recommend that you use a lithium-ion battery, not an alkaline battery. Lithium-ion batteries last longer and need to be replaced less frequently. Bonus points if you switch to hardwired alarms.
Step 3: Deep Clean Appliances and Other Often-Neglected Spots
Check out any behind-the-scenes chores. Your visitors won't be quick to spot these dirty, dusty, and potentially grimy areas, but you'll know they exist:
- Clean behind and inside the washing machine and dryer. No, the washer isn't self-cleaning. Yes, your washing machine filter is probably dirty. And yes, cleaning the dryer helps reduce the risk of fires! Don't forget to clean the dryer vent, but you may want to save it until a mild day.
- Deep clean the dishwasher filter and spray arms. This is one of my friends' most overlooked chores!
- Clean your oven. And don't forget to clean the range hood filters!
- Defrost and clean the freezer. Tackle the ice maker, too! We like this as a winter chore because you can easily store frozen items outdoors on an icy day.
- Wipe down inside cabinets and drawers. Fingerprints from opening at the edges! Dust and crumbs and other debris always finds a way into these spaces.
- Clean behind and underneath large appliances. Enough said.
- Descale coffee makers. Check your manufacturer's guidelines for this. Some products are sold with a descaling kit that makes it as easy as pushing a button. Depending on the product, it might require some disassembly to clean thoroughly (our espresso machine is case-in-point).
Step 4: Get Organized
Winter cleaning sets the stage for spring by addressing clutter and organizing storage spaces. Take care of your seasonal cleaning checklist now, so you can resume your regular outdoor routine as soon as the cold weather wraps.
- Declutter shelves. Get rid of the excess. It's just collecting dust.
- Reorganize your closets. Linen closets, the kitchen pantry, bedroom closets (and junk drawers, too).
- Optimize how you use the space in your kitchen. Are you using your upper kitchen cabinets to the best of your ability?
- Create a brighter atmosphere. Deep cleaning can bring more natural light into your home, boosting your mood and energy levels.
- Clean the refrigerator. Like, deep clean it. Get rid of old leftovers and wash out the drawers.
- Optimize space. Decluttering unused areas can free up space for cozy winter activities like movie nights or game nights.
- Prepare for gatherings. By getting ahead of the cleaning, you can relax and enjoy spontaneous springtime visits without added stress.
- Sort through paperwork and files. Tackle that pile of mail, receipts, and documents. Shred what you don't need and create a simple filing system for important papers.
- Clean out your medicine cabinet. Check expiration dates on medications, vitamins, and first aid supplies. Safely dispose of expired items and restock essentials.
- Organize under-sink storage. Both kitchen and bathroom sinks tend to become black holes of cleaning supplies and forgotten items. Use bins or shelf risers to maximize vertical space.
- Audit your garage or storage areas. Winter is the perfect time to sort through tools, sporting equipment, and seasonal decorations while they're accessible (but avoid making these mistakes). Donate or sell items you haven't used in over a year.
- Digitize memories and reduce media clutter. Scan old photos, consolidate DVDs or CDs you want to keep digitally, and recycle cases and jewel boxes to free up shelf space.
