A Time To Clean
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) And sometimes in the Spring season, our purpose is Spring cleaning our homes. As a reflection of the Passover tradition, Spring cleaning represents a transition from winter dormancy into the newness of life. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. (Exodus 12:15) In preparation for Passover, homes were thoroughly cleaned to remove all traces of leavening.
My view of Spring cleaning is a little different than some other “cleaning” plans that I have seen. I think of it in terms of how often something should be done, and it doesn’t include things that should be done on a more regular basis. Daily, weekly, and monthly chores, ideally, should be completed routinely and not a consideration when embarking on this yearly practice. Additionally, I don’t include organizing and sorting of clothes and other belongings. Those things should be completed regularly, on an as needed basis. The following checklist is what I regard as important. Some things apply to the entire home. Other things are organized by room.
I usually recommend working from the top down, because as dirt falls, you’ll clean it up on the next level. I also prefer to start with the chores that apply to the entire house. First up, dust ceilings and corners for cobwebs. Then dust off your ceiling fans and light fixtures. Extension pole dusters like the ones linked here are the best for these jobs. Nearly all types of window blinds are most easily dusted by using Swiffer Dusters or your brush attachment on your vacuum hose. Hate window cleaning? Not the most fun of jobs, but here is the best way to confront the task. Mix your own cleaner. I prefer to use a one-to-one mixture of water and white vinegar (less likely to streak). You can also use a ¼ tsp of dishwashing liquid per gallon of water. Wipe windows first with a dry cloth to remove dust and loose dirt. Next, using a large sponge wipe windows with your cleaning solution. Use a squeegee to remove excess liquid. See this video for proper squeegee use. Wash and rehang your curtains and/or vacuum drapes. This same vinegar mixture also works well for spot-cleaning walls, doors, and trim. A soft cloth dipped in the liquid can be used on painted or stained wood trim and walls. Pay special attention to where hands grab doors. These areas tend to get pretty grimy. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers also work very well for these areas. Last, but not least, address the floors. I like to steam clean wood and vinyl floors. This type of steamer works well for this purpose. Use a wood floor restorer to make your wood floors like new and steam clean carpets if necessary.
Phew…that was a lot, but still much more to do. Let’s take a look at some room specific items. In the kitchen, wipe down your cabinets. Drips and cooking grease collect over the year. Your vinegar mixture is great for this too. Clean backsplashes and clean (and seal) countertops depending on the material and manufacturer instructions. Clean/disinfect refrigerator interior and vacuum coils underneath. Clean oven inside and out according to the manufacturer's directions. Deep clean your dishwasher by running it with a dishwasher cleaning tablet. Take trash can outside and scrub it down. Bathrooms should be cleaned on a regular basis; however, you may want to wipe down sink bases. Run your clothes washer on its cleaning cycle and clean out dryer vents and ducts.
Living room sofas and chairs should be vacuumed thoroughly, including under the cushions and down the crevices (check for loose change first 😉). Spot-clean upholstery according to fabric manufacturer’s instructions. Use a leather cleaner to wipe down leather pieces. If you have removable pillow covers, check cleaning labels and wash them if possible. In your bedrooms, you may want to rotate blankets/bedding to reflect the season. Many bed pillows are washable; check labels first. If needed, wipe down the furniture. In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. (Colossians 3:23 EXB)
Don’t forget your outdoor living spaces. Sweep up cobwebs and debris from porches and decks. Powerwash or scrub surfaces as necessary. I like having natural old-fashioned scrub brushes and good old soap and water for cleaning outside. Dish liquid works fine for outdoor surfaces.
God reminds us of the importance of how we handle the spaces we inhabit. By keeping our surroundings orderly and clean, we show reverence to God’s creation and ourselves. By doing these things, we are practicing good stewardship. Organization in our lives, helps us manage our time, resources, and responsibilities better. A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. (Proverbs 24:3 NLT) She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27) But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40 NLT)
A few final notes — now is a good time to change air filters, batteries in alarms, and the like. Also, this is by no means a day or weekend job. Don’t let it get you overwhelmed. Cut the checklist into chunks that make sense for your home and your lifestyle.
