Spring cleaning is a room-by-room reset after winter. Start with a plan, declutter first, work top to bottom, and finish each room before moving on. This guide covers the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, living room and entry, the tools worth buying, when to do it in Victoria, and when to hire help.

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home after a long winter. But spring cleaning doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's our professional guide to tackling it efficiently— whether you do it yourself or hire help.

Starting Your Spring Cleaning

The biggest mistake people make with spring cleaning? Diving in without a plan. Before you start, walk through your home and make a room-by-room list of what needs attention.

Pro tip: Tackle one room at a time. Completely finish each space before moving to the next. This prevents that "half-cleaned everywhere" feeling that's so discouraging.

Three rules never change: work top to bottom, because dust falls; do one room at a time, because it keeps you sane; and declutter before you clean, because you can't clean around piles.

The Room-by-Room Checklist

Start with a plan

Walk through your home and make a room-by-room list of what needs attention. Declutter first, work top to bottom, and finish each room before moving to the next.

Clean the kitchen

Clean inside the oven, microwave and fridge, and toss old condiments. Wipe cabinet fronts and handles, clean behind and under the fridge, degrease the stovetop, range hood and filter, run a cleaning cycle in the dishwasher, and wash the light fixtures.

Clean the bathroom

Scrub grout and tile with a brush or a steam cleaner, descale showerheads and faucets, clean the exhaust fan vents, wash the shower curtain or glass doors, scrub the toilet, clear under-sink storage and check the pipes for leaks, and toss expired items from the medicine cabinet.

Clean each bedroom

Rotate and vacuum the mattress, wash pillows and duvets, vacuum under the bed, go through closets and donate what you haven't worn, and dust ceiling corners, light fixtures and ceiling fans.

Clean the living room

Vacuum upholstery and under cushions, wash the windows, wipe baseboards, wash curtains or clean blinds, move furniture and vacuum behind it, and dust books, décor and electronics.

Finish the hallways and entry

Wash doors and door frames, clean light switches, wipe baseboards, and vacuum or mop thoroughly.

What are the best time-saving tips?

Work top to bottom: Dust and dirt fall downward, so start with ceiling fans and light fixtures
Let products work: Spray cleaners and let them sit while you tackle other tasks
Declutter first: It's easier to clean surfaces that aren't covered in stuff
Set a timer: Give each room a set block of time to stay focused

Cleaning tools worth buying

Microfibre cloths have replaced sponges for most jobs: they don't fall apart, they don't harbour bacteria the way sponges do, and they work with water alone. A basic HEPA vacuum gets you the allergy-friendly benefits without a top-of-the-line price. Enzyme cleaners beat bleach on organic messes like pet accidents and food stains, and a handheld steamer handles grout, baseboards and tile without chemicals. Invest in microfibre, a basic HEPA vacuum and an enzyme cleaner, and skip the specialty gadgets.

Spring cleaning in Victoria's climate

Spring on the coast brings its own problems. Inside, pollen finds its way in even with the windows closed: you'll find it on window sills, in furnace filters and on light fixtures, so give those a careful wipe. Outside, the wet months leave decks, siding and outdoor furniture needing work; that's a job for you or an exterior specialist, and not something we do.

What's the best time for spring cleaning in Victoria?

Late March or early April is your window. Not too early, while the rain can still undo some of the work; not too late, because pollen season picks up from mid-April here in Victoria.

When should you call the professionals?

Sometimes the best spring cleaning is the kind someone else does for you. Consider hiring professional help if:

You don't have time for a thorough clean
Your home hasn't had a deep clean in over a year
You have hard-to-reach indoor areas
You'd rather spend your time on things you enjoy

Hire a specialist: Exterior mildew removal (it needs the right equipment and chemicals), deep carpet cleaning, upholstery shampooing, high windows, gutters, dryer vent cleaning. We don't do exterior work, mould treatment or deep carpet cleaning, so book a company that does.

For the inside of your home, our Seasonal Clean has a spring package. Or try our Deep Clean for a thorough top-to-bottom cleaning indoors.

Ready to refresh your home this spring? Get your price and let us handle the indoor work.

The Ultimate Guide to Quick, Effective Spring Cleaning