Getting Ready for Spring Cleaning in 2023

It’s official, spring is coming early this year to Southern Ontario! On Ground Hog Day, Ontario’s own Wiarton Willie (the groundhog) has predicted that winter will be ending early. While the other groundhogs across Canada may disagree, this could be good news for us in Ontario. 
 
If the prediction rings true, and spring does indeed come early in Ontario, despite the heavy snowfall we’ve experience across the province the past couple of weeks, then we can finally start packing away all of our messy / cumbersome winter accessories and get a jump on our Spring cleaning! 

Preparing for Spring Cleaning

Cleaning your home may seem like a pretty straightforward task (depending on the size of your home) but it can get overwhelming quickly, especially if you’re going to try and get through it all in one day. Whether the task is a big or small one, being properly prepared can make a huge difference in how much you accomplish. 

Let’s look at the materials needed. If you’re in a larger city such as Mississauga, Brampton, or Toronto, you’ll be able to find all of these materials at any of the larger building supply or home improvement stores. If you’re in a smaller community outside the GTA, your local grocery store or convenience store will likely have most (if not all) of the materials needed. 

Storage Containers  Boxes  Bubble wrap  Glass cleaner  Disinfectant spray or wipes  Sponges

Dusters  Microfiber clothes, rags, paper towels  Your preferred bathroom cleaner  Mop  Broom and/or vacuum

Spring Cleaning Room by Room Checklist 

Once you have your preferred cleaning supplies, you’re ready to get started! We’ve compiled a to-do list for each of the different rooms in your home. Another helpful task to think about while you’re cleaning is to set up 2-3 boxes or bins that you can use while you’re going through your possessions to;

1. Pack up items you don’t need anymore
2. Store away items you don’t have room for but don’t want to get rid of
3. Items that should be discarded or donated. 

Now that you have everything set up, it’s time to start our Spring Cleaning. 

Entire Home  If possible (and safe to do so), clean windows from the outside  Spot clean walls and baseboards Check all smoke detectors Check carbon monoxide detector  Check and replace furnace filter  Ensure that drains are not clogged  Replace any burnt out light bulbs  Clean and sanitize door handles and cabinet hardware Sweep / vacuum and mop floors	Kitchen  Clean countertops and backsplash Clean out old or expired food in fridge Clean shelves and drawers in fridge Clean small appliances  Clean oven  Clean stove top / underneath stove top  Clean underneath large appliances Clean shelves in cupboard Remove unused dishes, cups, plates, etc. Throw out or clean old rags, sponges, etc.  Clean windows with glass cleaner  Clean and organize pantry Empty all drawers and clean
Living Room  Vacuum rugs  Move/lift furniture and clean underneath  Wipe / clean tabletops  Dust furniture and electronics  Clean windows  Dust blinds or vacuum curtains  Dust and wipe ceiling fans Sanitize light switches and remotes  Remove cushions from couch and vacuum	Bathroom(s)  Clean bathtub  Clean tiles and grout  Clean showerhead  Clean / disinfect toilet  Wipe down walls and baseboards  Replace the shower curtain liner and curtains if necessary  Clean mirrors with glass cleaner  Clean sink and countertop  Discard any old makeup, medicine, and other products that are still in the bathroom
Bedroom(s)  Set aside any unused or unwanted clothing  Discard any old or ripped clothing  Clean bed sheets and pillow covers  Flip over mattress  Dust blinds or vacuum curtains  Dust all furniture and table tops  Dust and wipe fans / ceiling fans  Clean windows with glass cleaner  Wipe walls and baseboards	Dining Room  Clean tables and chairs  Clean tablecloths and linens  Dust and clean china cabinet or hutch  Clean windows and glass with glass cleaner  Clean walls and baseboards  Dust and clean chandelier or other fixture  Wipe down blinds or vacuum curtains
Office  Wipe and clean off desk and shelves  Organize drawers and file cabinets  Recycle any old papers or documents  Dust pictures, lamps, electronics, etc.  Sweep / Vacuum and mop floors under desk  Sanitize desktop, mouse, keyboard, laptop, light switches, etc.	Laundry Room  Clean outside of washer and dryer  Clean inside washing machine (if necessary)  Clean inside dryer (if necessary)  Empty lint traps and dryer vent  Clean any shelves or cupboards  Dust and clean any countertops  Discard any empty cleaning product bottles  Wipe walls and baseboards
Front Entryway or Foyer  Vacuum, shake out, or sweep mats Lift floor mats to clean underneath Put away or store winter boots, jackets, hats, etc.  Mop floors Clean glass on doors and windows Wipe any dirt or residue off walls and baseboards	Basement  Set aside any unused items or boxes  Dust any furniture, light fixtures, tables, etc.  Clean basement windows with glass cleaner  Sanitize light switches Wipe walls and baseboards
Garage  Sweep out garage (with door open)  Sort and put away tools or equipment  Power wash or spray garage door  Organize storage and shelving

Tips for keeping your home clean throughout the year and beyond! 

Now that everything is clean you’d hate to have to go through this all again over again in a few months right? With these helpful tips, you can help ensure that your home continues to look like an IKEA display room or an HGTV after-image! 

1. Set up a cleaning calendar. 

Much like a meal planner, a cleaning calendar will essentially be your guide to keeping your home clean room by room all year round. By focusing on one area or room a day, you can ensure that everything is kept clean without it becoming an overwhelming task (kind of like the one we just tackled). 

2. Invest in durable storage containers or bins. 

We can’t recommend storage bins enough! If you don’t know, they are basically just durable boxes that can be reused and are waterproof – protecting their contents from water damage or floods. By investing in a few of these, you can easily clean up some of the clutter in your home (without having to part with it) and safely store it away without worrying. 

3. Consider a closet organizer or extra shelving. 

If you’re closets don’t currently offer any storage, other than a hanging bar, you may want to consider looking into a closet organizer. These can be extremely helpful for storing away items or packing additional clothing. You can look into custom ones to fit your closet (no matter what shape or size) or look into small shelving units to place along the bottom or top of your closet. 
 
We also recommend these if you have children, this way they can tightly pack all of their toys and clothes in their closet and out of sight from guests! 

4. Consider additional storage options. 

If you don’t have enough space in your home, or just want to avoid the excess clutter, looking outside for storage may be the best solution (rather than giving up all your possessions). Many Canadians rely on portable storage containers for both long and short-term periods as they are built to withstand our unforgiving seasons and weather – and can be rented at very affordable rates (even in our current cost of living crisis). 
 
At Go Mini’s we can provide you with a portable storage container that can be delivered right to your home. You’ll be able to pack it at your own pace and then choose whether you want to keep it on your property or have us store it away for you until you’re ready for it again. These are also a great solution for moving as you can avoid a lot of the rush with renting moving trucks. 
 
We can deliver to all areas of the GTA, including: Brampton, Burlington, Etobicoke, Markham, Mississauga, North York, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, Vaughan, Woodbridge and every where in between! See our full service area here!
 
If you have any questions or just want to learn more, check out our website or get in touch with one of our helpful representatives today!