Break down the overwhelming amount of work that your home needs into small daily tasks.
It's about 30 days of consistent work, each day targeting a specific area- but the good news is if you miss a day, you can pick up right where you left off. Follow along with my spring cleaning series on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for some serious inspiration and, hopefully, motivation!
Click the image above to print your own calendar, and if a certain day doesn't fit your home, simply cross it off and have a FREE day OR replace it with a space in your home that needs some extra attention.
Want to jump to a specific day? Click on the number below.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30
I chose the common problem areas and places that typically get forgotten, because those are what need some good lovin'!
See a breakdown of each space below:
Coat Closet:
With the changing seasons, this is a great place to start. Move your spring jackets to the front for easy access and store away your winter apparel. In Illinois, you never know when you'll need a pair of gloves, so I don't like to pack things away but simply modify the system to fit the season!
These baskets are great for storing items on shelves or up high, these matching hangers will clean up the space, these command hooks are perfect for your go-to coats or kids' items, and this door organizer is perfect for all your closet needs!
Living Room Furniture:
As much as this space needs to be cleaned, we often neglect under furniture. So take a day to move the couches and get all that built-up dust/dog hair/ and any other fun surprises from underneath (and don't forget under the cushions!)
This is the vacuum I love to use along the baseboards and on the couch, and the Tineco floor cleaner will cut the time in half. You can wash the cushions by removing covers and using your washing machine, spot cleaning with a microfiber towel and a 1:1 mixture of water and Thieves Household Cleaner, or use a nifty machine like Bissell!
Living Room Drawers/Tables/Baskets:
Open things up, toss the trash, donate the clutter, and give it a nice good wipe down. You would be surprised what can get stashed away in a basket or behind closed doors!
These baskets are perfect for storing throw blankets or kids' toys!
Up High:
You may been extra diligent about cleaning frequently touched spaces this past year with the pandemic... but a little extra love won't hurt!
Find all these in your home and get to Cleaning!
light switches
door knobs
vents
buttons
For this task, my #1 recommendation is Force of Nature because it's EFFECTIVE and NON-TOXIC. Meaning you aren't spreading harmful chemicals all over your home.
Throws/Pillows:
In a perfect world, your throw pillows will have a removable cover, but that isn't always the case. Check the tag to see care instructions; most are machine washable. Add in some essential oils for a fresh-smelling home!
My favorite detergent that is safe for the whole family is Thieves Laundry Soap, and distilled white vinegar is a perfect non-toxic and cheap fabric softener (so skip that chemical-filled store-bought junk!)
Blinds/Drapes/ Windows/Window Sills
This might be the absolute worst space for me because I will admit, this is a place I neglect with my weekly... and monthly cleans. To be honest, I'm not sure how often I clean... at least once a year? Yikes!
Blinds: Start with dusting; you can use a mitt, wand, vacuum, or microfiber cloth! Then use a multipurpose spray on a microfiber towel to wipe clean (or remove and wash in the tub).
Drapes: Your best bet is to use a vacuum cleaner with an attachment.
Windows: I swear by E-Cloths Microfiber glass cleaner and polisher. Just add water, so no harmful chemicals!
This pack of brushes can be helpful too!
Baseboards
They might not look dirty from a distance but believe me when I say dust and dirt get caked up on your baseboards. Grab a sponge, cloth, or mop, and get to washing!
Depending on your method, you can use a multipurpose cleaner like Thieves Household Cleaner or use the solution in your mop bucket for sparkling clean baseboards.
Kitchen Cabinets
Inside AND out. Grab a rag and a good multipurpose cleaner and wipe down the cabinet doors. If necessary, remove contents from inside to wipe down shelves and tidy them up in there! Tops of cabinetry are another nasty place that you may want to give some attention to, and this is going to need a good degreaser, so try using dish soap and water for a soapy mixture!
Here is my favorite multipurpose spray and my favorite degreaser!
Pantry
When organizing any space, you should start by taking everything out... and I mean everything! While doing so, toss any garbage, set aside donations, and put things into categories based on type. Then you can get a better picture of what you have stocked up and how you want to go about putting everything back.
If your pantry is already pretty organized, this will be a quick process and a nice speedy clean of the space before putting everything back...but if not, you can invest some time (and possibly money) into some good organizers to keep things tidy for longer!
Here are my favorite decanting bins.
My favorite baskets to store snacks in.
Some risers, turntables, and bins for canned goods
Adhesive organizers for on the door or wall
Under Kitchen Sink
I can't resist saying it...you don't need all those products. (especially the toxic-filled, artificial-smelling ones). Invest in some beautiful glass bottles, buy a bulk concentrate, and make your own non-toxic, family-friendly, baby-safe, pet-safe cleaners. If you want a disinfectant, I recommend Force of Nature, which is a much better option than bleach products.
I'm not suggesting these because I make $$ of the affiliate links (but I do, so thank you for using them), but I promise you they are worth it. Less clutter under your sink and better products in your home and around your family.
Get rid of clutter, and bam, under the sink is so much easier to clean.
Click here for my favorite under the sink organizers.
Fridge/Freezer
Again, this can be as easy as taking everything out, tossing the garbage, cleaning the surfaces, and neatly putting everything back in... or you can take it one step further by adding in some organizers to help utilize the space better.
Here are my favorite fridge/freezer organizers that you see in this photo
Kids Room
If you have kids old enough to help, get them involved!! Take some time to give this room extra love. If you don't have it included in a regular cleaning schedule then this might be a more intensive task but check the things below and anything you feel isn't done regularly or needs some attention you'll want to tackle now.
-wash bedding
-clean under bed
-go through toys/books for donations & tidy up
-go through clothes/shoes for donations & tidy up
-dust/wipe down surfaces (including lamps and fans!)
-wash or spot treat walls/baseboards
-vacuum and wash floors
-go through and tidy storage
Oven
If you are a frequent cook, you may do this more than once a year, but regardless let's tackle the oven.
1. Clean stovetop and grates
I damp my E-Cloth Range Cleaning Cloth to tackle both and it works miraculously with just using water!
2. Clean the inside of the oven (and inside the bottom drawer!)
I'm all about avoiding toxic chemicals and fumes, so while there may be easier methods.. this is the one I choose to use.
Make sure the oven is turned off and completely cooled.
Mix together baking soda and water to make a paste, and then spread this over the entire oven. Let it sit for a long time, like HOURS, and as many as you can. I like to spread it over in the morning and sit all day and then tackle it at night (or better yet, spread it over the night before!) Don't forget to include the racks and glass door as well.
Use a damp cloth to wipe it off and most of the grime will go right along with it. I wipe with any old cloth. Then spray some distilled white vinegar over the surface (you'll see some fizzing which is a totally normal reaction) and then wipe clean. I like to finish it off with my Range Cleaning E-Cloth and polisher and it will leave it sparkling!
3. Wipe down/polish the outside of the oven
I damp my E-Cloth Stainless Steel Cleaning Cloth to tackle both and it works miraculously with just using water!
4. Pull out the oven to get sides and behind
You most likely will need a vacuum or broom and dustpan.. it can get nasty back there!
Dishwasher
The more consistent attention you give your appliances, the better they will function, so depending on how much you use your dishwasher will change the amount you clean it.. but manufacturers encourage monthly cleaning. (Also, the more you clean it, the faster and easier the process is)
Here is a video that shows how to clean the inside of your dishwasher, and for the outside, I love using these stainless steel E-Cloths.
Garbage Cans
Be careful when washing your garbage cans that you are using products safe for stainless steel, otherwise, you may get rust! I love using my stainless steel E-Cloth on my indoor cans, good old dishwashing soap, and the hose for our outdoor garbage and recycling bin!
Bookshelves
It's pretty gross how much dust accumulates on bookshelves... I really wish they would come up with a solution for that. But until then, every once in a while, you have to put a good chunk of time into dusting off the entire thing. I recommend removing all the books and dusting each individually as you put them packed onto the shelf... I also recommend listening to your favorite podcast or watching your favorite YouTube while doing this to help pass the time (shameless plugs, but thanks for the support :)
Place of Clutter (Monica closet)
Even professional organizers have spaces in their homes that need attention (or a lot of attention). Mine is filled with organizers, baskets, and bins that aren't currently in use. Yours may be a storage closet, toy room, or front entryway. Whatever the space, spend some time tackling it and get it checked off your list! It's okay if this takes a few days. You can pick up the challenge after it's complete!
Laundry Room
I'm assuming there is some type of cabinets, storage, or clutter taking over your laundry room because it's easy to hide behind closed doors! (I know mine needed some love and attention) So take some time to declutter and get things back to the homes they are supposed to be in.
Condense products and get rid of garbage.
Find the matching missing socks or repurpose them for something else.
Anything else that you can do to make laundry a little more appealing.
Washer/Dryer
The E-Cloth dusting wand is the perfect size to fit under appliances and catch all the dust without having to move things completely. You will have to maneuver things around to get behind the appliances; you may get lucky and find some lost socks!
I like using hydrogen peroxide (or force of nature) to clean the interior of the washing machine, making sure to get every flap, drawer, nook, and cranny there is! Then dump a half cup of hydrogen peroxide in the detergent compartment and run it on the HOTTEST, LONGEST cycle there is. If you have mold at all: saturate a white cloth in hydrogen peroxide and let it sit on the mold for 10 minutes to fully kill the mold spores, then wipe clean.
For the dryer, you'll want to give everything a good wipe down but also make sure to give the lint trap and VERY GOOD CLEANING. (You can even wash it, and it will look brand new) Use a vacuum attachment to get into the actual opening of the machine as well) Bonus if you hire professional cleaners to clean out the vent leading to outside... which, if left too long uncared for, could start a fire!
Rugs/Carpets
If you have a lot of carpet & rugs in your home, you can consider investing in a carpet cleaner, borrowing from a friend or family member, renting one from a local shop, or paying professionals to come in and clean.
If you are looking for an easier option to keep your rugs sparkling clean, you can consider washable rugs. All of our rugs are from Ruggable, meaning they are machine washable, which makes this momma's life so much easier! (Use my code FUNJESSICAH10 for 25% off at Ruggable)
Master Bedroom
Spring cleaning means allergies galore, so we want to take the time necessary to give a good deep clean to your bedroom so you can sleep easy tonight.
Dust everything from top to bottom (shelves, photos, mirrors, windows, etc.)
Declutter (anything that shouldn't be in your room, get it out!)
Wash bedding (pillows, pillowcases, comforter/duvet cover, sheets, and blankets)
Vacuum mattress and bed frame
Clean UNDER the bed (pick up junk, vacuum, and wash the floors!)
Declutter the nightstand and wipe it down!
Vacuum and wash floors
Here is my favorite vacuum and floor cleaner
PRO TIP: Make sure you wash your linens in a non-toxic laundry detergent like Thieves Laundry Soap, and use vinegar as a fabric softener. For whites, add some baking soda to your cycle to keep them sparkling! Skip the dryer sheets; if you are looking for good smells, add some lavender essential oil to these wool dryer balls and toss them in with your linens.
Clothing Closet
I love following the "1 item in, 1 item out" rule with my closet, which keeps it from EXPLODING! But regardless, this is a great time to tidy up your closet.
take EVERYTHING out
make 3 piles (donate, trash, keep)
take your time putting everything back in a systematic way (i.e active ware together, blouses together, sweaters together *you can even sort by color!)
Invest in some closet organizers that will help you keep your closet organized all year long. This is a list of all my favorites!
Office Supplies
Working from home has become bigger than ever these past couple of years, so there is a good chance you will want to tackle your office supplies. This might be your desk, an actual office, or just a drawer in your kitchen- regardless, take some time to declutter, clean, and improve this space!
Here are my favorites for office organization!
Linen Closet
piles of falling down towels, sheets rolled up into a ball, half-empty bottles of mouthwash... sound familiar?
Set aside some time, and let's tackle this closet!
remove everything
make 3 piles; keep, donate, garbage
group like items together (you can use containers to make this more apparent)
add things back into the closet, being intentional about how it's set up.
Paperwork
Papers, papers, papers. We live in a world where almost everything is digital, so what do we really need to keep? Not much.
This bin is great for storing paperwork in a filing system.
Digital Clean/Devices
I have so much to say about digital cleaning... If this is a new concept for you, then I suggest reading this blog post first. If you are on top of your digital cleanliness then take today to do a normal clean up/back up and get out your disinfectant to truly clean up your devices.
Dab a cloth in hydrogen peroxide and wipe down the keyboard, computer mouse, remotes, cases, etc.
Watch this video to see how to clean the rest of your devices.
Pet Supplies
First off, do you have a designated space for them? If not, grab a basket like this or this for toys and find an empty drawer/cabinet/shelf to make a home for the rest of your pet supplies. Take time to toss any expired soaps, medications, treats, and food...and any toys that didn't make it.
Makeup/Hair Supplies
Did you know that your makeup and hair products have an expiration date? Look for a #M, 12M means it will expire 12 months after opening.
Now that you know that bit of advice, you'll want to go through all of your products (and the easiest way to do that is to remove EVERYTHING from the space and make 2 piles, 1 to toss and 1 to keep)
Consider investing in some organizers or a makeup case to help utilize your space better, here are some of my favorites. As you put all these items back, have a towel ready to wipe bottles/containers down.
For supplies like brushes, combs, and sponges, you will want to wash them in the sink. I use Dr. Bronners soap and then let them air dry.
Shower/Tub
My favorite product for fighting buildup in the bathroom is this tub & tile spray. Grab your favorite and scrub every bit of that shower and tub. A tough sponge or brush is going to work best but if you prefer the easier method of using a mop, you can do that as well!
Bathroom Cabinets/Drawers
A breeding ground for empty containers expired products, and gross buildup. Give it a good deep clean by removing all the items and making a garbage pile and a pile to keep. After you have everything out, you'll want to sort it so that like items are with like items. Make sure you clean the shelves and drawers well before adding things back in and consider investing in some containers to keep things organized for longer.
As you put items back in, give everything a good wipe down with a multipurpose cleaner and if it's a lost cause, consider moving it into a new container or condensing it into a single one.
I am so happy that you have decided to join in the spring cleaning challenge. Make sure to tag me @jessicahaizman if you share your calendar or cleaning along the way.
Always, Jess
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L E T ' S B E F R I E N D S!
W E B S I T E | T I K T O K | I N S T A G R A M | Y O U T U B E
Hi Friends! I'm Jessica Haizman. I'm 28 years old and married to my best friend. We spend 98% of our time together, and no we don't spend it all cleaning and organizing. I have a daughter, Adalynn and an Australian Shepherd, Bali and they get the majority of my attention.
I have created efficient systems in all areas of our home, our phone, our careers, and our lives- and I have made it my mission to share these tips with anyone and everyone that will listen.
Why? Because these systems make my life SO MUCH EASIER and SAVE ME SO MUCH TIME. These systems keep my home clean, bring joy and calmness into my life, and allow me to spend less time picking up clutter and more time living life- I want that for you too.
The goal is to help, whether its a quick tip or life hack that I share to Tiktok or a day in the life on my social networks @jessicahaizman, a printable chart that helps me stay organized or my all-time favorite apps, an intensive course answering all the FAQ's or working 1:1 with clients to create healthy habits- these resources are all available to you!
Some things you will stumble upon are how I use non-toxic natural cleaners, have made the change to no-waste by switching to reusable towels instead of paper or glass storage containers instead of ziplocks. You will also find lots of DIY recipes and how to use common household ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar and hot water to tackle some of your toughest messes. You'll learn about my favorite cleaning supplies and cleaning products including all purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, stain removers and more.
Having a clean home drastically affects your physical and mental health, so jump on board and learn all the tips I have to share! Take the time to explore my website and interact with me on social media. I'm so excited to see how organization and a new approach on cleaning the home will change your life and leave you full of joy!