If clutter and dirt have taken over your home, then you’re in the right place. It’s so easy for life to get in the way and your cleaning schedule to go right out the window.
By the end of this post, you’ll learn how to methodically and efficiently work through your entire home to organize and clean which will allow you to feel less stressed and overwhelmed about the state of your home so you can get back to focusing on what matters.
Let’s get into the best April spring cleaning challenges!
This post may contain affiliate links which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
6 Best Spring Cleaning Challenges (Plus Free Printable Checklists)
Let’s get right to it. I’ve collected 6 April spring cleaning challenges from around the internet so you don’t have to do the digging and you can get right to the cleaning! Here they are! Each one is a bit different, so pick the one that works best for you!
Top 30 Places to Declutter Your Home, Non-Toxic Spring Cleaning Challenge! By Jessica Haizman
This April spring cleaning challenge by Jessica Haizman is great because the days are sorted by task instead of by room.
This challenge is meant to be an additional 15 minutes beyond your normal cleaning schedule or routine. I love that Jessica challenges you by suggesting you use a 15-minute timer that marks the end of your cleaning.
This challenge includes a list of supplies you may need and gives you tips for each daily task plus her hacks for best results!
April Spring Cleaning Challenge by Golden Coil
This challenge includes 4 categories (rooms in your home) plus a miscellaneous category. After spending a handful of days in one room, this challenge guides you to the next room.
If you’re not super visual, this challenge is for you.
I love that this spring cleaning challenge includes unusual places like shower drains, cleaning your vacuum, and organizing all your electronic cords.
What’s nice about this cleaning challenge is that it’s less about organizing and more about actually cleaning dirt and grime buildup.
The Spring Cleaning Challenge by Creating Mary’s Home
This 7-week-long challenge is sorted by week, with a different area of the home each week. And I love how Mary points out that cleaning can actually be enjoyable and a way to improve your mood. What a perspective shift!
The free download has a great overview and guide if you want a little direction for spring cleaning but don’t want to be pinned down by super specific tasks. But there’s also an option to buy a full checklist with further detail.
30-Day Spring Cleaning Challenge by Journey to Sahm
This fun April spring cleaning challenge keeps you on your toes since it’s a different random task each day. I love the simple PDF and that the post itself has more detail on how to best complete each task if you need it.
The descriptions for each task are sooo helpful, and she links to very specific articles for details on how to clean the hard-to-clean/confusing items like your coffee maker and inside your washing machine.
This cleaning challenge really gets into the nitty-gritty, down-and-dirty areas of the home like lint traps, bathroom vents, your dishwasher, and inside the oven.
30-Day Spring Cleaning Challenge + A Free Printable Checklist! By Little House on the Corner
I love this April spring cleaning challenge because there’s no specific day to do a certain task. The goal is to just do all 30 tasks by the end of the month.
The beauty of this cleaning challenge is that you can take days off when you need, and it’s super customizable and flexible. It even includes cleaning jewelry (here’s a great jewelry cleaner), garden tools, and picture frames.
The Everygirl’s 30-Day “Spring-Clean Your Life” Challenge
Okay, this 5-week spring cleaning challenge is one of my favorites because it has a very different spin!
It’s not about your home at all, but about cleaning up your life. This challenge encourages you to get rid of what’s not serving you. Everygirl wants you to add things into your life that support your well-being.
The goal of this life-cleaning challenge is to bring awareness to how your habits impact you.
The challenge guides you through how to simplify, cleanse, de-stress, and clean out your home, bank account, mind, body, and spirit to work toward your best self.
| Related reading: The 30 Ways to Relieve Stress that Actually Work
| Related reading: How to Manage Your Money and Create a Monthly Budget Now: Money Made Simple
7-Day Spring Cleaning Challenge for your Cluttered Home by Home Made Lovely
This cleaning challenge is great for you if you like to keep things very simple. Each day focuses on a different room for the most part.
Shannon encourages you to work with the time you have. You don’t need all day every day for 7 days to make this challenge work!
That’s so encouraging for me because I don’t have all day to devote to cleaning! This cleaning challenge can fit right into your busy life.
| Related reading: 14 Tips for Getting Organized When You’re Busy
| Related reading: 6 Must-Have Tips to Find Balance in Your Life and Manage All Your Responsibilities
25-Day Spring Cleaning Challenge by The Idea Room
If you like customizable, this spring cleaning challenge is for you. This one is only 25 days long and you can totally take it for what you want and do it your way.
It’s flexible in terms of which days you do when. If you’re already comfy and familiar with how to clean things like the inside of your stove and blinds, you’ll love this simple challenge. There’s no fluff!
How Do You Actually Use Free Printable Spring Cleaning Checklists?
I find that the best way to see success with a spring cleaning checklist printable is to actually print it out and put it on your fridge so you can physically check off each day after you’ve completed it.
There’s something about the little kick of dopamine you get after crossing something off your list, right?
When you are visually tracking your progress by checking or x-ing off days on the challenge, you’re proving to yourself that you are moving forward and actually getting work done!
When you can check off an item or room or task daily, the momentum builds and you don’t want to break your streak!
(The concept of “casting votes” toward the person you want to be and building momentum in this way comes from the book Atomic Habits.)
Now, you totally don’t have to print out your spring cleaning challenge if you don’t want to. You can download it on your phone and use the edit feature to draw on the image to check off each day.
However you use your challenge printable, I highly suggest checking off what tasks are done so you can stay on track and feel motivated to keep going.
And don’t get discouraged if you miss a day. Just don’t let yourself miss two days in a row. Get right back on the wagon before you fall off completely and don’t finish the challenge.
Snag this habit tracker to make sure your cleaning schedule stays on track!
Be sure to check your junk and promotional folders in your email for the free download!
Should I Do Spring Cleaning Challenge?
If you’re feeling a bit convicted about your home and the accumulating clutter or dust, then yes! Do a spring cleaning challenge!
Even if you manage to do half of the days within the challenge, your home will be much cleaner than it was before you started.
And any progress is good progress. Slow progress is also good progress!
Even if you keep your home in pretty good shape, cleanliness and organizational wise, some of these challenges really get you cleaning the places you’d least think to clean, but that actually are really messy! Like under your refrigerator or dusting on top of picture frames!
I have a cleaning schedule on my fridge that, in an ideal world, I stick to. But in reality, I haven’t used it in some time. I end up just cleaning when I have time. Even if you stick to a weekly or monthly schedule, odds are that some areas in your home are overlooked.
In short, an April spring cleaning challenge is basically for anyone!
| Related reading: Can I Help You With Your Messy House?
How Do You Spring Clean Like a Pro?
Spring cleaning like a pro means you are diligent and hit all of the spots that people usually forget!
Deep Clean These Rooms in Your Home to Spring Clean Like a Pro
Bedrooms
Don’t forget these areas:
- Vacuum under the bed and inside your closets
- Dust the top of your headboard, nightstands, all furniture and hard surfaces, lamps and light fixtures
- Wash all bedding and clean your mattress
- Clean the mirrors and windows (plus window sills!)
- Take the clothes out of your drawers and wipe the drawers down
- Sanitize the drawer pulls and door knobs
Kitchen
Don’t forget these areas:
- Each appliance, inside and outside (fridge, dishwasher, oven, coffee maker, microwave, etc.)
- Where the floor meets up with the cabinets (it’s a crumb graveyard!)
- Under your refrigerator (you’ll have to slide it out)
- Backsplash and outlet covers
- Inside and outside of cabinets, plus handles
- Cutlery and other drawer organizers
- Bar stools
- Deep clean sink and faucet
- Windows
- Lights
- Counters
- Pantry shelves and floor
- Floors, molding, corners
Living Spaces
Don’t forget these areas:
- Under the couches and coffee table
- Behind TV stand
- Dust all hard surfaces, including TV
- Windows
- Light fixtures
- Couch cushions and pillows if covers are removable (I am so thankful for my removable couch cushion covers!!)
- Deep clean carpet/area rugs and vacuum
- Ceiling fan blades
- Dust blinds
- Dust wall art and tops of frames
- Organize remotes and gadgets
- Wash throw blankets
Bathrooms
Don’t forget these areas:
- All mirrors
- Countertops and sinks
- Molding and baseboards
- The perimeter of the floor and around the toilet
- The entire toilet including the lower part you always skip (under the bowl and where it connects to the floor)
- Under the sink and in the drawers and cabinets (wipe out and organize)
- Linen closet shelves and floor
- All the nooks and crannies of the shower
Miscellaneous
Don’t neglect these random areas and items:
- Foyer/entryway floor
- Bookshelves and bookcases
- Guest room floor, windows, light fixtures, closets, furniture, and bedding
- Garage floors, shelving, and organizational bins
- Corners of each step in your stairway
- Light switches and other high-touch spots
- Bottoms of chair legs (they collect lots of hair and dust)
- The inside and outside of indoor trash cans
- Your front porch or entryway (dust away those year-old cobwebs)
- Walls in high-traffic areas (the secret is a WET Magic Eraser!)
What Order Should I clean my House in?
The best news of all is that it doesn’t matter what order you clean your house in!
Some people like to work room by room and others like to work according to task (clean all the windows in every room, then clean all the light fixtures in each room, and so on).
I suggest going in whatever order or style will actually allow you to do the darn thing!
If it feels intimidating to tackle a whole room, start by just vacuuming the floors. Then maybe you have the motivation to do the floor in the next room too.
Just start with what feels easy and doable, and I bet you’ll get on a roll and won’t be able to stop!
I know that once I get into a cleaning spree, I just have to lean into it because I’m in the mood for it at that time. When I try to schedule a cleaning time and I’m not in the mood when that time comes, it takes me longer and I do a poor job.
Basically, do your April spring cleaning challenge at times of the day and week that feel natural and easy for you. There’s no special order and no way to do it wrong.
What Month Should You Start Spring Cleaning?
Spring technically starts at the end of March. But I like to start spring cleaning in April because it’s the beginning of a new month and it feels like a reset.
But you can absolutely start spring cleaning in March. Or February. Or August!
Spring cleaning is a “thing” because when the weather changes and things begin to thaw, you usually have the desire to fling open the windows and get some fresh air breathing into your stuffy winter home of hibernation. But you can do a spring-cleaning-style clean any time of year you’d like!
What are Things You Can Get Rid of for Spring Cleaning?
Spring cleaning is just as much about physically cleaning dust and dirt as it is about organizing and purging unused items in your home.
I loooove a good purge. Several times of the year, I go through each room in my house and shuffle through all the times in there to toss what’s garbage and donate what can be reused. It feels so good to shed a little weight and make extra room in my closets and drawers.
Things you can consider donating during your April spring cleaning challenge:
- Clothing items that don’t fit
- Clothing items you haven’t worn in 1 year
- Books you’ve read already and don’t need anymore
- Random food storage containers you’ve accumulated from others
- Gifts you’ve received that you don’t use
- Extra blankets and pillows
Things you can consider throwing away during your April Spring cleaning challenge:
- Stained or ripped clothing (seems obvious but somehow we still hold onto that 12-year-old, ratty shirt)
- Paperwork that’s irrelevant and old (shred if it’s got personal info on it)
- Anything you’ve accumulated through the years that isn’t worth donating
How Do You Make Spring Cleaning Fun?
If you’re the type that actually hates cleaning, then a full-on spring cleaning challenge may seem overwhelming to you. Maybe you’d rather poke your eyes out than clean your WHOLE house.
This is where making it fun comes into play. Try any of these strategies to make your April spring cleaning challenge fun:
- Blast music– maybe old, nostalgic tunes or the latest album you’re loving
- Put your headphones in and listen to a funny/entertaining or informational podcast (hello multitasking)
- Make it a game– set a timer and see if you can get a certain task or room done before the timer goes off
- Clean with a buddy– recruit your partner, kid, or parent and race or challenge each other, or just work alongside them and chat
- Treat yourself to rewards along the way– after you finish a big task or entire room, allow yourself a special treat (your favorite snack or beverage, a 30-minute break, a walk outside, 15 minutes on your phone, the options are endless!)
Here are the Best Spring Cleaning Tips for Getting Started
Have the Products you Need Handy
Make sure you have easy access to the cleaning items you’ll need to get the job done.
I’ve recently made the switch to mostly non-toxic cleaning items, so I’ll link to those where applicable:
- Multipurpose cleaner
- Paper towels (or try reusable cloths)
- Sponges- I like silicone sponges!
- Magic Erasers
- Microfiber dust rags
- A good vacuum- I’m obsessed with my Roomba
- A Swiffer or mop- this is the very best mop and vacuum combo!
- Glass cleaner
- Laundry detergent
- Carpet scrub
- Homemade shower cleaner
Know Which Tasks/Rooms are Your Non-Negotiables
When you set out to do an April spring cleaning challenge, know going in that you maaaay not get to every single task and every tucked-away corner of your home. It’s a big job!
A good spring cleaning tip is to have an understanding at the outset of the areas you want to prioritize so you can make sure that without a doubt, those spots definitely get cleaned.
This way, even if you don’t finish the challenge perfectly, you still feel accomplished having cleaned the areas that are most important to you.
Have a Clear Focus- Cleaning vs. Organizing
Like I mentioned earlier, spring cleaning challenges can be focused specifically on cleaning dirt or specifically on purging and organizing items (or a little of both).
Know which one you want to focus on. Or if you want to both clean and organize, have a system. Maybe you clean the entire house first then go back and organize. Or maybe whenever you clean something, you organize that space right after.
Just have a game plan.
Consider Switching to Non-Toxic Cleaning Items
Spring cleaning involves a lot of chemicals if you use traditional cleaning products.
I used to use OxiClean Foam-Tastic bathroom cleaner and when I would clean my tub and shower, I had to hold my breath because the chemical fumes were so strong! That just isn’t good for us. Many popular commercial products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that throw off how our hormones operate.
Lately, I’ve been using Pure Haven as a one-stop shop for non-toxic items.
So I’ve slowly switched to products with fewer or no chemicals. I like the Mrs. Meyers brand, Young Living Thieves, and homemade cleaners that include vinegar.
Get Organizational Bins and Containers
You don’t even have to buy anything. Just start collecting little bins and boxes. Save your Amazon boxes, or even dismantle them and use the small cardboard rectangles as dividers in your drawers.
If you want, invest in organizing bins or drawer organizers, great! They make life a heck of a lot easier (and aesthetically pleasing).
Let’s Bring it Home
You’ve now learned how to successfully work through your entire home to organize and clean. And this will allow you to feel less stressed about how your home looks so you can get back to focusing on the good stuff!
Feel free to download one or all of the spring cleaning challenges in this post. Follow a challenge exactly or make it totally your own! However you go about your April spring cleaning challenge, I know your home will look even better by the end of the week or month!
You’ve got this!
Comment below to let me know which spring cleaning approach you’ll take!
Related Reading
14 Tips for Getting Organized When You’re Busy
Can I Help You With Your Messy House?
Share this post with someone who could benefit from it!
And follow me on Pinterest for encouraging graphics!
Great post! Having those “don’t forget” areas written out are super helpful. Thanks!
For sure! It’s so easy to overlook areas if we don’t have a guide!