Tomasik Family Dental’s Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring is officially here! And with it, the urge to participate in an age-old tradition—spring cleaning. There’s no better time to give your home, backyard, and personal appearance a fresh new look. But, for busy adults, it can all start to feel like an overwhelmingly long to-do list. Here’s a helpful checklist to turn this daunting spring task into something more manageable.

Home

1. Every Room

• Open windows. Dust overhead bulbs, light fixtures, furniture, shelves, ceiling fans, drapes, and window casings.
• Wipe doors, baseboards, door frames, doorknobs, window sills, switch plates, and walls.
• Wash windows (inside and out), window treatments (drapes, etc.), and curtains.
• Organize cabinets, shelves, and clean out drawers.
• Vacuum and wash vents. Take all household rugs outside to beat and remove trapped dust particles and deep clean the carpets.

2. Kitchen

• Wipe down cabinet exteriors, clean out the pantry, and organize cabinet shelves.
• Empty the fridge and get rid of expired food. Move it and vacuum and mop the hidden floor.
• Deep clean the refrigerator—defrost the freezer, wash and wipe the shelves, wipe the outside, vacuum the coils and space between the fridge and the counter.
• Deep clean all other electrical gadgets in the kitchen such as the oven, microwave, dishwasher, and cooktop.

3. Bedroom

• Wash all beddings, pillows, and bed skirts.
• Exchange winter bed layers for lighter throws.
• Rotate the mattress, vacuum the top, and take the mattress pad outside to air.

4. Living Room

• Dust mantle and tabletops, clean out drawers, organize shelves, and arrange cabinets.
• Vacuum all furniture upholstery.
• Wash throw pillows, covers, and throw blankets.
• Replace heavyweight pillows and blankets with lighter ones.
• Wax wooden furniture.

5. Bathroom

• Clean out the cabinet and vanity and throw away expired items.
• Reseal bathroom grout lines and fix cracked tiles.
• Update or replace first aid kit.
• Disinfect and clean the shower, sinks, toilets, and bathtubs.
• Wash bath mats, towels, and shower curtains. Dispose of the old shower liner.
• Wash out garbage can.
• Wipe down bathroom mirrors and shine faucets.

6. Home Office

• Wipe down computer/laptop screens and disinfect the keyboard, mouse, and other external surfaces.
• Update computer software, backup important files, and delete unwanted apps and documents.
• Shred unnecessary paperwork and reorganize drawers.

7. General Home

• Store all winter items such as decorations and clothes.
• Replace light bulbs that aren’t working.
• Confirm fire extinguisher expiration date, change smoke detector batteries, and review escape plans in case of a fire.
• Plug-in frequently used electronics with a surge protector and untangle chords.
• Repaint walls where necessary.

Backyard

8. Garden Space

• Rake leaves away from the base of the fence, scrub off any mud, and repaint wooden posts.
• Clean out dead weeds or leaves from the garden areas as well as planter boxes.
• Aerate and dethatch the lawn.
• Tend to the garden beds—redistribute mulch, add landscape fabric, and transplant ground cover.
• Prune and trim bushes and trees.
• Hose down garden structures such as gazebos, archways, trellises, and pergolas. Replace any broken or rotted pieces and reseal and repaint where needed.

9. Deck

• Pressure wash porch or patio ceilings, walls, and floors.
• Wash outdoor rugs, cushions, draperies, umbrellas, and upholstery and replace as needed.
• Take outdoor furniture out of storage and wipe all surfaces.
• Clean the grills and handles of the barbecue. Lubricate the lid.

10. Garage

• Sweep and wipe the floors. Knock down cobwebs.
• Wipe the shelves and organize the tools.
• Wash mud and scrub salt stains from the driveway. Reseal cracks where necessary.
• Oil the garage door hinges and springs.
• Sharpen tools like pruning shears, mower blade, and chainsaw.
• Refill the spool on the string trimmer.
• Fill up the lawnmower gas can and create any oil/gas mixes small tools need.

11. General Outdoors

• Clean out rain gutters and pressure wash the siding of the exterior wall.
• Remove plants around the AC unit and check for damage on the compressor tubing, circuit board, fins, and wiring.
• Clean exterior lighting fixtures and replace bulbs. Remove any rodent, bird, or insect nests.
• Remove the pool cover, examine the water level, and check the condition of the water pump.
• Paint the exterior wall as needed.

Personal Appearance

12. Wardrobe

• Donate unused clothes, accessories, and shoes and put winter clothes in storage.
• Replace broken hangers, fold clothes in drawers, and organize closet shelves.
• Buy new clothing that better reflects your current style.

13. Skin

• Look for marks, sores, or lesions. Schedule an appointment with your local physician if you notice anything abnormal.
• Dry brush your whole body and spend at least 30 minutes in the tub.
• Put away full-coverage foundations and replace them with breathable moisturizers.
• Use exfoliating facials to get rid of dull winter epidermis.
• Consider dying or cutting your hair differently.

14. Feet

• Check feet for scaling, damaged nails, sores, bunions, or fungal infections. If you notice anything unusual, consult your primary care provider or a podiatrist.
• Wash with a good mild soap and water that’s not too hot. Remove cuticles and dirt underneath the nails.
• Use a moisturizing lotion to keep the skin from drying out and cracking.

15. Teeth

• Replace toothbrush. Check how much toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss you have left.
• Schedule an appointment with a dentist near you for your biannual dental exam. Get a complete periodontal exam to check on the health of your gums and have your teeth examined for signs of fractures, decay, cavities, or plaque.
• Have a qualified dentist perform an oral cancer screening.
• Enhance your smile through dental cosmetic options such as professional teeth whitening. If teeth are too stained for bleaching, consider using veneers to conceal the problem.

There you have it folks—15 ideas to help you bring a fresh new look to your home, backyard, and personal appearance this spring. A little spring cleaning should have everything (and everyone) in tip-top shape. If you notice any issues with your oral health, you know where to find us. Just schedule an appointment through our website or visit our office in Bee Cave, Texas. Let our family take care of yours.