Spring Cleaning Checklist: Refresh Your Home & Mind
Because adulting is hard enough without a dusty baseboard staring you down.
Spring Cleaning Is Basically Therapy… But with Mops
Spring cleaning: that magical time when your inner Marie Kondo fights for dominance over your inner gremlin who hasn’t folded a fitted sheet in four years.
If you’re anything like me, you have five half-used bottles of cleaner under the sink, one mop you think still works, and zero actual motivation. But somewhere deep inside, you want that fresh-start feeling. You want your space to sparkle and your brain to stop feeling like it has 27 browser tabs open.
Well, friend, you’re in luck. This spring cleaning checklist is your ticket to a home that doesn’t stress you out and a mind that feels like it just took a yoga class.
Let’s do this—grown-up style.
1. Set the Vibe (Because Mood Matters)
Before we clean a single crumb, we must set the stage. Why? Because scrubbing a toilet to the sound of traffic and chaos is just depressing. You need ambiance. You need vibes.
Here’s how to mentally prepare:
- Open the windows: Let in some fresh air (and possibly pollen, but let’s stay positive).
- Light a candle or fire up your essential oil diffuser. Lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus can give your brain that spa-day energy.
Try this Amazon diffuser + essential oil set → - Create a playlist: Make it funky, make it chill, make it nostalgic—just make sure it keeps you moving.
- Pick your time wisely: Choose a block of time when you’re least likely to rage-clean or passive-aggressively vacuum near your roommate/partner/child.
This isn’t just about wiping surfaces—it’s about mental clarity tips and giving yourself a clean slate (literally).
2. Declutter Like You Mean It
This is the real adulting energy shift: if it doesn’t serve you, bring you joy, or make you look hot—BYE.
The method:
- Go room-by-room, closet-by-closet, drawer-by-drawer.
- Make three piles:
- Donate
- Trash
- Recycle
- Ask yourself the magical question: “Do I even like this?” If you’re hesitating, you already know the answer.
Decluttering MVPs:
- Label Maker – So you can pretend you’re the organized friend.
Get the bestselling label maker here → - Donation Bin Set – For easy sorting and stylish guilt-free purging.
- Storage Cubes – Because you need somewhere to throw things when guests come over.
These fabric cubes are cute AND functional →
Let’s call this phase the “goodbye to chaos, hello to sanity” portion of our adulting home refresh.
3. Deep Clean the Grown-Up Way
Okay, we decluttered. Now it’s time to clean like a boss. And by boss, I mean someone who’s finally cleaning behind the fridge and under the couch. (No shame—we’re all guilty.)
The deep clean checklist:
- Baseboards (yes, they’re supposed to be white)
- Blinds (use a sock and thank me later)
- Vents (gather that dust bunny army)
- Inside the microwave, oven, fridge
- Under large appliances (brace yourself)
- Showerheads and sink drains (you know why)
DIY Non-Toxic Cleaner Recipe:
Mix:
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup water
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Optional: a few drops of essential oil
Put it in a spray bottle and feel like a natural domestic goddess.
Cleaning Game-Changers:
- Multi-Surface Natural Cleaner
Grab this eco-friendly cleaner that actually works → - Microfiber Cloths (Reusable!)
These leave zero streaks—actual magic → - Vacuum with HEPA Filter – For allergy-proof adulting.
This one handles pet hair and adult regret →
4. Organize with Systems That Stick
We’re not just tidying—we’re setting up systems that future you will thank you for. Because if you don’t know where your batteries, tape, or tweezers are… are you even a grown-up?
Golden Rule:
“If it doesn’t have a home, it doesn’t belong.” Repeat it like a mantra.
Best Organizing Tools:
- Drawer Dividers – So your junk drawer looks slightly less junky
Try this expandable bamboo set → - Lazy Susans – Ideal for spices, skincare, and your emotional baggage
This two-tier turntable is perfection → - Bathroom Caddies – Say goodbye to countertop clutter
Get stackable clear bins here → - Closet Organizers – So your sweaters aren’t suffocating your swimsuits
These hanging shelves are space-saving magic →
This is where that “I have my life together” energy starts to kick in.
5. Digital Spring Cleaning (Seriously, Your Gmail Needs Help)
Clutter isn’t just physical. Your desktop, inbox, and 32 open browser tabs are screaming for a refresh too.
Here’s what to do:
- Inbox purge: Unsubscribe from anything you haven’t read in 2+ weeks.
- Sort files into folders like a person who has their digital life together.
- Delete blurry photos and duplicate screenshots. You do NOT need 47 versions of that one meme.
- Organize your phone apps: Put the chaos into labeled folders or… delete them entirely. (Do you really need three weather apps?)
Digital Detox Tools:
- External Hard Drive – Back it up, boo.
This one is fast and sleek → - Blue-Light Glasses – For all those unsubscribe marathons.
These are cute and protective →
This is a huge mental clarity tip people often overlook—and it makes a big difference.
6. Reward Yourself Like a Responsible Adult
You’ve earned this. Spring cleaning isn’t just about cleaning—it’s about resetting. And what’s a reset without a little reward?
Treat yourself to:
- Takeout or delivery: You worked hard—let someone else cook.
- New Aromatherapy Candle: Your freshly cleaned space deserves a signature scent.
Try this relaxing candle set → - Bubble Bath & Self-Care Time: Light that candle, open a book, and soak your newly refreshed soul.
- Adult Coloring Book: For stress relief that doesn’t involve a screen.
This one’s fun and actually therapeutic → - Cozy Throw Blanket: Because nothing says “job well done” like snuggling up with your favorite show.
Get the fluffiest blanket ever →
Let this be your little spring ritual—clean, reward, reset, repeat.
Spring Cleaning Isn’t About Perfection—It’s About Progress and Peace
You don’t need to do it all in one day. Or even one weekend. This spring cleaning checklist is here to guide you, not guilt-trip you.
Remember, adulting isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about taking steps that feel good. And nothing feels better than walking into a clean, refreshed space that makes your brain go “ahhhh” instead of “aghhh.”
So light that candle, blast that playlist, and let’s clean like we’re manifesting the life we actually want.
Tell Me Your Spring Cleaning Win!
Did you finally find the floor of your closet? Unsubscribe from 300 emails? Light a candle and cry in a good way?
Drop your spring cleaning success in the comments or tag @adultinglikeagrownup on Instagram—we love seeing our grown-up besties thrive.
