Spring cleaning doesn't need to become an eight-hour punishment. If you tackle the right jobs in the right order, a weekend is enough to make a noticeable difference around the house.
After winter, the problems for an Australian home are usually pretty predictable. Dust has settled into window tracks and flyscreens, damp has left its mark in bathrooms, grease has built up in the kitchen, and the BBQ has probably been sitting untouched for months.
So this spring cleaning checklist focuses on the jobs that actually need doing. What to clean first, what people forget, and where to spend your time if the whole house feels like too much.
When To Spring Clean In Australia
Spring starts on the 1st of September, but you don't need to wait for a particular day to start cleaning. Pick a dry, breezy weekend when you can open the windows and give everything plenty of time to dry.
The weather matters more than the date. Southern states may still be dealing with winter damp, while parts of northern Australia can stay humid well beyond spring.
Start by checking places that hold moisture. Bathroom ceilings, shower seals, window frames and laundry areas are all worth checking before you get stuck into the rest of the house.
Spring is also a good time to deal with the dust that has accumulated indoors. Wash bedding, clean curtains and blinds, and give window tracks and flyscreens a proper clean before the warmer months arrive.
You don't have to finish the whole house in one day. A room-by-room approach is easier to manage, particularly when you've got work, kids or a weekend that is already spoken for.
Before You Start
The fastest way to make spring cleaning take longer is to start without a plan. You'll spend half the day looking for a cloth, walking back to the laundry or moving things you've already cleaned around.
Clear the clutter first. A benchtop is much easier to wipe when you aren't working around appliances, mail, school notes and everything else that has found a permanent home there.
Then put your products, cloths, brushes and rubbish bags into one bucket or caddy. Keep it with you as you move through the house.
There is a simple order that will save you from doing the same job twice:
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Declutter before cleaning.
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Work from top to bottom.
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Work from back to front.
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Finish one room before moving on.
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Leave floors until last.
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Keep rooms well ventilated.
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Wear gloves when required.
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Never mix cleaning products.
If you're dealing with mould or a stronger cleaning job, read the product label before you start. Check the surfaces it can be used on and any protective equipment you need.
Some people shouldn't handle significant mould growth themselves. If you have asthma or mould sensitivity, consider having someone else do the job.
Kitchen Spring Cleaning Checklist
The kitchen usually takes the longest amount of time. Grease finds its way onto rangehood filters and cupboard fronts, food gets forgotten at the back of the fridge, and the oven quietly collects everything that has spilled in it over the past year.
Start with the jobs that need time to work. That way, you're not standing around waiting for one part of the kitchen to finish before you can move on.
1. Oven, Racks And Trays
Start with a cool oven and remove the racks and trays. Check your appliance instructions before using any cleaning product.
For baked-on grease and grime, our Oven Power Kit uses a bag-and-soak method for racks and trays.
Do not use our Oven Power on self-cleaning ovens, Teflon, cast iron, aluminium or copper surfaces.
If you need a refresher on the process, our guide to the OzKleen Oven Power Kit walks through it in more detail.
2. Rangehood And Cupboards
Rangehood filters are easy to ignore until the grease is obvious. Remove the filter and clean it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Then wipe the splashback and cupboard fronts. If you can safely reach the tops of the cupboards, clean those too.
3. Fridge And Freezer
Take everything out of the fridge. Remove the shelves and drawers, wipe them down, clean the seals and check the use-by dates while you're there.
Look for dried spills around shelves and drawers. They are much easier to deal with when everything is already out.
If the freezer needs defrosting, follow the appliance manufacturer's instructions. Don't force ice away with a sharp object.
4. Dishwasher And Small Appliances
Clean the dishwasher filter and follow the manufacturer's instructions for any cleaning cycle.
Descale the kettle and coffee machine if needed. Then finish the sink, drain and rubbish bin.
The pantry gets the same treatment. Check expiry dates, clear out anything you no longer use and wipe the shelves before putting everything back.
Shop the OzKleen Kitchen collection for products suited to the rest of the kitchen.
Bathroom Spring Cleaning Checklist
The bathroom tells you a lot about how wet the winter has been. Soap scum builds up, grout gets darker, and the corners that never quite dry can start showing mould.
This is one room where a proper spring clean is worth doing properly.
1. Shower Screen, Tiles And Grout
Start with the shower screen, tiles and grout. Remove soap scum, limescale and the grime that builds up around fittings.
Our Shower Power Citrus 750ml is designed for bathroom build-up, including soap scum, hard water stains, limescale and grime. This solution is ideal for use with a soft cloth or sponge, without the need to scrub.
Additionally, use a handheld steam cleaning device and scrubbing tools for deep and hard-to-reach places. A grout brush can quickly clean corners with extra build-up.
2. Mould And Damp Areas
Look above the shower, around silicone seals and along window frames. These areas stay damp longer than the rest of the bathroom, which makes them easy places for mould to appear.
For visible mould, Mould Power 500ml is designed for surfaces including grout, tiles, silicone, ceilings, and window sills. A natural, septic-safe alternative to standard bleach cleaners, our Mould Power works effectively to kill mould and protect those areas from regrowth. We still recommend opening the windows to ventilate the bathroom during cleaning, and pairing the cleaning solution with its scrub brush trigger to get into grout and silicone seals.
If the mould keeps returning to the same place, don't just keep spraying it. Find out what is keeping the area damp. Our guide to getting rid of mould in your home covers the moisture problem as well as the cleaning.
3. Finish The Bathroom
Clean the exhaust fan cover while you're there. Dust and grime on the cover can be easy to miss because it's above eye level. You simply take off the cover and wipe it down with antibacterial cleaner and a cloth.
Then work through the toilet, vanity, mirrors and tapware. Clear out bathroom cabinets and dispose of expired products appropriately.
Wash bath mats and shower curtains before putting them back. Simply throw them in the washing machine and air-dry in the sun.
Shop the OzKleen Bathroom collection for the rest of your bathroom clean.
Laundry Spring Cleaning Checklist
The washing machine cleans your clothes, but grime can build up across the machine and reduce its effectiveness and cleanliness.
The laundry also has plenty of places where moisture, lint and detergent residue can sit unnoticed. A simple checklist involves:
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Wipe the washing machine seal
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Clean the detergent drawer
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Follow the machine's cleaning cycle
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Clean the dryer lint filter
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Check the dryer vent
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Wipe the laundry tub
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Clean behind accessible machine areas
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Wash winter linen before storing
Pay particular attention to the washing machine seal. Pull back the rubber folds and check for trapped residue before wiping it clean.
If you're treating stains on winter clothes or linen, our Prewash Power is designed to lift stored stains before you wash. Check the garment care label first, and never mix cleaning products.
Shop the OzKleen Laundry collection for products suited to your laundry.
Living Areas And Bedrooms Checklist
This is where spring cleaning starts to feel like a reset, not another weekly clean. You're getting into the places that don't normally make the list.
1. Windows And Soft Furnishings
Start with the windows. Clean the glass, tracks, flyscreens and sills, then move on to curtains and blinds:
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Glass windows - wipe down windows with a streak-free glass cleaner (like Glass Power) and a microfibre cloth
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Door and window tracks - wipe away excess dust using a vacuum cleaner, then damp microfibre or disposable cloth. Then make another pass over with an anti-bacterial general cleaner solution on a cloth
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Flyscreens - remove flyscreens and hose them down outside to remove excess dirt and debris. Then make another pass over with a disinfectant solution and sponge before rinsing and reinstalling
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Ceiling fans, lighting fixtures and the tops of frames/wall fixtures - wipe away excess dust using a damp microfibre or disposable cloth. Then make another pass over with an anti-bacterial general cleaner solution on a cloth
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Curtains - most curtains are machine washable. Check any labels before uninstalling curtains, machine washing in a cold wash, and drying in the sun
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Blinds - use a duster or vacuum to remove excess dust before using a damp cloth or sponge with a few drops of mild dish soap to clean any remaining dust
2. Surfaces And Floors
Work around the room and clean skirtings, door frames, light switches and handles. Vacuum excess dust, then use a damp cloth or sponge with cleaning solution to pass over again.
Then vacuum under furniture, rugs and lounges where you can safely reach. If you have pets, add their beds and favourite resting spots to the list. Machine wash as much bedding as possible.
Leave the floors until everything above them is finished. Otherwise, you're just putting the dust back where you started.
3. Bedrooms And Wardrobes
Wash bedding and freshen mattresses according to their care instructions. Spring is a good time to clean the places where dust collects during winter.
Dust mites are commonly found in bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and carpet. Healthdirect recommends regular bedding care and keeping the home cool and dry to reduce dust mite exposure.
Then change over the wardrobe. Put the winter clothes away, bring out what you'll use through the warmer months and set aside anything you no longer wear.
A simple keep, donate or discard rule makes the process much quicker. You don't need to find a reason to keep something you haven't worn in years.
Outdoors, BBQ And Entryways
Spring is when the outdoor areas start earning their space again. Before the first big BBQ, give them more than a quick sweep:
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Wash outdoor furniture and cushions
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Clean windows and doors
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Sweep patios and verandas
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Remove cobwebs
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Clean the front door
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Wash the entry mat
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Check gutters for debris
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Clean the BBQ thoroughly
Check the care instructions before washing outdoor cushions or other fabrics. Some materials need gentler treatment than others.
The BBQ deserves a proper clean before you start cooking on it again. For the full process, see our BBQ cleaning guide.
The Jobs Most People Forget
Every house has them. The jobs that are easy to see once someone points them out, but rarely make it onto the regular cleaning list.
Check these before you call the spring clean finished:
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Bathroom exhaust fan
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Rangehood filter
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Dishwasher filter
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Washing machine seal
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Window tracks
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Top of the fridge
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Under beds and furniture
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Bin lids
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Remote controls
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Light switches and handles
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Pet beds
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Air-conditioner filters
Some only need attention occasionally. Spring cleaning is your chance to catch up on the jobs between regular cleans.
How To Keep It That Way
The best spring cleaning checklist is the one you don't have to repeat from scratch next year.
You don't need another eight-hour cleaning marathon. A few small jobs spread across the month will keep the bigger ones from piling up.
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Weekly: Clean bathrooms, kitchen surfaces, floors and high-touch areas.
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Monthly: Clean appliance filters, window tracks and exhaust fan covers.
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Seasonally: Rotate clothing, clean soft furnishings, check damp areas and reset outdoor spaces.
You can also split the bigger jobs between weekends. Clean the oven one weekend, the windows the next and the outdoor areas after that.
Fifteen minutes of regular upkeep is easier than discovering six months of cleaning jobs at once.
Shop The OzKleen Range Online Or In-Store
A proper spring clean isn't about making every surface in the house spotless in one weekend. It's about dealing with the jobs that built up over winter and getting the home ready for the season ahead.
If you'd rather sort the whole house in one go, our Ultimate Starter Value Bundle covers the kitchen, bathroom, laundry and outdoor jobs in this checklist without having to buy each product separately.
Shop the Ultimate Starter Value Bundle or find an OzKleen retailer near you.