Seasonal living room cleaning checklist for the year

A seasonal living room cleaning checklist splits the big jobs across the year so no single weekend is a marathon. In spring, do the windows, screens and curtains as the pollen starts. In summer, clean fans and vents and dust everything the open windows bring in. In fall, clean the radiators before the heat comes on. In winter, keep up with salt, wet boots and holiday dust.

The weekly basics stay the same all year: dust, vacuum, wipe the touch points. This list is what goes on top.

What goes on the spring list?

• Windows, inside. Glass, frames and sills. Our window guide has the streak-free method.
• Screens. Back in for the season, washed first.
• Curtains and blinds. Pollen settles on them as soon as the windows open.
• Baseboards after a winter of salt and grit.
• Rugs. Vacuum both sides and the floor under them.

Our spring cleaning checklist covers the rest of the house.

What goes on the summer list?

• Fans and vents. Dust the blades and grilles before you run them every day.
• Window sills and tracks. Open windows bring in grit and city dust.
• Window units. Clean the filter before the first hot week, and check it monthly.
• Upholstery. Vacuum the couch, since summer means more sweat and sunscreen on it.
• Sun check. Move or cover anything that's fading in the front window.

What goes on the fall list?

• Radiators. Vacuum between the fins and wipe them down while they're still cool. Dust on a hot radiator smells like it's burning.
• Under and behind the furniture. Move the couch and vacuum before the house is closed up for winter.
• Light fixtures and lamps, as the days get shorter and you use them more.
• Throws and blankets. Wash them before they come out for the season.
• Entry mats ready for wet leaves.

What goes on the winter list?

• Salt patrol. Vacuum grit dry, then wipe salt film off hardwood with a barely damp cloth. Our floor guide covers each floor type.
• Boot tray and mats. Shake and wash them often.
• Post-holiday dust. Tree needles, glitter and wax drips.
• Touch points. Remotes, light switches and door handles during cold and flu season.
• Humidifier. Empty and dry it daily, and clean it by its manual.

How do you keep track of it?

Put each season's list on the calendar, one or two jobs a weekend. Pair each one with something already happening: the radiators the week before the heat goes on, the screens the week the windows open.

Want a cleaning booked?

Book House Cleaning or Deep Cleaning online, and put your priorities in your booking notes. For a specific task, ask about it when you book.

FAQ

What should you deep clean in the living room each season? Spring: windows, screens and curtains. Summer: fans, vents and sun-faded surfaces. Fall: radiators, baseboards and the couch. Winter: floors and entry mats, plus a dust after the holidays.

How do you clean a radiator? Do it with the heat off and the radiator cool. Vacuum between the fins with a crevice tool or a long radiator brush, slide a damp towel behind it to catch dust, then wipe the outside with a damp cloth.

How do you keep winter salt out of the living room? Put a mat outside and a boot tray inside the front door, and take shoes off at the door. Vacuum grit up dry before you mop, and wipe salt marks off hardwood with a barely damp cloth right away.

Book a cleaning

Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.