The Ultimate January Cleaning Checklist to Refresh Your Home
It’s that time of year when most people want to organize everything in their home again and get back on track with life. This January Cleaning Checklist can help you reset your home without overwhelming you with the cleaning process.
The cool air in January always feels like a “fresh start,” right?
After December’s festivities and the excitement of New Year’s Eve, your home can look overwhelming and a bit chaotic.
December has relatively little time for organization because of all of the events and stressful decorating.
The laundry piles of clothes seem to appear overnight as you clean out the bags of holiday gifts.
Christmas is over; January comes along and helps me tackle what I’ve accumulated in December.
Cleaning out my old “dust” helps me reset. Let’s be for real. You really don’t need to clean every inch of your home at the beginning of the year to feel as if you are getting your life together.
This January checklist I’ve put together should bring clarity and focus for the New Year.
It allows you to declutter what is out of place in your home so that the main living space can be organized, thus making it appear neat and visually calming as well.
I hope you join me in getting started!
1. Living Room
Declutter Area
● To start the process, remove all items that don’t belong in this space.
● This includes leftover holiday decorations or items left around during the holidays, or items that piled up over the past few busy months!
● When you clear off surface areas first, everything else will seem easier to clean up.
Pack Up & Store Holiday Decor
● Holidays decorations should be stored away properly for the next year and cleaned immediately after taking them down.
● Labeled storage containers/boxes need to be utilized, as well, for easy access to holiday items next year.
● During this process your living room shelves, mantles and other display areas for your holiday decorations should be cleaned and dusted prior to your new decoration display next holidays.
● Before storing holiday items clean and dust all of the surfaces of your living room, (including storage units, coffee tables, entertainment centers, windowsills, etc).
● Do not forget to include the often-overlooked surfaces (like the top of ceiling fans and picture frames).
● When you have completed cleaning all of your living room surfaces this will make your living room appear brighter because those surfaces will reflect the sunlight entering your home through windows and doors.
Cleaning All Soft Items
● Vacuum your living room sofas to remove dust, fluff the cushions, and wash all the blankets that are used the most.
● If you have a sofa with removable cushion covers you should wash those as well.
● Cleaning and fluffing soft items will help to freshen your living room and will give your living room a new look and feel.
Cleaning All Floors
● Make sure you vacuum and mop all of the floor surfaces of your living room including all carpeted areas of your living room as well.
● During winter, dirt comes into the house from outside and therefore you will want to maintain the surfaces of your floors.
● So, move any small pieces of furniture slightly so that you can be sure to clean any dirt which may be hidden under the furniture.
2. Kitchen
Clean and Clear Fridge
● Empty the fridge out and throw away any expired food items.
● Clean the entire shelving and drawers of the fridge before putting the items back in the fridge.
● You will be amazed at how much better you will feel about your food after you‘ve done this in January.
Sort the Pantry
● Group similar items together and toss items you will not use.
● Clean the shelves, organize your snacks, and organize your dry goods and items you have in your pantry.
● A clean and organized pantry makes cooking day–to–day easier.
Declutter Counters
● Take off any unnecessary appliances or clutter from your counter tops, and clean your counter tops thoroughly.
● Keep only the items you use on a daily basis. The cleaner your countertops are, the more peaceful and calming your kitchen will feel.
● Clean your Appliances Clean your microwave (inside and outside), give your oven a quick clean, and shine your stovetop.
● All three have a tendency to accumulate dirt and grime during the month of December.
Sweep and Mop Floors
Finally, make sure to clean your floors! The winter months bring in more dirt and salt (from winter shoes) than any other time of year, so make sure to do a thorough cleaning to prevent it from building up.
3. Bedroom
New Linens
● Change the sheets, duvet cover, and pillowcases. If you‘ve gone a while without washing your pillows and comforter, now is a great time to do so. There is nothing like starting the year off fresh with a new bed.
Organize Your Nightstand
● Clear off the old cups of water and any books you no longer read, as well as any other random items.
● Wipe down the table and start over with only the important items.
Mattress Cleaning
● Vacuum the mattress, and if desired, sprinkle baking soda on it to keep it smelling newer for longer.
● After leaving the baking soda on the mattress for a while, vacuum it again before you put the bedding back on.
Refresh Your Closet
● Go through all the clothing that hasn‘t been worn in the last year, and if you don‘t need it anymore, donate it.
● Keep your winter clothing easy to reach. Making this small change will help make your morning routine run more smoothly.
Clean Up The Floor Of Your Bedroom
● Make sure to vacuum all crevices including the areas underneath your bed, if possible.
● Dust can build up in many dark areas of your home especially after the holidays.
4. Bathroom
Empty all Cabinets
● Clean out all skin care products, medications and any outdated or empty products.
● Organize everything else to streamline the process for daily application.
Clean Your Shower/Tub
● Remove grime/specific scummy buildup on shower walls and tubs. A January reset is the perfect opportunity to do this.
Replenish Towels/Linens
● Clean all towels and replace any old, threadbare ones. NEW towels create an instant spa-like atmosphere.
Wipe Down All Surfaces
● Clean mirrors, faucets, sinks, raw surfaces and countertops.
● Remove tooth–paste splatters and water marks from surfaces and make them shiny/clean again.
Mop Your Floor
● A good mop of the floor will make your bathroom feel clean and bright again! Pay special attention to corners and beneath the toilet.
5. Entryways and Hallways
Shoes and Coats Organization
● Take all your boots and jackets/outerwear and scarves and put away anything that you aren’t using and keep anything that you need for winter in an accessible place.
Floor Cleaning
● The entryway takes the brunt of the winter months; so sweeping/mopping your entryway after lots of salt and dirt have been tracked in is a good practice.
Doormat Refreshing
● If you’re able to, shake out your doormats or wash them. If your doormats are too worn out to be cleaned or if this is not possible, they should be replaced in January.
6. Dining Room
● First, it’s important to remove everything leftover from holiday gatherings, including table runners, centerpieces, and any extra decor items.
● Cleaning the table allows you to have a clean surface to start your new year off with.
● Your table should be set up with a simple, clean place setting to prepare for entertaining guests at home.
Clean Chairs and Upholstery
● Chairs collect dust more than we think. Wipe down chair legs, seat backs, and arms with a damp cloth; this helps to eliminate the dust–buildup.
● If your dining room chairs have cushions, you may want to vacuum the cushions or spot-clean any stains.
● Giving your dining room chairs a quick clean will make the entire room appear more inviting.
Dust Surfaces and Display Items
● It is necessary to dust shelves, buffets, and display cabinets in the dining room. Make sure to pay attention to glass items and decorative pieces, as these items have likely collected holiday dust.
● The reflection from the dust can make a room feel dark and dreary.
Polish and Clean Table Linens
● Your table linens (tablecloth, placemats, and cloth napkins) should be washed and folded neatly when not in use.
● Having freshly cleaned table linens will give your dining space a finished look.
● Clean Floors You should sweep and thoroughly mop your floors, particularly underneath your dining room table.
● Move your chairs to get to all areas of the dining room. This final cleaning step will really pull everything together.
7. Laundry Room/Area
● The first step in rejuvenating an existing laundry area is to remove items from the area that don’t belong in the laundry room.
● Clearing counters and shelves will give you some room to fold and sort clothing.
● As soon as you tidy your laundry area, it will appear as if you have created a productive space.
Cleaning Washer and Dryer
● Use the cleaning cycle feature on the washing machine and clean around the rubber seal on the front–loading washing machine.
● Ensure that the lint trap on the dryer is free of lint; also look for lint behind the dryer.
● These little tasks will keep your washing machine and dryer running better.
Organizing Laundry Supplies
● Sorting of laundry supplies such as detergents, softeners, stain removers, and necessary cleaning tools will help create a clean and productive area to do your laundry.
● Keep the items you use the most close to the top, with extra items stored in easy–to–reach areas.
Wipe Down Countertops and Shelves
● Dust accumulates quickly in a laundry room with the movement of clothing.
● A quick wipe of the tops of the washers, counters, and shelves will instantly create a cleaner area.
Sweeping and Mopping Laundry Room Floors
● The last step in refreshing your laundry room is sweeping up dust and lint from the floor.
● Mopping will add to the cleanliness of your laundry room, as laundry rooms are generally ignored when cleaning the home.
8. House/Wide Tasks Dust
● Wipe down every item that you can touch, including doorknobs, light switches, banisters and remotes.
● This area is often overlooked; however, it’s an area that really stands out.
Dispose of All Your Trash and Recyclables
● Once you’ve made sure that every trash bin has been emptied.
Test Smoke Detectors
● This is a great opportunity to test your smoke detector, replace batteries and check your alarms.
Let Fresh Air In
● Every once in a while, it’s helpful to open your windows for a few minutes to let the fresh air out and allow the air to dissipate.
● After letting the air out, be sure to add your candle or diffuser back on to give your space a nice fresh scent.
