Spring Cleaning Checklist for Oregon Homeowners 2026

Spring cleaning is a tradition everywhere, but in Oregon it is a necessity. Our long rainy season — which runs from October through May in much of the Willamette Valley — creates cleaning challenges that homeowners in drier climates simply do not face. Months of closed windows mean stale indoor air and accumulated dust. Constant rain means mud tracked into every entryway. High humidity means mold and mildew in bathrooms, window sills, and anywhere moisture collects.

When the first dry days of spring arrive — usually mid-March in the Portland area, a little later in Eugene and Corvallis — it is time for a thorough reset. This checklist covers everything Oregon homeowners need to address, organized room by room so you can work through it systematically over a weekend or hand it to a professional cleaning team.

Before You Start: Preparation and Supplies

Supplies You Will Need

• All-purpose cleaner (eco-friendly recommended — see our eco-friendly products guide)
• Glass cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner with mold-fighting properties
• Degreaser for the kitchen
• White vinegar (for hard water stains and general cleaning)
• Baking soda
• Microfiber cloths (at least 10-12)
• Scrub brushes (one soft, one stiff)
• Vacuum with attachments (HEPA filter recommended for allergen season)
• Mop and bucket
• Step ladder
• Rubber gloves
• Trash bags (several large ones)
• Donations box or bag

Plan Your Approach

Do not try to spring clean your entire house in one day. Burnout leads to half-finished work. Instead:

• Day 1 (Saturday): Kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room — the hardest-working rooms.
• Day 2 (Sunday): Bedrooms, living areas, entryways, and outdoor transition spaces.
• Day 3 (optional evening or following weekend): Windows, garage, storage areas, and any remaining tasks.

Whole-House Tasks (Do These First)

These tasks apply to every room and are most efficient when done all at once:

1. Declutter Before You Clean

Go room by room with three bags or boxes: keep, donate, and trash. Spring is the perfect time to let go of things you have not used since last spring. Oregon has excellent donation options — Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations are spread across Portland, Eugene, Salem, and most mid-valley cities.

2. Reset Your Indoor Air

• Replace HVAC filters (do this first so you are not circulating dust you are about to stir up).
• Open windows on the first dry, warm day. Cross-ventilation for even 30 minutes flushes months of stale winter air.
• Clean all vent covers and returns — remove, soak in warm soapy water, dry, and replace.

3. Work Top to Bottom in Every Room

• Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures first.
• Then walls, door frames, and window frames.
• Then furniture and surfaces.
• Floors last (everything you knock down from above lands on the floor).

Kitchen Spring Cleaning Checklist

1. Pull out stove and refrigerator. Clean behind and underneath both.
2. Degrease the range hood filter (soak in hot water with dish soap and baking soda for 15 minutes).
3. Deep clean the oven interior (baking soda paste overnight, wipe clean in the morning).
4. Clean inside the refrigerator and freezer. Discard expired items. Wipe all shelves and drawers.
5. Run an empty dishwasher cycle with vinegar to descale and deodorize.
6. Clean inside the microwave (heat a bowl of water with lemon for 3 minutes, then wipe).
7. Wipe down all cabinet fronts, inside and out. Organize contents.
8. Clean the pantry. Check expiration dates. Wipe shelves.
9. Descale the coffee maker and kettle (run a vinegar-water cycle).
10. Scrub the sink, faucet, and garbage disposal.
11. Clean the backsplash and grout lines.
12. Clean light fixtures and the tops of cabinets (grease collects here in Oregon kitchens with limited ventilation).
13. Deep clean the floor — move the trash can and any standing items, mop with extra attention to corners.

Bathroom Spring Cleaning Checklist

Oregon priority: After a full rainy season, focus on mold and moisture issues first.

1. Inspect all caulking around the tub, shower, and sink. Remove and replace any caulking with mold growth that will not come clean.
2. Scrub all grout lines with a grout brush and bathroom cleaner or a baking soda paste.
3. Clean the exhaust fan — remove the cover, vacuum the fan, wash the cover. A working exhaust fan is critical for Oregon bathroom moisture control.
4. Descale the showerhead (soak in vinegar overnight or use a plastic bag secured with a rubber band).
5. Deep clean the shower door tracks (use an old toothbrush and vinegar).
6. Scrub the toilet thoroughly — bowl, seat, lid, base, behind, and the floor around it.
7. Clean inside the medicine cabinet and vanity. Dispose of expired medications (Oregon pharmacies accept unused medications for safe disposal).
8. Wash or replace the shower curtain and liner.
9. Wash all bath mats and towels on hot.
10. Clean mirrors, light fixtures, and towel bars.
11. Mop the floor with attention to corners and behind the toilet.

Bedroom Spring Cleaning Checklist

1. Wash all bedding — sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover, mattress protector, and pillows (check care labels).
2. Vacuum the mattress on all sides. Sprinkle with baking soda, wait 30 minutes, vacuum again (removes dust mites and odors).
3. Flip or rotate the mattress.
4. Move furniture and vacuum underneath. Pay attention to under the bed where dust bunnies accumulate all winter.
5. Dust ceiling fan, light fixtures, and the tops of doors and window frames.
6. Clean baseboards (a damp microfiber cloth works well).
7. Organize and declutter the closet. Swap winter and summer wardrobes.
8. Wipe down window sills — check for condensation damage or mold (common on Oregon windows during winter).
9. Clean windows inside.
10. Vacuum or mop the floor thoroughly.

Living Areas Spring Cleaning Checklist

1. Vacuum all upholstery — remove cushions, vacuum all sides, spot-treat any stains.
2. Wash or dry-clean throw pillow covers, blankets, and curtains.
3. Dust all shelves, entertainment centers, and decorative items.
4. Clean the TV screen with a dry microfiber cloth (no sprays directly on screens).
5. Dust and clean ceiling fan blades (use a pillowcase to prevent dust from falling — slide it over each blade and pull back).
6. Clean all light fixtures and lampshades.
7. Move furniture and vacuum or mop underneath.
8. Clean baseboards and door frames.
9. Clean windows and window tracks inside.
10. Deep clean carpets (rent a carpet cleaner or schedule professional carpet cleaning).

Entryway and Mudroom Spring Cleaning Checklist

Oregon entryways have been through months of mud season. This room probably needs the most attention per square foot.

1. Deep clean or replace doormats. Coir mats often need replacing after a full Oregon winter.
2. Scrub the floor thoroughly — grout, tile, stone, or hardwood. Address any mud stains or discoloration.
3. Clean shoe racks, boot trays, and coat hooks.
4. Wipe down the front door inside and out. Clean the doorknob and hardware.
5. Clean the porch or covered entry area.
6. Wash any windows and light fixtures.

Laundry Room and Garage

Laundry Room

1. Run a hot cleaning cycle on the washing machine with vinegar or a machine cleaner.
2. Clean the dryer lint trap and vent hose (fire safety — do this at least once a year).
3. Wipe down machine exteriors and the area behind them.
4. Clean the utility sink.
5. Organize laundry supplies. Discard old products.

Garage

1. Sweep the garage floor. Hose it down if possible.
2. Organize tools, sports equipment, and seasonal items.
3. Check for moisture, mold, or rodent activity (common in Oregon garages during winter).
4. Dispose of hazardous materials properly — Oregon has specific disposal sites for paint, oil, and chemicals. Check your local city or county waste management website.

Windows and Outdoor Transition Areas

1. Clean all windows inside and out. Oregon rain leaves mineral deposits and water spots on exterior glass.
2. Clean window tracks — use a vacuum attachment first, then scrub with an old toothbrush and vinegar.
3. Clean sliding door tracks.
4. Wash exterior light fixtures.
5. Sweep the patio or deck. Power wash if needed (many Oregon decks develop moss and algae over the winter).
6. Clean outdoor furniture before the first use of the season.

When to Hire a Professional for Spring Cleaning

A full spring clean is a significant undertaking. If the checklist above feels overwhelming, consider hiring help for all or part of it:

• Full spring deep clean: A professional team can complete everything in 4-8 hours for a typical 3-bedroom Oregon home. Cost ranges from $250 to $500 depending on size and condition.
• Partial help: Many homeowners handle the decluttering and organizing themselves, then hire a professional for the intensive cleaning — bathrooms, kitchen, floors, and windows.
• Specialized tasks: Carpet cleaning, window washing, and mold remediation are often best left to professionals with the right equipment.

Otesse offers spring deep cleaning packages across our 12-city Oregon service area. Our teams are experienced with the specific post-winter cleaning challenges of Willamette Valley homes.

Your Spring Fresh Start

Spring cleaning is the annual reset that Oregon homes need after months of rain, mud, and closed-up winter air. Work through this checklist systematically — room by room, top to bottom — and your home will feel transformed.

Do not let the list overwhelm you. Even tackling one room per weekend makes a difference. And if you want to get it all done at once, professionals can handle it in a single day.

Ready for a spring fresh start? Get a free spring cleaning quote from Otesse. We serve Portland, Eugene, Salem, Corvallis, Albany, and communities throughout the I-5 corridor.

Call 541-844-2585 or book your spring cleaning online.