1. The Top of Your Refrigerator and Cabinets

Mama says: “If I can’t run my finger across it, it’s not done.”

Since it’s the area that hardly anyone considers looking at, this is the first item on my spring cleaning checklist. Until Mama comes to visit, you’re out of sight and out of mind. But it belongs at the top of  every spring cleaning checklist. 

Your kitchen generates steam, grease, and airborne particles throughout the year. They rise and land on surfaces above your eye line, such as the ledge above your range hood, the tops of your cabinets, and the top of your refrigerator. That movie you haven’t seen? It is a mixture of dust and cooking oil that thickens with time. If left unchecked, it draws pests and degrades the quality of the air in the space where your family spends the most time together.

How to Clean It

• Mix a small amount of dish soap with warm water.
• Wipe the surface with a damp microfiber cloth, working in sections.
• For stubborn grease buildup, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply it, let it sit for five minutes, then wipe clean. Avoid using products that could strip the varnish or paint from your cabinetry.
• Once you’re done, line the tops of your cabinets with parchment paper or shelf liner. Next spring, you’ll simply replace the liner instead of scrubbing.

Jeannie’s tip: I do this every spring and every fall. Twice a year keeps it manageable. Mama does it quarterly. I’m working on it.

You want to see the microfiber cloths and cleaning supplies I swear by? All of these items are included in my Spring Home Reset on Amazon.

2. Your Washing Machine (Yes, It Needs Cleaning)

Mama says: “How you gonna wash clothes in a dirty machine?”

People say this all the time: “How can it be dirty if it uses soap and hot water?” Mama would give you that look for that. Folks, this is the spot on your spring cleaning checklist that surprises people the most!

Mold and mildew love to grow in the drum and door gasket because of detergent residue, hard water deposits, and moisture that gets trapped. Your washing machine is the reason why your freshly washed clothes smell musty instead of clean.

How to Clean It

• Run an empty cycle on the hottest setting with two cups of white vinegar.
• Follow with a second empty cycle using half a cup of baking soda.
• After both cycles, take a damp cloth and wipe down the detergent drawer, the rubber door gasket (pull it back and clean inside the folds), and the interior drum.
• From now on, leave the door open after every wash to let moisture escape. This single habit prevents most washing machine mildew.

Jeannie’s tip: Mark this on your calendar. I clean my washing machine at the start of every season—four times a year. It takes twenty minutes and your laundry will smell noticeably better. Mama was right. She usually is.

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3. Light Switches, Door Knobs, and Baseboards

Mama says: “If company touches it, it better be clean.”

These are the most touched and the most ignored surfaces in your entire home.

Think about how many times a day your family touches light switches and doorknobs. Studies consistently show these are among the most bacteria-dense surfaces in a house. And yet they rarely make anyone’s spring cleaning checklist.

Baseboards are a different kind of invisible. They blend into the room so completely that most of us stop seeing them at all. But they’re quietly collecting dust, allergens, and pet dander that circulates through your living spaces every time someone walks by.

How to Clean Them

For light switches and doorknobs:

• Use a disinfectant wipe or a cloth lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol.
• Be careful not to let excess moisture drip near electrical fixtures.
• Don’t forget the switch plates themselves—remove them with a screwdriver for a truly deep clean.

For baseboards:

• Start with your vacuum’s brush attachment to remove loose dust and debris.
• Follow with a damp microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner, working in sections.
• Once dry, run a dryer sheet along the baseboard or polish/wax them, like I do. The anti-static coating helps repel future dust buildup.

If your spring cleaning checklist doesn’t include these things, you’re leaving one of the biggest jobs undone.

Jeannie’s tip: The dryer sheet approach is so popular right now. However, the Johnson Paste Wax trick is my favorite. It takes a little time, but the shine and the dust repellent capabilities are worth the effort. Of course, my Mama, she said “I’ve been doing that since before you were born. You missed a spot.”

Have you tried the dryer sheet trick on your baseboards? Share your before-and-after on Instagram

and tag @jeanniejacobs—I’d love to see your spring cleaning wins and celebrate them with you.

4. The Dishwasher Filter (Most People Don’t Know It Exists)

Mama says: “If you’re washing dishes on a dirty filter, you’re just rearranging the mess.”

This is the one that always surprises people when I bring it up. And to be honest? Mama’s quote sums it up.

There is a filter in your dishwasher. It is usually at the bottom of the dishwasher’s interior, and its job is to catch food particles so they don’t get back onto your dishes. If you’ve never cleaned that filter, it’s probably clogged, and every time you run the machine, those food particles go right back onto your plates.

A dirty filter not only makes the machine work harder, but it also makes it less clean. That means that the appliance will use more energy, cost more to run, and last less time, which is a lot of money to replace.

How to Clean Your Dishwasher Filter

• Check your owner’s manual to locate the filter (it’s typically at the bottom center of the dishwasher interior).
• Twist or pull it out as directed by your model.
• Rinse it under warm running water.
• Use a soft brush (an old toothbrush works perfectly) and a small amount of dish soap to remove any trapped debris.
• Replace it firmly once clean.

The whole process takes less than five minutes. Do it at least once every 2-3 months, especially if you have a family. Lots of dishes and washes add up fast.

Jeannie’s tip: I have two dishwashers in my kitchen. I clean their filters every 2-3 months given the frequency of use. Once you see what comes out of that filter, you’ll never skip this again. I keep a set of dedicated cleaning brushes just for appliances.

You can find my favorite cleaning brushes, all-purpose cleaners, and home organization products in my Spring Home Reset on Amazon.

If you love the idea of a home that feels intentional in every detail—from the kitchen to the table —

my cookbook, Welcome to My Table, is filled with recipes and rituals designed for exactly that kind of living.

It’s more than a cookbook. It’s a guide to gathering beautifully.

5. Window Tracks and Door Frames

Mama says, “A guest notices what you don’t.”

Most homeowners clean the glass and maybe the sills, but window tracks? They require a slightly different approach, and that’s why they get skipped year after year.

The dirt, moisture, and debris that accumulates in window tracks doesn’t just look bad—it affects how well your windows seal. Poor seals mean drafts, higher energy bills, and the potential for mold growth in the channels. Door frames are the same story: dust and cobwebs collect on the tops and sides, and every time you open or close a door, that dust gets redistributed into your air.

How to Clean Window Tracks

• Sprinkle a cleaner of your choice or a handy steam cleaner, which requires no cleaner products at all.
• Scrub with an old toothbrush to loosen debris.
• Use cotton swabs for the tight corners, then wipe everything clean with a damp cloth.

How to Clean Door Frames

• Use a step stool and a damp microfiber cloth.
• Wipe from the top of the frame down, working in one pass.
• Don’t forget the top of the door itself—another surface that collects dust silently.

Jeannie’s tip: After my spring cleaning is complete, I always light a candle. Mama taught me to clean. I taught myself the reward. A truly clean home deserves a beautiful scent to match. That’s the reset.

My current favorite is Soulscape. You can find it and my other home scent picks at JustJeannie.shop.

Your Spring Cleaning Checklist at a Glance

Save this, screenshot it, or better yet—download the free printable checklist below.

That’s less than two hours of total work for all five. Mama would say that’s a small price for a guest-ready home.