February Cleaning Checklist:
15 Things to Clean This Month

1. Start With the Bedroom

2. Freshen the Mattress

You don't need an elaborate mattress-cleaning ritual.

Remove the bedding and vacuum the mattress surface with an appropriate upholstery attachment. Check the manufacturer's instructions for rotating the mattress.

Some mattresses should be rotated periodically; others have different recommendations.

Inspect the mattress and bed frame while everything is exposed. Then remake the bed with clean bedding.

Few cleaning jobs offer a better effort-to-reward ratio than getting into a freshly made bed.

3. Wash Pillows and Mattress Protectors

February is a good time to check the less-visible parts of the bed. Wash mattress protectors according to their care labels.

Check whether your pillows are washable and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Some can be machine washed; others require different care.

If a pillow has become permanently flat, lumpy, or about the thickness of a folded napkin, cleaning may no longer be the issue.

4. Dust the Bedroom's Forgotten Places

Regular dusting usually happens at eye level. Dust, unfortunately, has broader ambitions. Check:

• Tops of dressers and wardrobes
• Headboards
• Ceiling fans
• Light fixtures
• Window frames
• Baseboards
• Air vents
• Behind furniture where accessible

Work from higher surfaces downward, then vacuum or clean the floor last. You don't need to do every bedroom today.

One room finished is better than four rooms dismantled.

5. Vacuum Upholstered Furniture

Sofas and chairs work hard during winter.

Vacuum upholstery using the appropriate attachment and get underneath removable cushions.

Check crevices where crumbs, pet hair, and small objects accumulate.

If upholstery needs stain treatment, check the manufacturer's cleaning instructions before applying anything.

And yes, this is another chance to find the remote.

6. Wash Throws and Cushion Covers

Winter blankets and throws collect more than coziness. Wash washable throws, blankets, and removable cushion covers according to their care labels.

Don't put everything into the washer on instinct. Decorative fabrics, specialty fills, and some covers may require different care.

Once everything is clean, return only what you actually use. If the sofa needs excavation before anyone can sit down, you may have too many cushions.

7. Clean Under the Sofa and Other Heavy-Use Furniture

Now that you're dealing with the upholstery, go underneath.

Move furniture only when it's safe and practical. Vacuum dust, pet hair, crumbs, and whatever else has accumulated beneath sofas, chairs, and tables.

This isn't an invitation to rearrange the entire room. We're cleaning under the sofa. Stay with me.

8. Give the Bathroom a Midwinter Deep Clean

Bathrooms can build up quickly in winter, especially when doors and windows stay closed more often.

Choose the bathroom you use most and clean it thoroughly. Tackle:

• Sink and faucet
• Counter
• Mirror
• Toilet
• Tub or shower
• Shower doors or curtain
• Fixtures
• Floor
• Trash can

Remove empty containers while you're there. Check for signs of excess moisture or mold and address moisture problems rather than repeatedly cleaning the visible result.

For more help, visit our Bathroom Cleaning & Organizing Guide.

9. Wash Bath Mats and Shower Curtains

Bath mats are easy to ignore because they're literally designed to be stepped on. Check their care labels and wash them as directed.

Wash washable shower curtains and liners according to the manufacturer's instructions, or replace a liner when appropriate.

Let bathroom textiles dry thoroughly before putting them back. While everything is out of the room, clean the floor underneath

It's considerably easier when you're not attempting to mop around a bath mat like it's permanent architecture.

10. Clean High-Touch Areas

Pay attention to frequently handled surfaces during your regular cleaning.

Depending on your household, these might include:

• Door handles
• Light switches
• Refrigerator handles
• Cabinet pulls
• Faucet handles
• Stair railings
• Remote controls

Use products and methods appropriate for each surface and follow label directions. Don't turn this into an attempt to sterilize the entire house.

You're cleaning frequently handled surfaces, not preparing for surgery.

11. Clean Your Vacuum and Cleaning Tools

The things you use to clean the house occasionally need cleaning too. Check your vacuum's instructions and:

• Empty the bin or replace the bag as needed.
• Check filters.
• Remove hair and fibers from the brush roll where appropriate.
• Inspect hoses and attachments.
• Wipe exterior surfaces.

Then look at your other tools. Wash reusable cleaning cloths. Clean mop heads according to their instructions. Replace worn sponges and brushes when needed.

A filthy cleaning tool is not bringing much to the partnership.

12. Clean the Washer

Laundry equipment works year-round and rarely makes the cleaning checklist. Check your washing machine manufacturer's instructions for the recommended cleaning procedure.

Many machines have a cleaning cycle or specific maintenance instructions. Pay attention to areas where detergent residue, lint, or moisture can accumulate, such as dispensers and accessible seals.

Don't improvise cleaning-chemical combinations. Use only products and procedures appropriate for your machine.

For more laundry help, visit our Laundry & Stain Removal Guide.

13. Clean the Dryer and Check the Lint Area

Clean the lint screen regularly—ideally after each load—and give the surrounding accessible area some attention too.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for additional dryer maintenance.

Lint accumulation can affect dryer performance and can create a fire hazard, so this is more than a cosmetic cleaning job.

If the dryer takes unusually long to dry clothing or you suspect a venting problem, have the system properly inspected rather than assuming another cycle will solve it.

14. Declutter One Drawer or Cabinet

February does not require a whole-house organizing project. Pick one contained space:

• Junk drawer
• Bathroom drawer
• Nightstand
• Kitchen cabinet
• Cleaning-supply cabinet
• Linen shelf
• Desk drawer

Take everything out only if you can finish the job in the time you have. Remove trash, expired products, and things that clearly belong elsewhere. Put back what you use. That's it.

Don't let one innocent junk drawer turn into a full kitchen renovation. For larger projects, visit our Decluttering Guide.

Choose One Spring Cleaning Job to Do Now

Spring is coming. You don't need to prepare a battle plan.

Simply choose one job you'd rather not have waiting for you in March or April. Maybe:

• Clean a neglected window.
• Wash a set of curtains.
• Clear one closet shelf.
• Clean behind an appliance.
• Wipe baseboards in one room.
• Declutter one storage area.

Do it now.

Congratulations. You have technically begun spring cleaning without sacrificing a weekend to it.

Your Quick February Cleaning Checklist

Save this version:

•  Deep-clean one bedroom
•  Vacuum the mattress
•  Wash mattress protectors and washable pillows
•  Dust neglected bedroom surfaces
•  Vacuum upholstered furniture
•  Wash throws and cushion covers
•  Vacuum beneath furniture
•  Deep-clean the bathroom
•  Wash bath mats and shower curtains
•  Clean high-touch surfaces
•  Clean the vacuum and cleaning tools
•  Clean the washing machine
•  Clean the dryer lint area
•  Declutter one drawer or cabinet
•  Complete one early spring-cleaning task

If You Only Have One Hour

Don't attempt all 15. Try this:

15 minutes: Strip the bed, start the laundry, and dust the bedroom.

15 minutes: Vacuum the mattress, bedroom, and beneath accessible furniture.

15 minutes: Clean the bathroom sink, toilet, mirror and floor.

15 minutes: Declutter one drawer or cabinet.

Done. Your home is cleaner, one annoying space is under control, and you haven't lost an entire Saturday.

What Should You Clean in February?

If you only tackle five February cleaning jobs, make them:

1. Deep-clean the bedroom and bedding.
2. Vacuum upholstered furniture and beneath it.
3. Give the bathroom a thorough cleaning.
4. Clean the washer, dryer, and cleaning equipment.
5. Get ahead on one spring-cleaning task.

Those jobs address areas that get heavy winter use without repeating your ordinary weekly cleaning routine.

Don't Start Spring Cleaning Too Early

February has a way of producing premature spring-cleaning enthusiasm.

One sunny afternoon, and suddenly you're considering washing every window, emptying the garage, and reorganizing the linen closet.

Resist.

The best preparation for spring cleaning isn't starting twelve giant projects. It's eliminating a few jobs before the list gets long.

Clean one window. Clear one drawer. Wash one set of curtains. Handle one neglected corner.

Small completed jobs reduce the eventual workload. Half-finished projects merely relocate the mess.

February Is for the Things You Usually Skip

Your weekly routine handles the obvious stuff.

February is a good month for everything just outside that routine: the mattress, the sofa cushions, the bath mat, the washing machine, the vacuum cleaner, the dust hiding behind furniture.

None of these jobs is particularly glamorous. Fortunately, neither is February.

Take advantage of it.

Clean a few things you've been ignoring, clear one small cluttered space, and get one job off the spring list. Then stop.

March will bring plenty of opportunities to become unreasonable about cleaning.

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