Spring is nigh, and that usually means spring cleaning isn’t too far down on your to-do list. As February weather tends to keep you indoors anyway, this would be a good time of year to give your house a full, deep clean.

If you need a little motivation, sometimes it helps to just pick one project – like cleaning out your pantry, to get you started. Once you begin, you can keep that momentum going into cleaning and organizing the rest of the kitchen and then eventually move on to other rooms.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

DECLUTTER ALL OF IT

Start by getting rid of magazines, books, clothes, papers, desk supplies, boxes, throws, toys, equipment, and anything else that takes up counter space or floor space. Find a place for it or toss it – just get it out of the way. If you need inspiration, give Marie Kondo’s Netflix special a try and start sparking joy around the house.

START HIGH, END LOW

Like any major project, you need to have a plan. We recommend that you start high – as in the ceilings, light fixtures, window treatments, and hard-to-reach places, and then work your way down to the floors. As you’re cleaning higher-up places, dirt and grime can drift downward. And when you dust cabinets and countertops, that dust likes to kick up in the air and settle on lower surfaces as well.

DO THE WINDOWS

Start with the upstairs windows and then move down. Clean the glass first by lightly spraying cleaner all over the pane and then wiping with a microfiber cloth. If you have a squeegee, even better. Clean the outside of the window first, so when you clean inside you can see any streaks more clearly and get rid of them.

SCRUB THE KITCHEN

This room will probably involve the most work, so try and block out an entire day (and a few “volunteers”) for it. Start high by cleaning the ceiling over your stove, the top of the refrigerator, light fixtures, and higher shelving, and then work your way down to the countertops. Tackle any grease stains on your stovetop with a degreaser product and wipe all surfaces with warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth. Don’t forget to wipe down the inside of your microwave and the shelving inside your refrigerator. After all of your surfaces are clean, grab a broom and a mop and clean out all of the dirt and debris under your appliances.

BLEACH THE BATHROOM

While you mostly keep your bathroom clean every week, now is the time to roll up your sleeves and really get in there. Start by washing the shower curtain with a cup of bleach to get rid of any mold. Wipe down the top of your mirror and any high shelving. Clear out all of your products sitting inside your shower or tub and really scrub down the surfaces with a bleach product. Get down on the floor and clean behind the toilet and the sink. Then give the floor and the baseboards a good mopping.

ORGANIZE SHELVES AND DRAWERS

After you purge your clothes, desk supplies, beauty supplies, kitchen supplies, etc., wipe down all of your shelving and drawer surfaces with a multi-surface cleaner. Then invest in a few containers and dividers to keep your belongings organized. Clear containers work best so you can see the items inside, and drawer organizers help separate and extend the life of your undergarments.

Are you ready to spray and scrub your way to a perfectly clean house? Do you have any deep-clean pointers you can share? We’re all ears.