The Home Refresh Calendar: A Month-by-Month Checklist for Spring Cleaning and Beyond

Spring cleaning has a lovely ring to it, but in my experience it's also the surest route to a lost weekend, a bad back and a house that looks exactly the same a month later. Years ago I swapped the annual blitz for a gentler rhythm: a handful of jobs each month, matched to the weather and the way we actually live. The house stays nicer, nothing becomes overwhelming, and there's always something satisfying to tick off. Here is the calendar I keep pinned inside a kitchen cupboard door.

Take it as a starting point, not a rulebook. Every home is different, and a top-floor flat has rather different priorities from a draughty end-of-terrace with a garden.

Winter: January and February

January

• Pack away Christmas carefully: wrap fragile ornaments, wind lights around a piece of card, and note anything that needs replacing.
• Declutter one cupboard a week. The hall cupboard, the bathroom cabinet, the drawer everyone throws things into.
• Watch for condensation on windows and black mould in corners. Our damp and condensation guide explains how to tackle it before it takes hold.
• Bleed any radiators that feel cool at the top while the bottom is hot.

February

• Air duvets, pillows and heavy throws outside on a dry, breezy day, if February is kind enough to offer one.
• Clean behind and under appliances: the back of the fridge, behind the washing machine, the gap beside the cooker.
• Check the dates on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as well as testing them; alarms don't last for ever.
• Sort seed packets and plan summer pots while the evenings are still dark.

Spring: March, April and May

March

• Wash windows inside and out once the worst of the weather has passed. Light floods back in and you'll wonder why you waited.
• Take down and wash net curtains and voiles; vacuum heavier curtains with the upholstery attachment.
• Swap heavy winter throws for lighter cotton and linen.

April

• Clear gutters and downpipes of winter debris, calling in a professional if they're beyond safe ladder reach.
• Deep-clean the kitchen: degrease the extractor filter, clear out the larder, descale the kettle and the shower head.
• Turn or rotate mattresses, following the manufacturer's advice.
• Bring in branches of blossom or a bunch of tulips. Nothing says the house has woken up quite like it.

May

• Use the bank holiday weekends for a bigger project: a freshly painted room, a reorganised shed, or that piece of furniture waiting to be rescued. Our furniture restoration guide is a good place to start.
• Clean rugs and carpets, or hang smaller rugs over the washing line and beat them the old-fashioned way.
• Wash garden cushions and furniture, and give the doormat a good scrub.

A handful of jobs each month beats one heroic weekend that leaves you exhausted and the house unchanged.

Summer: June, July and August

June

• Clear out wardrobes and pack winter knits into breathable storage with cedar blocks or lavender bags to deter moths.
• Wash lampshades and dust picture rails, skirting boards and the tops of door frames: the places nobody looks.
• Open windows for a through-draught on cool mornings and close blinds on the sunny side by midday to keep rooms comfortable.

July

• Paint exterior woodwork and window frames while the weather is dry and settled.
• Check for moths in carpets and wool rugs, especially under furniture where it's dark and undisturbed.
• Sort the paperwork drawer: shred what you no longer need, file what you do.

August

• With school holidays and trips away, keep it light. One small job a week is plenty, and rest counts too.
• Visit car boot sales while they're in full swing. Our second-hand shopping guide has tips on where to look and how to haggle.
• Book the chimney sweep and the boiler service now, before everyone else remembers.

Autumn: September, October and November

September

• Have chimneys swept before the first fire of the season, and check stove door seals.
• Plant spring bulbs: daffodils, crocuses and alliums now, while tulips can wait until November.
• Bring summer cushions and garden furniture in, or cover them for the winter.

October

• Sort out draughts before the heating goes on in earnest. Our guide to draught-proofing without renovation covers doors, windows, floorboards and letterboxes.
• Bleed radiators again and check the boiler pressure.
• Clear falling leaves from gutters and paths before they turn slippery.
• Bring winter throws, rugs and heavier curtains back out. There are plenty of ideas in our cosy-home guide.

November

• Plant tulip bulbs once the soil has cooled.
• Lag outside taps and make sure everyone in the house knows where the stopcock is.
• Start the slow build to Christmas: test the lights, gather greenery, plan the wreath. There's more in our Christmas and winter decor guide.

December: a lighter touch

December is not the month for clearing out the loft. Keep it simple: a quick tidy before guests arrive, clean towels and bed linen ready, and a basket by the door for hats, gloves and wet boots. Test smoke alarms before the house fills with candles and fairy lights, and keep the hall and stairs clear so nobody trips over the presents. Then put your feet up. The calendar starts again in January.

And whatever else slips through the year, these are the jobs worth protecting:

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every month
• Book a boiler service and chimney sweep once a year
• Bleed radiators each autumn, and again if rooms feel cool
• Clear gutters in spring and late autumn
• Open windows briefly every day, even in winter, to let moisture out
• Declutter little and often, not all at once