According to the daffodils and tulips popping up outdoors, we made it through another Midwest winter! Now that we are surrounded by more green plants and sunshine, many people start to feel the urge to shake off those winter blues and let the bright light in. And while the impulse to do a full-blown spring deep clean may be appealing to some, for the rest of us, maybe some quicker springy projects will suffice. Read on for 10 easy refreshes that you can complete in an hour, a day or a weekend, depending on the time you’d like to commit.
1. Change your lightbulbs
You can upgrade the vibe of your whole home by replacing old or burnt-out lightbulbs with energy-efficient bulbs or even new fixtures. If you are working at the fixture level, be sure to shut off your power at the breaker, but I bet you could find a burnt-out lightbulb in an existing fixture to replace to give your home a little more light.
2. Wash your windows
Speaking of light, your windows probably accumulated some grime during the winter. Clean as little or as much as you like – the inside pane of your windows, the outside pane or go all-in and deep clean your window tracks. In order to clean window tracks, use a hose or brush attachment to vacuum loose debris, then wipe down the remainder of the track’s grime with a little vinegar, water and dish soap (or whatever cleaner you prefer). For stubborn grime, mold, or mildew, you could consider a bleach-based cleaner and a stiff brush. Sit back and let the sunshine stream in.
3. Clean your drains
This one sort of makes me want to gag, but if you have minor clogs in slow-moving sinks, tubs or showers, cleaning these out would go a long way toward keeping your house flowing and glowing. To do this at home, you’ll need either a small drain snake or a small sink plunger. Be wary of your skills and follow directions, as you certainly don’t want to make any clogs worse than they are, so use your own DIY discretion.
4. Deep clean your appliances
Refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, washers and dryers – all of these appliances could use a wipe down or a clean out. You can often find and purchase deep-cleaning products for washing machines and dishwashers, and for the others, use what you have on hand. Don’t forget your smaller appliances. Shake the crumbs out of your toasters or run some water through your coffee maker. Spend a little time to get rid of a little grime, and your future self will thank you.
5. Buy some spring scents
Depending on your scent sensitivity, spring is a fun time to invest in scented hand soaps, counter sprays, a new laundry detergent, or even a new personal care item such as shampoo or deodorant. We can all get a little tired of the same old thing, so why not try something new?
6. Put away winter items
Spend a day or two laundering winter coats, gloves and hats and shake the crusty mud off of your winter boots. Washing these items before you store them for the summer ensures you get rid of any stains and you don’t hold on to any odors (and who knows, maybe you’ll find some cash in your coat pocket). Either way, you can finally put all your winter things away. Thank goodness!
7. Refresh rugs and upholstery
The start of spring is as good a time as any to bust out an upright carpet cleaner or a portable upholstery cleaner and wash away the winter. If you’ve got slipcovers on sofas or other upholstery, spend a few hours laundering them. If all of this sounds like too much for one day, you can simply sprinkle some carpet powder or baking soda on your rugs, let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes, and vacuum it up in order to neutralize any stagnant odors.
8. Burp your house
Probably the easiest of all the spring refreshes, burping your house simply involves opening some windows or doors on opposite sides of your house or space for 10 or 15 and letting fresh air move through your home. Burping your house helps reduce moisture, mold and stagnant CO2 while increasing your indoor air quality.
9. Clean up weeds
Whether they are in your yard, garden beds or sidewalk cracks, you probably don’t have to look far to find some weeds in spring. Weeding can be as big or as small a chore as you’d like, meaning you get to create your own definition of done for the day. While weeding can be a full-time job throughout the warmer months, doing small bits here and there will always help. If you’d like a weekend project, lay down some mulch as well.
10. Get some houseplants
Now that you’ve got all these clean, fresh, sunny vibes pulsing through your home, go see about a houseplant or two. Easy, low-maintenance houseplants that thrive in spring and tolerate low light include the snake plants and ZZ plants, while pothos, spider plants and monsteras love bright, indirect light.
Pamela Savage is a freelance writer living in Springfield. She is thrilled that spring has sprung.
This article appears in April 16-22, 2026.
