Spring Cleaning Checklist: Room by Room, Appliances Included
Start once nights stay above freezing, usually late April to late May in southern Québec. Go from the front door to the basement: salt marks and window tracks, HRV filters, washer, dishwasher and garburator, fridge coils, the dryer duct (a fire-safety job), then a mould check and a humidity reading of 30% to 50%. It fits in one weekend; BLITZ tablets run the appliance cycles while you clean the rest.
Shop the BLITZ Essentials Kit, $43.95
In this guide
Spring cleaning at a glance: the numbers that matter
A Canadian spring clean is half cleaning, half checking what winter did to the house. CMHC calls spring "the time to assess winter damage."
After winter: salt marks, grit and window tracks
- Salt marks: vacuum the grit first, then warm water with a little mild soap, a clean-water rinse, and dry (our method, unless your floor maker says otherwise). On hardwood, no wet mop (Mirage). Mats and everyday habits: our cleaning routine for Canadian homes.
- Window tracks: vacuum with the crevice tool, wipe with a soapy cloth, then clear the drain slots at the bottom of the frame with a pipe cleaner so rain drains out (our method).
- Screens: clean windows, screens and hardware, and repair torn screens (CMHC's spring list).
Spring cleaning checklist for Canadian homes, room by room
Our list in six zones. In each room, work top to bottom, floors last.
Also worth doing: wash coats, tuques and mittens by their care labels before storing them; in bedrooms, duvets, fan blades, under the beds, and baseboard heaters dusted with the thermostat down. CMHC says to check the range hood filter monthly.
The HRV (air exchanger): filters, core and outside hoods
CMHC says to clean or replace HRV filters every two months. In spring, do the rest too, with the unit unplugged.
- Filters: vacuum and wash washable ones, or replace them.
- Core: vacuum it and wash it with soap and water (CMHC). Your manual shows how to remove it.
- Condensate drain: slowly pour about 2 litres of warm, clean water into each drain pan to check that it drains.
- Outside hoods: clear leaves and paper. Once a year, CMHC also asks you to check the ducts to and from the unit.
Tip: Write the date on the filter frame with a marker. Two months later, you'll know at a glance whether it's due.
Deep clean the washer, dishwasher and garburator
A quick hand clean, then a tablet cycle that runs while you do the rest of the kitchen.
- Washer (20 minutes). Wipe inside the door seal fold, wash the detergent drawer and clean the pump filter if there is one. Then one BLITZ Washing Machine Cleaner tablet in the empty drum, not the drawer, on the hottest cycle. If it's been months, run a second one (our suggestion). Brand by brand: how often to clean a washing machine.
- Dishwasher (15 minutes). Twist out the filter, rinse it under hot water and scrub it with a soft brush; Whirlpool says at least monthly, every two weeks for large families. Then one BLITZ Dishwasher Cleaner tablet in the detergent compartment of the empty dishwasher, normal cycle.
- Garburator (10 minutes). Power off (never a hand inside), scrub under the rubber splash guard with dish soap (InSinkErator says food builds up there), power back on. With a thin stream of hot water, drop in a BLITZ Disposal Cleaner tablet (two for 3/4 and 1 HP motors) and run the unit while the foam works. Every BLITZ product is septic-safe. Details: how to clean a garbage disposal.
Careful: On a Samsung, run BLITZ in a separate hot cycle, never in Self Clean, which takes liquid chlorine bleach only.
- On an LG, start the Tub Clean cycle with the tablet in the empty drum (our LG washer guide).
- Black spots on the door seal? Run the tablet cycle first and let the washer drain.
- Then use the gel below, never both at once.
Washer and dishwasher tablets in one kit, $43.95
24 tablets each: $43.95 ÷ 48 tablets = about $0.92 a clean. Price on goblitzclean.com, October 20, 2026.
Fridge coils: when and how to clean them
Not every fridge needs it. Whirlpool says routine coil cleaning usually isn't needed in a normal home; with pets, heavy cooking or construction dust, check and clean every 3 to 6 months. Some models need none, others a technician. Empty and clean the drip tray too (CMHC).
- Unplug the fridge or switch off its breaker.
- Remove the base grille at the bottom front.
- Brush and vacuum the coils with a coil brush or the crevice tool, then put the grille back and plug it in.
The dryer vent: a fire-safety job, not a cleaning chore
A 2023 fire-safety sheet from the Low fire service, in the Outaouais, says dryers caused at least 450 fires in Québec since 2018, most of them from excess lint and a poorly maintained duct. Ontario's Office of the Fire Marshal calls lack of maintenance a leading cause of dryer fires.
- Lint screen after every load. Both fire services say so.
- Duct once or twice a year (Low fire service). CMHC says to disconnect it and vacuum the lint from the duct, around the dryer and from the vent hood outside.
- Outside hood: inspect it regularly so nothing blocks it (Fire Marshal). Health Canada adds that the dryer must vent outside, with the duct joints sealed with foil tape.
Careful: The Low fire service says to always use a steel duct. If yours is white plastic or thin foil, replace it. And if loads start taking longer to dry, check the duct and the outside flap first (our suggestion).
Mould and humidity: the caulk, the basement, the hygrometer
Health Canada: fix the moisture first, then judge the size. Up to 1 m², clean it yourself with water and unscented dish detergent, wearing gloves, safety glasses and an N95 mask. A single patch over 3 m², or mould that keeps coming back, calls for a professional.
Bathroom caulk and grout
Health Canada says to repair or replace cracked or damaged caulking and grout around tubs and showers, so peeling caulk gets replaced. For black stains on sound caulk, BLITZ Mold Stain Remover is a thick gel that clings to the stain instead of running off: apply it to a dry joint, leave it 3 to 5 hours, wipe it off. Step by step: black shower caulking and grout.
Careful: The gel is a bleach gel (sodium hypochlorite). Wear gloves and eye protection, open a window, and never use it at the same time as another cleaner: not with vinegar, ammonia, a toilet bowl cleaner or the washer tablets. Health Canada warns that bleach mixed with ammonia or an acid releases toxic gases.
The basement after the thaw
- Walls and floor: cracks, leaks or signs of moisture (CMHC).
- Sump pump: working before the thaw, discharge pipe draining away from the foundation (CMHC).
- Eavestroughs and downspouts: clear them so snowmelt and rain flow away from the house.
- Clutter: Health Canada says cardboard boxes and old clothes are great places for mould to grow. Use lidded bins.
Humidity: 30% to 50%
Health Canada's target is 30% to 50% relative humidity (about 50% in summer, 30% in winter), read on an inexpensive hygrometer. Basement: under 60% in summer with a dehumidifier, and clean the dehumidifier and its drain in spring (CMHC). In the bathroom, run the fan at least 30 minutes after a shower (Health Canada).
A realistic weekend plan
Our estimate: about 10 hours for a typical house, less in a condo or with help.
- Short on time? One block per weekend for a month, dryer duct and HRV first.
- Moving on July 1? Our move-in cleaning checklist covers both apartments.
- Keep it going: a washer and a dishwasher tablet every two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start spring cleaning in Canada?
When nights stay above freezing and you can open the windows. In southern Québec, that's usually late April to late May; further north or at the cottage, often June (our rule of thumb).
How often should I clean my HRV filters?
Every two months, according to CMHC. In spring, also do the core, the drain and the outside hoods.
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?
The lint screen after every load and the duct once or twice a year, says the Low fire service in Québec.
Can I clean mould myself?
Yes, up to 1 m², with gloves, safety glasses and an N95 mask (Health Canada). For black stains on tub caulk, a gel such as BLITZ Mold Stain Remover stays on 3 to 5 hours. A single patch over 3 m² needs a professional.
Sources: Health Canada (mould guide and page, 2023; humidifiers; bleach advisory); CMHC (maintenance schedule, 2010; HRV, 2018); Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal with Windsor Fire & Rescue; Low fire service (2023); LG Canada, Samsung, Whirlpool, InSinkErator and Mirage. All checked October 20, 2026.
LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, InSinkErator and Mirage are trademarks of their owners. BLITZ is not affiliated with them.
THE APPLIANCE PART OF YOUR SPRING CLEAN
Pick the BLITZ kit for your machines
One tablet per cycle, septic-safe. 24 tablets per product, about a year at one every two weeks. Prices on goblitzclean.com, October 20, 2026.
Kitchen Kit, $69.95
Dishwasher, coffee maker, and a ceramic coating for faucets and stainless. $17.94 less.
Shop Kitchen
Whole Home Kit, $89.95
Washer, dishwasher, coffee maker and the coating. $22.89 less.
Shop Whole HomeRated 4.9 out of 5 (washer, 14 reviews) and 5.0 out of 5 (dishwasher, 15 reviews) on goblitzclean.com. BLITZ is a Québec company in Laval, with service in French and English: free shipping from $40, most orders in 2 to 3 business days, 10% back in store credit, 30-day money-back guarantee (refund policy). Also on Amazon.ca.
