There is something about the first warm weekend in Denver that makes you want to throw open every window and breathe. After months of furnace-heated air, grey slush tracked through the entryway, and that fine layer of dust that seems to coat everything in Colorado's dry climate, spring cleaning is not just a tradition here. It is a necessity.
But spring cleaning along the Front Range is not the same as spring cleaning in, say, Miami or Seattle. Our altitude, our climate, and our lifestyle create unique challenges that most generic cleaning guides completely overlook. After years of cleaning Denver homes, we have learned exactly what matters most when the season turns. Here are ten tips that actually work for Colorado homeowners.
1. Start With Your HVAC System and Air Vents
Your furnace has been running nearly nonstop since October. That means months of recirculated air pushing dust, pet dander, and whatever else is floating around through every vent in your home. Before you touch a single surface, swap out your furnace filter. If you have not changed it since fall, it is almost certainly clogged.
While you are at it, pop off each vent cover and give them a good soak in warm, soapy water. You would be amazed at the buildup. Then vacuum inside the duct openings as far as your hose will reach. This one step alone can dramatically improve your indoor air quality and reduce the dust that settles on every surface in your home.
For Denver homes specifically, we recommend filters rated MERV 11 or higher. Our dry air carries more particulate matter than humid climates, and wildfire season is not far off. A quality filter is not a luxury here. It is protection.
2. Tackle the Winter Salt and Mud at Every Entry Point
Denver's freeze-thaw cycle is relentless. One day it is 60 degrees, the next there is four inches of snow, and by the afternoon it has all turned to that signature brown slush that finds its way into every crevice of your entryway. Add in the magnesium chloride that CDOT spreads on the highways and city crews put on sidewalks, and your floors have taken a beating.
Start by pulling up entry mats and either washing or replacing them. Scrub tile or hardwood entryways with a mixture of warm water and white vinegar, which cuts through salt residue without damaging finishes. For carpet near doorways, a professional carpet cleaning is worth considering. Salt can work its way deep into carpet fibers and cause long-term damage if it is not properly extracted.
3. Deep Clean Your Windows (Inside and Out)
If you have lived through a Denver winter, you know that the combination of construction dust, road grit, and those sudden spring snowstorms leaves windows looking like they have been sandblasted. And because we get over 300 days of sunshine per year, dirty windows are painfully obvious.
Spring is the perfect time for a thorough window cleaning, inside and out. Do not forget window tracks and sills, which collect an astonishing amount of grime over the winter. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment first, then wipe down with an all-purpose cleaner. For the glass itself, a squeegee gives a streak-free finish that spray-and-wipe methods cannot match.
Pro tip: clean your windows on an overcast day or when they are in shade. Denver's intense sun dries cleaning solution too fast, leaving streaks no matter what product you use.
4. Address Colorado's Dust Problem Head-On
Let's talk about dust. Denver sits at the intersection of low humidity and high altitude, which means dust accumulates faster here than in most parts of the country. You dust on Monday, and by Wednesday it looks like you never bothered. Sound familiar?
For spring cleaning, go beyond surface dusting. Pull furniture away from walls and clean behind it. Dust ceiling fan blades (which have been spinning all winter, collecting a thick layer on top of each blade). Wipe down all baseboards, door frames, and light fixtures. Use a damp microfiber cloth rather than a dry duster, which just pushes particles back into the air.
Do not forget often-missed spots like the tops of kitchen cabinets, refrigerator coils, and the area behind your washer and dryer. A thorough deep cleaning that addresses all of these spots makes a noticeable difference in how quickly dust returns throughout the rest of the year.
5. Prepare for Allergy Season Early
Colorado's allergy season hits hard, and it starts earlier than many people realize. Cottonwood, juniper, and elm trees can start releasing pollen as early as March, and by April the air is thick with it. If anyone in your household deals with allergies, spring cleaning is your first line of defense.
Wash all bedding in hot water, including mattress pads, pillow protectors, and duvet covers. Vacuum upholstered furniture and curtains. If you have area rugs, either deep clean them or take them outside and beat them thoroughly. Consider washing or replacing pillows that have gone through the winter absorbing allergens.
This is also a great time to clean or replace your vacuum's HEPA filter. A vacuum with a dirty filter is just redistributing allergens rather than removing them.
6. Refresh Your Kitchen From Top to Bottom
Winter in Denver means comfort food. Soups, roasts, baked goods: all delicious, all leaving behind grease splatter and food residue in places you might not notice day to day. Spring is the time to pull everything out of your kitchen cabinets, wipe down shelves, and purge expired items.
Clean the inside of your oven (self-cleaning cycle or a good oven cleaner), degrease the range hood and filter, and pull out your refrigerator to clean the coils and the floor beneath it. Wipe down the inside of your dishwasher and run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar to remove buildup.
One thing that is unique to Denver kitchens: our hard water. If you notice white mineral deposits on your faucets, showerheads, or glass surfaces, a paste of baking soda and white vinegar works wonders. The mineral content in Denver's water supply is relatively high, and those deposits only get worse the longer you wait.
7. Give Your Bathrooms the Attention They Deserve
Bathrooms accumulate moisture, mold risk, and soap scum year-round, but winter's dry air and closed windows can mask odors and make problems less obvious. Spring is the time to get serious. Scrub grout lines with a grout brush and oxygen bleach solution. Clean behind toilets, which is one of the most neglected spots in any home. Replace or deep clean shower curtain liners.
Check caulking around tubs, showers, and sinks for any signs of cracking or mold. Denver's temperature swings cause materials to expand and contract, and old caulking fails faster here than in more stable climates. Re-caulking is a quick project that prevents much more expensive water damage down the road.
8. Flip Your Mattresses and Deep Clean Bedrooms
You spend roughly a third of your life in bed, so your bedroom deserves real attention. Vacuum your mattress thoroughly, sprinkle it with baking soda, let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then vacuum again. This draws out moisture and odors that accumulate over time. Rotate or flip your mattress if the manufacturer recommends it.
Dust and vacuum under the bed (dust bunnies love it under there), clean closet floors and shelves, and wash or dry clean winter blankets before storing them. This is also a great time to switch out heavy winter bedding for lighter options as the weather warms.
9. Prep Your Outdoor Living Spaces
Denver homeowners live for patio season. Once those warm spring evenings arrive, you want your deck, patio, or balcony ready to go. Power wash concrete and composite decking to remove winter grime. Wipe down outdoor furniture and check cushions for mold or mildew. Clean light fixtures and sweep cobwebs from covered areas.
If you have a grill that has been sitting idle, give the grates a thorough scrub and wipe down the exterior. Clean out gutters if you have not already, since spring rain and snowmelt need somewhere to go. And take a walk around the exterior of your home to check for any winter damage to siding, trim, or paint that should be addressed before summer.
10. Know When to Call in the Professionals
There is no shame in admitting that a true spring deep clean is a massive undertaking. Between working, keeping up with kids, and actually trying to enjoy Colorado's gorgeous spring weather, most people run out of energy somewhere around tip number four.
This is exactly why professional deep cleaning services exist. A professional crew can accomplish in a few hours what takes most homeowners an entire weekend or more. We bring the right tools, the right products, and the experience to hit every spot, including the ones most people miss.
Whether you want a full top-to-bottom deep clean or just help with specific tasks like window cleaning or carpet cleaning, having professionals handle the heavy lifting means you can actually enjoy the season instead of spending it with a mop in your hand.
Your Spring Cleaning Game Plan
The key to spring cleaning success is not trying to do everything in a single marathon session. Break it into manageable chunks. Tackle one or two rooms per weekend, or dedicate specific days to specific tasks. Start with the items that have the biggest impact on air quality, like HVAC filters and dusting, and work outward from there.
Denver's unpredictable spring weather actually works in your favor. Those inevitable snow days in April are perfect for indoor deep cleaning projects, while warm stretches are ideal for outdoor tasks and window cleaning.
However you approach it, taking the time for a thorough spring clean pays dividends all year long. Your home feels fresher, your air quality improves, and you start the season with a clean slate. And if you need a hand, Denver Clean Home is always just a phone call away at (720) 352-8598.