Spring Cleaning Made Simple: A Fresh Start with Laundry

When you think “spring cleaning,” it’s easy to picture a long to-do list and feel overwhelmed. A simple way to get started is to focus on one category that makes a big impact: laundry.

Refreshing the fabrics you touch every day like clothes, bedding, towels, and soft surfaces instantly makes your home feel cleaner and more comfortable. This guide shows you where to begin, what to wash, and how to use Tide and Downy to make spring cleaning feel manageable.

Why Start Spring Cleaning With Laundry?

Starting with laundry helps you ease into spring cleaning because it:

  • Creates quick wins: One load washed, dried, and folded is a visible accomplishment!

  • Clears space: Clean, organized clothes and linens free up closets and storage areas

  • Refreshes the whole home: Fabrics hold on to odors, dust, and buildup. Washing them makes your home feel fresher right away.

By beginning with laundry, you set a simple, step-by-step tone for the rest of your spring cleaning.

Step 1: Reset Your Closet – Wash and Store Winter Clothes

Start where the season change is most obvious: your wardrobe. Before you store winter clothes, give them a deep clean so they’re fresh and ready for next year.

How to Deep Clean Winter Clothes

Sort by fabric and color:

  • Separate heavy sweaters, delicates, and everyday items

  • Wash darks, lights, and whites separately to protect colors

Pretreat stains and odors:

  • Check cuffs, collars, and underarms for stains and odors

  • Use Tide to pre-treat and wash fabrics to help remove visible stains and everyday soils

Remove buildup and residues:

  • Use Downy Rinse in the fabric softener compartment help remove stubborn odors

  • Downy Rinse’s unique low pH formula helps rinse away residues and lingering odors so clothes feel truly clean

Choose the right cycle:

  • Always check the care label on your garments and follow the instructions

  • Use gentle or delicate cycles for sweaters and knits. Also consider using a mesh garment bag to help protect from snagging, and lay sweaters and knits flat to dry to prevent stretching

  • Use Regular or Normal cycles for sturdy items like jeans and sweatshirts

How to Store Winter Clothes After Washing

  • Make sure everything is completely dry to help prevent musty smells

  • Fold sweaters instead of hanging them so they keep their shape

  • Use breathable storage bins or fabric bags when possible

  • Group similar items (sweaters, scarves, heavy pajamas) so they’re easy to find next season

Once your winter wardrobe is washed and stored, your closet will feel lighter, clearer, and ready for spring.

Step 2: Refresh Everyday Essentials – Bedding, Towels, and More

Next, focus on the fabrics you use every day. Fresh bedding and towels instantly make your home feel cleaner and more inviting.

Bedding and Pillows

Sheets and pillowcases:

  • Wash with Tide and Downy Rinse to remove body oils, sweat, and everyday dirt

Comforters and duvets:

  • Check the care label to confirm they’re machine washable

  • Use Tide for a deep clean

  • Add Downy Scent Beads for long-lasting freshness and a clean, comforting scent

Pillows:

  • If they’re machine washable, wash two at a time to balance the load

  • Use an extra rinse cycle to help remove detergent and residues

Mattress protectors and toppers:

  • Wash according to the care instructions to remove dust and trapped odors

Bath and Kitchen Linens

Bath towels and hand towels:

  • Wash with Tide.

  • Add Downy Rinse to help remove buildup and mustiness so towels feel soft and smell fresh

Bath mats:

  • Wash regularly in a separate load using Tide

  • Add Downy Rinse to remove trapped odors, and add Downy Scent Beads for an extra burst of freshness

Kitchen towels and dishcloths:

  • Wash with Tide to help remove grease and food residues

  • Replace heavily worn or stained items as needed

Cleaning these frequently-used items makes a big difference. Once they’re clean, your home will look, feel, and smell fresher.

Step 3: Deep Clean the “Forgotten” Fabrics

Spring is the perfect time to tackle soft surfaces that are easy to overlook but quietly collect dust, odors, and other particles.

Include these in your spring laundry checklist:

Curtains and drapes:

  • Many are machine washable; always check the label

  • Use a gentle cycle with Tide, then hang to dry to help reduce wrinkles

Throw blankets and decorative pillows:

  • Wash with Tide and add Downy Scent Beads so they come out smelling fresh and inviting

Slipcovers and cushion covers:

  • Remove and wash according to care instructions

  • This gives your living room an instant visual refresh

Shower curtains and liners:

  • Many fabric curtains can be machine washed – just check the care label for guidance

  • Add a few towels in the wash to help balance the load, and use Downy Rinse to remove musty odors

Pet beds and pet blankets:

  • Wash separately using Tide to help remove pet stains and odors

  • Use an extra rinse cycle to help wash away hair and residues

  • Try Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard Dryer Sheets to help remove pet hair in the dryer

Once these “forgotten” fabrics are clean, your whole home will feel lighter and more comfortable.

Step 4: Give Your Laundry Space a Quick Spring Reset

While you’re in laundry mode, take a few minutes to refresh the space that makes all of this possible.

Clean the washer:

  • Run a cleaning or hot cycle according to your machine’s instructions

  • Wipe the door seal and rinse the detergent drawer to remove residue

Clear clutter:

  • Recycle empty bottles and boxes

  • Group products like Tide, Downy Rinse, and Downy Scent Beads where they’re easy to reach

Freshen the dryer:

  • Clean the lint trap after every load

  • If possible, vacuum around the trap area to help clear excess lint

Create a simple system:

  • Use labeled baskets for lights, darks, and delicates

  • This makes it easier to stay on top of laundry all year long.]

A tidy laundry area makes the whole process feel smoother and less stressful.

Step 5: Keep the Fresh Feeling Going All Season

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a once-a-year event. A simple routine can help your home stay fresh and organized.

Suggested Laundry Schedule

Weekly:

  • Wash sheets, pillowcases, and frequently used towels with Tide

  • Add Downy Scent Beads when you want an extra boost of scent

Every 2–4 weeks:

  • Wash mattress protectors, bath mats, and throw blankets

Seasonally:

  • Deep clean comforters, curtains, and stored clothing

  • Use Tide and Downy Rinse to help remove built-up residues and odors

By breaking laundry into small, manageable steps, spring cleaning feels less like a marathon and more like a simple reset – starting with the fabrics you use every day.

FAQs

Start with laundry. Wash and store your winter clothes first, then move on to everyday items like bedding and towels. This gives you quick, visible progress and makes the rest of your spring cleaning feel easier.

Wash sheets and pillowcases about once a week, and wash towels every 3–7 days, depending on how often you use them. Using a deep-cleaning detergent like Tide helps keep them feeling fresh and comfortable.

Often, yes, just make sure your washer is large enough and the care label says they’re machine washable. Use a gentle or bulky cycle with Tide, avoid overloading the machine, and consider an extra rinse to remove any residues.

Use Tide for a thorough clean, Downy Rinse to help remove buildup and lingering odors, and Downy Scent Beads when you want long-lasting freshness. Together, they help refresh clothes, bedding, and other fabrics throughout your home.

Stick to a simple routine: wash bedding weekly, bath mats and throw blankets every 2–4 weeks, and deep clean comforters, curtains, and stored clothing seasonally. Keeping up with these small steps helps maintain that just-cleaned feeling for months.