1. You Don’t Really Have to Spring Clean

“Spring cleaning?” asks Ewer. “You don’t need to do it! If you take a look at the history of spring cleaning, it came from our dirty heating systems.” In the past, the cleanup was necessary to get rid of scummy, greasy carbon deposits from open fires and coal stoves, but today’s homes seldom present this kind of problem. However, Ewer notes, “a lot of us like to welcome spring with a clean house.” So if you’re pining for a fresh start, break out the sponges and brushes!

2. Declutter First, Clean Second

“The first step is picking up,” Ewer says. “If you only have time for one weekend of cleaning, tackle the clutter!” Ewer’s site has more than 150,000 registered users, and she says the accumulation of junk is her readers’ number one problem. So don’t obsess over every speck of dirt — organizing your stuff can give you a real spring-clean feeling all its own.

3. Make It a Team Effort

Who’s doing the cleaning in your house? The answer should be: everyone. “Team cleaning beats cleaning alone any time,” says Ewer. For a big project, make it a family job and assign tasks to everyone in the house (even the littlest family members). It saves you time and teaches your kids how to do these chores themselves.

4. Take Your Tools With You

“There isn’t really an order to how you should do spring cleaning,” says Ewer, but there is a time-and-motion advantage to finishing one room before starting on the next. “Take a few minutes to pack your tote,” recommends Ewer. “That’s what the professionals do.” Carry cleaning sprays and sponges with you in a caddy or bucket, along with the vacuum and a duster.

5. Shake Things Up

For Ewer, moving furniture and cleaning behind it is a must at the end of winter. “Dust tends to settle in,” she says. “Once a year you want to pull the furniture out, vacuum, wash the baseboards and really get rid of all that dirt.” While you’re at it, think about rearranging the furniture. Not only is it fun to change things up, but moving furniture seasonally will save your carpet from wearing out in a particular place. In warmer months the sun’s rays also can fade wood and upholstery, so pull pieces out of direct sunlight.

6. Let in the Light

The best perk-up is bringing spring sunshine indoors: Clean all your windows inside and out. And take your glass light fixtures apart and wash the glass — you’ll be surprised at how much more light they seem to give off once they’re sparkling.

7. Open the Windows

These days stores have whole sections devoted to home deodorizing products. Today’s homes are so well built and, therefore, so sealed up that less air may be getting in. Ewer’s vote for the best deodorizer: good ol’ fresh, clean air. So open windows and doors as you clean for a fresh spring scent.

8. Don’t Do It All

“The biggest no-no is tearing off more than you can chew. Be realistic,” she says. It’s always better to completely clean one room than to accomplish a few bitty tasks in each room. Put your efforts where they count, like the bathroom and the kitchen, not the guest bedroom.

9. Stay Motivated

Ewer lives to clean and organize, but even she needs a little nudge to get going. Make cleaning fun: Crank up the volume on your favorite album or buy a headset for your phone and chat with friends. Or follow Ewer’s lead and listen to books on tape while doing your chores.

10. Make Cleaning an Everyday Habit

Ewer likens cleaning to riding a bicycle. It’s hard to run alongside your bike and jump on, but easy to pedal up to speed. “Think about giving cleaning that little push every day,” says Ewer. If you do it regularly and often, you’ll never have to tackle a giant mess.