Spring cleaning originated in an earlier era when people closed their houses for the winter, trapping the residue of fires and gas lights in the house. When spring came, there was a real need to scrub everything clean. Now, the need for cleaning is less obvious, but it’s always a good idea to do a really thorough cleaning periodically. Also, there are some chores that are best left to the change of seasons (like switching out storm windows and screens or switching spring/summer and fall/winter wardrobes).

If I start from a basically tidy house, I can do a decent spring cleaning of my 859 square feet in about 10 hours. Here are some basic steps to get you started:

• Pick an extended bloc of time for your cleaning and schedule it in pen. I usually block out most of a weekend. If you have a big house or if you are starting from disorder, you may need to schedule more time.
• In advance of your cleaning dates, do your best to lay the groundwork by doing basic tidying: Hang up clothes; do laundry; put things where they actually belong; do the nagging little errands you’ve been putting off. Spending 30 minutes a day can make a huge difference.
• Make sure you have sufficient cleaning supplies on hand.
• Get everyone in the family involved. Everyone can do something.

Decide how you will reward yourself when you are done.