27 Spring-Cleaning Tips

Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. In addition to testing batteries regularly, you should change these twice a year without fail.

When dusting, move around the room in a circle, starting with the highest points and working your way down to the floor, says cleaning expert Laura Dellutri of healthyhousekeeper.com, who suggests using Swiffer dusters, air purifiers, and vacuums with sealed HEPA filters to get the most thorough clean.

Flip or rotate your mattress. Check the warranty card for the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations.

Wash pillows and curtains to help reduce allergens and dust mites.

Organize and thoroughly clean out kitchen cupboards and the fridge, discarding canned goods and other items that are past their expiration date.

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Now is the time to swap heavy quilts and blankets for lighter-weight bedding. Be sure to wash and thoroughly dry all bedding before storing, suggests Donna Smallin, author of Organizing Plain & Simple (Storey), because body oils are what attract moths and insects. Stow them in under-bed boxes, zippered bags, or vacuum-seal storage bags, which save space and protect against insects. Insert cedar or lavender sachets for extra freshness.

Start kitchen herbs inside and transplant later in May. Basil, chives, dill, parsley, and fennel can be started from seeds. Oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, and tarragon do better if you start them from small plants or cuttings.

Open windows and give your cellar a good airing, then sweep the area thoroughly or vacuum.

Clean it, make sure that it's in working order, then run it in a humid basement or partially underground room. Dampness during spring and summer months causes mildew.

Clean carpets as soon as the spring mud season is over. Vacuum them thoroughly, then shampoo with a spray foam or powder, or rent a steamer from a hardware store for an even deeper clean.