Dig in and spring clean the house

The signs are there: A herd of dust bunnies amassed under the bed. Sinister-looking cobwebs dangling from the molding. And the God-knows-what-it-is goo clinging to the shower curtain.

It's time for spring cleaning.

Spring is the season of new beginnings and renewal; a time to scrub the slate clean.

And a clean house makes people feel happy, satisfied, comfortable and healthy, according to a recent survey from the Soap and Detergent Association.

In that same survey, respondents noted their favorite characteristics of a clean house:

37 percent said the clean, fresh smell.

31 percent said knowing dirt and grime are gone.

14 percent said they like the post-cleaning, dust-free look.

Finding — or making — time to clean can be daunting for those who don't relish such chores. Between work, kids and other obligations, no one wants to spend too much precious free time tethered to a bucket and dust rag.

That's when coming up with a game plan helps. Here are some suggestions gleaned from professional house cleaners, books and Web sites to help organize the annual chore.

Develop a plan.

Start by writing a list of jobs that need to be done, such as: cleaning out closets, washing windows, taking the drapes to the dry cleaners, shampooing carpets. When the list is complete, figure out what jobs have top priority. If your closet is so full that it's bursting at the seams, eliminating its clutter is first on the list. After prioritizing, schedule blocks of time to complete each task.

Stagger assignments over days or weeks. Face it: If you have a huge, intimidating list and try to do everything in one day, you'll be more likely to procrastinate. Do a little bit at a time.

Assemble needed tools.

Just as fashion doyennes suggest going through the closet to take stock of your wardrobe before buying new items, the same philosophy applies to cleaning. Take an inventory of cleaning products before starting. Having everything needed already on hand will eliminate midtask trips to the store.

Some basic tools to have include: mop, broom, dust pan, scrub brush, vacuum (and extra bags, if necessary), cleaning rags, bucket, sponges, a long-handled duster (for hard-to-reach spots), paper towels and gloves.