Despite your best intentions, your garage or basement might be filled with a rummage sale’s worth of stuff and a maze of cobwebs. Time to play ball.

Work from the top down. Dusty walls and ceilings, dingy light fixtures and door and window trim should be tackled before other elements in the space. Windows, closets and furniture are next. Window and floor coverings should be last. This might include floor stripping, carpet cleaning and polishing.

Start at your home’s perimeter so you don’t track over already cleaned central spaces. And don’t forget to dust the top ledge of all doors.