Handy tips and valuable tools to keep house clean

With the help of a few miracle tools, you can complete a seasonal cleaning job and spruce up your house in no time.

CEILING FANS

Ditch the teetering ladder and grab a telescoping fan duster to grip blade dust, says professional organizer and cleaner Marlene Hansen. If your fan blades are dirty with oil and grit, use a damp cloth and a spot of vinegar to wipe them down (check your owner’s manual first), suggests Donna Smallin, author of “Cleaning: Plain & Simple” (Storey Publishing).

Tip: After cleaning, lightly dust fan blades with furniture polish that contains beeswax, which reduces the amount of static. Less static, less dust.

Tool: Unger Ceiling Fan Duster Brush ($14.99) can be found at mass merchandisers and some grocery stores.

WINDOWS AND SCREENS

Try outdoor window-cleaning solutions that attach to a garden hose. Blast the outside window through the screen and both will come clean.

“Even second-story windows come out looking great,” Hansen says.

Spray indoor windows with a mixture of 3 tablespoons vinegar to 1 quart water and wipe with newspaper.

Tip: Wash outside windows on a cool, cloudy day to prevent glass cleaner from drying too quickly and leaving streaks.

Tool: Windex Outdoor Window & Surface Cleaner ($9) can be found at most hardware and home-improvement stores.

CURTAINS AND BLINDS

For curtains, remove dust by vacuuming with a small brush attachment. Many curtain fabrics may be put in the dryer on low heat with a fabricsoftener sheet for a quick clean, Hansen says. The dryer draws out the dust, and the fabric softener freshens the curtains.

If you have blinds, think microfiber. The handy cloths make cleaning blinds a swipe-once job.

For dirtier blinds, take them down and spray them, slots open, in the tub with warm water, or soak them in soapy water. Hang to dry outside. Lining the tub with a towel keeps the blinds from scuffing the tub’s finish.

Tip: Wipe blinds clean with a fabric-softener sheet to prevent dust buildup.

Tool: Unger Microfiber Cleaning Cloths ($20 for a 10 pack) that collect, trap and remove dirt, grease and dust can be found at Wal-Mart and Target.

CARPET

If you splurge on one seasonal cleaning expense, hire a professional cleaning service for your carpet.

Prices start at about $25 a room. If you’re serious about keeping the carpet and room fresh throughout the year, consider upgrading to a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter system.

Before buying, consult a rating publication, such as Consumer Reports magazine, that has tested the product.

Tip: A quick way to spot-clean a stain is to use 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Pour or spray the peroxide onto the stain and blot with a white towel until the stain is gone.

Tool: Sears Kenmore Progressive with Direct Drive vacuum (model 35922, $299) was chosen No. 1 by Consumer Reports.