Clean your house every day? That's what Donna Smallin, author of "Cleaning Plain & Simple" and seven other books on cleaning and organizing, recommends.

"It's the simplest way to minimize housework," she said.

But cleaning house doesn't have to mean full-blown drudgery. Everyday shortcuts (let dishes air-dry, give cleaners time to work while you do something else) and prevention (invest in good doormats, ban food from bedrooms) can ease the load. And if you keep up with daily touch-ups, your spring cleaning is limited to just the extras.

The recent issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine has the eight chores you need to do only once a year.

Wash windows

Be sure to pick a cloudy day. If it's too sunny, the cleaning solution will dry too fast and you'll have streaks. For a window washing solution, combine Z\x cup of sudsy ammonia (which is a specific type of ammonia), one pint rubbing alcohol, one teaspoon dishwashing liquid and one gallon of water.

Smart Trick: To determine whether streaks are on the inside or outside, wipe with vertical strokes on one side of the window, horizontal on the other.

Scrub, vacuum sliding glass door tracks

It's probably not the first spot you'd think to clean, but you'll appreciate having done it before the outdoor entertaining season gets into full swing. Smallin suggests scrubbing the tracks with an old, dry toothbrush to loosen debris, then using your vacuum hose to remove it. Finish with a wet sponge.

Wash baseboards, door frames, walls

You might overlook these surfaces on a daily basis, but once a year give them some attention. Wash them with a sponge and a squirt of dishwashing liquid mixed in a bucket of warm water.

Deep clean carpet, rugs

To maintain a new carpet's warranty, you might need to have it cleaned professionally every 12 to 18 months, Smallin said. Otherwise, you can do it yourself. Rent a deep cleaner or buy a professional-style model designed for home use.

Clean furniture

Restore smooth leather with an upholstery cleaner and conditioner. Use a suede brush to perk up nubuck leather.

For wood furniture, make your own all-natural cleaner and polish: Mix ½ teaspoon of olive oil and ½ cup of vinegar or lemon juice in a plastic spray bottle, shake well, and spray onto a microfiber cloth.

Freshen window treatments

In all likelihood, your curtains and draperies aren't dirty enough to launder. To clean, go over them thoroughly with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum.

Smart Trick: To remove dust from sheer curtains, put them in the dryer on low with a fabric softener sheet.

Dust light fixtures, ceiling fans, light bulbs

Use a microfiber or lint-free cloth to dust fixtures and bulbs you can reach. For ceiling fans, skip the ladder and use an extendible duster. To clean grimy bulbs, lightly dampen a cloth with vinegar. Caution: Be sure bulbs are cool to the touch and your hands are dry.

Smart Trick: Stumped by how to dust corkscrew-type compact fluorescent lights and other irregular objects? Use an electrostatic duster.

Eco-cleaning tools

Here's how Better Homes and Gardens green lifestyle Expert Danny Seo arms himself for an Earth-friendly clean routine:

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Microfiber cloths: A hotel housekeeper's secret weapon. Millions of microscopic fibers are knit together into soft cloths that grip dirt, germs and bacteria. They are superabsorbent, versatile (great for surfaces such as stainless steel, glass, and wood), and leave a streak-free finish. They're machine-washable, so you save money while you avoid the waste of paper towels. Available at discount retailers for about $5 each.•

Steam mop: To deep-clean sealed, hard-surface floors with nothing more than water, think steam. A built-in canister holds tap water that heats up in less than 30 seconds. Reusable microfiber pads pick up dirt while bursts of steam loosen tough dirt and grime. A glider attachment lets you steam-freshen carpet.•

Newspaper: Your newspaper is designed to absorb ink, so it'll soak up other things, too. Line your fridge with newspaper to pick up lingering odors. Stuff shoes with newspaper to deodorize them. And an oldie but goody: Use it and a glass spray to clean your windows to a streak-free shine.•

Squeegee: Anything that lets me use fewer cleaning supplies ranks high in my green book. A squeegee stops water spots and mineral buildup on shower doors, which helps surfaces stay clean longer. Attach one to a broom handle and clean your windows like a pro; just spray the windows with a garden hose and squeegee away the dirt.Get more advice and post a question on Danny's Simply Green Living blog at BHG.com/livinggreen.