This week marks a time when Jewish families sweep their homes clean of any bread crumbs in preparation for Passover. Others clean this week because it’s spring and they can sweep dust bunnies out the door.

I’ve known people who have a genius for cleaning and organizing. I’ve known people who really struggle with it. Either way, hard work is always involved, and then renewed commitments are called for to keep on top of the clutter.

Clean freak Jeff Campbell wrote three books on cleaning to help the cleaning impaired. Here are FlyLady.com’s fabulous tips on spring cleanings and getting organized for Easter and Passover (especially valuable if you’re preparing a large family meal for either one of those holidays).

Here’s my favorite Beliefnet.com article on ritual spring cleaning written by a L. Lisa Lawrence, a pagan whose sweepings are fueled by magic and chai. It’s a piece I love mentioning every year. Enjoy! Don’t sweep your past under the rug! Clean for “the now.”