Besides having someone come in to dust your shelves, vacuum your floors and scrub your bathtub, consider a once- or twice-a-year professional cleaning of:

--Air ducts. Dirty, dusty air conditioning ductwork can lower the quality of your home’s indoor air, and that can affect your health. In fact, if someone in your family has been sneezing or sniffling or has frequent headaches while at home, it could mean your air ducts need cleaning.

Other telltale signs of dirty air ducts: Your furniture needs more frequent dusting; you see black “ghosting” on walls and ceilings; some rooms seem to be hotter or colder than others, probably because of poor air flow; and your a/c doesn’t seem to work as well as it used to.

The solution: Have an air quality specialist come over to visually inspect your ductwork for leaks and also remove and clean air registers, apply an antimicrobial disinfectant to kill bacteria; acid-wash coils and clean the heating and a/c unit’s drip pan and drain line; and clean and tape exhaust fans.

Bonus: Not only will your home’s air be cleaner, but it will flow more efficiently through your heating and cooling system. That can extend the life of your unit, keep it from breaking down and keep it from wasting energy. Bottom line: Clean, leak-free ductwork can save you up to 20 percent on your heating and cooling bills.

--Dryer vents. Clogged dryer vents cause up to 15,000 fires a year and can make your dryer work less efficiently and use more energy.

As your clothes dryer removes moisture from damp clothing, it expels that moisture—in the form of humidity—to the outdoors through the dryer’s vent. If the vent is clogged with lint, that moisture has no way to escape.

The results: poor drying; pools of condensation in the dryer, which eventually will leak onto your laundry room floor; and a fire hazard.

If it takes more than one cycle for your clothes to dry; if you see no lint in the lint screen; if your dryer repeatedly stops during a cycle; if your clothes smell moldy after drying; if the fabric is very hot when the dryer stops; if the top of your dryer is hot to the touch while running; or if you see lint all over your dry clothes, then your dryer vent is probably clogged.

The solution: Hire a dryer vent wiz to snake or vacuum your vent tubing, check all connections and clean the exhaust vents. You can do this yourself if you’re handy with a screwdriver and have a strong-suction vacuum cleaner with a long, long attachment hose.

 --Carpets. The carpets and area rugs your kids crawl around on are like giant filters that trap dust, dirt, pet hair and all kinds of allergens—which get shaken and kicked back into your home’s air every time someone steps on or moves them.

The solution: A clean carpet will last longer and look nicer than one that’s neglected—plus, it’s healthier for your family. So you should vacuum yours several times a week, and have an eco-fresh cleaning service come in to do a hot-water extraction once or twice a year.

Tip: Look for a service that is certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification and that offers Great Seal-certified cleaning solutions that are nontoxic and safe for children and pets.

--Shutters and blinds. You probably dust your home’s shutters and blinds, but they need a more thorough cleaning at least once a year. It’s a job you can do yourself—if you have plenty of time and patience.

The solution: A professional cleaning service that specializes in window treatments will have special brushes and sponges designed for specific kinds of slats, fabrics, wood, metals and plastics—depending what your blinds or shutters are made from. They know which cleaners are at the same time strong and gentle enough to get rid of stains and built-up grime without damaging the material. And they have tools with long arms to reach up high where you might not dare to climb.