Do the words “Spring Cleaning” instantly make you think of yellow dish gloves, a spray bottle full of some random cleaning agent, and a feather duster? Where did this cleaning craze come from? Why do we do this once-a-year intense cleaning regiment?
Spring cleaning may be something you remember from your mother, aunt, or grandmother. In fact, you probably hated this time as a kid and swore you wouldn’t go crazy like that when you got older, but there is an innate sense in all of us to clean our homes like mad men every March/April.
There is a certain sense of accomplishment in the sweat inducing act of scouring the entire house. Knowing that you’ve gotten rid of all the dirt, cobwebs, and dustbunnies allows you to sit back, take a deep breath of freshly sanitized air, and relax. After all, there is no deeper pride than that of a clean house. This is why many people decide to invest in new cleaning equipment such as steam cleaners from suppliers such as https://www.bissell.com/steam-and-hard-floor-cleaners/steam-cleaners when Spring comes around.
So, we all know that spring cleaning makes us feel good, that is unless you’re lucky enough to have a maid or a cleaning service like Sparkle and Shine do your cleaning for you. Cleaning, it engages the production of certain chemicals in our brain allowing us to have our moment of stardom, but what else drives this urge? This would be simply to de-clutter our home. Think about the many winter months you’ve spent in front of the TV curled up in a warm blanket, while on your Leesa mattress. What was happening during that time (other than a little weight gain and ultimate comfort and pleasure)? Less movement in the house allows dirt and dust to settle in the nooks and crannies. Spring signifies the idea of things being “fresh and clean.” When you walk out on a sunny spring day, you feel the crisp air on your skin and you’re filled with the feeling of being animate and alive. You certainly don’t want to walk back into your house and feel weighed down by the piles of junk mail and old clothes that have accumulated over the winter. We want our homes to reflect the feeling of spring, so we clean the heck out of it.
Of course, spring cleaning didn’t originate with our mothers and grandmothers. It is believed by some that spring cleaning derived from the Jewish community. Jewish people would scour their entire homes before Passover to ensure there wasn’t any left over unleavened bread in the house. Since Passover takes place in April, spring became the season of habitual cleaning. Other cultures also have their stories of cleaning crazes. In Iran, people “shake the house.” Only wearing new clothes during this time, they clean their homes from top to bottom in order to prepare it for the coming of the New Year.
Spring is a time of rebirth and re-awakenings; therefore, it makes sense that this is the time of year we would choose to give our homes a makeover. Without even knowing it, we are preparing a better environment not only for our senses, but also for our entire bodies.
Physically and mentally, spring cleaning is a rejuvenating experience. It gets us up and moving around, allowing our blood to flow. The removal of dust and dirt helps tremendously with many allergies. It improves our moods, allowing us to feel happier and more positive. Believe it or not, it also helps families to bond. Many parents get their children involved in the spring cleaning process. Sure, there’s a little arguing at first, but once they get the bug, its all rainbows and sunshine from there on out. Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but there’s no denying that spring cleaning can be fun.