Spring Cleaning

So after enduring an entire week of snowy storms, today the sun is shining and the snow is finally melting. It's warm enough, I've opened up several of our windows to give our home a good airing out.

It may just be me, but I find days like today exhilarating. I experience a surge of energy and I begin tackling projects that beg attention. Like today. My oldest son pointed out that a favorite plant, one that means a great deal to me---an item has been in our family since I was a tiny tot, is looking a little root bound. So he helped me replant it inside of a bigger pot and we added plant food and new soil to encourage it to continue thriving. It felt so good to play in the dirt, even for just a little while. A part of me felt like I was dancing inside. =D

Next, I took down all of our Easter decor and boxed it up for next year, then dug out my dusting supplies and set to work in the living room. I also straightened up my computer room a bit, and then the kitchen. There's just something about the advent of spring that inspires me to clean like crazy. It might also be due to the fact that my youngest son will be returning home from his mission the first week of May. ;) I want things to look nice for his arrival home.

I did some delving into the fine tradition of spring cleaning. This is what I discovered:

It is believed that spring cleaning began with the Jewish nation, that it became a tradition to thoroughly clean their homes for the annual Passover celebration that took place in the early spring.

I also read that spring cleaning in the United States, sometimes known as the "urge to purge," was a tradition that was started by European settlers. It had been a tradition in their own countries to tidy things up in the spring. This was due in part to the fact that in cold wintry climates, it wasn't until the warmer spring-like weather arrived that homes could be aired out, bedding washed and hung out to dry, and walls washed down to erase the smokey build-up that had taken place during the winter months from old-fashioned fireplaces.

I know that both of my grandmothers loved this time of year. It was a tradition for both women to go on a cleaning spree during the spring. My maternal grandmother especially adhered to this
custom. I remember going up to visit my mother's parents this time of year and loving how my grandmother's house always smelled of Mr. Clean or Pinesol. Carpets were shampooed, bedding was washed and hung out to dry, windows were scrubbed, in short, her house was cleaned from top to bottom. Everything seemed fresh and new and wonderful.

Spring is so filled with rebirth and wonder, it's a great time to start anew, to de-clutter, and organize. As such, I found a really cool website that offers a ton of cleaning hints for this time of year. Even if you don't have a lot of time to spend tidying things up, you'll find great tips for making the most of your time. So when the urge to purge descends, merely click on the link below and roll up your sleeves. I think this is a great way to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

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