Cleaning since the year dot
If that is the case, then you’re not alone. Ever since time immemorial we’ve been giving our homes a good going over come spring time.
Ancient Celts would busy themselves for weeks with cleansing and purification rituals in honour of their goddess Brigid and the spring festival of Imbolc.
Persians scrupulously clean everything in their home in time for the first day of spring, and have been doing since the dawn of civilisation.
Traditionally, the Chinese believed that bad spirits got all too cosy in mess and dust and saw the coming of spring as a sign to purge both demons and dirt from hearth and home.
And ancient Jewish rituals require the wholesale cleaning and tidying up of homes prior to the Passover feast in spring.
Let the sunbeams loose
Luckily for us, cleaning has come a long way since our ancestors got down on their hands and knees to purge their homes of dirt, crumbs and demons. These days it shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours here and there to fully shake your house down, so you can let the sun stream through your windows without fear of dust clouds and dirt. These tips might help you can get your house ready for any spring time ritual.
Make a to-do list
Jot down what needs to be done and how long each task might take. Nothing’s worse than tidying up a room for ages, only to give up half-way through out of sheer frustration.Gather your tools about you
Make sure you have everything you need to do the job. For example, do you have enough cloths and cleaning fluids? Perhaps you need to borrow a step ladder to reach the hard-to-get-to areas or windows? It’s easier to have everything ready before you get going.
Take care!
Remember – most accidents happen at home. Even if you feel safe, take care to wear proper footwear so you don’t take a tumble when cleaning odd spots. And if you do have to use a ladder, don’t twist or turn to reach awkward angles. If there are children at home, be sure to keep cleaning products and bleaches well away from prying hands. A clean house is great – but you can’t enjoy it if you’re in a doctor’s waiting room.
Go on a recruitment drive
The more, the merrier. Why not rope in the whole family and create your own personal spring cleaning ritual? If that’s easier said than done, a bribe in the right place might help!
Let the cleaning fluids do the hard work
Whether you’re going for the full shakedown or just cleaning one room, you don’t need to labour like the ancients to get a gleaming home.
- Cif Cream, with its many varied and original uses, is great for tough stains of course, but also for those small details which make all the difference around the house. It helps you to deal with even the most stubborn dirt while still being gentle on surfaces.
- Cif Oxy Gel liquid is great for shifting all types of dirt from floors anywhere in your home. Better still, it doesn't have a harsh chemical smell, giving a natural fresh fragrance instead, along with brilliant cleaning performance.
- New Cif Oven cleaner is fume-free and gets to work in as little as 15 minutes, making oven cleaning quick, easy and fragrant.
And remember the green gunk that's been growing on your garden furniture over the winter? That’s mould, and you can see it off with Domestos Bleach Cleaning Spray. You can also use the spray to blitz your steel and ceramic sinks.
Perfect for your very own spring festival.
