When we think of spring cleaning, images of bright, sunny days, open windows, and a fresh start come to mind. However, there is a compelling argument for replicating those cleaning efforts in the winter months too.
Spring Cleaning Origins
Traditionally spring became the biggest annual housecleaning time in the 1088s, due to the layer of soot and grime accumulated through heating the home in winter. Lamps of the time were lit with oil or kerosene, which were heated with coal or wood, causing grime to cling to surfaces. Proper cleaning required opening all the windows to let the soot and dust out during cleaning, which, of course, could only be done once the warmer weather arrived.
The tradition took hold and continued to this day, despite the original reason for the annual deep clean gradually fading and heating and lighting systems progressed.
Spring cleaning likely survives to this day due to the nature of humans feeling more sluggish in winter and loving the feeling of cosying up in our homes. Once the weather begins to change and days start getting longer, we are naturally energised and stimulated to throw the windows open and freshen up our homes for Spring.
The term, Spring Cleaning now serves as a more generic term for a deep clean and de-clutter, but still most popular as the winter begins to fade.
Spring Cleaning in Winter
We may not feel like it, but tackling this spring cleaning task mid-winter is highly beneficial to our health and wellbeing.
Here are several reasons why winter cleaning is just as crucial, if not more, than the traditional spring routine:
1. Winter is synonymous with cold and flu season. As we spend more time indoors, we are less exposed to fresh air and our environment becomes stale and potentially toxic. Excess moisture can be a problem, potentially causing harmful mould and spores. Placing dehumidifiers can help enormously, but nothing beats fresh air, so rug up and be prepared to open up your windows on a crisp sunny day. You are going to work up a sweat in any case, doing the cleaning, so you may welcome the cool air.
2. There are many items in our home that emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which have high vapor pressure at room temperature, and our propensity to ‘batten down the hatches’ means they have little means of escape. An air purifier, specifically for off-gassing can help. Also, absorbent materials such as charcoal, zeolite, or baking soda can help. Charcoal blankets are a great solution too.
If you are decluttering, or replacing furniture items, pay attention to what they are made of. Natural fabrics and materials make for a far healthier environment. For more tips on creating a healthy environment, check our our article on Living Clean.
3. We are also more likely to hoard items in the winter. We accumulate a lot of ‘stuff’ over Christmas, yet often do not declutter to make way for our new items. Overfilled wardrobes and cupboards can get stuffy and musty, causing a heap of extra laundry. There are also some great mini dehumidifiers on the market that can hang in your wardrobes and linen cupboards to keep your belongings fresh and dry.
4. Dust and grime can also build up in your heating systems, making them less efficient and effectively blasting you with dust and microbes. Ensuring your systems are clean and HVAC filters are working adequately, will help keep your family free from allergies that can exacerbate winter colds.
As we approach winter, take a moment to think about diving into a deep clean, which will make your spring clean much less onerous too, when the time comes. For more spring cleaning tips, check out our article. But if you really can’t face it, you can always take off to sunnier climes, and leave the heaving lifting to your trusty SOAP team. Our SOAPSTARS simply love the jobs you hate.