Spring clean

I do seem to have given up on the traditional, semi compulsory pre Hogmanay Spring Clean but was never much of housewife anyway. However our little lane off a busy main road connecting ferries at each end seems to be generating huge quantities of dust and grit. I flit around with an old fashioned feather duster a 2 or 3 time a week which does pick up a lot of dust but it is all back the next day. This is not helped by the new 'garages' being built by neighbors - and left empty while the several cars stand outside......and all the grit being poured and pressed so that no plants (or animals) can live... My Hoover ...and it is a Hoover - shows thick fine grey dust in the see through barrel. We live on a remote island but the air seems to be full of grey particles which presumably we are breathing in... I try not to think about it too much....

I had to thoroughly clean before our renovations. Our son is very particular and wanted our help cleaning everywhere. It was like circuit training exercise I am sure it was good for my joints.

It's a Scottish term, I think.
Nothing wrong with a bit of bottoming, in the privacy of your own home.

MissAdventure

My flat is excessively dusty, and I have no idea why.
I have to dust around items in the bathroom that are moved and used every day.

Next day, a film of dust around them.

When we moved here, all new houses but building work completed, a neighbour said it was the dustiest place she'd ever lived in. Her house was always immaculate so she must have spent a lot of time dusting and cleaning.
I remember that she used to "bottom" a room every week and dust and vacuum through every day. I'd never heard the term "bottoming a room" before.

My house is a similar age HelterSkelter1 - cleaning is tedious.

That said I would clean for a decorator.

My flat is excessively dusty, and I have no idea why.
I have to dust around items in the bathroom that are moved and used every day.

Next day, a film of dust around them.

keepcalmandcavachon

I was watching a podcast from Cass of Clutterbug fame and she reminded me that the same benefits felt when practicing meditation are also felt after cleaning!
Apparently dopamine is released thus ensuring one feels less stressed and happier. And you get a clean home .Win-win!
I do actually feel quite jolly with a mop or cloth come to think of it.......

Wish this was me!
Cleaning is always a chore.
..I'm happy to hang washing out though.

Grandadpete you would hate my 140 year old house where 140 years of dust under the floorboards is blown up and around in strong winds. Remember young women are bringing up families and holding onto full time jobs..likewise their partners.
Some of us oldies are coping with illnesses and mobility problems.
My parents were certainly not wealthy but it wasnt expensive to have a cleaning lady it's certainly not cheap now.
I wonder how clean your "Mother's" house would be these days?

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter, Eloethan. I had noticed you hadn't been posting for a while. If it's any consolation, I'm sure she appreciated having a Mum who cooked good meals, made sure her clothes were clean and that she had a nice clean bed to sleep in, and that she knew that you loved her. Many children are not as fortunate as yours were.

shysal

I am retired and have the time, but not the inclination. I do the bare minimum of housework all year round. In fact during lockdown I vacuumed up the cats' hairs when they were moulting, but didn't do any dusting at all! Quentin Crisp comes to mind!

A woman after my own heart Shysal! Glad I'm not the only one.

Not many households have a stay at home parent/partner to take a fortnight to spring clean.

I have lived alone since my husband died 10 years ago and find that I do not have to spring clean because nothing gets dirty. I dust and vacuum all the rooms weekly.

If I know my family are coming to stay overnight etc. I ensure that everything is dusted and vacuumed again judst to make sure.

I have a filter on my central heating system and it never needs cleaning and when I ask the engineer why, when he services it for me every year, he says, you have a very clean, dust free house. I could honestly go a month before seeing a small amount of dust and I have no idea why. I don't have pets so that may help.

Witzend - I find that invariably leaving off my glasses when I don’t need them for reading, is very helpful for failing to notice dust.

I wear glasses for reading but not when I am just around the house. I had them on in the kitchen the other day to read a label. I was shocked at the dust on the top edge of the tiles, the marks on the cupboards etc. I just couldn't any of this without my glasses on. I thought my house was clean!

I am embarrassed to think other people have seen what I couldn't see. I wear my reading glasses when I am cleaning nowadays.

I can't say I enjoy cleaning but it is always satisfying to have a lovely clean (and tidy) house.

I was watching a podcast from Cass of Clutterbug fame and she reminded me that the same benefits felt when practicing meditation are also felt after cleaning!
Apparently dopamine is released thus ensuring one feels less stressed and happier. And you get a clean home .Win-win!
I do actually feel quite jolly with a mop or cloth come to think of it.......

I agree. When we had our house decorated recently I made sure it was spotless beforehand.

That's true, Casdon. My decorator has a clause in the contract that says any necessary cleaning will be charged on top of the decorating rate, which is fair enough.

I think it’s pretty inconsiderate not to clean first when decorators are coming to your house to do work, it’s not part of their job to clean behind and under your dusty furniture unless agreed with them in advance to do that because you aren’t able to, so you do have my sympathy Grandadpete.

Witzend

I thought actual spring cleaning had more or less died out - wasn’t it related to the mess and dust from coal fires, before most people had central heating?

That's how I see it. My parents decorated every couple of years, because coal fires and cigarette smoke made the place look grimy quickly. These days there is less of a need.

Also, more fabrics are machine washable, so people can keep on top of things all year round, and don't have to set aside a week or two to take down curtains and strip cushions etc. We can even wash duvets in the machine, so don't have to struggle with heavy candlewick bedspreads and woollen blankets.

And yes - it's no longer the role of 'Mother' to do it all .

I put a lot of my present good health to finally getting to grips with my dusty house. It was like Miss Havisham's. Now I give it a good vacuum every week and surprsingly, it doesn't take long!

Also I have started to take down winter curtains as they can get very dusty over winter, and put up much lighter ones.

I think it is a good ritual to mark the coming change.

My mum used to spring clean. Curtains, blankets and any other washable items were cleaned. Paintwork was wiped down and walls dusted. She hoovered and dusted every room every day.
I don't do any of those things but keep things reasonably clean.

shysal

I am retired and have the time, but not the inclination. I do the bare minimum of housework all year round. In fact during lockdown I vacuumed up the cats' hairs when they were moulting, but didn't do any dusting at all! Quentin Crisp comes to mind!

I find that invariably leaving off my glasses when I don’t need them for reading, is very helpful for failing to notice dust.
(Where’s the lazy-baggage emoji?)

!

I am retired and have the time, but not the inclination. I do the bare minimum of housework all year round. In fact during lockdown I vacuumed up the cats' hairs when they were moulting, but didn't do any dusting at all! Quentin Crisp comes to mind!

Witzend

I thought actual spring cleaning had more or less died out - wasn’t it related to the mess and dust from coal fires, before most people had central heating?

That’s what I thought. I try to keep on top of things but have never done a spring clean.

Grandadpete you would be proud of me as I've been cleaning the floor in the kitchen, on my hands and knees with wire wool and a scrubbing brush. I found it remarkably therapeutic but it is taking a long time. I also noticed the skirting boards needed a clean, the kick boards could do with a wipeover. That's the trouble with cleaning, it just makes everything else look dirty so best avoided.