Spring clean

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?

Eloethan

I don't Spring clean as such. I do big clean ups every so often.

However, I am retired and have the time to do this. When I was younger, with children, I spent a lot of time keeping the house nice, clothes washed and ironed, home-cooked meals, etc., on top of working. I am not proud of that. Now I realise I spent very little time playing with my children or chatting with them. I was always too busy. My daughter died two years ago and so I very much regret that our house, when she was young, was probably not a very fun place. There are more important things to attend to than housework.

So very sorry to read about your daughter. Don't beat yourself up about when she was young, it was as it was and I'm sure she hardly felt a lack of anything. Having said that, I lost a daughter quite a few years ago and I know the guilt feelings of what I could have done better.

I don't Spring clean as such. I do big clean ups every so often.

However, I am retired and have the time to do this. When I was younger, with children, I spent a lot of time keeping the house nice, clothes washed and ironed, home-cooked meals, etc., on top of working. I am not proud of that. Now I realise I spent very little time playing with my children or chatting with them. I was always too busy. My daughter died two years ago and so I very much regret that our house, when she was young, was probably not a very fun place. There are more important things to attend to than housework.

I watched my paternal gran stand over my mum while she scrubbed the front steps I was only about five. As young as I was I remember thinking I would never be a slave to housework.
I usually do a good clear up as my mum did before and after Christmas when everything is put away. In the summer my dad would give all the windows a good clean and change the net curtains. In general the house was well kept as each child had a job to do no matter how old we were.
Our house has been getting renovated top to bottom so everything is being sorted and cleared for new plaster paint furnishings etc. The rooms that are finished are now neat tidy and dust free getting rid of unnecessary ornaments books etc helped.

Times have well and truly changed pete. I think your phrase starting with ‘Mother’ says it all - most women are working now and major work as such are jointly taken.

I think times have changed, and having a pristine home is no longer seen as something to strive for.
People have found other, more interesting things to do.

Of the people I know, I would say that more cleaning is likely to happen in Jan and Feb nowadays.
Then people are freer to enjoy the better weather.

Haivng said that, amongst the younger people I know, I am not even sure they have heard of the words "spring clean".
Not that their houses need it necessarily, as they move around so much. Into rental properities, or recently moved into a new home.