Ten things you didn’t know about spring cleaning

Spring is on its way. And that tantalising sniff of spring in the air causes many of us to decide it’s time for spring cleaning.

There are various theories about the origin of spring cleaning. Some researchers trace it back to the Jewish custom of thoroughly cleansing the home before Passover. Others claim it derives from the Iranian practice of khaneh tekani – shaking the house – before Nowruz, the Persian new year on the first day of spring. Yet others say it is an Orthodox Christian custom to clean the church and home ready for Easter.

But wherever spring cleaning originated from, it seems to be a custom that is here to stay. And when you see the spring sunshine highlighting your grubby windows, you understand why!

In this article we take a light-hearted look at some of the more unusual facts you may not know about spring cleaning.

We spend months of our lives cleaning

Apparently the average woman cleans for almost 13,000 hours in her lifetime and the average man over 6,000. That equates to 542 full days for women and 240 for men – between 8 and 18 months!

Cleaning can improve the health of your heart

Most of us sit down for too long during the day. Research from Sweden found that if you get up and move for just an extra half hour every day you can reduce the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease by 24%. So getting up to do even a few light chores will improve the health of your heart.

Cleaning is a great fitness workout

As we have just seen, any kind of movement is always good for you, but did you know that if you clean for two hours, you burn around 200 calories? There is also apparently a knock-on effect because once you have started being active doing your cleaning, you are then more likely to feel like doing some other form of exercise too.

Cleaning alleviates stress

Clutter and stress are highly linked. When you think about it, it’s obvious that if your home is full of mess, clutter and unfinished projects this can make you feel stressed, anxious and unable to relax. Even doing just 20 minutes of cleaning can reduce stress and anxiety by 20%.

Cleaning helps you sleep better

Closely related to stress is the ability to sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation in the US, if you make your bed properly you are 19% more likely to sleep well. And if you change the sheets that percentage rises to a staggering 75%.

Cleaning lifts your mood

Just as a cluttered home can make you feel stressful, a clean and tidy space can energise you and help you to relax and unwind. To read more about decluttering your home, take a look at our recent article How to declutter your home by Christmas.

Cleaning helps you breathe more easily

If you suffer from hay fever, other allergies or asthma, it may not just be pollen that is the culprit. Household dust can also be a powerful trigger. And did you know that 70% of dust particles are actually dead skin flakes?! When you add other dust and pet dander into the mix, you can see why it’s important to keep your home clean to help you breathe more easily.

Cleaning makes your home healthier and safer

As well as the breathing issue, bear in mind that the average person spends around 87% of their time indoors. So anything you can do to make your home healthier and safer has got to be a good thing. 

For example, you may not realise that kitchen sinks have more germs than toilets! And that bacteria can also gather on work surfaces, towels, cloths and sponges.

Spring cleaning can also help to make your home safer by getting rid of any obstacles, tripping hazards, and small items to get under your feet. 

Cleaning products take time to work

When cleaning it’s important to leave cleaning products on the surface for up to a minute before wiping away. Otherwise you are not getting the full effect of the products.

Many everyday household items make excellent cleaning products

Talking of cleaning products, did you know that there are many everyday household items that are really good for cleaning? Some examples are:

• Bicarbonate of soda. Can clean to a shine without scratching, so is ideal for use on a variety of surfaces, including kitchen and bathroom. 
• Vinegar. Mixed with water makes a great window cleaner and also a good all-purpose cleaner for surfaces and floors. 
• Tomato ketchup. Can restore the shine to brass that has seen better days.
• Lemon juice. Really good as a natural bleach and for cutting through grease. So it’s an effective cleaner for the kitchen and bathroom, and of course you have the gorgeous smell too.
• Essential oils. Yes really! Orange oil and pine oil are both excellent natural floor cleaners. Pine oil is also effective against mould as is cinnamon oil. And thyme oil’s natural antibacterial properties are great for kitchen surfaces and chopping boards. 

We hope that this article has given you food for thought when it comes to spring cleaning, and makes it all a bit more enjoyable. And if you need a financial boost to get your house in order, remember that Loans2Go offers quick loans that may be able to help.

For more lifestyle and financial tips check back here with us soon at Loans 2 Go.