“In ode to National Spring Cleaning”
So the days are getting longer, the birds are busy nesting and we are busy cleaning!
What is it about the Spring that spurs us into donning the rubber gloves and scrubbing everything in sight? Sofas get moved, windows get cleaned, curtains get washed it seems everywhere suddenly needs cleaning!
There is no definitive answer as to why people suddenly feel the need to clean with the arrival of Spring but it appears to be an international phenomenon.
In Greece they have a ‘Clean Week’ on the approach to Lent. In the Jewish culture the spring clean takes place to coincide with Passover usually in and around April and in Iran they call their Spring Clean ‘khaneh takani’ which literally means shaking the house!
Even the medieval Europeans waited until the Spring to have their annual bath. Yes thats right their ANNUAL BATH!!
Or the more Scientific of us may blame it on the body’s hormone melatonin which increases in winter making us sleepy but is reversed by the onset of longer days.
Whatever the cause, there is no denying that the smell of disinfectant is in the air!
But before you reach for that expensive, kills 99.9%, chemical filled bottle, spare a thought for the environment. All those chemicals have to go somewhere and thats usually into the water supply, not to mention your skin and nose! There are so many environmentally friendly products available now that work just as effectively and then there are the homemade products that are practically free!
Homemade Remedies:
Try using olive oil mixed with a little vinegar to shine your wood like you wouldn’t believe!
And for an all purpose cleaner for showers and work surfaces a mix of 120 ml of vinegar and 60ml of baking soda into 2 litres of water will have you whistling while you work!
Now when you have ran out of corners to sweep and furniture to polish never fear, your Spring Cleaning needs can still be met by joining the
The 1st April saw the launch of An Taisce’s 14th annual National Spring Clean Campaign http://www.facebook.com/NationalSpringClean
National Spring Clean encourages people to take pride in their local areas and to take action against litter. Here in Ballymun the local tidy towns committee are organising clean up events as part of this campaign. On the 24th April at 1.15pm there will be a spring clean around the Ikea area with staff from the shop and as many locals as possible. The more people involved in keeping Ballymun tidy the stronger the impact on encouraging even more to get involved.
You know how good a clean house feels, imagine how great you would feel if the whole of Ballymun had a spring clean! Go on! You know you want to!
If you would like to take part in this spring clean or in future clean ups please contact Global Action Plan Office 01-883 2185.