Public affairs: the Season of Spring Cleaning by Mattison Holland

The Season Of Cleaning 

For some, the season of spring is nothing but the mere anticipation of summer. For others, spring sparks an annual determination for a clean home. This cool season offers us a chance to declutter and start fresh in the new year.

The season of spring, specifically the fourth week of March, welcomes National Cleaning Week and spring cleaning. During this time, March 26-April 1 in 2023, people go out of their way to deep clean the spots of their home that go unnoticed throughout the year. As of March 2022 about 78% of American households participated in spring cleaning every year, (statistic by Statista).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides some facts as to why cleaning is essential. “Cleaning is an important first step to make sure you remove most germs from surfaces in your home. Using household cleaners that contain soap or detergent will remove germs and dirt on surfaces and reduce risk of infection from surfaces in your home. Cleaning alone removes most harmful viruses or bacteria from surfaces. Surfaces should be cleaned before they are sanitized or disinfected because impurities like dirt may make it harder for chemicals to get to and kill germs.” says the CDC.

Deep cleaning is a process that includes steps many people tend to skip. An article provided by the CDC tells us there are three main steps to properly cleaning your space. 

These steps include:

• Cleaning: “Cleaning removes most germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces. Clean with water, soap, and scrubbing.”
• Sanitizing: “Sanitizing reduces germs to levels public health codes or regulations consider safe. Sanitizing is done with weaker bleach solutions or sanitizing sprays. Clean surfaces before you sanitize them.”
• Disinfecting: “Disinfecting kills most germs on surfaces and objects. Disinfecting is done with stronger bleach solutions or chemicals. Clean surfaces before you disinfect them.”

A clean home can do more than create a welcome environment, in fact, it can also boost your immune system. A piece published by Healthline states ““Dust, mold, mildew, pet dander, and other things like this can be immune system triggers for people prone to allergies. When your house isn’t clean, it can gather pollutants — especially during the winter months,” Dr. Adrian Cotton, chief of medical operations at Loma Linda University Health in California, told Healthline.”

They also give us advice on what to clean. “While you should aim to clean regularly to avoid immune system triggers, spring-cleaning can be an opportunity for a deep clean, according to Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RD, an expert in public health and nutrition. “Dust the legs of furniture, tops of frames and mirrors, tops of lamps and lights, floor baseboards, railings, and window sills that may be more out of reach,” says Healthine. 

Decluttering your living space is not only physically beneficial, but it’s key to sustaining mental wellbeing. An article from Forbes Health states “when our minds feel overwhelmed, our living spaces can also end up cluttered. In turn, a messy space can lead to stress, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and relationship strain, says Peggy Loo, Ph.D., licensed psychologist and director at Manhattan Therapy Collective.

So, not only can deep cleaning do good for your home but also your mind. We need to make sure we’re taking the time to create a successful environment for our health and happiness. Making sure to tidy up your home daily is the first step in looking out for these elements.

Use spring as an opportunity to catch up on the cleaning you’ve been putting off. In fact, make it fun. Invite some friends or family over and use spring cleaning as a form of annual bonding you’ll look forward to year round.

By Mattison Holland