It is fall and my thoughts turn to fall cleaning. If you are under 35 you will probably say, What is that? If you are over 55 you will probably know what I am talking about.
It was an effort twice a year, spring and fall, to do deep, thorough housecleaning: taking down curtains, washing mattress covers, airing mattresses and pillows, washing windows, washing down walls--! It was possible only in the days of full time stay-at-home moms or hired help. Today most of us never have the time or inclination to tackle this kind of stuff and only do deep cleaning when we move out. Or there is a wedding or other special occasion in the wind.
This spring, as the countdown to our daughters wedding in June was nearing, I confessed on Facebook: So tell me why, if your daughter is getting married, you feel a compulsion to clean the house from top to bottom even though the wedding guests are not setting foot on your property? And your family who will be there wont really care if the grease off the top of the cupboards is cleaned?
The comments from my friends online offered great observations (and consolation) after this somewhat guilty post.
Andrea: A little like nesting before you go into labor?
Patti said: Good use of anxious energy! Perhaps a reverse of nesting?? In my case, it would mean the only reason some things are ever cleaned.
Arleta said: Cant tell you. I think back to the old days when even the drawers were cleaned out if we even had dinner guests. Now I just go around and blow on everything to clear the dust. Fortunately most of our friends have dimming eyesight also. One of the blessings of getting older
Sheri said: Maybe its directly proportional to how long youve been waiting for this wedding!
Sue said: I wish that happened to me [feel a compulsion to clean]. I feel like my house is a disaster. I used to clean a lot, but not anymore. Two-year-olds have a mind of their own and it doesnt usually include cleaning.
Gretchen said: You have grease on the top of your cupboards?!? Im shocked! (I thought I was the only one.)
Jim said: How do you get grease on the top of your cabinets?
Gloria said: Its your Mennonite upbringing
DeAnne said: Is there any chance this extra burst of cleaning could extend over to my house? I have to clean and get ready for a birthday party of second-graders Friday night. (Remember those days?)
I asked everyones permission to quote from these great comments. Now that they have all written my column for me, I think Ill schedule a day off work and tacklein one daywhat my mother took days and weeks to do! Or not.
But I remember it was always a great feeling to look at a newly cleaned room, clutter cleared, fresh fall or spring air filling the rooms, and feel like you were ready for fall and winter holiday guests and decorating.
Deep cleaning always reminds me, too, of the need to do that kind of spiritual cleansing as well. This does not involve physical work, but it is great to engage in this mental work while you do physical work: to contemplate areas of your life you havent spent time examining for a while. Think of ways youd like to clean up your practice of your faith, and get rid of bad habits, dust or accumulated clutter.
What are your thoughts? Write to Another Way, Box 22, Harrisonburg, VA 22803.
Another Way is a column from Third Way Media by Melodie Davis. She is the author of nine books, most recently Whatever Happened to Dinner and has written Another Way since 1987. She is also the producer and co-host of Shaping Families radio program (shapingfamilies.com) airing nationally.
