As we shake off another cold winter and step into the growing warmth of spring, there’s a sense of renewed activity in the air. The insects are out in full force as they go about their daily chores and the birds are chirping in the trees. The grass is growing and the flowers are blooming.
Like bears, people are also coming out of hibernation. This is the season when many people get back to gym to burn that winter blubber. Others are nurturing their beautiful gardens, which are radiant with life and colour. And then there are those who want to make a fresh start by spring cleaning their homes and lives.
Now, I’ve talked about emotional housecleaning before. But, in the spirit of spring, I’d like to talk about spring cleaning and cleaning, in general. The truth is I like a good spring clean as much as the next person… maybe even more. However, I’ve noticed that there’s a common misconception among men that women like the physical chore of cleaning. As if anyone could actually enjoy repetitively washing dishes, doing laundry, making beds and scrubbing toilets. Haven’t you heard? That’s all part of a good day’s fun!
Yet, for some reason, I’ve been accused of being a cleaning addict on several occasions. Drat! My secret fetish for vacuuming and mopping floors has been discovered. What will I do now? Perhaps, I will do some dusting, even though it’s going to come straight back again. But then I can always dust again tomorrow. Yippee!
So, why do we do it? The answer is simple. Like going to gym, you may not enjoy the actual exercise, but you enjoy the results afterwards. So, while I don’t enjoy the actual chore of cleaning, I like the feeling of having a clean home. There’s something so satisfying and uplifting about the smell of fresh laundry, getting into a bed with clean, crisp linen and walking on spotless floors… not to mention the joy of a clean bathroom that is not speckled with unmentionables. It’s like having the fresh feeling of spring in your home every day.
However, these things don’t seem to bother – or please – the average man. Of course, I am generalising here, but I’ve come to the conclusion that men have a very unique super power, which women unfortunately lack. The all-encompassing ability not to see dirt or mess. It’s like they are completely blind to it and it doesn’t bother them one little bit. Wow! I wish I had that! It’s like having X-ray vision in reverse.
Before we got married, my husband had a whole ecosystem going on in his house. Need I say more?! And he was rather pleased with it, although that didn’t stop me from giving his ecosystem a decent dose of Dettol and Doom. Now, don’t get me wrong. My husband isn’t a dirty man. He’s just a man… and most men don’t see dirt like women do, which is what makes them so lucky. When it comes to a dirty, messy house, a man’s life is uncomplicated and carefree. Tomorrow is another day and there is simply no need to clean a house that’s apparently “not dirty”.
If I could see through a man’s eyes, I would probably agree and spend less time doing repetitive, thankless chores. But, unfortunately, I just can’t ignore that greasy spot on the mirror or the ants swarming around that spill of sticky syrup on the floor. So, I will do my spring cleaning and I will bask in the fresh glow of cleanliness… even if it’s just for a moment and I have to do it all again tomorrow.
Audrey Whyte 
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