Time to bed down for a bit of spring cleaning

Published on Thursday 20 March 2008 09:42

WITH her apron and Marigolds on, a home-cooked meal in the oven and duster and washing soda at the ready – the image of the model 1950s housewife is enough to send a shiver down the spine of most modern women.

While men were the breadwinners, women stayed at home to cook, clean and look after the kids. And at this time of year there was only one thing on their mind, the all-important annual spring-cleaning ritual.

The walls were washed, curtains cleaned and changed, beds flipped and carpets shampooed. Cupboards were emptied, scrubbed and re-ordered, rooms were made spotless, and unwanted items thrown out. But today we work hard and play even harder. For many of us cleaning is relegated to hangover Sundays and slapdash efforts with the Hollyoaks omnibus on in the background. Or left to the hired help.

So is the spring clean now entirely a thing of the past?

According to a survey by appliance manufacturer Miele, we are a divided nation, with less than half of all homes in the UK now getting an annual spring clean. And, according to another survey, by Persil, a quarter of us are too busy to do all our chores, and 31 per cent of people avoid dusting the house.

"Cleaning trends have changed," says Edinburgh cleaner Linda Edwards. "Time is money, and our time has become increasingly precious. More and more women are working so time is limited and spending hours a week cleaning just isn't on the radar for many today. Dirt and household duties are still the same as always, but attitudes have changed."

Events planner Siobhan McDonald, from South Queensferry, agrees. While the 31-year-old has to be meticulous in her career, her home is a different matter.

"It's a pig sty," she laughs. "My bedroom is littered with clothes, the wardrobes are open and the corners are piled high with bags. The living room has old cups and glasses still there, dust on everything and my shoes on the floor where I kicked them off – last week.

"I just don't have time to clean, nor do I particularly want to. I work long hours and the last thing I want to do when I come through the door at 7pm is pick up a duster and vacuum the place. My mum has a fit every time she's round and cleans for me – and one day I'll get round to hiring a cleaner . . . when I've got time. To be honest, the mess doesn't really bother me. There's more important things."

"I live by the mantra that there's always tomorrow," agrees makeup artist, Dawn Walker, from Stockbridge. "I can always clean up the following day and the mess isn't an issue for me – my flat is messy, not dirty.

"Women today lead busy, hectic professional lives and even busier social lives. We work more hours, take more crap from employers and the last thing we want to do is come home and stick on the Marigolds. Give me a glass of wine any day. And spring cleaning? No way. I'm off to Paris this weekend instead."

But for every Marigold dodger out there, there are those who will happily take off their work suit and slip out of their heels at the end of the day, and get scrubbing. And Emily Walters, owner of web design company EW Multimedia, does just that.

"I clean every day," admits the 25-year-old who lives in the city centre. "In fact, I try and get the flat organised before I start work. There's nothing worse than coming back to a messy house. I'm actually a bit of a Monica from Friends when it comes to cleaning. I am a very organised person and I work at quite a fast pace. An untidy house definitely upsets my balance. I actually find it therapeutic."

She continues: "I give the flat a good clean and a dust at least three times a week, and I'm definitely spring cleaning. It's actually quite exciting getting everything clean and ready for the summer – after months of hibernating in the flat I want to be able to start the new season fresh. It's also a great time to clear out the wardrobe and invest in some great summer clothes."

According to Emily, her mum is behind her tidiness, drilling it into her from a young age. And her mum learnt from her own mother. "My Gran is in her 80s and manages to keep her house in pristine condition with no outside help," she adds.

"Attitudes have changed. Our lifestyles are a lot more rushed. People work longer hours than ever before and the last thing they want to do is clean. But there's no excuse. Technology around the home has given us more efficient appliances that do many of the household chores for us such as self-cleaning ovens and self-defrosting fridge freezers.

"And as far as I'm concerned your home says a lot about you. It's such a personal place and it reflects the kind of person you are and what styles you like."

Fellow "Monica" – otherwise known as Gillian Frame – agrees.

"I clean so often I was awarded the 'Biggest Monica Award' in my school yearbook," laughs the 23-year-old trainee management accountant, from East Lothian. "It's important to me because I always like to take pride in my own things and it helps to keep things organised.

"I ensure the house is clean by doing the basic daily chores – vacuuming, ironing, making the bed, rinsing the shower after use and fluffing the cushions. And then there's my weekly cleaning routine, and heavy-duty clean which happens more than once a year.

"I think the trend change is down to more and more women having careers – we spend less time in the home and more time in the office, hence less time to clean. Individuals, couples and parents spend more time with their families going on outings, holidays and school trips rather than in the home too."

But, Gillian stresses, it is no excuse. "These days people are becoming more lazy and take less pride in what they do as well as their personal possessions. More and more people create excuses for things whereas decades ago people just got on with it regardless. There's no excuse to never having a clean."

And as Emily sums up: "We all like to unwind at the end of the day, but how can you when everything is a mess and unorganised. Tidy 'desk', healthy mind."

If you can't make the time to keep your home in tip-top condition or do the annual spring clean, the Capital is full of professionals who will do all the hard work for you. And no-one need ever know . . .

OVEN CLEANER

Can't face cleaning your oven, stove or cooker? Well let local oven specialist Keith Lamb of Ovenu Edinburgh (0131-308 3435) do it for you, restoring your oven to near showroom condition. Prices for "oven valetting" vary, but start at as little as 20.

THE BLITZER

Hectic Life (0845-644 7501) offers both spring cleans and blitz cleans as part of their extensive household services throughout the Capital, from as little as 35. Sparkling Clean (0131-664 2469) charge around 100 for a team of specialists to come to the home and do a "deep clean," cleaning everything from walls and carpets to kitchens and bathrooms, and Morningside Ladies (0131-447 3064) charges around 60 for a blitz clean of a one-bedroom flat. Also try The Home Agency (0131-468 4200), Home Sweet Home (0131-476 3276) and myOrganiser (0131-624 9807).

THE IRONER

If the ironing basket is overflowing, get someone else to stand over the steam iron. Iron Maid (0131-258 1176) offers a fast pick up and delivery ironing service throughout the Capital and Lothians, costing around 20 for one bin bag weighing no more than one stone in clothing.

All Ironed Out (0845-811 0140) charges 4.90 per kg with a minimum collection of 20 worth, with free delivery and collection. Also try Active Ironing (0131-552 2711), Easy Iron (0131-555 2747) and Edinburgh Ironing Services (0800-012 2227).

THE CARPET WASHER

Bring your carpets or rugs back to life, with a professional carpet clean. The Cleaning Doctor (0131-664 1156) charges around 60 for a carpet clean and 30 for a rug clean, depending upon size. Capital Carpet Care (0131-477 5107), Chores@Work (0131-346 2282), Donaldson Carpet Cleaning Services (0131-664 0544) and Servicemaster (07706-628 889) charge similar prices.