Spring Cleaning 101

With the start of spring, many of us have plans to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather. And yet, in the back of our minds each of us hears our mother's voice saying “It's time to clean the house.” And though I despair at the thought that springtime has become inseparably linked to the idea of housework, I do feel obligated to air out the winter musk and Lysol until I'm lightheaded.

But I suppose that spring cleaning doesn't have to be all that bad. There are ways to make it a rather enjoyable task. For example, why not get together with your friends and host a series of spring cleaning parties? One weekend, all your friends could stop by with their mops, brooms, and other cleaning paraphernalia, and together you scrub the house until it shines. Of course, you would then be obligated to assist them in their spring cleaning. But I think you'd be surprised how much fun carpet shampooing, window washing, and toilet scrubbing can be when your surrounded by laughing friends, eating good food, and drinking glass after glass of chardonnay.

And if you are not comfortable with your friends being in your house when it is not at its most spotless (or if you have some embarrassing secret to hide from them – a room devoted to Mighty Morphin Power Ranger action figures, a booty of shoplifted mannequins, or a life size replica of the USS Enterprise bridge), there are certainly other ways to make spring cleaning fun. For example, dusting the house with a leaf blower is not only effective, but lot's of fun. And a generous smear of peanut butter across the floor will not only make your house smell like peanut butter cookies, but also get your pets involved in the cleaning process; your dog(s) will get a tasty treat, and your floors will get licked clean. It's win, win!

So in conclusion, I wish you good luck with this year's spring cleaning. It's not exactly the most glamorous job, but with enough wine and creative thought – it sure can be a funny one.