Springtime traditionally is a time for renewal, rejuvenation, and cleanliness.
In Persian culture, the New Year (called “Nowruz”) is associated with a thorough cleaning of the home, known as “shaking the house” in order to welcome the arrival of spring and prepare for a new year of growth and prosperity.
Passover, the Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, includes a custom of removing all chametz, or leaven bread products, from the home. Cleaning of the home or “spring cleaning,” is also a tradition during the holiday and provides an opportunity to clean, organize, and prepare for family gatherings.
Christians also practice spring cleaning during Easter in preparation for the holiday. This tradition dates back to ancient times when it was believed that cleaning the home before Easter would purify it and rid it of evil spirits. Today, the arrival of spring provides an opportunity to refresh the home and create a welcoming environment for family and guests. In addition, the period leading up to Easter, known as Lent, is a time of fasting, repentance, and spiritual renewal.
With these widespread traditions in mind, the American Cleaning Institute (ACI), a trade association that represents the cleaning products industry, began promoting National Cleaning Week in the 1990s. Since then, the observance has become an annual U.S. time of awareness and is now embraced by the commercial cleaning industry as well.
ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, for example encourages its members to use the week to “celebrate the value of clean, honor fellow cleaning industry professionals, and raise public awareness to the industry’s commitment to maintaining healthy environments for workers and customers.”
At Sunshine, we embrace this week as an opportunity to remind our employees and customers of our commitment to the latest, most environmentally friendly and sustainable cleaning products and techniques, as well as our commitment to maintaining healthy, germ-free facilities for our customers. Maintaining clean and healthy living and working spaces benefits all of us.
In fact, National Cleaning Week, which coincides with World Health Day, gives all of us a chance to support public health and wellness initiatives, and promote clean and healthy living environments in all parts of our lives.
According to ACI, “on average, Americans spend approximately six hours per week cleaning their homes. Their findings show that 28% clean of us clean our homes more than seven hours per week, 26% between three and four hours per week, and 10% less than one hour per week.”
In that same study, ACI found that 52% of respondents said that cleaning the bathroom was their most dreaded task, following by kitchen cleaning (23%), dusting (21%), mopping (20%) and doing the laundry (17%)
Luckily, at Sunshine, all cleaning tasks (except laundry) are part of our mission to “Guarantee a Brighter Day” to all of our customers. Whether at home or work, at the gym or school, try to be more aware during National Cleaning Week of the importance of being surrounded by cleanliness throughout your day and the value of the professionals who help make our world cleaner and healthier.
