Spring is in the air
With the spring cleaning season in full swing, ROWAN MANTELL reports on the health benefits of housework — from the Norwich mum cleaning up in business as she battles dirt without waging war on the world, to light-hearted hints on honing your figure as you hoover.
The sun is shining, the garden is bursting into bloom, the wind is warm — and the unaccustomed sunlight is highlighting a house full of cobwebs and crud.
It's spring cleaning time.
Modern householders might not have to scrub the doorstep or beat the carpets half to death, but spring cleaning is still alive and well and flourishing.
And it is definitely good for you.
As well as all the dust and grime removed from your home, and the calories burnt as you mop, sweep, polish and vacuum, there is the psychological boost of having a clean house.
"As soon as the sun comes out our telephones are ringing," said Julie Bishop, right, of Norwich cleaning specialists Living Clean.
"Spring cleaning goes right back to when we had coal fires. When the weather warmed up and the fires weren't needed all the walls would be covered in soot. Nowadays we just want to feel fresh and energised."
She loves cleaning, but a few years ago realised that the cleaning products she was using around her home were triggering her asthma attacks.
When her baby son was diagnosed with asthma too, she was determined to strip out the poisons and toxins she had been spraying round their home.
"I found out that a lot of products contained neuro-toxins which can cause headaches, dizziness, depression and even cancer," said Julie.
At first she bought less toxic products from America but then she decided to draft in a local specialist industrial chemist to bconcoct her own all-natural, non-polluting cleaners made from citrus solutions and natural oils and acids.
Blitz (bathroom) budge (kitchen) shine (polish) and ping (air freshener) will soon be joined by zing (windows).
They are now used by the 20 cleaning staff Julie employs and are also sold from her website. From October they will be an essential part of each Living Clean franchise Julie is planning to sell across the country — aiming for 100 businesses nationwide within five years.
She said her cleaners are busy all year round — but still see a big peak in one-off calls in the spring.
A spring clean involves blitzing the house from top to bottom, including everything from walls to bookshelves and ovens to grouting.
"Everything feels better when you see your home all gleaming and white!" said Julie.
And she and her seven-year-old son Paul certainly feel better — with their asthma under control and business healthy in more ways than one.