Cleaning - Not Just For Spring!

Canadians spend 90% of their time indoors. Frankly, I do not know where this statistic comes from, but I have heard it enough times from different reputable sources that I have little reason to doubt it.

Due primarily to our lack of fur, the majority of this indoor time occurs during the upcoming cold winter months. With this in mind, it makes sense that before you hunker down in our cocoon for a "long winter's night" that you give it a good cleaning. Otherwise you run the risk of spending this quality indoor time with an abundance of dust particles and their friends.

Ideally this cleaning should happen before you have to shut all the windows, as this will help minimize the issue of indoor air quality. In the next few weeks I suspect there will be a few glorious days where the temperature is slightly above normal. This is the time to break out the broom, vacuum and mop to capture the dust bunnies long lurking behind furniture and under beds. Having the option of an open window will help to dissipate any residue odour from cleaning products, as well as clear the air of dust particles that might get stirred up.

In my opinion, because indoor air quality is a greater issue in winter then summer, this fall cleaning is more important to my health and comfort of my home then the more traditional spring cleaning.

For more information about indoor air quality, check out the Indoor Air Quality site from the Ontario Lung Association