Spring is swiftly approaching and with it: spring cleaning. Out with the old, in with the new: you know the drill. It may seem like a major chore, transitioning from the winter to the spring—but what if spring cleaning connected to addiction recovery and sparked a deepening of your recovery health? You may be surprised to know that it can. Not only is cleaning stellar for your physical health, but it can also pack a powerful, positive psychological punch.
The History of Spring Cleaning
As one domestic scholar, Ada Duxtable, explains in a New York Times article, the practice of swapping anything dark, wintery, and warm, for everything bright, summery, and light dates back to at least the Victorian age, if not earlier. This seasonal switch tends to take place in mid to late March or early to mid-April, depending on when the warmth starts to amp up once again.
The practice of spring cleaning then was slow, could take up to an entire day if not more, and involved a ton of deep cleaning. Duxtable paints the picture around the practice as ancient, grueling, and ultimately followed by a sense of euphoria for having cleansed every inch of one’s dwelling. While she goes on to explain that it’s no longer a necessary practice—given that we have modern cleaning appliances now that effectively break apart this massive cleaning haul—she does mention how pleasurable the sanitizing and decluttering process can be.
People love to attack the following elements of domestic cleaning with their favorite cleaning products and tunes in the background:
- Washing or replacing shower curtains, drapes, or other cloth window materials
- Cleaning and disinfecting all tubs, showers, and sinks
- Washing all bedding and swapping it out for lighter layers
- Vacuuming or washing all rugs, carpets, and cloth furniture
- Dusting and polishing all furniture and surfaces, as well as dusting vents and fans
- Deeping clean ovens, fridges, and other appliances
While many other activities can be integrated under the deep spring cleaning umbrella, you can clearly see how in-depth and time consuming the deep clean truly is.
The Benefits of Cleaning in Recovery
When you enter recovery for a substance use problem, you’re actively choosing to gain control of your life. The common language around getting sober doesn’t only relate to the abstraction of cleansing your body, but can also extend to literally disinfecting and balancing the physical space that you inhabit. When you stay clean and organized in your living space, you help boost your immune system and energy levels and decrease depression, anxiety, and stress—all of which can affect your recovery.
Cleaning to Boost Immune Defense
You may have heard that your sheets should get washed each week (it’s true!). Whether or not you decide to go with a weekly clean, you can still take the opportunity to clean and wash bedding with strong soap and hot water as often as possible now that spring is here. When you clean your sheets, you improve health by eliminating dense, germy accumulations like:
- Dirt and sweat
- Dead skin cells and oil
- Dust mites, their carcasses, and their fecal matter
So: spring clean all sheets, bedding, blankets, and pillow covers to stay clean and healthy as the sun really starts to shine. Additionally, give your lungs and immune system a break by regularly cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, vents, and fans to eliminate dust, mildew and molds, pet dander, and other allergy-triggering build-ups. Your brain and body will thank you!
Cleaning to Declutter, Destress, Get Active, and Feel in Control
Marie Kondo is no stranger to the powers of decluttering, but neither is science. Studies show that decluttering and freeing up space can provide a sense of control and can be a proactive, constructive coping mechanism when you’re in the middle of a chaotic situation or mix of feelings. Cleaning up can only help you feel less anxious and potentially more accomplished on a day-to-day basis. Give it a shot!
Cleaning Up With St. Gregory Recovery Center in Iowa
If you’re trying to learn more about health and wellness as you enter recovery, don’t hesitate to contact us with questions, concerns, or the need to gush about your newly spring-cleaned space! We’re dedicated to holistically treating the human being, and that includes caring for and acknowledging the importance of the body and the cleanliness of the space that it inhabits—ask anyone who’s worked with us!
