Deepavali or Diwali , the festival of lights as it is popularly called is a festival celebrated by Hindus all over the world for four days, the lat two days of the month of Ashwin and the first two days of the month of Karthik.Deepavali is one of the most important festivals also one of the most looked forward to festivals in India.Everything starts afresh on this day and it is a new beginning for many a New Year.
All houseproud women spring clean their houses before Deepavali or Diwali which is an important aspect of the celebrations.In the olden days the front door of a house remained open all through the Deepavali festivities which went on for almost a week.This was with the belief that Goddess Lakshmi , the goddess of wealth made her entry into our home during this period and the house should be cleaned and ready to receive her and that she never enters a house filled with dirt and gloom.
For the women of the household the preparations for the festival begins at least a fortnight ahead of the actual day.Most people would get their houses painted and cleaned .However, since this was not possible every year,they spring cleaned the house which was a must for all conscientious housewives.
Spring cleaning if not taken systematically can become chaotic and time consuming , also never ending.By starting early and organising the work procedure one can make it easier. If you are planning to get your house spring cleaned this year start by making a spring cleaning time table so that you can go through a certain specified number of chores each day and finish the job with little strain and exertion.
Clear away the accumulated junk
This happens with all of us, we tend to collect stuff that we may or we may never use in our life time.This is the time to make a decision and decide once for all whether to keep or get rid of what has been lying around for ages.Go systematically through cup boards,attic,store rooms,wardrobes and every other place where things have been stored.
A safe yardstick to measure the utility of any stuff is to ask yourself - whether you even remember having it within your home, and more importantly whether you have used it in the past two years ? If the answer is NO, then most probably you are harboring a white elephant in your house and this is the time to take the crucial decision.
At times we have to harden our heart to give away these hidden treasures.No doubt throwing away a perfectly good alarm clock which has only one hand ,a badminton racquet which needs to be restrung if and when someone in the family decides to play the game or a tricycle which your children used and you have fond memories of , now lying around in the garage - can really be a wrench for most housewives. Men often fail to understand the sentimental attachment women have for 'relics'. I personally used to do this, take out all the stuff with the idea of giving them away and then clean them and put them back at the last minute. But a couple of years ago while I was away at my mother's place for Deepavali my hubby cold-bloodedly sold off everything and although I was devastated when I came back , later felt that what he did was right in a way!There seemed to be so much more space in the kitchen or for that matter everywhere in the house!
However,if you are planning to get rid of the accumulated stuff it is better to make an assessment of all the stuff you have stored since some of them like copper ware,brass ware and old vessels may be valuable.Getting rid of old tins,bottles,newspapers and magazines is easier but other stuff like metallic items need to be gone through and given after pondering over a few details like the prevailing market rate and which is the right place to sell them and whether you could still find some use for it .
Reclaim and Spring clean( autumn clean?)
Once you have decided to give away the relics and have also gone into the nitty-gritty of the issue, you will find that you have somewhat fattened your wallet and delighted with the extra space around the house which you can reclaim.Now is the time to begin your spring cleaning or to be more precise autumn -cleaning operations.
Get all the equipment needed like brooms both soft and coarse ,brushes ,duster clothes,pail and buckets ,dust pan,soap and detergent and some grease solvents like spirit or kerosene or any other cleaning liquid that is available and a step ladder or a sturdy reliable stool because we don’t want to have any accident due to misadventure just before the festival. Do take up one room at a time so that you don’t upset the routine of the family and sour tempers during the festival time.
Clean from top to down , starting from upstairs if you have two floors , working your way down.Throw open the windows and air the room.Remove all wall hangings ,curtains, posters, pictures from the walls.Wipe and clean them thoroughly paying particular attention to the frames especially if they are ingrained with intricate design.Check the back of the photographs for termites and silver fish and keep them away safely in another room.
Ceilings,windows and Floors
Remove cobwebs from the ceilings and wall corners .If you have a vacuum cleaner it is invaluable since it can be used for removing grime from the walls,if not use a long handled broom.Clean the ceiling fans first with a dry cloth and then with a damp cloth dipped in warm soapy solution and again with a clean cloth to dry it out.
Clean curtains and carpets in the mean time ,if you have heavy curtains and draperies this is the time to get them cleaned through dry cleaners.Carpets can be taken out and beaten with a stick to get all the hidden dirt out and you will be amazed at the amount of dust that will drop down.While doing this take care to wrap a cloth around your nose,mouth and hair especially so when you are allergic to dust.
Turn out all the cup-boards ,sort out the contents and discard the unwanted stuff.Reline the shelves with fresh newspapers or any other lining material of your choice before replacing the stuff back.Windows and door frames should be thoroughly cleaned with a mild soap solution and later dried with a clean dry cloth. A solution made with a spoonful of detergent and 2 tablespoons of vinegar added to half a bucketful of water will clean grime and dirt from wooden surface very easily.Make sure that you wipe dry immediately after cleaning it to avoid warping staining or cracking of the wooden surface.Clean the window glass with a small wad of wet newspaper finishing off with dry newspaper for a streak less gloss.You can use either diluted vinegar or any commercial glass cleaner.
In the bed rooms remove and sun the beds for at least a few hours or for as long as you are doing the cleaning .Wipe the cot thoroughly checking for bugs,spiders,cockroaches and termites.Sprinkle some talcum powder over the surface before replacing the mattress.Go through your wardrobe and after cleaning the interiors thoroughly ,put back your clothes neatly folded or put them neatly on the hangers.
In the Kitchen wash and clean the shelves ,sinks and working surface thoroughly. Get all faulty gadgets repaired or replaced as the case may be.Clean the gas stove and oven thoroughly .If the kitchen shelves look drab you can even paint the surface with a fresh lick of paint since it is relatively an easy job ...
Ceramic tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms have to be cleaned with soap solution and one can use old tooth brush to reach the corners where dirt normally accumulates.Most of the floor surfaces can be cleaned with soapy water to which washing soda is added or even the juice of a lime helps.
Minor repairs
Finally, at this time of the year do not neglect to take care of minor household repairs.Broken window glass can be replaced, also faulty latches or a leaky tap should be attended to.Plug small holes in the wall by using some white cement mixture or putty or even toothpaste which I find very handy ,later wiping off the excess with a cloth to get an even wall surface.
Take care of your garden and potted plants by removing weeds ,mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes and trees if any so that everything looks spic and span.You can also rearrange your furniture to give your living room a brand new look.Now that your home is clean,neat and tidy begin by decorating it by hanging Chinese lanterns ,glittering streamers and Rangoli patterns at the entrance and on your porch.
When you do the cleaning enrole the help of other family members and your maid or any other outside help.Many hands make the work lighter and your maid would be glad to give a hand when she knows that she will be compensated adequately for the extra work.Making your home gleam and sparkle for the festival is definitely well worth the effort!It also gives you something to look forward to each year because you get a neat,tidy and a sparkling home to live in for the rest of the year !