Spring Cleaning
was something invented that was done once cold weather was finally done and fires for heating at least were put out.
What then began was an orgy of cleaning that lasted often several days and requiring all hands (usually female as men cleared out to their clubs or whatever). Maiden aunts, widowed mothers or other unattached female family members usually traveled in to help and or assistance was hired.
Windows were opened and literally every thing was washed, dusted, beaten, shaken, scrubbed, wiped down etc.. All this in aid of cleaning out months of soot, grime, residue and whatever else from burning solid or various petrol fuels all winter long in homes that were largely shut up (as in closed windows...).
Even in homes with hot water or steam central heat via radiators weren't immune.
Leaving aside coal dust wafting up from basement or wherever it was stored there was soot from leaky chimneys or other sources that got everywhere. Wood fires produced various residues as well that left traces everywhere as well. Petrol fires? Ditto. Then there was fact air patterns caused by convection often meant areas around rads and or the things themselves became fouled and required cleaning.
Difficulty in starting and keeping solid fuel fires going meant that even in homes with central heating furnaces or boilers weren't usually fired up until cold weather arrived in earnest. During shoulder seasons many homes relied on fireplaces or perhaps individual stoves with perhaps a range in kitchen for heating.
was something invented that was done once cold weather was finally done and fires for heating at least were put out.
What then began was an orgy of cleaning that lasted often several days and requiring all hands (usually female as men cleared out to their clubs or whatever). Maiden aunts, widowed mothers or other unattached female family members usually traveled in to help and or assistance was hired.
Windows were opened and literally every thing was washed, dusted, beaten, shaken, scrubbed, wiped down etc.. All this in aid of cleaning out months of soot, grime, residue and whatever else from burning solid or various petrol fuels all winter long in homes that were largely shut up (as in closed windows...).
Even in homes with hot water or steam central heat via radiators weren't immune.
Leaving aside coal dust wafting up from basement or wherever it was stored there was soot from leaky chimneys or other sources that got everywhere. Wood fires produced various residues as well that left traces everywhere as well. Petrol fires? Ditto. Then there was fact air patterns caused by convection often meant areas around rads and or the things themselves became fouled and required cleaning.
Difficulty in starting and keeping solid fuel fires going meant that even in homes with central heating furnaces or boilers weren't usually fired up until cold weather arrived in earnest. During shoulder seasons many homes relied on fireplaces or perhaps individual stoves with perhaps a range in kitchen for heating.
