Love it or hate it, the way you clean is all (From Worcester News)

Love it or hate it, the way you clean is all

8:27am Thursday 27th March 2008 in Features By James Connell

DOES your heart lift at the thought of that ritual spring clean and clear up that's supposed to blow away the winter cobwebs? There's no need for guilt if washing windows, clearing out cupboards and polishing surfaces actually fills you with dread, because you're not alone.

Less than half of all homes get that annual spring clean, research by appliance manufacturer Miele has revealed, while another Persil survey found a quarter of us are too busy to do all our chores, and 31 per cent of people hate dusting the house. But loving or hating cleaning and housework may be all down to our childhood and our personality, according to psychologist Anita Morris.

She says: "It's quite common to copy the approach to cleaning and the techniques instilled in you by your parents. That can, of course, be positive if you've got a sensible routine and are happy with it.

"But sometimes if we were made to do certain jobs as a child that we hated we can retain that feeling as a grown up. That may mean although you're happy to clean, that one particular chore is a problem as you constantly overlook it, and the fact it's not done preys on your mind."

Suffering from that love-hate reaction to cleaning can be solved.

"Get round it by delegating, say cleaning the bath, to someone else," she advises. "Or do the job you like least first so you don't build up a feeling of dread which makes a hated chore even harder to tackle."

And if you're allergic to a spring blitz? Anita says: "Our personality affects everything we do and that includes cleaning. If you're a dizzy, chaotic character it's unlikely you'll methodically clean. But it's worth being disciplined and setting time aside to do a spring clean. Getting rid of clutter and giving a home a good detox is often what we all need.

"The process of tidying and clearing can really help relax us and it can provide a sense of renewal, and that positive feeling could also change your attitude towards the chores."

So find out your cleaning personality below, and follow our tips to the best techniques and equipment to make spring cleaning a breeze.

WHAT TYPE OF CLEANER ARE YOU?TIME POOR CLEANERYou're probably busy with family and work, and when you have some time to spare lack the energy or motivation to spend it cleaning.

SOLUTION: Make a list of the essential cleaning jobs for each week and try to slot a time to do just one each day. Make a house rule if you take something out, you put it away. Keep surfaces clean and always tidy away clutter.

WHIRLWIND CLEANERYou ignore the housework for ages, and then have a mad blitz so the home is immaculate for a few days but then slides back into chaos.

SOLUTION: Get the family to help you, and be tolerant if they don't meet your exacting standards. Plan one large job to do each month to avoid crisis clear-ups. You need to relax more so plan an outing or chill out time for yourself and whoever helps with the chores.

COVER UP CLEANERYou consider housework a waste of effort. So spills won't be wiped up straight away, and you use rugs or throws to hide marks or stains instead of tackling them.

SOLUTION: Make cleaning fun by getting the family to help. If you have children hide sweets or tiny gifts around the house for a cleaning treasure hunt' so they finding them as they tidy.

COMPULSIVE CLEANERYou plump the cushions as soon as someone stands up from the sofa, and clear away plates before people have finished eating.

SOLUTION: Try to reduce your chore cleaning routine. For example, clean cupboards every other week instead of every week. Also, try to find yourself a hobby which relaxes and distracts you from obsessing over the household chores.

SPRING CLEANING: WHAT YOU SAYMary Stevens, aged 57, of Ombersley, near Worcester, has help around the house. She said: "Oh no, I haven't done my spring cleaning yet. However, it shouldn't take too long. I have help from my husband Jeff."Janette Rattcliffe runs bed and breakfast Gables on Bromyard Road, Worcester.

She said: "We have to keep the place to a very high standard. We don't wait for the spring clean. It's best to do it as you go along."

Chris Collins, aged 57, of Lower Broadheath, near Worcester, said: "I haven't started my spring clean yet - I'm waiting for the weather to get better. When the sun comes out a lot of people notice things like dirty windows.