You guys, it's that time of the year again. Purim behind, Pesach ahead. I have this itch to throw out half of our stuff and scrub the rest. Plenty of good intentions, though they don't always come to fruition.
I made a big master list and just read some useful tips to remind myself not to sweat it. I won't disclose everything I still have to do, but here's a partial list of what I'm glad to say I WON'T do, at least not before this crazy messy holiday is over:
- Sorting through closets
- Cleaning windows
- Yard work
- Painting dirty wall and ceiling sections
- Deep-scrubbing the bathtub
Repeat after me: Pesach cleaning is not spring cleaning. Dust is not leavened bread. Clutter is not chametz.
The kitchen is the real challenge. The lady from the link I've shared above says cleaning out and prepping the kitchen for Pesach only takes a day. That may be possible if you have a whole day free, tons of energy, and no kids at home. Personally, I have a big kitchen with lots of storage spaces and nooks and crannies. I also have to stop to eat and rest from time to time. I typically set aside a day just to clean the refrigerator.
At least I'm learning from year to year. For me, the biggest challenge is the couple of days when almost everything - the stove, the refrigerator, the counters - is already clean, but it's too early to take out the Pesach dishes and start using them. So I'm sort of in a limbo where I can't cook at all, and sitting on the front steps and eating sandwiches gets old eventually. There's no time to figure out anything decent to eat.
Last year, eventually, I was just so HUNGRY. So were the kids. I called to order pizza (something I never do) and it turned out they were too busy to do deliveries. I could have cried. We ended up eating instant noodles.
So, this year, my challenge will be to stock up on nutritious snacks and food for those critical couple of days before the kitchen makes its yearly transition.
Oh well, we've made it before and will make it this year too. Happy Pesach/Spring cleaning, everyone!
