Why do we have to clean?

A seemingly foolish question with an obvious answer but nevertheless worth delving into. A quick look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, clearly indicates that as humans move upwards in the pyramid, the needs become directly related to materialism. Indeed humans have a tendency to amass a large quantity of things – far more than they actually need. Advertising and Marketing play a rogue role in inciting people to purchase things that are not crucial to human existence. With all the ‘stuff’ that one has, it become vital to keep things clean and in order. A messy space increases the stress level of those in it, as they are unable to concentrate on the tasks in hand and struggle to locate the things they require – this can be judged by the recurring refrain of, “where are my keys?” or in recent times, “anyone seen my mobile?” On a personal note, ever since I retired, I find that areas requiring cleaning serve as a distraction, keeping me away from getting other work done and leaving me feeling as if I have not done anything at all at the end of the day! The key to enable ease of cleaning is being minimalistic – keep it simple!

It reminds me of the wisdom of Baloo the Bear in the song,
“Look for the bare necessities The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife”

The worries and strife of cleaning can certainly be reduced in many ways.

– Avril Sule