Tami's Blog
<< Be Prepared and Have Fun >>

Be Prepared and Have Fun
A Collection of Tips for the Holidays

Tami Lancut Leibovitz 

Passover has many nicknames, but the most accurate (and least used) is definitely the holiday of cleanliness.
It is probably the only time in the year when just having a cleaning lady isn’t enough, and suddenly we notice dirt all around the house. No matter the reason, the result of this is a positive one.

Some things we must do for ourselves, and there is something special about thoroughly cleaning your own house that gives one a unique peace of mind.
There is also a link between cleaning and the holiday commandments, and this is a good opportunity to instill certain values in your children. The only problem is,
such an effort requires a lot of time, effort, and patience - and it should not be left to the last minute.

And with that, a few tips to help you get through the holiday:

 Start cleaning ten days before the seder, and avoid the chaos inherent in last-minute cleaning.
 Start with the bedrooms, then move on to the living room.
Leave the kitchen to the end.

You might want to take a day off from work, and in doing so give yourself a chance to clean the house with no distractions, such as your kids
or your significant other.

 Try making it a pleasant occasion for yourself (put on some nice music, for example) and a challenging one for the rest of the household - kids should

take care of their rooms, and your significant other should help with any large areas. Don’t forget to thank eachother at the end of it, and enjoy your sparkling home when you’re done.

Additionally, this is a great opportunity to create order and change out your closets. Seize it and switch between winter and summer clothing, and go ahead and treat yourself
to a nice new clothing item of your choice for the holiday.
Go ahead and thoroughly clean your cupboards and polish your silverware. Consider patching up or painting any defects in the walls of your house - a great task for the kids.
Seize the chance to clean up your car as well, getting rid of all the junk that accumulates there throughout the year.

We were slaves to the pharaoh once - never again!

Most of us have hired help when it comes to cleaning our homes. However, it is customary to take the cleanliness of our home in our own hands during
Passover, and it is an excellent opportunity to sort through - both physically and mentally - what we want, what we need, and what we can throw away.

©All Rights Reserved to Tami Lancut - Leibovitz