Today was ‘spring-cleaning’ of the clothes cupboard day for me. More like summer-cleaning if you ask me because summer already has one foot in the door-way and is asking to be let in.
The days are already so hot, though comparatively, the nights, and especially early mornings, are still pleasant enough. Give it a week or ten days more and officially we will be in summer, and the nights too shall start getting warmer and warmer. From then on, it is time to long for the rains.
The surroundings are devoid of the lush green look. The leaves look lacklustre covered in dust. With the surrounding greenery (mine) having been annihilated, the dust is having a field day, being lifted by even the gentlest breeze and settling wherever it chooses.
For those in love with clean surroundings free of dust, or obsessive about keeping a dust free home, these are difficult days. Till the rains arrive the dusting cloth will remain their closest ally due to their working arrangement on a daily basis.
Coming back to ‘summer’ cleaning the clothes cupboard, it was more of about clearing stuff that are no longer needed. Many of them hang loose on me now. Some others are no longer wanted. Since I take good care of my clothes (believe me, not everyone does!), they are all still in pretty good condition.
The discarded clothes are packed in two bags and ready for my Woman Friday to take a look at. She has requested that she be given the first choice whenever I am giving away anything. I am only too happy to oblige. If it can be of use to her, why not?
What makes me happy is how she will come to work one day, in one of my clothes and stand there with a secret smile on her face. “Anything look familiar?” she will ask if I don’t immediately catch on. I’d then take a second look. “It’s the one you gave me, Chechi!” she will say happily.
It reminds me of how the Second Born, when he was smaller, was thrilled to bits with clothes that got handed down to him from his brother than the brand new ones we got for him.
My pruned down and spruced up cupboard gives me much satisfaction. I have been meaning to do this for a couple of weeks now, and now it is done. Now there’s more space for new arrivals in the offing 😉
©️ Shail Mohan 2025
Shail's Nest 
This year, the dust is worse! It’s either that or hubby’s compulsive clean streak has caught up with me! Sigh!
We’re both experiencing changing seasons though I think our attitudes towards them are different! For me, the coming spring is a time of joy as we all stop freezing to death and look forward to at least SOME days of no rain. Whereas, for you the impossible heat – day and night – is well on its way!
Likewise, the whole spring cleaning lark is not really my bag anyway (typical man!) but also our cleaning routine doesn’t change from season to season. At most, we might get to the tip more often in good weather to throw away as much junk as we can – including clothes. But the thought of anything new coming into the house, other than swiftly consumables, fills me with horror!