The warm weather and sunny skies of spring are finally making an appearance across the nation. Along with their gardening gloves and short-sleeve shirts, many Americans are bringing out vacuum cleaners and mops for an annual round of spring cleaning. Thanks to standards, newly cleaned homes will be sparkling and safe.
One of the first chores that many tackle in spring cleaning is huge loads of laundry, comprising everything from area rugs to curtains. Standards are in place to assure that washing machines are reliably effective and safe. One American National Standard (ANS) helps consumers to choose the most effective washing machine for their needs. ANSI/AHAM HLW-1-2007, Performance Evaluation Procedures for Household Clothes Washers, was developed by Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), a member and accredited standards developer of the American National Standards Institute.
Another ANS provides measures for the safe operation of washing machines. UL 2157 (Ed. 2), Electrical Clothes Washing Machines and Extractors, was developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an ANSI member and audited designator. This guideline applies to electric clothes washing machines and extractors intended to be used in nonhazardous locations in accordance with the U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC).
Dust bunnies lurking in the corner don’t stand a chance against avid spring cleaners with high-powered vacuums. Two standards developed by ASTM International, an ANSI member and audited designator, allow consumers to evaluate the effectiveness of vacuums on both hard floors and carpets: ASTM F2607-08, Standard Test Method for Measuring the Hard Surface Floor-Cleaning Ability of Household/Commercial Vacuum Cleaners, and 
ASTM F608-09, Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Carpet Embedded Dirt Removal Effectiveness of Household/Commercial Vacuum Cleaners.
Specialty or seasonal tableware often gathers dust in the months between special occasions. A quick cycle in the dishwasher makes these items sparkle like new. NSF/ANSI 184-2003, Residential dishwashers, is an ANS developed by NSF International, an ANSI member and audited designator that guides the installation of all residential dishwashers.
With spring cleaning chores accomplished in no time at all thanks to standards, Americans are free to go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, flowers and sunshine of the season.
