what is the origin of spi c and span?

Question

"i just got done cleaning the kitchen so now its spi c and span!"

you hear it all the time, but neather of the words make sence. we use it so much that we don't think of how dumb it really sounds.
so what does it really mean?

Answer 1

Quoting,
"The spelling spick and span is preferred, although in America the cleaning product called $pic 'n' Span is probably to blame for the popularity of the $pic spelling here. The original spick spelling reveals that there is no relation between this phrase and the ethnic slur. Spick and span, in fact, dates back to at least the 16th century when Samuel Pepys (pronounced "peeps", by the way) used it in his famous diary. Prior to that it was span-new. What exactly does that mean? Well, a span was a wood chip, and such chips were used to make spoons (yes, span and spoon are related). Something that was span-new was a freshly cut chip or, metaphorically, anything as new as a freshly cut chip. This term dates from at least 1300 in the metaphorical sense. Spick was added in the 16th century, though why is not exactly known - perhaps for the alliterative sense. A spick was a spike or nail, and something that was spick and span was neat and trim. The "clean" sense appears to have arisen only recently.

Answer 2

Their was a product called Spick and Span used by almost everyone in the 1950's. That is the origin of the phrase because it was a really powerful cleanter

It still is a major U.S. brand of all-purpose household cleanser, invented by a housewife in Saginaw, Michigan around 1930. The powdered form must be mixed in water prior to use; a liquid version is also available. It is strongly scented. The product name is a slangish synonym for "clean".

Until 2001, Spick and Span was made by Procter & Gamble, a major international manufacturer of household and personal products based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Answer 3

It's an alliteration that goes back quite a ways in history. It refers to a shiny new nail or wood spike.

Answer 4

It is a 1930's era slang term for clean.