‘Spring cleaning’ is a phrase you’ve more than likely heard before. As the weather warms up, people strip their homes of dirt, grime, and useless items- but, what makes spring the perfect time of year for a deep clean?
The tradition came before modern heating, when people used coal or wood fires for heat and oil lamps and candles to light their homes. The smoke, soot, and dust from these created a very dirty environment in homes. A build up would develop on walls, curtains, and furniture throughout the bitter winter.
As the weather warmed, people were able to open the windows and get some fresh air. They could air out beddings and rugs to push out the grime caused by heating and light, as well as begging to bake to wash up floors and walls.
Spring cleaning can also be partially cultural or religious in nature. Jewish families traditionally clean their house before Passover to remove any leftover foods such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt products. Those in Iran clean their homes before Nowruz or the Persian New Year. This tradition is called khaneh tekani or “shaking the house”. It represents the removal of the past year’s negativity to welcome in the new one. Chinese homes are cleansed before the Chinese New Year in order to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
Overall, the idea of spring cleaning is to have a fresh start. The days get longer, plants begin to grow, and people often feel more motivated as the weather warms up. A clean home can leave people stepping into a new season with a better mind set than they left the last. A quick reset is the perfect way to welcome spring with a fresh start.
