The sun is shining, the grass is turning green, the flowers are growing, and it’s time to deep clean. Spring cleaning is here and we wanted to share with you a bit of the history and science behind one of our favorite times of the year.
The history of spring cleaning
Researchers have traced the origins of this practice back through the centuries. One of the earliest records of spring cleaning comes from Iran and the practice of khaneh tekani (which translates to ‘shaking the house’). Typically this practice fell before the Persian new year each spring when they cleaned everything in the home.
Other cultures also celebrate spring cleaning. In Judaism, a thorough cleaning is part of the preparation process for Passover celebrations each spring. Catholic Churches practice spring cleaning and cleaning the altar on Maundy Thursday before Good Friday celebrations.
The practice of spring cleaning became popular in America because of our cooler climate. Before vacuum cleaners and other modern cleaning appliances were invented, early spring was the best time to clean. The bugs of summer couldn’t get in the house when they opened all the windows so the wind could carry out the dust. It is also the time of year when settlers would stop burning coal because the weather warmed up. Once the stove was off due to the warmer weather, they could tackle the mountain of coal dust that built up during the winter.
These cultural and geographic traditions may be part of the reason you feel ready to deep clean your home and office this spring. But it’s not just tradition that makes us want to clean this time of year. Researchers have studied the practice of spring cleaning and learned some interesting things. Here are a few we’d like to share:
- Our brains like fresh starts. It turns out the that start of a new season makes us feel a sense of renewal. It’s why we feel motivated to set goals on News Year’s day and why we like a fresh, clean house in the spring!
- It’s a way of dealing with feelings of overwhelm. A study from Princeton found that people in a junk-filled room reported feelings of stress and frustration because of stimuli. After a winter of staying inside, many people feel motivated to tackle the mess to reduce stress.
- Clutter makes us feel worse. A 2017 study from Psychology Today noted that increased clutter negatively affects our mood and health. If you suffer from seasonal depression, it may feel better to tackle large-scale cleaning and organization projects in the spring when your mental health naturally begins to improve.
These are just a few of the ways that spring cleaning affects our lives. So don’t worry if you’re feeling the itch to clean and organize this spring. It’s a widespread feeling this time of year, and now you know why!
