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How Did Spring Cleaning Originate? The Fascinating History Behind This Annual Tradition
- Cassie Corbett
- Mar 14
- 3 min read
Spring has arrived, and with it comes the age-old tradition of spring cleaning—that time of year when we roll up our sleeves, dust off forgotten corners, and give our homes a fresh start. But have you ever wondered how did spring cleaning originate? Why do we feel the urge to deep clean every year just as the flowers start to bloom?
Let’s take a fun journey through history to uncover the origins of spring cleaning, from ancient traditions to modern-day tidying!
How Did Spring Cleaning Originate: Its Anceint Roots
Believe it or not, spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of winter dust—it has deep historical and cultural significance dating back thousands of years.
🏺 Ancient Persia: The Original Deep Cleaners
One of the earliest known spring cleaning traditions comes from Persia (modern-day Iran). Over 3,000 years ago, Persians celebrated Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which falls on the first day of spring. A big part of this celebration involved "khooneh tekouni", which literally means "shaking the house." Families would thoroughly clean their homes, wash rugs, scrub floors, and clear out clutter to welcome the new year with a fresh start.
🕍 Jewish Passover Cleaning
In Jewish tradition, spring cleaning is closely tied to Passover, which commemorates the Israelites’ escape from Egypt. In preparation for the holiday, families go through their homes and remove all traces of chametz (leavened bread), a process that often involves an intense, thorough cleaning of every room. This ritual dates back over 3,000 years and is one of the earliest examples of springtime deep cleaning.
⛪️ Christian and Catholic Traditions
In many Christian households, deep cleaning was done in preparation for Easter, a tradition dating back centuries. Additionally, during the 19th century, Catholic churches would clean the altar and everything inside on the Thursday before Good Friday, marking another religious connection to springtime tidying.
Why Spring Cleaning Became a Universal Tradition
Beyond religious and cultural traditions, spring cleaning became a necessity in the days before modern technology.
🔥 The Winter Soot Problem
Before homes had electricity and heating systems, people relied on fireplaces, wood stoves, and oil lamps to keep warm during winter. This led to a buildup of soot, dust, and grime on walls, ceilings, and furniture. Once warmer weather arrived and homes could finally be aired out, it made perfect sense to do a deep clean to get rid of all the accumulated filth.
🧹 The Perfect Weather for Cleaning
Spring brings longer daylight hours, milder temperatures, and lower humidity—making it the ideal season for washing windows, dusting off furniture, and beating rugs outdoors. Cleaning in spring allowed people to open windows and doors, letting in fresh air and sunshine while sweeping out the winter mess.
🏡 The Psychological Refresh
Spring also brings a sense of renewal and new beginnings. Just as nature is blooming and refreshing itself, humans feel a natural urge to declutter, organize, and start fresh. Studies even suggest that clean spaces improve mood, reduce stress, and boost productivity—so there’s science behind that sudden motivation to grab a mop and get to work!
Spring Cleaning in Modern Times
Fast forward to today, and spring cleaning has become a widely accepted ritual around the world. While we no longer have to deal with sooty walls or hand-wash our rugs outside, many of us still feel that spring is the perfect time to declutter, deep clean, and refresh our homes.
But let’s be real—spring cleaning can be exhausting. That’s where we come in!
Let S3CONCEPTS Take Spring Cleaning Off Your To-Do List!
If the idea of deep cleaning your entire home feels overwhelming, let the professionals handle it! At S3CONCEPTS, we specialize in residential and commercial cleaning services across the Bay Area, including:
✔ Deep Cleaning & Preventative Disinfection – Get rid of dust, allergens, and bacteria.
✔ Floor Maintenance – Vacuuming, mopping, and deep carpet cleaning for a refreshed home.
✔ Post-Construction Cleaning – Perfect for new or recently renovated homes.
✔ Specialty Cleaning Services – Windows, baseboards, and all the hard-to-reach spots!
We serve Tracy, Mountain House, Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, Walnut Creek, Danville, San Jose, Hayward, Fremont, San Leandro, and Lathrop, bringing top-quality cleaning solutions right to your door.
Visit out Instagram page to check out our Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist!
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