Here’s when you should start spring cleaning
Spring is almost here; a time for fresh growth, Easter eggs and, of course, cleaning! Spring cleaning is a long-standing annual tradition, dating back thousands of years. Some historians believe it’s linked to the Persian New Year, which commences on the first day of spring. Others suggest its origins come from the Jewish community's practice of cleaning ahead of Passover.
Spring cleaning involves cleaning and organising your home after ‘hibernating’ over the winter months, rejuvenating the space for spring. It's often viewed as an opportunity to declutter and deep clean our homes, in a more thorough way than the usual weekly routine. But, when is the best time to start spring cleaning, and where should you begin? We’re here to answer your questions.
When should you start spring cleaning?
According to the Met Office, the first day of spring falls on Wednesday 20 March, based on astronomical seasons, and this is the perfect time to start your spring clean. Although, if you follow meteorological seasons, spring has already sprung, as it was back on the 1 March.
Of course, there’s no hard and fast rule as to when you should start spring cleaning; this will be down to your own routine and schedule. Use the date more for guidance on when to start and spring clean around your routine on an ongoing basis.
But, adds Nancy Emery, Cleaning Expert at Tap Warehouse and Drench, if you want an extra hour of daylight in the evening, you might want to wait until Sunday 31 March (when the clocks go forward).
You could use the long Easter weekend to get ahead of your spring cleaning should you choose - although keep in mind that, according to Catholic tradition, it’s bad luck to conduct any household tasks on Good Friday.
What’s the best order for spring cleaning?
1. Declutter before you clean
There’s no point cleaning and then decluttering, otherwise there will be a lot of fresh dust and debris released into the air as items are moved, not to mention new spaces that require cleaning once they’ve been organised. Always declutter first and then clean to save yourself from cleaning twice.
2. Start with the easy wins
In terms of decluttering and cleaning, start with the easier spaces first (such as hallways); you will see the difference you’re making more quickly and better motivate yourself to continue.
Progress through rooms in levels of difficulty and time consumption to build-up your confidence, but make sure you take your time. In terms of decluttering, it might help to break up each room by zones, as is recommended in Anita Yokota's ski slope declutter method, so as not to overwhelm yourself.
Alternatively, according to Marie Kondo and her KonMari declutter method, you should start decluttering with easier items first (such as clothes), and work your way up to sentimental items, such as letters and photos, so you’re well-experienced with the process by that stage.
Rather than work through each room one at a time, she also recommends focusing on categories instead, so you get a clear idea of the volume of what you own. This could be helpful if you’re looking at a wide-scale decluttering project as part of spring cleaning.
3. Prioritise based on what makes you happy
While we want to make the work feel easier, it’s also good practice to be driven by what makes you happy, or what will have the biggest impact on your daily life. Consider what you want to achieve from your spring cleaning, and factor that into the prioritisation.
For instance, if your wardrobe organisation makes your morning routine an uphill struggle, start with your clothes. Or if the moss and algae on your patio is stopping you from going outside, take the time to scrub it clean as a priority. By targeting the areas which mean the most to us, spring cleaning can feel more rewarding that much faster.
4. Keep an eye on the weather
Speaking of patios, if you intend to clean the outdoors as part of your spring cleaning, be it the gutters or your pathways, make sure you keep an eye on the weather. All of your plans can be thrown out of the window if there’s an unexpected downpour, but if you notice there’s a weekend of sun coming up, take that as an opportunity to do the necessary work.
GHI Tip: When cleaning outdoor windows, aim for overcast weather rather than sunshine, otherwise they can dry too quickly and form streaks.
5. Keep up the good work
In my opinion, spring cleaning shouldn’t just be reserved for spring, otherwise you can end up facing a lot of work at one time of the year. Once you’ve got your home how you want it, try to maintain it in. Don’t let clutter build-up again, and find time to clean and declutter these lesser visited spots regularly. By the time spring comes around next year, the work will be much easier as a result.
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