It’s that time of year again: Winter comes to an end, signs of spring emerge... and it’s time for our annual deep clean!

Many of us use the term “spring cleaning” loosely, but it’s an actual practice (dating back centuries) that also has some specific health benefits. So what is spring cleaning and why do we do it?

WHAT IS SPRING CLEANING?

Spring cleaning—the tradition of thoroughly cleaning the home in the springtime—is a practice rooted across centuries and cultures. In ancient Jewish custom, springtime cleaning ensured all non-kosher remnants were removed from the home by Passover. Iranians practice the tradition khaneh tekani (literally translated to “shaking the house”) prior to the Persian New Year which involves thoroughly cleaning the house. Similarly, Chinese Little New Year celebrations involve a cleaning ritual to rid the home of negative spirits, sweeping out the old before the lunar New Year.

More recently (and closer to home), spring cleaning was practiced on the frontier to remove the accumulation of dust and soot from winter fires off the walls, windows and furniture. With warmer springtime weather, windows and doors could be left open to air out the home.

This remains important today, as our homes’ indoor air quality is not usually the greatest: many conventional cleaning products contain chemicals that generate toxic fumes; furniture, paint and other building supplies off-gas and impact the air we breathe; conventional candles are technically pollutants too. 😷

In addition to airing out the home and the seasonal scrubbing and polishing, spring cleaning has also come to represent a collective movement to organize and tidy up the home (more on that later!). But first, let’s review some tips for a successful (and not-too-daunting) spring clean:

HOW TO SPRING CLEAN

Spring cleaning (both the deep clean and the tidying up) is relaxing and fun for some… but can be considered a burden for others.

Here are a few suggestions for getting started:

A little bit goes a long way: While some cleaning projects are best done seasonally, others should be done more regularly (vacuuming, dusting, etc.). Falling behind on regular cleaning tasks means your seasonal spring cleaning to-do list will feel a bit more significant and time-consuming than it has to.
Write a to-do list (or use Four Wellness Co.’s list provided in their Healthy Cleaning Guide) and prioritize the “must-do”s from the “would-be-nice-to-do”s. While there is always more to clean, it’s important to find balance. Get out and enjoy that spring sunshine too! ☀️
Opt to tackle your least favorite task first. Accomplishing this at the outset means smooth sailing from there on!
Choose safer, natural cleaning supplies when possible (check out Four Wellness Co.’s favorite safer cleaning supplies).
Tackle your deep clean room-by-room from the top (ceilings/fans) to the bottom (floors). You don’t want to have to clean a surface more than once (no thanks!).
While cleaning may be easiest to tackle room-by-room, tidying up and organization projects may be best approached category-by-category using the KonMari Method.

WHAT IS THE “KONMARI” METHOD?

Japanese cleaning consultant and pro organizer Marie Kondo revolutionized a minimalism-inspired approach for tidying up the home to create space for the items that spark joy.

The KonMari Method follows these simple six steps:

Make the commitment and keep the end goal in sight (bye bye, clutter!).
Imagine how tidying up will improve your lifestyle.
Discard items first, then organize. Before discarding, sincerely thank each item for the purpose it served. While this may seem awkward at first, it’s an important part of the process (and it makes letting go of things which no longer serve you easier!).
Think category, not location within the home.
Follow the suggested categorical order below.
Consider whether an item sparks joy.

The KonMari Method suggests tidying up in this categorical order:

Clothes
Books
Papers
Komono (miscellaneous items including kitchen, beauty products, garage, etc.)
Sentimental items

For more detailed information on this process, Marie Kondo’s best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing is an inspiring read!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPRING CLEANING

Though all this scrubbing, polishing and organizing is a lot of work, spring cleaning can have a number of health and wellness benefits:

REDUCES ALLERGENS

Clean air supports a strong immune system. A deep clean and decluttering will help reduce dust and allergens in your home. Four Wellness Co. also recommends these natural air purifiers to give your indoor air quality an extra boost.

REDUCES STRESS

While the act of cleaning (a repetitive, mindless task) can be therapeutic to some, the end result of a clean and organized home is considered satisfying by most. Cleaning can even be used as a mindfulness practice, if you’d like.

INCREASES FOCUS & PRODUCTIVITY

A cluttered home often causes anxiety and stress. Decluttering and tidying up the home also declutters the brain (less visual clutter to sort through!). Not to mention, tidying up can also save you time (and money) looking for and replacing items lost in a messy home.

INCREASES HAPPINESS & IMPROVES MOOD

The end goal of tidying up is a home full of items that spark joy. And, a clean, well-organized home can actually boost endorphins in the brain and increase energy levels.

ENCOURAGES A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

Cleaning your environment often leads to cleaning up other areas of your life as well: think diet, sleep habits or exercise.

This post was originally published on Four Wellness Co.

Why Spring Cleaning is Good for Your Health