Why Is It Called Spring Cleaning? The Story Behind the Tradition
It’s spring cleaning time in Perth. That means fresh air, the scent of flowers, open windows, warmer days, extra sunlight and the energy to welcome a new season with a deep clean at home.
So why is it called spring cleaning? The short answer: for centuries, spring has been the season for a big clean at home, thanks to a mix of cultural, religious and practical traditions. Once the weather warmed up enough to open the windows, people cleared out the dust and soot of winter, and several cultures mark the start of spring with a thorough clean as a fresh start. Here’s the story behind the name.
What Does Spring Cleaning Mean?
Spring cleaning means giving a room, or your whole house, a thorough top-to-bottom clean, usually in spring. It focuses on the areas you don’t clean very often, like carpets, split systems, mattresses, sofas and hard surfaces. The phrase is also used more widely for any big clear-out or fresh start.
Nowruz: Shaking the House for the Persian New Year
One of the oldest spring cleaning traditions comes from Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which has been celebrated in Iran for thousands of years. Nowruz falls on the first day of spring (the March equinox), and in the lead-up, families practise khaneh tekani, which means “shaking the house”. The entire home is thoroughly cleaned, wiped and polished, as a ritual of new beginnings.
Passover: Clearing the Home Before the Festival
Another possible origin is the Jewish festival of Passover, which falls in the Northern Hemisphere spring and celebrates the Israelites’ freedom from slavery in Egypt. The story goes that they left Egypt in such a hurry there was no time for their bread to rise. To remember this, families clean the house thoroughly before Passover to remove every trace of chametz (leavened food, such as bread).
Winter Soot: The Practical Reason
The most practical explanation comes from the days before electricity. Through winter, homes were heated with wood or coal fires and lit by oil lamps and candles, which left a layer of soot and grime on walls, floors and furniture. Once spring arrived, it was finally warm enough to open the windows, shake out the dust and let fresh air into every corner of the house. That big seasonal clean became known as spring cleaning.
When Is Spring Cleaning in Australia?
Most spring cleaning traditions began in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring starts in March. In Australia, spring runs from September to November, so Perth homes do their spring clean as the weather warms up after winter, just in time for summer and the festive season.
Let Us Help with Your Spring Clean
Whichever story you prefer, spring is the perfect time to start afresh. After a winter of closed windows, wet shoes and running heaters, it’s a great time to tackle the jobs that don’t get done week to week. At Wizard Cleaning®, a family-owned Perth business since 2017, we can take care of the big ones for you:
- Carpet steam cleaning: we lift the dust and dirt built up over winter using hot water extraction, with a truck-mounted system on most jobs.
- Tile & grout cleaning: bring dull, grimy grout in kitchens and bathrooms back to life.
- Split system cleaning: get your air conditioner clean and ready before you rely on it through a Perth summer.
- Fabric & Upholstery cleaning: freshen up sofas and armchairs after a winter of heavy use.
For a real example, read about our spring cleaning success in Lathlain. Don’t tackle your spring cleaning one task at a time: call the Wizard family on 0400 634 609 or send us an enquiry to book your spring clean, with a free, no-obligation quote.