Your Ultimate 2021 Guide To Spring Cleaning

The origin of spring cleaning is highly a contentious topic. Some believe the Spring Cleaning is traced back to the Persian New Year or "Nowrouz," which falls on the first day of Spring which this year is on Sunday, March 21st. Spring Cleaning starts about a week before the new year, and every inch of the house is thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing. Others believe that Spring Cleaning dates all the way back to the Jewish practice of methodically cleaning the home in anticipation of the springtime week-long festival of Passover. During which there are strict prohibitions against eating or drinking anything which may have been leavened or fermented. 

Spring cleaning is a chore for the entire family. Even the young children get involved. As an Iranian Jew, I remember back in the days my mother would start by removing the drapers, bedsheets, and cushion covers from every room, letting in extra sunlight in the house. My brother and I were tasked with dusting the dining room furniture. Every inch of the house needed to be dusted and wiped cleaned, including under the stove and the refrigerator. It was a ritual that we all loved. It was an activity we shared as a family. Most importantly, it meant the two weeks of spring break were just around the corner. 

While the geneses of Spring cleaning are debatable, its health benefits are not. Spring cleaning is extremely beneficial to your physical and mental health. Here are five reasons why you should be doing a thorough spring cleaning this month:

Physical Activity:

Yes, all that moving around is going to burn some serious calories. You will be squatting, climbing, picking up heavy items, moving furniture and appliances, scrubbing, and doing many more physical activities that are guaranteed to make you break a sweat. A 150-pound person can burn up to 205 calories while doing one hour of housecleaning, so if you wear a fitness tracker like an apple watch, you can crush your daily goals with a few hours of spring cleaning. 

Keep Asthma and Allergies Away:

This is one of the best reasons for a thorough spring cleaning. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that more than 20 million Americans suffer from dust mite allergy. Spring cleaning is an excellent opportunity to get rid of all those allergens and keeping your asthma at bay.

Healthy Eating: 

Cleaning your house will also support healthier food choices. Researchers at the University of Minnesota suggested that individuals placed in a clean and organized room are more likely to choose healthier snack options than those in a messy room.

Better Sleep: 

Being clean and organize can also lead to better sleep: One National Sleep Foundation survey found that individuals who made their beds every day were 19% more likely to report getting a good night's sleep. This is an excellent reason to re-introduce cleaning habits that you neglected during the winter back into your life.

Mental Benefits: 

A study conducted by researchers at Princeton University discovered that clutter could make it challenging to focus on a particular task. The study discovered that an individual's visual cortex could be overwhelmed by objects that are not related to a particular task, making it harder to focus and complete projects efficiently. Another study published in "Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin" found that women who lived in cluttered homes were more likely to be mentally fatigued and depressed than women who live in organized and restful homes.

While spring cleaning can be highly beneficial to your health, it could sound intimidating to some people to clean their entire house in one weekend. If this all sounds a little too much, start small. Pick one task you want to do each day and then complete that one task. Today you might go through all of your mail. Tomorrow, you might clean the toilet and wash the bathroom sink. The next day you might clean off the kitchen counter, etc. If you have room in your budget, you also could consider hiring someone to give you a hand with the demanding tasks like cleaning the bathrooms and behind the big kitchen appliances.

To welcome Spring and in the spirit of Amomē, show your body and your home some love, with these 5 Natural Spring-Cleaning Hacks:

1. Create a non-toxic odor eliminating spray:

   Mix ¼ cup vodka, 1 cup water, 15 drops lavender essential oil, 10 drops tea tree essential oil, and five drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a spray bottle.

2. Remove lime build-up:

   We all hate those pesky white spots around the kitchen and bathroom faucets. Soak a clean cloth in white vinegar and let it penetrate the affected areas for 20 minutes, then rinse with clear water.

3. Wash your mirrors and windows 

   Mix equal parts of white distilled vinegar and warm water. Spray all over the windows the dry with a newspaper. This solution will make your windows and mirrors glow and eliminate any film or streaks on them.

4.  Refreshen your carpet:

   Sprinkle baking soda all over it. Let it sit for a half-hour, then vacuum.

5. Remove stubborn stains and deodorize the toilet.

   Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar into the bowl. When the fizzing stops, swish with a scrub brush and flush.

Whether you have been doing it every year or this is your first time, consider doing a thorough cleaning of your space in the next few weeks and get ready to welcome Spring with a spotless home, heart, and mind.