As the first signs of spring appear – blossoms on trees, bulbs popping their heads through the soil, daffodils showing us their beautiful flowers. The softening of winters chill and longer daylight hours, many people across the UK embrace the time-honoured tradition of spring cleaning.
But what makes spring cleaning so special in England? Lets explore the history, the significance and practical tips to help you step into this years spring cleaning.
What is Spring Cleaning?
Spring cleaning is a thorough, deep clean of your home, typically undertaken during the early months of the year, around March or April, to coincide with the changing seasons.
While many cultures have their own versions of this ritual, here in England, spring cleaning is particularly symbolic of new beginnings. It’s not just about tidying up, it’s about resetting your home and your life, clearing out the clutter of winter and preparing for the fresh, vibrant days of spring.
Traditionally, it was a time when people would open the windows to air out their homes, scrub the hearth, clean the carpets, and polish the furniture. Tasks that may have been neglected during the colder months.
But spring cleaning is far more than a practical matter, it’s an opportunity to refresh both your living space and your mental space, ready to welcome in the joys of spring.
The tradition of spring cleaning dates back centuries and it is rooted in both practical and symbolic purposes. In pre-industrial England, houses were often heated with coal or wood fires, and the dark, damp months of winter would cause soot, grime, and dust to accumulate. People would leave the windows shut to keep the warmth in, meaning that the air would become stale and thick with dust.
When spring came, the need for a good deep clean became obvious, and opening the windows would not only allow fresh air to circulate but it would also lift people’s spirits after a long, cold winter.
Religious influences also played a role. Many households followed the Christian calendar, where spring cleaning was associated with Lent, the 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance before Easter. Cleaning out the house symbolized the clearing away of the old, making space for spiritual renewal and rejuvenation.
Why should we spring clean?
In our modern world, spring cleaning might seem like an outdated chore. After all, we have central heating, modern cleaning products, and vacuum cleaners that make everyday cleaning easier. So, why bother?
A clean, de-cluttered home can significantly impact our mental health. Studies have shown that physical clutter can lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and a lack of control and organisation. A good spring clean helps you reset your environment, reduce visual stress, and create a calming atmosphere that promotes focus and relaxation.
Over the winter months, winters mud often trails its way into our homes. We may also spend more time indoors, leading to the accumulation of dust, dirt, and germs. Spring cleaning gives you the opportunity to tackle the areas that aren’t usually addressed in your regular cleaning routine, such as deep cleaning the carpets, scrubbing the windows, or cleaning out the fridge. This can help prevent allergies and reduce the build-up of dust mites, mould, and/or bacteria, leading to a healthier home.
Spring is a time of rebirth in nature, and spring cleaning is an opportunity to mirror this in your home. The change of season brings about a natural sense of renewal, and cleaning your home can symbolize a fresh start, whether it’s a new season in life or simply a chance to de-clutter and re-focus.
Spring cleaning may sound like a big task, but with a little planning and organisation, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Let us take the task from your hands with our excellent planning and organisation, call or email today to book in your spring clean and/or carpet cleaning with Country Cleaners.
Tel: 01404 643702
Email: countrycleanersdevon@gmail.com
Tackling the spring cleaning:
When tackling the spring cleaning yourself, it is best to start by making a list of all the tasks you want to tackle during your spring clean. This will help you to stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Prioritise the areas that need the most attention, and break the cleaning down into manageable chunks.
Once you have created your list and before diving into the cleaning, it is best to take some time to de-clutter. Go through your drawers, wardrobes, cupboards and storage spaces to remove items you no longer need. You could donate or recycle old clothes, books, and household items to local charities and recycling points. De-cluttering not only makes cleaning easier but it also gives your home a more open, airy feel. A clutter-free home will feel more spacious and inviting.
Spring cleaning isn’t just about surface-level tidying and cleaning. Get into the hard-to-reach spots like the tops of cabinets, behind the fridge, and the corners of your windows.
Here are just some deep cleaning tasks to consider:
- Deep Cleaning the windows: Clean both the inside and the outside of your windows to let in more natural light and clean any build ups in the openings of the windows.
- Carpets, Rugs & Upholstery : Remove winters mud and freshen up your carpets, rugs and upholstery! Did you know we offer both a professional carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning service, as well as a carpet machine hire service? Book in to have us clean the carpets, upholstery and rugs for you or you can hire one of our carpet machines, which comes with 1 litre of cleaning solution, so you can clean the carpets and rugs yourself. Head to our carpet cleaning page on our website to book in for your professional carpet clean or to book your carpet cleaning machine hire.
- Kitchen Appliances: Clean out your oven, fridge, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher. A good scrub of these items can prevent build-up and odour, keeping your appliances running more efficiently.
- Light Fixtures & Fans: Dust and clean your light fixtures, ceiling fans, and air vents to improve air quality.
- Clean out the cobwebs! Not forgetting those cobwebs in hard to reach places.
- Cleaning of the inside and the outside of the kitchen cupboards.
- Cleaning of the ovens, grills, and extractor fans.
- Cleaning of all skirting boards, doors and door frames.
- Deep cleaning the bathroom including removal of mould and limescale build up.
- De-scale the kettle!
- Clean the curtains, net curtains, cushions, throws, blankets and all other household fabrics.
- Polish all wood furniture.
- Cleaning of the bathroom and kitchen tiles and grout.
Or call us to do the spring cleaning for you!
Tel: 01404 643702
Email: countrycleanersdevon@gmail.com
There are lots of cleaning tips and tricks on our previous blog posts to help you with your spring cleaning, such as:
- Tackling and preventing limescale
- Preventing moths
- Eco friendly cleaning
- Planet friendly home cleaning tools
- Cleaning with Lemons
- Cleaning with Olive oil
- Cleaning with Bicarbonate of soda and White vinegar
Our blog posts also have recipes such as creating your own eco friendly multi purpose cleaner, home made eco friendly window and glass cleaner and much more. As well as how to freshen your microwave, how to remove rust stains and grease. Make your pots and pans shine and how to refresh your chopping boards.
From creating a home made air freshener to getting rid of that fridge odour, our blog is full of cleaning tips and tricks. Why not give me them a read before starting your spring clean challenge!
Conclusion:
Spring cleaning in England is more than just a household chore. It’s a long-standing tradition that offers a symbolic and practical reset as we transition from the cold of winter to the vibrancy of spring. It’s an opportunity to refresh your living space, promote well-being, and take a moment to reflect on the seasonal change.
By following some of the tips above and more tips on our previous blog posts, you can make your spring cleaning routine more enjoyable and effective.
So, roll up your sleeves, open the windows, and embrace the spring cleaning spirit—there’s nothing like a good clean to usher in the season of renewal! Or if you would prefer, we would love to do the spring cleaning for you.
Call or email to book in your spring cleaning today:
Tel: 01404 643702
Email: countrycleanersdevon@gmail.com
Happy spring cleaning! 🌸
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Do you have any tips or tricks with spring cleaning that you would like to share on here?
If so let us know in the comments section and share the knowledge. Alternatively, if there is a cleaning topic you would like us to write about in one of our future blog posts, please contact us at countrycleanersdevon@gmail.com we would be grateful to hear your thoughts!
© Copyright Miss Bethany Neely 2025
Cleaner Honiton, Sidmouth, Cullompton- Country Cleaners 