The tradition of spring cleaning dates back centuries and has multiple origins:

1. Ancient Persia – The practice of “khooneh tekouni” (literally “shaking the house”) was part of the Persian New Year (Nowruz), which falls on the first day of spring. Families would thoroughly clean their homes to prepare for renewal and good fortune.
2. Jewish Passover – Jewish families conduct a deep cleaning of their homes before Passover, which typically occurs in early spring. This ensures that no chametz (leavened bread) remains in the house, in accordance with religious tradition.
3. Christian and European Traditions – In many Christian households, thorough cleaning was done before Easter to prepare for the holy season. In Europe, it was also practical to clean homes in March or April, when the weather became warm enough to open windows and remove winter soot and dust.
4. Industrial Revolution & Victorian Era – The rise of coal heating made spring cleaning a necessity. Once winter ended, homes were cleaned to remove soot and grime that had accumulated from fireplaces and lamps.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, spring cleaning became a cultural norm in many Western countries, evolving into an annual tradition. Today, it remains a popular practice worldwide.