Ruth Bloomfield

‘CleanTok’ and the psychology of spring cleaning

This ancient tradition has very modern benefits

  • From Spectator Life
[Alamy]

Thousands of years ago, housewives living in what is now Iran would prepare for the spring equinox and Persian New Year by cleaning their homes from top to bottom. Today, ‘cleanfluencers’ on social media earn a living all year round by demonstrating how to keep your home sparkling. That might mean road-testing their new robot vacuum cleaner or going old-school and scrubbing grubby grouting with baking soda (spoiler alert: stain-removing toothpaste works better).

Times have changed but the tradition of spring cleaning is alive and kicking. And while the need to give your home an annual service after months of soot and dirt build-up from open fires is no longer relevant, experts agree that simply the change in season can inspire people to start critically examining their homes and taking on long-ignored jobs.

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