Ever Wonder About How Spring Cleaning Came to Be?

The History of Spring Cleaning

Ever wonder where the term “spring cleaning” came from, or why people are encouraged to clean their homes and offices during the spring, and not any other time of the year?

There is no solid evidence as to what started the event of cleaning out a home in the spring. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the first known use of the term was in 1857.

In the past, when homes were often closed off during the winter to keep warm, spring time meant the first opportunity to make a home feel fresh again. The first dry and warm day of the year was used to pull out all the furniture and items in a home and bring them outside, so that a thorough cleaning job could be done of the interior of the house and of the furniture and other items.

Another origin of the term could be from Jewish custom, the Passover, which is a time of house cleaning. The solemn holiday takes place two weeks after the Jewish New Year, and at this time, many people would clean their homes in anticipation of the New Year.

There may not be a concrete source of origin for the event, but regardless, spring seems to be the time that everyone is antsy to breathe new life into their homes after being cooped up during the winter.

Guest Blog Sabrina Scarpino

Five Tips to Clean Your Office This Spring

Your home isn’t the only place that can benefit from a good clean this spring. Office spaces can become bombarded with papers and projects, so give these tips a try to get your office under control.

1.    Go through old papers

Stop ignoring the stacks of old papers and files that seem to keep growing. Go through all of your papers, and ask yourself if you need it, why, and whether or not you need easy access to it. Then, you can create a filing system that fits your needs. To cut down on future paper clutter, consider the necessity of printing the documents you receive, and whether or not you need a hard copy of them.

2.    Clear your desk space

Only the items that you use on a regular basis should be kept on your desk within reach of your arms. These items include computer and keyboard, telephone, a pen or two, a notebook, a lamp, and maybe a family portrait. Everything else should find a new home in your drawers, cupboards, or filing cabinet.

3.    Sort your desk drawers

Cramming unessential office supplies into desk drawers is something many are guilty of. Take the time to go through the items in the drawer, and get rid of any items that aren’t necessary. Consider using drawer dividers or compartments for smaller items like paper clips and rubber bands. Throughout the year, clean and de-clutter the drawer.

4.    File your emails

Create a filing system on your email account similar to a real-life filing cabinet, and assign these files based on the subject matters of the emails you receive. Whenever an email appears in your inbox, address it, and then move it to the designated folder to eliminate a cluttered and confusing inbox.

5.    Organize your desktop

When your desktop becomes so overrun by icons and documents you can no longer distinguish what the background image is, it’s time to sort through everything you have saved there. File away old documents that you may need again, and send everything else to the recycling bin. Applications that are not used regularly should be deleted from the desktop and main docking station and relocated to the start-up menu.