Spring is on the way, and it’s the perfect time to refresh your environment and clear your mind. Spring cleaning is a very well-known yearly tradition that revolves around the idea of tidying up the entirety of your home. However, this tradition goes beyond just straightening up. It offers a specific time frame to cleanse your living space and refresh your mental state. It’s not just about scrubbing those tiles or dusting your shelves, but also maintaining your mental health and well-being. Most people don’t know where to start when it comes to cleaning such a wide area, but there are steps to take that simplify the whole process.
One of the primary and most obvious benefits of spring cleaning is the physical change and cleanliness it brings to your home. Over the summer and winter, all kinds of dust and dirt can collect in your space, as well as clutter you didn’t realize was there. The timeframe after the holidays and through the new year can allow you to focus on getting rid of things and restoring your space to where it was before all the year’s chaos happened. Tidying and organizing a personal area will make you look physically better and is guaranteed to make you feel better.
When asked what he thinks about spring cleaning, Huntington Beach High School (HBHS) art teacher Matthew Harward discussed the struggles of being an art teacher and the fact that there is always clutter in the classroom. “Nothing is really clean around here. There are supplies on every surface and art everywhere. I think a spring cleaning would benefit this classroom and the students,” he said.
Harward went on to say that the art students of Huntington Beach should participate in helping towards a better communal space through a classroom spring cleaning. Additionally, a deep spring cleaning can help with productivity and procrastination.
Studies from Be Well by Stanford have shown that cluttered space can decrease performance when it comes to work or tasks that need to be done in that space. Their research showed it can reduce irritability and distractions and increase your ability to process information.
HBHS senior Ariana Brown discussed how a clean environment makes her feel more put together and happier overall. “When my room is dirty, I feel like I can never get things done or even go to sleep. I straighten my room up a little every night, and I feel like my mood improves when I wake up in the morning,” she said.
Not having to think about extra trash and clutter leaves room in your mind to think about other things. By organizing the areas you surround yourself with most, you create an environment where you can feel productive and efficiently get things done. Having a plan when cleaning such large spaces or having many different tasks is essential. Not having a plan can overwhelm you with everything you have to do. Breaking down the process into individual jobs and setting goals you want to achieve can allow you to manage time better and ensure that each space and room will be given the same attention.
Beginning with a general declutter can set you on a path for an efficient spring cleaning. The first step would be going through all your clothes, furniture, products, and miscellaneous items and deciding what to keep, donate, or get rid of. That step alone can significantly transform your living space and give you automatic changes you can see. After simplifying all your belongings, organize them in a way that makes sense. Having a spot for everything reduces your mind’s chaos and keeps life uncomplicated. Creating designated spots for specific items maintains order and makes keeping your space clean in the long run easier.
Addressing deep cleaning tasks should be the next step. Wiping down surfaces, dusting, or cleaning floors can all be included in your spring cleaning session. However, for a deep clean, do not miss those overlooked areas like baseboards, vents, and shelves so you are giving everything a fresh start. Doing this will bring the benefit of having a spotless house and better indoor air quality.
Presley Glad, a freshman at HBHS, stated that she often tries to clean her room because of her allergies. “I try and keep my room pretty clean… I’ll dust the blinds and my bookshelf like once a week, and I definitely think it helps my allergies and the stuffiness in there,” she said.
Dusting all nooks and crannies and disinfecting common surfaces can lead to improved health in the home environment overall. Spring cleaning is more than just a chore; it’s a mental reset that gets you back on track.
