Spring has sprung. The birds are happier. The sky is brighter. The world seems clean again. Well, almost. Spring time is often representative of rebirth, and with that comes the pressure of re-organizing life. The way you take care of your things, including your room, backpack, etc., is reflectant of how well you take care of yourself. Meaning a cluttered space will result in a hectic, disoriented life. If your backpack is a mess of paper from every class all shoved together, obviously you’re going to do worse in school; you can’t complete the overdue assignment if you can’t find it. Cleaning, tidying, and organizing is an important aspect of self-care that’s often brushed aside as boring chores. But, if the inside of your mind looks like your bedroom, then naturally you want it to be neat.

Like Lara Jean from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before says, “My life was a mess… but I could clean my room” (Johnson). While cleaning unfortunately can’t magically make all our problems go away, there is some truth to this idea. Cleaning is one of the few things in our lives we actually have control over, and a clean room can soothe us and decrease anxiety. Also, a cleaner space can increase motivation and improve focus, since it’s just one less thing competing for your brain’s attention. Not to mention it gives your mind a good break from schoolwork, since cleaning tasks are simple and repetitive. So cleaning clearly has many benefits, but why do we get super intense about it in the Spring?

Spring cleaning is when winter ends, so we wake up from hibernation and realize that no one’s cleaned that one cabinet in a while (probably since last Spring). But really, Spring cleaning first became a thing because the soot and grime would accumulate from a long Winter’s worth of fire-heating only. Now that it’s warm enough, it’s time to complete those tasks along with other important chores that are forgotten or hard to reach. Nowadays the tasks required are less, but the tradition is still a good way to declutter and reorganize for a fresh start. “A survey by the American Cleaning Institute, which represents producers of household and industrial cleaning products, found that 78 percent of Americans did an annual spring cleaning last year, up about 10 percent from 2021” (Taylor). As high school students, our lives are full of assignments, extracurriculars, and part-time jobs. It’s difficult to find time to deep-clean our rooms, let alone the entire house. Because of this, I’ve broken it down to the most essential tasks with this checklist:

Bedroom:

• Go through the closet and drawers to finally get rid of those clothes that have been sitting there for years
• Wash and dry all blankets and pillowcases
• Remove all dishes, takeout containers, and trash then turn them in for your biology experiment
• Vacuum all floors and dust all surfaces

Backpack:

• Recycle those temporary ids and random worksheets from September that were shoved into the bottom of your bag
• Throw away any trash that’s been collecting over the year
• Throw the entire thing in the washing machine, because who knows where it’s been
• Re-stock pencils and erasers so you can stop “borrowing” them from your friends

Car:

• Shake out the floor mats
• Remove all junk, including receipts that your holding 
• Make it fun by decorating your car or buying one of those little air fresheners
• Hose it down so you can have the shiniest, coolest car in the Costco lot

Phone:

• Delete large attachments for storage
• Get rid of those weird mobile games you impulsively downloaded but never play
• Go through your photos
•  Wipe it down, before the bacteria on your home screen evolve

These long lists may seem daunting at first glance, but taking it slowly and tackling one at a time can make it a breeze. Setting a timer for even fifteen minutes can help with motivation, as well as listening to a podcast or special playlist. Also, consider making it a group effort by inviting family members or friends to participate. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to get rid of things! How can you grow when your room has looked the same since you were twelve? Cleaning isn’t just another chore, because a clean space is important for a happier you. Trust me; the sense of accomplishment you feel standing in an organized room will make all that time worth it.

Works Cited

The Cleaning Authority. “Why is Spring Cleaning Important?” The Cleaning Authority, https://www.thecleaningauthority.com/blog/home-life/why-is-spring-cleaning-important-/. Accessed 14 April 2023.

Gordon, Sherri. “How Mental Health and Cleaning Are Connected.” Verywell Mind, 3 April 2023, https://www.verywellmind.com/how-mental-health-and-cleaning-are-connected-5097496. Accessed 14 April 2023.

Johnson, Susan, director. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Overbrook Entertainment, 2018.

Taylor, Derrick Bryson. “Spring Cleaning Was Once Backbreaking Work. For Many, It Still Is.” The New York Times, 11 April 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/11/realestate/spring-cleaning-tradition.html. Accessed 14 April 2023.