The more I think about Spring Cleaning, the more I don't like it.
By Nona Dimitrova published 28/03/2024
The days are getting longer, the cherry blossoms are blooming and it’s finally acceptable to halve the layers you wear when leaving the house. Yes, if you’re in the UK, it’s still pouring it down at every possible moment, but could spring finally be upon us? I think I hear Marie Kondo awaking for *drumroll* spring cleaning season.
That’s right. It’s the time of year where we all collectively decide to get our sh*t together and sort through the terrifying Mary Poppins bags that are our closets. Unless you’re a dedicated Whering user, of course, we’ve always got our sh*t together.
Well, this year, we’re doing things a little differently. Meaning? So glad you asked! Meaning, we’re questioning what the purpose of spring cleaning actually is, and inviting you to an open conversation. Now pour yourself a glass of wine, or a cup of tea, or whatever your beverage of choice is, and let’s dive in.
Where does spring cleaning come from?
Interestingly, the concept of spring cleaning is actually present in a handful of religious and spiritual practices.
In Judeo-Christian traditions, to prepare for Passover, the Torah commands not a crumb of yeast be left in the house. And so, one should thoroughly clean the home.
In Buddhism, it has symbolism through various purification rituals. During Thailand’s Songkran Festival held in April, Thai people would pour water over each other to rid themselves of negativities. Their homes and temples would also be deep cleaned in order to purify these spaces.
Similar notions are also present in Persian culture and yogi traditions!
There’s also possible biological explanations- in winter, we produce more melatonin, making us more sleepy or tired. With Spring bringing in longer days, we tend to feel more energised and hence perhaps more productive. Just like mother nature, it’s a period of renewal and starting afresh!
What does spring cleaning entail today?
This is not groundbreaking information but it’s kind of how you imagine it; a total overhaul. A deep clean of your space, including all the neglected nooks and crannies, and of course, ‘purging the clutter’.
Yes, this includes little bits and bobs that really have no place living rent free in your space. Looking at you, old batteries I never recycled. And you, old council tax bills I really don’t need anymore. But recently, it also very much includes doing a wardrobe audit. Going through everything you own and deciding what’s making the cut for another trip around the sun.
So what’s the problem?
What started out as a healthy ‘clean closet, clear mind’ ritual seems to have evolved into something completely different. Spring cleaning now seems like a major date in any campaign calendar, encouraging people to second-guess their wardrobe.
Maybe I’m thinking too much into it but it seems like yet another thing greasing the wheel of late-stage capitalism: get rid of some clothes so you can make space for some new clothes! And it goes round and round and round, again and again and again. The whole one out, two in method. Why is no one questioning why we feel the need to rehaul our closets every spring?
And we’ll be the first to admit we’re not innocent! The moment Marie Kondo came out with her does it spark joy? question, we were on board, no questions asked. But hey, reflection and growth is what it’s all about, right?
It feels like the goal is to do a really good job at spring cleaning every year. To get rid of as much as possible. So our question is this: shouldn’t the ultimate goal be to have a wardrobe you love so much, you never really want to spring clean it again?
But, Whering, I do feel like I need to declutter. How do I go about doing it mindfully?
If you’re at least somewhat indoctrinated to the Whering way of (wardrobe) life, you’re already halfway there.
- Really reconnect with your closet. Have a read through our Earth Hour activities article, featuring a number of ways helping you spend some time reconnecting with your wardrobe. It’s a great way to really pause and think about the clothes you own in a non-traditional way.
- Get organised. It’s natural for our belongings to pile on after being unattended for a little while, and some TLC never hurt anybody. Take things out, re-fold them, move them around, find a system which works for you. You might even consider putting some things away until their season rolls around to gain a fresh perspective on your closet.
- Rebrand to “keep,” “maybe,” “need to style” piles. We’ll always encourage you to style, style, style before making any rash decisions. Style an item before buying it. Style an item while you have it. Style an item if you’re thinking you no longer want to keep it. There’s so many great ways for you to make something old feel new again.
- Could you upcycle it? If there’s an item you truly feel is a lost cause, could you turn it into something you love? Find some reference photos, take the item to a tailor or attempt to do it yourself.
- Give it to someone who will love it.In the spirit of reducing our consumption, it’s fair to consider changing how we dispose of clothes too. It’s easy enough to take a bag of unwanted garments to your local charity shop (out of sight, out of mind), but finding a friend who might love it, or attempting to resell it first will exercise that patience.
- If you’re struggling to do either, I would ask myself “am I buying pieces which hold value? Why does nobody want to buy this? What has this taught me about future purchases?”
And if you think you want to give your existing wardrobe a chance to take another trip around the sun with you, but are still itching to get a little more organised, a digital spring clean can feel just as fulfilling. We spoke to our Design Director, Siân about all the ways to digitally spring clean your Whering wardrobe.
Let us know how you get on with your spring cleaning by joining in the conversation @Whering__ on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
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