spring-cleaning
Americannoun
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a complete cleaning of a place, as a home, done traditionally in the spring of the year.
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the activity of giving a place a complete cleaning.
We've been involved in spring-cleaning and are exhausted.
Etymology
Origin of spring-cleaning
First recorded in 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Preparations for the Persian New Year begin days in advance, with people spring-cleaning their home — “shaking the house,” as the expression goes — or buying new clothes and furniture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
As someone who is not naturally tidy, I’ve tried on a number of spring-cleaning formats over the years.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026
“Perfect for a spring-cleaning weekend — episodes are about 20 minutes long, and so uplifting.”
From New York Times ● Jul. 30, 2022
While signing up for automated bill payments and savings transfers can be part of your financial spring-cleaning, consider these strategies from financial experts.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2022
“Well, well. I must be off. Back to my chimney. It will need a spring-cleaning, I’ll be bound.”
From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
