Definition

1. Noun:
   • A thorough cleaning of a house or building, traditionally done in the spring: The term specifically refers to the annual practice of deeply cleaning a home after winter, involving tasks not done in regular cleaning, such as washing windows, cleaning behind furniture, and decluttering.

Usage

• As a noun: "Spring-cleaning" is typically used as a non-count noun to describe the activity itself. It can be used with or without a hyphen, though the hyphenated form is common.
  • We do our spring-cleaning every April.
  • The whole house is in chaos because of the spring cleaning.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to do (the) spring-cleaning": This is the standard collocation for performing this activity.
  • It's my turn to do the spring-cleaning this year.
• Used metaphorically: The term can be applied to non-literal contexts to mean a thorough review, reorganization, or removal of unnecessary items.
  • The company is doing some financial spring-cleaning to cut costs.
  • I gave my computer files a good spring-cleaning.

Variants and Related Words

• Spring-clean (verb): To perform a spring-cleaning.
  • We need to spring-clean the attic this weekend.
• Spring cleaner (noun, informal): A person who is engaged in spring-cleaning.
• Deep clean (noun/phrasal verb): A very thorough cleaning, similar in intensity but not necessarily seasonal.

Synonyms

• Thorough cleaning: A complete and detailed cleaning.
• Annual cleaning: Cleaning done once a year.
• House cleaning: The general activity of cleaning a house (can be less intensive).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Clean sweep": While not specific to spring, this idiom means a complete removal or change and can be related in the context of clearing out.
  • The new manager made a clean sweep of the old policies. (This conveys a similar idea of a fresh start, as spring-cleaning does for a home.)

Noun

1. the activity of cleaning a house thoroughly at the end of winter