Why spring cleaning feels so gratifying

We all love a clean canvas… and with the joys of springtime, so comes the inborn desire to get our homes in order.

As Lynsey Crombie, This Morning’s resident home expert, also known for sharing cleaning tips on social media (@lynsey_queenofclean), puts it: “Every year, as soon as the days get lighter, we feel it.

“That sudden urge to open the windows, clear the clutter and give our homes a proper reset.”

But she says spring cleaning isn’t just about sparkling surfaces, perfectly organised cupboards, and sense of order.

“There’s a reason it feels so good, and it goes a lot deeper than having a tidy home.

“As someone who has spent years helping busy households clean smarter, not harder, I can tell you this… spring cleaning works best when it’s about how it makes you feel – not how your home looks.”

Here, she draws on her expertise to help you reach those cleaning goals, and tick the wellbeing box….

Clear house, clear mind

“Our homes hold a lot more than just furniture and belongings, they hold energy, memories and mental load,” highlights Crombie.

“When things start to pile up, so does overwhelm. Visual clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious and out of control, even if we don’t consciously realise it.”

When you clear a space, she says you create breathing room, both physically and mentally.

“That’s why even tackling one drawer or one cupboard can feel incredibly satisfying.”

Moreover, she says it gives you a sense of achievement and control.

“I always say this to people, ‘You don’t need a magazine-standard home to feel better… you just need a home that works for you.'”

The mental health boost we don’t talk about enough

“Cleaning can be so grounding too,” notes Crombie. “There’s something soothing about repetitive, practical tasks like wiping, sorting and folding that helps quiet a busy mind.

“It brings you into the moment, which is why so many people (myself included) describe cleaning as therapeutic.”

She continues: “Spring cleaning also gives us permission to let go. Letting go of items we no longer need can be emotional, but it’s also freeing.

“You’re making space for new routines, new habits and a new season.”

And as she points out, let’s not forget the feel-good factor of walking into a fresh, clean room. “That calm, settled feeling isn’t accidental; it’s your nervous system responding to order and clarity.”

It gets your body moving without feeling like exercise

Something a lot of us can relate to, “you might not realise it, but spring cleaning is a full-body workout,” suggests Crombie.

“Stretching to reach high shelves, bending, lifting, walking up and down the stairs, it all mounts up… for many people, it’s movement without the pressure of ‘exercise’, which makes it far more accessible.”

Moving your body will naturally boost circulation, releases endorphins, and helps shake off any sluggish feeling, underlines Crombie.

“You don’t need a gym session when a good clean can do the job just as well.”

Why perfection is the enemy of progress

One of the biggest mistakes people make with spring cleaning is trying to do everything at once, suggests Crombie. “That’s when overwhelm creeps in, motivation disappears and nothing gets finished.”

Indeed, the TV presenter and author of cleaning books including The 15-Minute Clean (Amazon, £12.99), says spring cleaning doesn’t need to be one massive overhaul; she believes it works much better when it’s broken into small, manageable resets.

“Fifteen minutes here – just like my 15 Minute Clean approach – one cupboard there, and progress adds up quickly without leaving you exhausted.

“Your home didn’t get messy overnight, so it doesn’t need to be perfect overnight either,” she says confidently.

Keep it realistic

“Spring cleaning isn’t about scrubbing every corner of your home until you’re exhausted,” highlights Crombie. “It’s about creating a space that supports you, your family and your wellbeing.”

Start small, she suggests. “Open a window. Clear one surface. Finish one job.

“That feeling of ‘I’ve done something today’ is more powerful than chasing perfection.

“Because when your home feels calmer, life feels calmer too, and that’s what spring cleaning is really about.”

Five reasons spring cleaning feels so good and gratifying…

It reduces mental clutter: “A tidy space helps calm a busy mind and reduces feelings of stress and overwhelm,” says Crombie.

It gives a sense of control: “Small wins build confidence and make daily life feel more manageable.”

It boosts your mood: “Fresh, clean spaces trigger feel-good chemicals in the brain,” she says encouragingly.

It gets you moving: “Cleaning naturally increases movement and energy levels.”

It creates a fresh start: “Letting go of old clutter makes space for new habits and routines,” Crombie adds.