spring-cleaning

noun

spring-clean·​ing ˈspriŋ-ˈklē-niŋ How to pronounce spring-cleaning (audio)
: the act or process of doing a thorough cleaning of a place

Examples of spring-cleaning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There’s hope for a spring-cleaning in Budapest for the rule of law, too. Lionel Laurent, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026 Among the many spring-cleaning jobs are those that don't take much time, like laundering the pet's bedding or dusting the ceiling fans. Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026 Your spring-cleaning checklist probably includes scrubbing kitchen counters, washing windows and organizing closets. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026 Now is the time to declutter as well, which can be its own task on your spring-cleaning checklist. Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026 But just where did the spring-cleaning tradition come from, and is there a right time to do it? Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2026 Amazon's Big Spring Sale is a treasure trove for shoppers, offering low prices on a wide range of products including spring-cleaning, travel, fitness and more. Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025 The Western democratic state is ripe for the sort of spring-cleaning that the Victorians gave it, one that would build on some of the achievements of the half revolution of the 1980s and 1990s. John Micklethwait, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2014

Word History

Etymology

spring entry 2

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spring-cleaning was in 1841

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spring-cleaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spring-cleaning. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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