HOME EDITION
FRESH STARTS DARE TO Declutter As an age-old tradition, a good spring clean may be just what the doctor ordered
WORDS BY PHOEBE HARPER
S pring cleaning is historically rooted in a vibrant tapestry of cultures and traditions from around the world. For the past 3,000 years, Persian culture has welcomed in Nowruz – the new year – traditionally falling on the first day of spring (20 March) with a practice called khaneh tekani. Literally translating as ‘shaking the house’, the dust from the year before is swept away and the house is thoroughly cleaned. In Thailand, the April new year marks the holiday of Songkran – a time for purification, while in Catholicism, many will use Maundy Thursday – the day preceding Good Friday for a deep clean. In recent years, the tradition has gained new traction, as cleaning itself has become something of a media phenomenon. A major shift on the clean scene arrived with the 2014 English publication of Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and subsequent Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo . With viewers gripped by ‘KonMari’ fever, based on the idea of tidying your space to transform your life, Marie arguably paved the way for a new persona – the cleaner celebrity. On UK shores, this is best embodied by figures such as Mrs Hinch – the ‘cleanfluencer’ from Maldon, Essex – who shot to fame after sharing home videos for cleaning and tidying hacks around the house. Since then, she has amassed a devoted following of 4.5 million people on Instagram. Although the movement has been criticised as contentious – primarily due to its largely female demographic – what cannot be overlooked are the myriad mental health benefits reported by those who use cleaning as an anxiety-relieving source of control and coping mechanism. They benefit from both the act itself and the sense of order created within a home. THE CLEANING CRAZE Naturally, the feeling of regeneration arriving with the advent of spring can ignite
a desire to refresh our living spaces. Local cleanfluencer Kirstie Smith is the name behind @the.chapelhouse – an Instagram account where she documents family life from her renovated chapel home to an audience of nearly 33,000 followers. “Having a good spring clean and declutter makes you feel refreshed and organised, ready to throw open those doors and get the fresh air in once the warmer weather arrives,” she shares. For Kirstie, each seasonal transition is marked with a major clean of the house – a ritual of renewal and, ‘a fresh start for both your home and mental health’. Another Cambridge-based advocate for the power of a good clean is Maria Baker. Similar to Marie, her official job title is professional organiser. In addition, Maria is a franchisee for A Tidy Mind – a professional decluttering service which was founded in 2015 by Kate Ibbotson, an ADHD coach and psychotherapist who sought to combat the challenges from living among disorganisation and clutter. Maria herself found professional organising at a pivotal time in life, all while undergoing a divorce during the pandemic. “I wanted to return to being self-employed and in control of my own destiny again,” she begins. “There have been a great deal of experiences in my life – like emigrating and downsizing – where I have learnt that I’m naturally good at organising. The world of professional organising is a growing movement, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.” Recently, Maria has noticed a major increase in people seeking her services in the wake of the pandemic. “Many people spent a lot more time at home and either ordered or collected several things they simply didn’t need,” she adds. “Programmes like Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out have raised awareness of what a professional organiser can contribute, while highlighting the benefits of clutter- free living to mental health. When a home
CLEARING A PATH Maria brings a fresh perspective to the importance of tidiness in promoting mental clarity
is decluttered, people feel lighter in both their homes and their minds.” READY FOR A REFRESH? Prior to embarking on any spring clean, Maria recommends starting with a spring clear. “Before you plan your next cleaning session, make time to take your unwanted items to charity shops or recycling centres. This will prevent it building up and you filling up another cupboard or the garage!” Naturally, a major deep clean can seem like a daunting task; the key is to start small. “Break each task down into bite-size chunks between 30 minutes and a couple of hours – by starting with a room, you will feel overwhelmed and at a loss where to start.” Find a contained space and go from there, one drawer at a time. Maria closes with the mantra of any successful professional organiser. “Remember, a place for everything, and everything in its place!”
82 APRIL 2024 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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