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Spring Cleaning the Proper Victorian Way

© Wende Feller

Children scurried, husbands fled, and servants groaned under the necessity that came with warmer weather: spring cleaning. The carpets were taken up, the rooms were emptied, the woodwork was polished, the chandeliers were washed, and neither comfort nor hot meals were to be had until spring cleaning was done.

While we no longer have soot and street dust collecting in our draperies and staining our wallpaper, spring cleaning is a Victorian tradition worth continuing. Take advantage of the brighter light and longer days of spring to banish cobwebs and unwanted clutter from your Victorian decorating scheme. Step 1: Choose a Room

Take advantage of what Victorian wives learned, and do your spring cleaning one room at a time. Working room by room allows you to contain the mess and see your progress. And if warmer days lure you outside before the house is done, at least you'll be leaving behind a couple of thoroughly cleaned rooms, rather than a house that is torn apart.

Step 2: Empty the Room

If you have the space to move furniture, do your spring cleaning the authentic way and empty the room completely. If space is limited, at least remove the accessories to a safe place and empty your closets and drawers. Sort your possessions into four boxes: items that go back in the room, items that go back in the room but need repairs first, items that belong somewhere else, and items to be donated to charity or thrown away. Also take down window treatments, if you can, and roll up rugs.

Step 3: Go on Flaw Patrol

This is the best time to assess whether your room needs repairs, maintenance, or changes. Take a notebook, a pencil, and a tool kit of cleaners (so you can wipe and polish as you go). Walk around the room and make careful note of anything out of repair. Dingy and cracked switch plates? Closet pole bending? Window sticking? Spots on the upholstery? Light bulbs out? Closet needs more shelves? Some of these items you can fix as you go; others will require a trip to the hardware store.

Step 4: The Big Fixes

Whitewashing or painting the walls was a fixture of Victorian spring cleaning, and it's worth considering today, especially if you have a dingy closet that hasn't been included in the last two or three paintings of the room. Wipe the dust from difficult-to-reach woodwork; polish the floor or shampoo the carpet; polish your ceiling lights and sconces. Wash the windows while the curtains are down (and see that the curtains are cleaned according to their care instructions). Beat or shampoo rugs. This is also a good time to switch from heavy, dark winter fabrics to lighter summer wear.