I'm Persian and the 13 days of cleaning I always do to mark Nowruz – the first day of spring and Iranian New Year – will spruce up your house in no time

Although I grew up in the west, my Persian heritage was always very much celebrated in my day-to-day life. That’s why Nowruz, the first day of the Persian New Year and the start of spring, is a special time for me and many Iranians in the US and worldwide. It's celebrated at exactly 5:01 eastern time on March 20, 2025.

It’s a sentimental holiday, and celebrates the rebirth of nature, as the spring vernix – the astronomical arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere – brings with it a brand new time of growth and hope.

That’s why spring cleaning for Nowruz is a 13-day, well-paced affair, and a perfect time for sprucing up your home. If you haven’t started ticking off your spring cleaning checklist, my three-phase Nowruz cleaning plan will help you on your way – and you don’t have to be Persian to enjoy it!

Try my easy 13-day Nowruz spring cleaning plan

Every Persian family does it differently, but the point of Nowruz ‘khooneh takooni*’ (which translates to ‘house shaking’) is to clean all the spots neglected over the year and start the Iranian New Year clean and ready to receive spring and all the guests we love to entertain.

Hediya Sizar, Founder of House of Leyli, which cultivates mindfulness rituals inspired by Persian culture explains, 'This is a vital Persian tradition for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which coincides with the Spring Equinox. This deep cleaning ritual symbolizes renewal and purification, as families declutter and refresh their homes to clear out old energy and invite prosperity for the new year.

'It’s a mindful practice that encourages reflection, allowing individuals to release what no longer serves them and set intentions for the coming year. In Persian culture, a clean home during this time is believed to attract blessings, making 'Khaneh Tekani' an essential part of preparing for the Spring Equinox and Nowruz.'

Growing up in my family, we started from the outside in, getting more granular and specific as we moved through our annual spring cleaning cycle, so here’s my 13-day Nowruz to spring clean without getting overwhelmed. It's also handy if, like me, you have chronic pain or fatigue, as there is no expectation to get it all done in one fell swoop. I like to use adaptive pacing for cleaning tasks and involve my husband and daughter, so I’m not flying solo and triggering pain flares and injuries.

My suggested Nowruz spring cleaning schedule is broken down into three distinct phases:

Days 1-5: Tackle the outside areas

It’s no secret that a blisteringly cold and wet winter will have given your outdoor furniture and spaces a bashing. Therefore, the start of spring is the perfect time to give your outdoor spaces some TLC, as milder weather sweeps through to freshen them up.

Get ready for the milder weather ahead and lots of outdoor hosting by getting the pressure washer out to clean your patio, clean the fences of any algae accumulated in recent months, and clean your windows without leaving streaks.

My simple homemade window cleaning solution needs only two cups of water, 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil (I love the geranium pure essential oil from Walmart as it makes my home smell luxurious), and a dash of dish soap to act as a surfactant.

I store my DIY cleaning solutions in amber spray bottles, available from Amazon, and use them for eco-friendly cleaning all over my home, perfectly paired with microfiber cloths for a streak-free and lint-free finish.

These first few days are also perfect for tackling the doors, patio, decking and driveway. Iranians are nothing if not house proud and hospitable, so we always want our home looking ready and clean before guests arrive.

Dr Azadeh Weber, licensed clinical psychologist, adds, 'This Nowruz tradition goes beyond the physical act of cleaning and carries emotional, psychological, and spiritual importance. It represents letting go of the old to make space for positive energy to enter the home. A clean home at the start of the new year is believed to bring health, prosperity, and happiness. Moreover, since Nowruz is a time for gathering with friends and family, a clean home reflects warmth and hospitality.'

This Nowruz cleaning process comes to a head on sizdeh be dar, the 13th day of the Iranian new year that marks the close of the festivities.

In Iran, and warmer areas of the US, Persians take to the national parks and beautifully landscaped outdoor public spaces for a sizdeh be dar (this translates to the '13th is knocking on your door') for a picnic packed with delicious Persian foods.

We were not always in Iran for this period so we’d often celebrate at home with the first BBQ of the season, so don’t forget to clean your grill and clean your outdoor kitchen, too.

Days 6-10: Inside

Now that your outside is spruced up, it's time to move into the house and tackle spring cleaning room by room.

For my Persian family, a big part of this stage was about moving furniture forward, to clean both behind and underneath it. Think behind sofas, under beds and dressers, clearing cobwebs from walls, cleaning fans and cleaning those baseboards, which a telescopic cleaning brush from Amazon will come in handy for.

If you have any scuff marks on the entryway walls like we do, consider giving it a lick of paint if you have time. March is the best time to paint indoors, our experts say.

Dr Weber adds, 'During Khonneh Takooni, carpets, and curtains are washed, and the home is decluttered, swept, and dusted. Additionally, furniture and mirrors are polished, broken items are replaced, and fresh flowers are brought in.

'Khonneh Takooni is more than just a household chore, it is a meaningful tradition that reflects the spirit of Nowruz, creating space for renewal, balance, and positive energy. By welcoming the new year with a clean and refreshed space, families embrace prosperity, harmony, and the joy of new beginnings.'

Days 11-13 Go granular

This is the Nowruz cleaning phase when, in my household, we went very granular. I remember removing every fancy item of china and glassware from inside our display cabinets, washing and drying them by hand, polishing silverware, and giving any congested cabinets and drawers some much-needed organization.

In the kitchen, any problem areas, such as the cabinet where we stored our pots and pans, were given a good clear out, whilst our jam-packed spice cabinet was reorganized, and all goods in the pantry were decluttered and expired items disposed of.

Spring cleaning essentials

If you fancy giving the one-tool cleaning method a go, grab one of these fabulous multi-purpose cleaning products, and move room to room cleaning all the areas you can with that item.

For instance, you can clean all the hardwood floors in the home, remove pet hair from fabrics, or steam clean to sanitize.

Meet our experts

Hediya Sizar

Hediya is a first-generation American and of Persian heritage. She was introduced to contemplative practices at a young age passed down by ancestral lineages. For the past decade, she has explored a rich journey of different styles from Sufism, Zen Buddhism, and Hinduism. Hediya, who started her tea company inspired by afternoons spent with her Persian granmother, has produced numerous wellbeing programs for college students, and is a certified Mental Health First Aid and mindfulness instructor. Hediya is a MBA graduate of NYU Stern’s School of Business, Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum, and is also a full-time consultant for Fortune 500 companies.

Azadeh Weber

Dr Azadeh is a Clinical Psychologist and founder of Thrive Together. She is also Iranian.

Once you reach Nature's Day (sizdeh be dar) on the 13th day of the Iranian New Year, the tradition is to pack up a delicious picnic and enjoy the great outdoors with your loved ones. You don’t have to be Iranian to enjoy this lovely outing.

If picnicking isn't your style, however, fire up your BBQ or best grill and enjoy your first meal cooked outdoors this spring.