Separate a word's recorded use from a custom's history
A dictionary's first-known-use date records the earliest evidence identified by that source for a word in its stated meaning. It does not establish when people first cleaned their homes seasonally or identify a single inventor or culture.
What the dictionary entry documents
Merriam-Webster's dictionary entry defines spring-cleaning as the act or process of doing a thorough cleaning of a place and lists 1841 as its first known use. The entry's cited evidence supports that dictionary date and definition only.
Treat cultural-origin stories carefully
Seasonal cleaning practices may be discussed in different historical and cultural contexts, but the current source reviewed here does not verify a single origin story or show that one tradition created the English phrase. Avoid repeating a cultural attribution without a suitable historical source.
A practical meaning today
In current usage, spring cleaning usually refers to a more thorough clean of a home or other space. The term's first recorded use and the reason someone chooses to clean seasonally are separate from any health, mood or property-value outcome.
