Quiz: What's your Spring cleaning personality?

Finish this sentence: When I think of spring cleaning I . . .

...break out in a cold sweat — nothing can make me part with my precious things!

...wonder why we only have one season for cleaning — shouldn’t every month be an opportunity for a fresh start?

...remember it’s time to call my housekeeper — I haven’t touched the washing machine since I moved to the UAE!

...do a happy dance — I have so little stuff it only takes five minutes to tidy up.

You invited a few friends over. How long would you need to get your living room guest-ready?

Five minutes. I just need to fluff the pillows and light a candle, things are pretty tidy otherwise.

Bring in the hazmat suit! I need at least half a day to remove the stacks of magazine, vacuum the dust bunnies, and clean up the leftover meal or two on my coffee table.

Around 30 minutes, and everyone should steer clear! I have my stack of antibacterial wipes and the vacuum on standby for just such an occasion. This place will be spotless in no time.

Guests? No thanks. We can meet up at the park instead.

What do the walls of your home look like?

It’s my canvas! Lots of photos, knick knacks, and my kids’ art decorates any blank space.

Spotless. I prefer an unadorned space, and have been known to wash the walls from time to time!

A few tasteful pieces of art, hung in frames, but nothing too busy.

When I moved in I had a carpenter over straight away to add shelving and hang up pictures. Without hiring some help, I never would have anything on my walls.

Pick your perfect bedroom oasis:

All I really need is a cozy comforter.

Bliss is bedsheets perfectly tucked under my mattress.

Customized shelving FTW!

A room filled with all my favorite photos and decor.

What’s the status of your cleaning supply cabinet?

What cleaning supplies? My housekeeping team brings everything they need.

A tad chaotic, and to be honest, I’m not really sure what I have.

Is it weird that my cleaning supplies are alphabetized and colour coordinated?

I like to keep things simple: a few bottles of eco-friendly cleaning liquid and a broom and dustpan are all I need.

When it’s time to refresh your wardrobe, what is your approach?

I buy whatever I want then find a way to wedge it into my closet — space is at a premium in there!

I run a strict 'one-in, one-out' policy, only buying new to replace worn-out jeans or those socks that went into the machine as a couple and came out as a lonely singleton!

My clothes and shoes are meticulously catalogued, colour-coordinated, and ordered according to season.

I order everything online and have it shipped directly to my door. Who has time to shop?

Your ideal weekend involves:

Finding your Zen. A good (borrowed) book, a trip to the farmer’s market, and some time in the sun.

Shopping! Shoes, clothes, home goods, I love the thrill of new stuff.

A weekend getaway in a nice hotel - no dinner to cook, no dishes to clean, no beds to be made. Heaven.

Running from appointment to play date to dinner reservation according to my tightly scheduled, jam-packed calendar.

What's your spring cleaning personality?

The Hoarder

You thrive in a chaos of your own creation. While you may still have your high school yearbook, a dress that hasn’t fit in a decade, and more throw pillows than IKEA, it comes from a good place. There’s nothing wrong with nostalgia and hey, those Madonna CDs may be worth something someday. Spring cleaning for you is perhaps a time to have a good think about what you might donate or sell to create some room for yep, more stuff.

The Outsourcer

You WhatsApp with your housekeeper more than your own mother, and have a cast of helpers on standby to help with every single household task from swapping out light bulbs to pruning the hedges. Perhaps you moved to the UAE thinking you would never hire help. But you’ve gotten used to an expat lifestyle. No more spring cleaning for you! Put your feet up and relax.

The Minimalist

You definitely know who Marie Kondo is, and keep a copy of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” on your Kindle. Spring cleaning is a happy task for you because it doesn’t require too much, just a simple refresh around your sparsely decorated, serene living space.

The Perfectionist

Monica from Friends is probably your spirit animal. Even your vacuum gets vacuumed. You can’t sleep at night knowing your friend’s apartment is a mess and it actually bothers you that a car parked outside hasn’t been cleaned in weeks. Spring cleaning is just another day in the life for you!