What is the Persian term for the spring cleaning performed before Nowruz?

Khaneh Tekani is the Persian term for the spring cleaning performed before Nowruz. The expression is also transliterated as Khāne-takānī and is commonly explained as “shaking the house.”

The custom involves a thorough cleaning and refreshing of the home, often including washing carpets, cleaning yards and attics, painting, and preparing rooms for the New Year. Families may also buy new clothes and flowers as part of the same seasonal preparation.

Khaneh Tekani expresses Nowruz’s themes of renewal and a fresh beginning. It is usually carried out before the holiday, helping households prepare for visits from relatives and friends and for the presentation of the Haft-sin table.

It should not be confused with a casual dusting or a uniquely modern spring-cleaning trend. The practice is a recognized Iranian Nowruz tradition, and its name refers specifically to the house-shaking ritual rather than to the festival as a whole.