5 traditional Japanese sustainable housekeeping to welcome the New Year

In Japan, there is a traditional custom of cleaning up at the end of the year to welcome the New Year with a refreshed mind.

This custom originated in the event called “Susuharai,” held at court in the Heian era, from the late 8th century to the late 12th century. It was intended to clean and purify the house by removing the dust and soot accumulated during the year and to welcome the gods who would come in the New Year without being rude to them.

Even today, during this period, relatives who live apart from each other return to their parent’s homes to celebrate the New Year, and many families work together to clean even the places they would not clean normally.

From this, we have some traditional sustainable methods of cleaning in Japan. Why not take a cue from Japan’s ancient wisdom and start the New Year with a sustainable cleanup?

Sweeping with a broom instead of a vacuum cleaner

Use a broom instead of a vacuum cleaner for floor cleaning. There are various types of brooms, and they are used according to the type of floor. For example, hemp palms and kochia sweep up dust and hair without damaging the floor for floors and wooden flooring, while black ferns are best for entrances and balconies because they are durable and do not get damaged even when used on hard ground.

Japanese traditional handmade brooms, such as the Edo Broom, can be used for up to 10 years. After being used to their limit, they can be burned as barbecue combustion material, thus eliminating the need for waste. Although sweeping is more strenuous than vacuum cleaners, this physical activity will also improve health.

Using a handmade duster

A duster is useful for removing dust from high places such as air conditioners, lights, ceilings, and other electrical appliances that cannot be wiped with water. You can also easily make one from scraps of cloths you have at home or from clothes you no longer wear and branches.

Tawashi can be used in a variety of ways

The “Kame-no-ko-tawashi” is a world-famous Japanese cleaning tool. This scrubbing brush, made of coconut fibers fixed between twisted wires and formed into an oval shape so that the tips of the bristles are aligned, is most effective for persistent stains such as burn marks on the bottom of a pan or inside fine scratches on a cutting board. Other uses include washing vegetables, tiles, and cloth shoes. The surprisingly good cleaning results make this item a fun way to clean.

Reuse old clothes as dust clothes

Save old clothes and towels for this day. Towels and thick clothes can be sewn with a sewing machine and turned into rags, while leftover pieces of cloth can be cut into small pieces and used to clean window sills and other small areas. It is also sustainable to insert a wet cloth between the mops instead of flooring wipers to reduce waste.

Cleaning with vegetable and fruit waste

Other cleaning methods make use of vegetable waste from everyday life. For example, putting a squeezed lemon in a tea packet and boiling it twice in an electric kettle can remove the mineral elements from the tap water. You can also remove water stains by saving the peels of potatoes and wiping down bath mirrors and kitchen faucets with water the next day.

Potatoes contain saponin, a surfactant found in laundry detergent and effective in cleaning water stains. You can remove oil-based ink stains by rubbing the peel of oranges, which acts on the natural oil called limonene contained in the peel of oranges.

Cleaning is good for your mental health

Cleaning does more than just clean a room; it has a positive psychological impact on our bodies and minds. For instance, repetitive motions such as sweeping with a broom or scrubbing with a scrubbing brush promote the secretion of serotonin, a hormone that relieves stress.

The sense of accomplishment after cleaning also produces dopamine, a hormone that relieves stress and keeps the brain in a stress-free state. It is a good idea to clean up before the New Year, which is good for both the earth and people.