We strongly associate Japan with cleanliness, and in general this is justified. Take public spaces - even the streets of the Tokyo metropolis seem clean to us. There are even legends about public clean-ups: they actually take place both in schools and at work. And there is also a whole tradition of Osoji - cleaning at the end of the year, which even has religious significance.

Cleaning in Japan is perceived as a meditative process, dating back to Buddhism and Shintoism. Environmental factors also have an impact: very high humidity and high population density literally force the Japanese to introduce cleanliness habits into their lives. The Japanese obsession with hygiene seems fanatical, and some of their habits seem strange, but they really help to keep your home perfectly clean.

We understand the seemingly unusual habits of the Japanese, thanks to which the house remains clean for a long time.

Genkan ritual - no shoes in the house

Genkan is a Japanese hallway where it is customary to leave shoes and put on slippers. Street shoes are then put away in a special place - the getabako closet. Sometimes such cabinets are even installed on the landing or in the entrance.
 
 This way, excess dirt and dust, as well as bacteria and other microorganisms, of which there can be about 421,000 species on the soles of outdoor shoes, do not enter the house. In modern homes, the genkan area contains a large pantry. It is customary to leave all outerwear, umbrellas and other “street” items here.

Some housewives in Japan go further and have separate slippers in different areas. For example, bathroom slippers and bedroom slippers. It is believed that thanks to this, dirt and dust spread less throughout the house.

Maintaining equipment is as important as cleaning

The Japanese are real fans of home appliances. In cramped living conditions, technology can literally eliminate the need for cleaning. But other tasks arise - this equipment needs care, which the Japanese approach quite thoroughly.

They can change washing machine filters literally before every wash. Once a week, run the washing machine and dishwasher without clothes and dishes - to clean the drum.

And the Japanese also have a life hack for cleaning the microwave from traces of food and fat. They advise using steam - putting a bowl of water inside and starting the microwave. The steam will soften the stains, which can then be easily removed with a mild detergent.

Daily cleaning of the toilet is mandatory

Some Japanese housewives literally start their day by cleaning the toilet. By the way, most often in Japanese houses a separate room is allocated for the toilet - this is much more hygienic.

So toilets are usually cleaned regularly and often. Special disinfecting wet wipes for quickly cleaning the toilet rim are very popular in the Land of the Rising Sun. About once a week, the drain barrel is also cleaned - this is where a large amount of mold can accumulate.

Bathroom- constant fight against mold

The Japanese suffer from high humidity - there is often a damp smell and mold in their homes. A particularly dangerous place is the bathroom; this is where mold most often appears.
Therefore, the bathroom is cleaned literally after every use. At a minimum, scrapers are used - with their help, excess water and soap are removed from the walls of the shower.

If mold does appear, stubborn stains can be removed with paper towels. Apply a cleaner to the mold, then apply a towel to the stain and leave it for 5 minutes. Then the remaining product is washed off and the cleaned area is wiped dry.

Wash in small quantities and dry in the sun

The Japanese do laundry often - literally every day, and in some families even several times a day. This is a good habit and here's why.

Firstly, a small amount of laundry in the drum does not create additional stress on its mechanisms and does not cause an unpleasant odor. And secondly, it simply makes washing easier - washing in small portions is easier than accumulating dirty laundry, which can also quickly become saturated with the smell of dampness.
 It doesn’t end after washing. Now the laundry needs to be dried. If the house does not have a clothes dryer, drying in the sun is preferred. On TV in Japan they even tell you when exactly is the best time to take your laundry out into the sun. It seems strange, but proper drying can then save housewives from ironing - the main thing is to sew the laundry vertically and without creases.

No nuclear chemicals with a strong odor

Japanese housewives place great demands on household chemicals. The products should not have a strong odor or literally burn objects. For example, to clean rugs, they suggest using dishwashing gel, diluting it with water. It is believed that this will save the carpet from irreversible damage to the pile.

At the same time, the means must be effective. Japanese manufacturers manage to find a balance between safety and efficiency - this is how they have won the love of housewives around the world.

Household chemicals using Japanese technologies are also available in Russia - for example, YokoSun brand products that meet the needs of even the demanding Japanese. Choose what's right for you on marketplaces, large retail chains, or in a store near your home.