Everyone has done this job before, but not everyone knows how to do it most efficiently and quickly. The Japanese cleaning methods are increasingly being applied, and Vietnam is no exception. So, what are these methods specifically?
Collect and categorize items
In a household with many members living together, there will naturally be various types of items. To start the cleaning process smoothly, we need to gather them together and categorize them, sorting them into appropriate groups and categories.
After compiling and categorizing, you can clean them up one by one instead of running around from one place to another. The best advice is to always start with the clothing group, including: clothes, shoes, bags, hats, etc.
Get rid of unnecessary items
In every home, there will certainly be many unused items that the owners hesitate to throw away. These items will take up a considerable amount of space in your home without bringing any benefits. And your house will never be tidy because of these excess items.
An old, faded piece of clothing, a pair of worn-out shoes,… If you haven’t been paying attention to them for a long time, get rid of them. Or if you’re still doubtful, try them on again. If you don’t like them, don’t hold onto them.
If there are too many items, instead of throwing them away, you can take them to donation centers for the needy, because sometimes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.
Establish the position of items
According to the Japanese belief, determining the position of items will help the cleaning process go faster. When you look at an item, you already know where it needs to be placed without having to think about it or struggle to find it, especially for small items. For example, always hang your keys near the entrance, place the TV remote next to the TV, and so on.
Clean items not rooms
Usually, we clean the house from the living room to the bedroom, from the kitchen. However, according to the Japanese, this is not a smart way to clean the house because everything will be scattered from one room to another within a few minutes.
Therefore, the Japanese principle of cleaning is to clean by item type, such as clothes, shoes, books, pictures… If you follow this order, the efficiency of the cleaning process will be greatly improved.
Set the cleaning sequence from the beginning
The priority cleaning sequence according to the Japanese is to start with clothing items (clothes, bags, shoes, hats), then move on to books and papers, followed by other small items based on personal preference, and finally arrange mementos.
Setting the cleaning sequence is also planning the cleaning process. You will know what to do first and what can be done later. This way, you won’t feel overwhelmed when faced with a pile of random items.
Vertical arrangement
For items of the same type, it’s best to arrange them vertically. According to author Mari Kondo, this helps you keep track of the items you have, increases the lifespan of the items, and makes cleaning easier.
For example, with clothes, if you fold them vertically and stack them in the drawer, it will save more space, and you will find and retrieve the items you want more easily compared to stacking clothes horizontally or on top of each other.
Create joy from items
It may sound illogical, but the truth is, if you feel comfortable and happy with your living space, the surrounding items will never be left randomly or cluttered.
On the contrary, you will want to cherish and place them in the right position, taking care of them. By doing this, you will always keep your home tidy and clean without feeling stressed every time you tidy up.
