Global Traditions
Italy has a unique way of ushering in the new year. On New Year’s Eve, people throw old stuff out the window. It’s a little risky if you live several floors up and there are passing pedestrians below. Still, this fun act is a deep-rooted tradition meant to unburden oneself of bad experiences, trauma, and negative thoughts.
In Japan, there’s a tradition known as “Oosouji.” It involves thoroughly cleaning the house to purge it of negative energy. However, rearranging furniture during the first few days after the new year is discouraged. Some believe that it affects the house's energy flow and harbors bad luck.
Hindus have a spiritual perspective on New Year cleaning. During Diwali, a festival held before New Year’s Eve, they clean their house as a form of reverence for Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and abundance. A clean house encourages Lakshmi to notice and visit, bringing with her good luck and good fortune.
There are common superstitions regardless of where you’re from, and most of them have their own set of DOs and DON’Ts. The most common, perhaps, is the one about sweeping. Sweeping on New Year’s Eve is believed to “sweep” away good luck and invite bad luck in.
The second one is somewhat similar, and it’s the belief that throwing trash on New Year’s Eve is likened to “throwing away” good fortune and opportunities, so some people refrain from discarding anything until January 1st for good luck.
New Year Cleaning
It’s important to start the year right by doing things we’ve set aside or neglected to do the previous year. Here are tips and tricks to help you get started.
Under the furniture: This is probably the most overlooked area in the house, so it rarely (if ever) gets a thorough cleaning. Since it remains undisturbed, dirt, hair (both human and pet), and dust settle in alarming amounts there. To clean, use your vacuum cleaner, and then wipe the floor with a mop or damp rag to remove stubborn stains.
Carpets and rugs: Made from twisted tufts with narrow spaces in between them, carpets and rugs are a dirt magnet and, over the year, will accumulate an unbelievable amount of dust. You must clean them regularly, especially if you’re prone to allergy triggered by dust mites. Vacuum your carpets and rugs weekly and do a deep cleaning at least once a year. For stains, use a mixture of water and vinegar. Alternatively, you can use a carpet cleaning machine or hire a professional cleaner.
Window tracks: We rarely give our window tracks a second look, so we don’t notice how dirty they get. Over the months, they collect dirt, dust, and mold. Use a small, portable vacuum cleaner to remove dust. An old toothbrush will work for hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. For a more thorough cleaning, try using a cleaning solution made up of water and vinegar in equal amounts. Use it with a brush to loosen stubborn, hardened dirt.
Pillows: We remember to wash our pillowcases, but we hardly notice our pillows. It will come as a shock to most, but they’re the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mildew. We spend several hours a day in bed, and everything our pillowcase can’t shield (sweat, oils, saliva) goes directly into our pillow. If left unchecked, it can trigger or aggravate acne, allergies or asthma. It’s important that we wash our pillows at least every six months. Check the care label to see if they can be machine-washed. Some are made with delicate material and can only be dry-cleaned. For an extra layer of protection, try using ettitude’s Pillow Protector. Made with the patented CleanBamboo® fabric and a water-resistant TPU lining, It has an added layer of soft cushion designed to protect your pillow from dirt, stains and spills.
Bath towels: Because they are constantly moist, bath towels foster bacteria, fungi and other microbes. Having them in a place with little ventilation and sunlight (like your bedroom or bathroom) encourages the proliferation of germs and mildew. It’s important that we wash our towels once a week. Play it safe and use warm water and mild detergent. Avoid fabric softeners as they can affect your towels’ absorbency rate. Go over your closet and repurpose old, scratchy towels. If you’re ready for some new ones, level up and treat yourself to ettitude’s CleanBamboo® Waffle Towels. Made from eco-friendly, CleanBamboo® waffle fabric, they are hypoallergenic and soft on your skin. Its waffle texture gently exfoliates dead skin cells off your body, so this one’s worth trying.
High-touch surfaces: These are surfaces we frequently touch, like door knobs, light switches and the remote control of our TV. High-touch surfaces are breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses and other harmful microbes. If someone touches an object infected by a sick person, germs can be easily transmitted. Cleaning high-touch surfaces should be done regularly. Wet a cloth with a disinfectant and wipe the surface until clean. Allow the disinfectant to completely dry before wiping it off to kill bacteria and viruses. Doing this regularly will help prevent contagious illnesses like flu from spreading in your home.
Light fixtures: Cleaning light fixtures makes them aesthetically pleasing and allows the light they emit to be brighter. And because the light is brighter, you’ll end up using fewer light fixtures, which in turn, will allow you to save on electricity. When cleaning light fixtures, the first thing you want to do is to turn the switch off. Then, remove the light bulb from its socket. After doing so, use a cloth or a duster to wipe off dust and dirt. For stubborn stains, use a solution made from baking soda and water. You can go the extra mile and polish the fixture’s metal part using a cloth dipped in vinegar and water. Make sure everything’s bone dry before reassembling and turning the light back on.
Refrigerator: Our refrigerator is a hotspot for germs because it’s where we store vegetables, raw meat, and anything perishable. The start of the new year is the best time to do a deep cleaning, and the first thing you want to do is check the expiration date of everything in it and get rid of things that are no longer consumable. Next, remove the shelves, bins and drawers and wash them with warm water and soap to remove stains and food residue. To clean the interior, mix equal amounts of water and vinegar and use this solution to wipe everything down. For stubborn stains, scrub gently with baking soda and water.
New Year, New Beginnings
We all have different reasons for doing our New Year cleaning. Some people are bound by cultural traditions and superstitions, while some see cleaning as something spiritual, an act that brings them closer to their faith. Regardless of where you’re from and your personal beliefs, there’s a common thread that binds everything together: the desire to turn a new leaf and start on a clean slate. We all have that urge to do things right, and what’s good about the New Year is that it allows us to work on things that were neglected and ignored. As with everything, consistency is the key to a cleaner house, and starting on the new year is the first step. Whatever we do at the start of the year sets the course for the coming months. After taking that first step, soldier on and never lose sight of your goal of a cleaner house for the new year.
Time for New Sheets
Usher in the new year by treating yourself to new sheet sets, comforters and duvet covers from ettitude. The Airy CleanBamboo® Sateen+ collection uses the patented PLNTsilk™ fabric made exclusively in Peru. Other than its cloud-soft, temperature-regulating properties, it’s also antimicrobial, effectively protecting you against germs. It has a 1,000 thread count which makes it better than cotton. And best of all, it’s hypoallergenic, eco-friendly and sustainable.
Inspired by the fire element representing life, vitality and light, the Airy CleanBamboo® Sateen+ Prosperity sheet set is the perfect choice for the new year. Its rich, royal red color evokes an elegance that gives off positive energy and luxury. Start the year right and make a bold statement with this intensely fiery sheet set.
FAQs
How to clean your house for the new year?
Start with those that are often neglected like carpets, the refrigerator, light fixtures and window tracks. Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner (carpets and rugs) or dry cloth (refrigerator, light fixtures, window tracks). Dip your cleaning cloth in water and vinegar, and use for stubborn stains. Remove residual dirt and dry with a clean cloth. For heavy carpets, use a carpet cleaning machine or get professional help for a hassle-free, more thorough cleaning.
What is the New Year tradition of cleaning the house?
New Year traditions vary depending on where you’re from. The Chinese believe in Feng Shui which involves arranging things in harmony to foster good health and prosperity. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, it is believed that cleaning and arranging furniture within the house will promote good luck for the coming year. A clean and orderly home lets positive energy in, while a messy, disorganized house attracts negative energy. In Latin America (specifically Mexico and Puerto Rico), sweeping and cleaning are not encouraged on January 1st as it could “sweep away” good fortune and prosperity.
Is it good luck to clean your house on New Year's Day?
There are several superstitions and beliefs about New Year cleaning. Most say one shouldn’t clean one’s house on New Year's Day because it’s bad luck. Some people don’t clean their floors until January 2. There’s also a superstition that you shouldn’t throw trash on New Year’s Eve, which is seen as pushing good opportunities away.
Can you clean your house on January 1st?
It depends on whether you’re superstitious, but some believe sweeping your floor on January 1st is bad luck. Play it safe and refrain from cleaning for two days after the New Year's celebration. If you don’t believe in traditions and superstitions, it’s probably okay to do some cleaning on January 1st. It all boils down to your beliefs and philosophy. Just be open-minded enough to respect other people’s cultures and superstitions.
What chores to avoid on New Year's Day?
Don’t sweep the floor or take out the garbage. They say doing so invites bad luck and misfortune. In Japan, changing the furniture arrangement and moving it around during the first few days after the new year is discouraged as it interferes with the house's energy flow. Leaving things as is promotes harmony and good fortune in the coming months. In Mexico and Puerto Rico, sweeping the floor and cleaning the house on January 1st are discouraged since they could prevent good luck and prosperity from entering your life.
