For many Germans, precision and a love for orderliness are key values. This cultural trait extends to their homes, where cleanliness and tidiness are consistently maintained. In a typical German household, everything seems to sparkle, with no clutter or visible dirt.
At first, you might think this level of cleanliness requires hours of daily cleaning. However, German homemakers actually spend less time than you’d expect on housekeeping. Their secret? A straightforward rule that they and their family members follow diligently.
The Core Rule of German Housekeeping: “Clean as You Go”
The main principle that keeps German homes spotless is simply to “clean as you go.”
Whenever a surface becomes dirty or an item is used, it’s cleaned immediately. This rule ensures that no mess has a chance to accumulate, making larger cleaning sessions less frequent and much easier.
Examples of “Clean as You Go” in Action
- Dishes Are Washed Right Away: After each meal, instead of leaving dirty dishes in the sink, a German homemaker will wash them immediately. This prevents the kitchen from becoming cluttered and makes meal cleanup quick and manageable.
- Spills and Drops Are Addressed Instantly: If anything spills or falls onto the floor, it’s cleaned up right away, no matter how minor it seems. This keeps floors spotless and avoids stains that would be harder to remove later.
- Bathroom Cleaning Happens Continuously: Any dirt or water stains in the bathroom are wiped up as soon as they appear, rather than being left until a designated cleaning day.
By following this “clean as you go” rule, German households avoid clutter and maintain a continuously tidy space. This habit means there’s no buildup of mess, so there’s rarely a need for hours of deep cleaning.