Before the 31st of December, we have a tradition of the end of the year cleaning, called *O-soji (Major cleaning).” We use this period to clean the entire house, so that we can start a new year refreshed.
Yet the month of December can be overwhelming. Two major events, Christmas and New Year, take place in December, keeping us busy. We also celebrate the end of the year with colleagues and friends, going out together to eat and drink.
It is a lot of work to clean the entire house on top of these events. But we take this event seriously, as a part of the end of the year preparation.
Purify your home and mind before the coming year
The tradition of “O-soji” started during the Edo period in Japan. People used to dust off soot (susuharai) in the Edo castle on December 13th, an auspicious day according to the lunar calendar. It wasn’t a simple cleaning ritual, but a spiritual one as well. The act of dusting and sweeping had a purification effect. It was a ritual of purification, preparing the house for the New Year’s god to come.
Today, we just clean up our house before the 31st of December. I usually wait until the end of the month to clean. I don’t find a religious meaning in the end of the year cleaning, like we used to during the Edo period. It is simply something we are supposed to do, like spring cleaning.
But I find it important to clean up the house before the New Year. I use this cleaning ritual to create a clean slate to welcome a new year. As I clean and tidy out the rooms, I imagine how I want to live next year and how I want to spend each moment. It is a ritual to prepare myself for the coming year.
Natural Cleaning Guide
When I clean the house, I try to use simple cleaning ingredients.
You can clean most stains using the following ingredients: citric acid, baking soda, sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium percarbonate, soap, and alcohol.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is perfect for deodorizing toilet floors and walls, and removing yellowing of toilet bowls. Mix 1 teaspoon of citric acid in 200 cc of water. Spray on the surface and wipe with a wet cloth to finish.
You can also remove water and soap stains with citric acid water. Spray the citric acid water on the surface and scrub with a sponge. Rinse it well with water.
To remove water stains from a pot, you can put 4 tablespoons of citric acid into a pot full of water. Boil water and let sit for 1 hour. Drain the water and rinse well with water.
You can also use citric acid to clean the dishwasher tank. Add 4 tablespoons of citric acid to an empty dishwasher. Run the machine normally.
Baking soda
Baking soda is an efficient ingredient to remove the burnt marks on a pot or a saucepan. Place 4 tablespoons of baking soda in a saucepan with 1 liter of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool for 1-2 hours. Drain the water and scrub the burnt mark with a sponge or scrubber. Avoid using baking soda on aluminum pots, because it can discolor.
You can also remove tea stains using baking soda. Mix baking soda and water in the ratio of 2-3:1 to make a paste. Scrub tea stains off of pots and cups.
Sodium Sesquicarbonate
For oil stains on stoves and fans, add 1 teaspoon of sesquicarbonate of soda to 500cc of water and mix. For persistent stains, add 1 tablespoon of sodium sesquicarbonate. Spray the mixed water and wipe off the stain. For persistent stains, stick a piece of kitchen paper soaked in the mixed water. Leave for a while, then wipe off with a cloth soaked in the mixed water.
You can also clean cigarette stains, doorknobs, inside the refrigerator. Wipe the surface with a cloth moistened with sesquicarbonate mixed water.
Sodium percarbonate
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Sodium percarbonate is great for removing tea, coffee stains, as well as bleaching and sterilization of clothes and dishes. Add 2 tablespoons of sodium percarbonate to 2 liters of water. Soak a mug or tumbler with persistent tea stains for 30 minutes. You can also add 2 tablespoons of sodium percarbonate to 2 liters of water. Add dishcloths and dishes, and leave to soak and wash for 30 minutes.
You can also use it to clean drains and pipes. Pour sodium percarbonate into drains. Pour 1 to 2 cups of water and leave for 1 to 2 hours. Flush out the water and wash.
To wash the bathtub, set the water level to high, add sodium percarbonate, and run the bathtub at 40°C. Leave it to run for 2 hours. Once again, heat the bathtub for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse in the shower.
Soap
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Soap is great for cleaning air conditioning filters and ventilation fans. Put 20-50g soap powder in 500ml warm water to create soap jelly. Vacuum the dust from the filter. Place the air conditioning filter on a sheet of newspaper. Put soap jelly on the filter. Rinse immediately with water. For ventilation fans, apply soap jelly to heavily stained areas and let sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Wipe it clean.
Alcohol
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Alcohol spray is great for disinfecting surfaces. Household appliances, remote controls and switches, cleaning closets and closets, tatami mats and carpets..
Just avoid using near fire. Ventilate well while cleaning.
