"No little rag cleaning!" That was the motto of many a German grandma who knew that, to be thorough, you had to get down on your hands and knees and scrub.
And for Germans, cleaning doesn't just mean the house (although it most certainly includes the house). It can mean the fence posts, gates, even the street grates because clean is everywhere.
According to surveys, Germans say they spend an average of 3 to 5 hours cleaning their houses every week. Americans say they spend an average of 6 hours cleaning. Yet, Germany, along with Japan, is known worldwide as being one of the cleanest countries with spic and span streets, as well as homes.
What accounts for the difference? Part of it might be what people define as cleaning. House cleaning in Japan and Germany is more deep cleaning, not merely washing the dishes and counters. In Germany, one cleans the rugs on the top AND bottom. The windows might be cleaned weekly or even daily for the more particular people. In Japan, the principle of kyomeru (or purifying the home) would include cleaning the windows and floors, of course, but also scrubbing the heating grates and baseboards.
In Southwest Germany, cleaning can be a civic affair. The idea of Kehrwoche, or sweep week, calls on each resident of a multi-family building to take his turn raking leaves, mowing, sweeping and scrubbing entryways and other communal areas, or clearing snow. And each resident makes a bit of noise, too, so that everyone will know the tasks have been completed.
In Japan the home of the world's cleanliness champions, the principle of kyomeru has a spiritual side, emphasizing gratitude, balance, and harmony. Unlike the notion of a time-consuming chore, kyomeru is a way to show appreciation of the home and possessions.
