Most people who own their own home clean their home every now and then. Some people do it more often than others. While one person takes the vacuum cleaner and mop through their house every week, scrubs the kitchen cupboards and changes the bed, the other does this once a month. It’s a bit different for Rachel: she hasn’t cleaned her house in four years. Uhm..
House cleaning
Rachel looks fresh and when you quickly take a look at her home, you initially have nothing to say about it. Yet cleaning is not her favorite activity. In fact, Rachel believes that how she does it is the best way. Rachel hasn’t cleaned her kitchen and bathroom floors in four years and never replaced her toilet brush. She has also never replaced her pillows and hasn’t washed her duvet in years. Yet I am convinced that others should not have to do this either.
Other habits
The fact that she doesn’t do these things has to do with several things. First of all, Rachel lives small and her cleaning supplies are hidden in a storage room somewhere. “It takes too much effort for me to dig it out from behind all that stuff all the time,” she says. According to her, it also all has to do with good habits that other people have. “People with pets are a lot dirtier than me; they have hair all over their house,” says Rachel. She also says that she always takes off her shoes when she comes home. “Yet many people also walk in with their dirty shoes. Then you can mop your floor every week, but those bacteria are still crawling around.”
Good immune system
Rachel is convinced that this is precisely why she has a good immune system. “I sometimes hear people say their dog has peed in the room, which is a lot dirtier than how I do it,” says Rachel. Yet it is not only bacteria from animals or shoes from outside, but also dust or food remains on the ground. It is therefore very important to clean the floor regularly. Rachel also believes that her home is cleaner than others. In addition, she does not wash her hands, even when she has worked in the garden. “There’s a lot of dirt under my nails, so I’ll probably take a bite of it, so what?” she says.
Rachel did recently clean her floors; that was the first time after four years. The last time was around the Corona period. Rachel’s mother doesn’t quite agree: “You should know better. I clean my sink, toilet and floors every day. Why would you only do this once every few years?” her mother says.
Sustainable choices
Not only does Rachel think she has a good immune system, but also that these choices make her sustainable. “People replace things too quickly and throw things away quickly. That is bad for the environment.” She doesn’t have bed bugs or dust mites, so she refuses to replace her bedding. Not only for the environment, but also for her wallet. “Companies that sell bedding are only looking to make a profit,” says Rachel.
If Rachel had a larger home with more storage space that allowed her better access to her belongings, she might clean the surfaces in her home more often. “For now, the mop will stay in the cupboard, where it belongs.”
