You think your house is clean until you visit your parents and realize you’ve been living in filth. Back in the day, cleaning was more than a routine task—it was as important as religion. Our parents used to clean things that we wouldn’t bother with today yet some of their cleaning practices were actually sensible.
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The Tops of Doors and Picture Frames
You had no clue those areas could accumulate dust, did you? If a visitor touched the door frame and found any dust, our parents would feel ashamed. Dust, even at high places, was dust and all dust was the enemy.
Curtains (Washed and Ironed!)
Our parents washed curtains, then ironed and rehung them as though it were a ceremonial royal event. They would do this even if the curtains were eight feet tall and twenty kilos in weight. If we see no mold forming on the curtain today, we think it’s doing just fine.
Doorknobs and Light Switches
They made it a point to clean door handles and light switches every week using disinfectant sprays as we touch them daily. Some even had a rotation system where doors were cleaned on Mondays and switches on Tuesdays. Us? We only clean them once annually – during the flu season.
Ceiling Fans
If you forgot to wipe the ceiling fan even once, dust bunnies would scatter across the room like tumbleweed. When cleaning ceiling fans, our parents would bring out a ladder, a pillowcase and vinegar spray as if getting ready for combat. We only remember about ceiling fan dust when it falls on our breakfast cereal.
Baseboards
Back then, baseboards got clean just as often as dishwashing tasks. On hands and knees. A rag and bucket of warm water were cleaning tools while a lecture about “doing things properly” played in the background.
Under the Furniture
Not just a once-a-year event. Our parents moved beds, couches and dining tables around to vacuum or mop underneath them. Today when something rolls under the sofa we tell ourselves that it now belongs there.
Air Vents and Grates
Old toothbrushes and vacuum hoses were used to clean out the vents. They pulled off the covers and cleaned them in the bathtub. Now, most people secretly wish that nobody would look closely at the ceiling vent.
Washing Machine
The irony: cleaning the machine that cleans. But our parents took cleaning the washing machine seriously – wiping the drum, cleaning the filter and running hot vinegar cycles as if it were a weekly spa event. Now? We shut the door tightly and wait for the mold odor to vanish.
The Toaster Crumb Tray
Crumbs didn’t stand a chance. They turned the toaster upside down to clean the tray and used a butter knife for thorough cleaning inside. We pretend to be shocked when the machine begins to smoke like a bonfire.
Inside the Kitchen Cabinets
Spring cleaning? Try every three months. They removed everything from the cabinets and replaced the contact paper after cleaning the shelves. We consider ourselves lucky when we avoid discovering sticky soy sauce puddles.
Remote Controls and Phones
During cold season, our parents would disinfect landlines daily and remotes got so much wiping that the buttons began to fade. Meanwhile, the remote under the couch still has peanut butter fingerprints from 2022.
The Fridge Coils
Fridge not working? First thing Mom checked—those coils. She skillfully moved the fridge away from the wall to clean the coils with a special brush while managing not to strain any muscles. Few people ever take the time to look at their fridge coils.
The Garage Floor
Today’s garages are messy storage zones. But in the 80s and 90s? Spotless. Swept, mopped, sometimes even waxed. Dad reacted to any floor stain with a furious scrubbing as if it were an affront to generations of ancestors.
Trash Cans (Inside and Out)
Trash wasn’t just taken out—it was disinfected. They cleaned the inside with a brush before spraying disinfectant and setting it in the sun to dry. We usually place a new bag inside the trash can and pray the smell won’t escape.
Window Tracks
Have you ever opened a window and heard an agonizing grinding sound? That’s the sound of modern neglect. Our parents maintained those window tracks using toothpicks and cotton buds alongside incredible patience, which we never inherited.
Behind the Toilet
Our parents did more than just wipe the seat—they cleaned the entire back. They used long brushes to reach behind toilets and sprayed until the area smelled fresh like a swimming pool. You? You focus on keeping your phone from falling into the toilet.
The Walls
Not repainting—washing the walls. Kitchens collect grease and handprints quickly. The cleaning routine for walls involved using a sponge together with warm soapy water and hard work. We only discovered the need to clean walls after TikTok told us.
Light Fixtures and Chandeliers
Not a single bulb on those fancy lights was left unclean. They scrubbed every light fixture – even the ones that hung 12 feet above the floor. If the light works after we turn it on, now we accept it as clean enough.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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