[For Seniors] Trivia You’ll Want to Share: Cleaning Quiz & Fun Facts

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.

Cleaning not only makes your room tidy, it also makes you feel great, doesn’t it? Cleaning is linked to mental stability and health.

It’s even said to improve concentration and self-esteem.

However, the best cleaning methods differ depending on what you’re cleaning—floors, mirrors, bathrooms, and appliances each require their own approach.

The way you’ve been cleaning until now might actually be wrong.

Why not build practical everyday knowledge with fun cleaning trivia quizzes and handy facts you’ll want to share with others? Be sure to make good use of this article.

[For Seniors] Fun Facts You’ll Want to Share: Cleaning Trivia Quiz & Tidbits (1–10)

When vacuuming, where is the best place to start?

From the corners and angles of the room
From the middle of the room
From near the door

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From the corners and angles of the room

When vacuuming, start from the corners and edges of the room. The reason is that if you don’t, dust and debris will accumulate in those areas. Then the dust and debris that have built up in the corners and edges can come back out, leaving the room not actually clean even after you’ve vacuumed.

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To remove burnt-on residue stuck to a toaster, you can use dish soap and vinegar—what is the third thing you should mix in?

baking soda
salt
potato starch

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baking soda

Baking soda is mildly alkaline and helps lift and remove burnt-on residue and grease. When combined with detergent or vinegar, it can clean even more effectively. Rub it onto the stain and wait a few minutes—the grime will loosen and rise to the surface, making it easy to wipe away with just a bit of scrubbing.

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What cleaning methods are appropriate for keeping a hardwood floor clean?

Do only a dry wipe
After removing dust with a dry mop or vacuum cleaner, wipe with a well-wrung cloth.
Wipe with a cloth using plenty of water.

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After removing dust with a dry mop or vacuum cleaner, wipe with a well-wrung cloth.

Since wooden flooring is sensitive to moisture, it’s best to first remove dust and then lightly wipe with a well-wrung cloth. Be careful not to spend too long wiping or use too much water, as this can damage the floor.

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[For Seniors] Fun Facts You’ll Want to Share: Cleaning Trivia Quiz & Tidbits (11–20)

At the former Uwajō Elementary School in Ehime Prefecture, where a rag-wiping race is held every year, how long is the corridor?

59 meters
89 meters
109 meters

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109 meters

The hallway at the former Uwacho Elementary School boasts the longest length in Japan at 109 meters. Using this long corridor, a “zokin-gake” (floor-wiping) race is held every year, attracting many participants from all over the country. By the way, they also reportedly lend out knee pads and shoes.

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Which fruit is best for removing water stains?

Apple
banana
lemon

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lemon

Lemons contain a lot of citric acid, which helps break down minerals like calcium—the main component of limescale. Diluting lemon juice with water makes it easy to remove limescale, so try using lemons on limescale stains in the kitchen and bathroom.

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Which of the following is the true identity of the pink-colored stains that appear in the bathroom?

mold
iron rust
bacterium

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bacterium

The pink stains that appear in bathrooms are not actually a type of mold, but a kind of yeast called Rhodotorula. It thrives in damp areas. The conditions for its growth are the same as mold—humidity, temperature, and nutrients such as skin oils. However, compared to mold, Rhodotorula multiplies more quickly, so even with frequent cleaning it tends to come back right away.

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Which of the following is the correct way to count dustpans?

one handle
one (long cylindrical object); one bottle; one film/episode (counter); one book (rare); straight; best
one (machine/vehicle)

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one handle

When counting dustpans, saying “1 ko, 2 ko” (one piece, two pieces) isn’t incorrect, but there’s another way: “1 e, 2 e.” It’s read as “ichi-e.” Since it’s not a very familiar term, many people may not know it.

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