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

A marker indicating “please pull the code up to here.”

The yellow mark on the vacuum cleaner’s power cord indicates “pull the cord out to this point.” The red mark farther in is a caution sign meaning “do not pull the cord out any further,” as pulling beyond that point can cause disconnection or malfunction. If you pull past it, the cord is more likely to get damaged, so once you see the red section, do not extend the cord any further.

early morning

Early morning is considered the best time for cleaning because the dust that fell to the floor during the night hasn’t been stirred up yet. Make good use of dust’s tendency to rise with human activity and then settle back down. It’s also a time when you can easily open windows for ventilation, making cleaning more efficient.

Pat it gently with a dry towel.

If you spill a drink, the most effective way is to immediately blot it from the top with a dry towel or tissue to absorb the liquid. It’s even more effective to pour a little clean water over the stain and lift out the water along with the dirt. Rubbing can spread the stain or push it deep into the fibers.

Because static electricity tends to occur easily.

TV screens and bodies tend to build up static electricity, which attracts dust from the air. As a result, dust accumulates easily. For cleaning the TV, use a soft cloth without any chemical agents, and if the dirt is severe, wipe it with water mixed with a small amount of laundry fabric softener.

From a high place to a low place

Dust falls from top to bottom. Therefore, when knocking dust down with a duster, the basic rule is to work in order from the ceiling and high places to lower ones. This is to avoid doing the same work twice by cleaning the dust that has fallen to the floor at the end.

Edo period

It is said that zokin (cleaning cloths) became commonly used in Japan during the Edo period. Before that, people often wiped with paper or towel-like cloth, but as cotton became widespread in the Edo period, washable, reusable zokin spread among ordinary people as well.

alkaline detergent

Since grease stains are acidic, alkaline cleaners with the opposite properties are the most effective. Alkaline cleaners break down oil and remove it thoroughly. For stubborn soap scum and limescale, use an acidic cleaner, and for light, fresh stains, a neutral detergent is suitable.