Do you leave a key in a plant pot or under the doormat for your personal cleaning helper who comes to take control of the chaos and dirt that accumulated in the house during the week?
Most people do.
What you don’t always realize is that these helpers know more about you than you think.
The state of your home can reflect your lifestyle, habits, and preferences, and it can reveal a lot about your mental state and personality.
We asked three housekeepers and one house helper to tell us what they discovered about their clients during their work, which corners are usually the dirtiest, and they also shared tips for effective cleaning.
What Can Be Learned About Household Habits from Cleaning?
A lot. Sometimes it gets to the point where I arrive at a house and know if they had guests over during the weekend or went on vacation.
A wardrobe, for example, accurately reflects a person’s personality.
You can tell if someone is a career person who spends many hours outside the home if their closet is in a catastrophic state.
A person who works long hours is under a lot of stress, so decision-making needs to be fast, which shows in their closet.
For career-focused women with busy lifestyles combining work, home, and children, clothes are often scattered throughout the house. I even once found shoes in the kitchen closet.
The Dirtiest Corners of the House
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just the bathroom.
Serious dirt accumulates under the fridge, on sofas, and around the washing machine.
I strongly recommend not waiting for spring cleaning to clean these corners.
Because of the humidity from the fridge and washing machine, the dirt becomes dust mites that are not easy to remove, and it’s very unhealthy.
The Strangest Thing Encountered
Once I accompanied a house where my mother regularly cleans.
The owners were abroad that week. While cleaning the bedroom, when I lifted the blanket, I discovered the cat of the homeowner hiding there.
It was dead. It was very sad and shocking.
We called the owners and the city authorities to remove it, but the city representative could not enter the house, so we had to take the body outside ourselves.
Work Order
I always try to follow a method so I don’t lose track.
I start with general tidying to clear the area for thorough cleaning. While tidying, I dust and remove anything that gets in the way.
I prefer starting in the kitchen because it takes the most time and requires deep cleaning and disinfection.
Then I move to bathrooms, showers, and the rest of the rooms, starting with the more complex ones.
The living room is complicated because of electronics and wires.
Laundry is prepared beforehand so that while the floor dries, I can hang it.
Secret Cleaning Tips
One tip involves an effective sponge that leaves a smooth floor without streaks. When filling the bucket for the sponge, avoid foam.
Always add cleaning solution at the end, and use it in moderation. I use two different cloths: one for the sponge itself and one for the final wipe.
Laundry should be folded on a large table, separating family members’ clothes and sorting what needs hanging versus folding.
For cleaning rooms, open windows to air the space, dust first, and only then change the bed linens.
Observations About Households
Cleaning hidden areas is like peeking into a person’s soul. You can learn not just habits but sometimes even traumas or struggles.
One client, a single man in his late forties who travels for work, keeps the home shiny and impressive, but in the closets there are almost no dishes, only disposable items.
It seems like an attempt to create a sense of home.
Other Secret Observations
Sometimes it’s under beds, in kitchens, or hidden areas of sinks and counters.
Even neat and well-groomed people can have surprisingly messy spaces.
In one house, I found stuffed animals arranged under the blanket in the bed.
In another, a freezer contained frozen mice and rodents, which was shocking.
Routine and Efficiency Tips
I usually clean from the far end of the house to the entrance.
I clean bedrooms, children’s rooms, bathrooms, then the living room, kitchen, and outdoor areas.
move furniture for thorough cleaning.
I use baskets to separate items while dusting to know exactly where to put them back.
Run the washing machine at the start of cleaning so laundry is ready to hang at the end.
I always carry a pleasant scent spray, which I use to make the house smell fresh before leaving it’s my signature.