Why Japanese Homes Never Smell (9 Habits My Mother Swore By)

Tonight, when you come home, stop at the door and breathe in. That flat, heavy smell under the candle is not dirt, and perfume will never take it away. Come, sit with me. These are the nine habits from my mother's little house in Osaka, and my own forty years, that keep a Japanese home from ever smelling: the shoes at the door, the house opened every morning, the bed that goes out into the air, washing before the bath, the toilet floor nobody wipes, the sink that goes to bed dry, wet scraps, nothing damp shut away, and my grandmother's tea-leaf and charcoal trick. 00:00 Stop at the door and breathe in 01:04 Where a smell is really born 02:41 1. Shoes stay at the door 03:35 2. Open the house every morning 04:24 3. The biggest smell: your bed 06:02 4. Wash before the bath 06:53 5. The toilet floor 07:50 6. The sink goes to bed dry 08:31 7. Wet scraps 09:15 8. Nothing damp is shut away 09:59 9. Tea leaves and charcoal 10:55 The honest part 12:03 Who is paid when you do not know 13:48 One small thing tonight Please be careful: charcoal needs a day in the sun each month, tea leaves must be completely dry, and a smell that keeps coming back can mean a plumbing or damp problem, so call someone. Please be kind to yourself: start with one habit, not all of them. Emiko's tips are from her own home; follow the care instructions for your fabrics, surfaces and appliances. Tell me in the comments: what does your house smell like when you open the door? And where do you live? I read every one. Emiko is a fictional character created with AI; her stories are a character's stories. #JapaneseHabits #HomeTips #CleaningTips