Spring Cleaning Italian Style

By Francesca Di Meglio

I'm not kidding when I say southern Italian women – and some men nowadays – could win Olympic medals in cleaning if there was such a thing. I'm fairly certain I could eat off the floors of the homes of my relatives in Ischia, an island off the coast of Naples in Italy, without any worry. In fact, their floors are probably cleaner than my American table most of the time. As a result, they serve as pretty great role models when it comes time for spring cleaning. Their usual cleaning routine is the equivalent of an American spring cleaning job. So, just what do most southern Italians regularly do to pamper their home?

For starters, they vacuum the floors in areas of the home where they don't eat once a day. The kitchen or dining room gets hit with the vacuum after each meal. And they mop the floors once a day. Yes, you read that right. Once. A. Day. They use warm water, floor cleaning fluid (otherwise known as soap), and sometimes white vinegar for shine and to keep ants at bay. And they usually scrub with force with a traditional mop, not a steam cleaner or Swiffer or anything like that. They like it old school.

They scrub the bathrooms and those floors everyday, too. Some of this is because of the humidity in southern Italy, which causes dust to get wet and create a black film on the beautiful tile that fills most homes. Some of it is germaphobia. Some of it is a result of the bella figura mindset, which has them believing that their home, just like what they wear and how they look, are a reflection of their worth in the eyes of others.

That's why they don't just stop at the floors and toilets. They also tend to dust every other day, again because of that pesky humidity causing dust to turn black and sticky. And of course, in between all this cleaning, they cook those elaborate lunches you've heard so much about. If their home is sacred, then food is their Communion.

While they are willing to make a mess in the name of their meals, they do an impeccable clean up job afterward. Most of the homes are without dishwashers because of the high cost of energy in the country. (It's the same reason, they don't have the heat on for 24 hours in the winter – Brrrrrr!) So, they wash all the pots, pans, and dishes by hand. They scrub down the stovetop after every meal, and clean the oven (again by hand because there are no self cleaning settings) once per week. Then, they put any leftovers in the fridge, and either turn them into another dish for lunch the next day or eat it again at dinner. There's not much waste when it comes to food, in part because the country's economy makes most families budget conscious and in part because of a reverence for eating well.

Since this is all so important, they keep close tabs on the fridge. About once a week, they clean it out. My sisters-in-law take everything out of the refrigerator, throw away any rotten or expired food, wipe down the shelves, and restock everything neatly. They also regularly take inventory of other groceries and non-refrigerated items in cabinets. While they are doing this, they often clean up drawers, cabinets and closets, too. I'd say that happens at least twice a month, whereas in my American home, it might happen once or twice a year. The good news is that they wash curtains and windows about twice per year. So, at least you can take a break on one task if you're trying to keep up with them.

Now, I've mentioned before about how doing laundry is serious – and I mean serious – business for Italians. They have high tech, industrial-sized irons with steaming capabilities, ironing tables that can cost up to $1,000 and are prettier than most furniture we own, and don't believe in dryers, in part because of those pesky energy prices and in part because they want to preserve their clothing.

While I've told my Italian friends that it would be un-American of me to iron sheets and underwear like they do, I have learned a few good tricks from them. First, to remove stains, especially oil, you can spray de-greaser fluid – the kind you might use in the kitchen – directly on the mark and then put it in the washing machine. White vinegar and bleach are good ways to remove mold and mildew (and their accompanying smells) from those front-loader washers. You won't be sorry about hand washing your delicates. Although my Italian friends snub me for using a dryer because “it's so much better to let your clothes dry in the sun,” I tell them that they would change their mind if they had experienced the convenience of the appliance. There's really no going back after you've used one regularly like we Americans do.

Their belief that the home is truly where the heart is drives these cleaning rituals. Italians worship at the altar of family, and the home is their temple.

Di Meglio uses the written word to help families create memories and stick together. You can follow her on Facebook at Francesca's Newlyweds Nest and on Twitter @ItalianMamma10.