When you live in a foreign country, you have your fair share of hurdles. Finding the right cleaning products to keep your home clean and fresh may be one of them. Japanese supermarkets and home centers, with their wide range of cleaning products in kanji-covered, brightly labeled containers, can seem confusing to those of us who don’t read Japanese. Read on for a comprehensive list of must-have cleaning products for your home in Japan.
Japanese bathrooms, with their many automated features, make for a perfect haven to unwind after a busy day. Keep your bathtub sparkling clean and ready for a relaxing soak anytime with Magiclean Bath Foaming Spray (バスマジックリン 泡立ちスプレー SUPER CLEAN グリーンハーブの香り) - a fast-acting green foaming cleaner with a refreshing herbal scent. This spray can be used over the whole bathing area, including the shower fixtures, bathtub, and floor. For more stubborn soap scum and dark spots in the bathtub or on the drain covers and faucets, try Look Bath Wash (おふろのルック みがき洗い). These two products will ensure that your bathroom stays fresh and bright.
Japanese toilets are famous worldwide for their comfort, ease of use, and cutting-edge technology—think heated toilet seats and bidet functions galore! Make the most of the one in your home by keeping it spick and span. The toilet is the fixture in the home that requires the most frequent cleaning, but this doesn’t have to be a chore. Use smart two-in-one products, such as Magiclean Toilet Deodorizing and Cleaning Spray (トイレマジックリン消臭・洗浄スプレー ミントの香り), with its refreshing mint aroma, and Quickle Toilet Cleaning Wipes (トイレクイックル), which can be flushed straight after use.
Japanese kitchens are often smaller than Western kitchens, and the smart use of space is essential; therefore, it’s extra important to keep surfaces clean and tidy. Use Magiclean Kitchen Cleaner Spray (マジックリン ハンディスプレー) to effortlessly remove food stains and grime from your kitchen counters and cooktop.
The Japanese rainy season brings extremely high humidity that can often cause mold to creep throughout the home. Make sure to have Powerful Mold Haiter Spray (強力カビハイター ハンディスプレー) on hand to use at the first sign of any pesky mold.
Even though people remove their shoes in the entranceway of Japanese homes, dust and marks can still accumulate on the floor. Keep a Quickle Mop (クイックルワイパー) among your cleaning supplies, along with both wet(クイックルワイパー 立体吸着ウエットシート) and dry(クイックルワイパー ドライシート) disposable mop sheets for quick and easy floor cleaning. To clean carpets or pick up larger debris, try the Nitoms Floor Roller (コロコロフロアクリンスカットカット200), which uses disposable tape refills for simple, convenient cleaning. A Quickle Duster (クイックルハンディ) is also useful for gathering up any dust on surfaces throughout your home.
Of course, you may prefer to use vegan or gentler all-natural chemical-free products in your home. Method Home is a great resource for recommendations for natural all-purpose cleaners, hand soaps, and other cleaning items. The makers of Japanese brands such as Yashinomi, Pax Naturon, and Shabondama Soap also take a chemical-free approach.
Whichever cleaning products you decide to purchase, make sure to keep them well stocked and conveniently accessible in your home. For those of you who have bought the products but don’t have enough spare time or energy to clean, Kurashinity’s housekeeping service can help you. Our highly trained, fluent English-speaking housekeepers use your own cleaning products to achieve the best results for a spotless home, just the way you like it.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Jessica is a writer and translator now living happily by the sea just south of Tokyo in Kamakura, Japan.
