What does housecleaning mean?
Housecleaning is the activity of cleaning and tidying a house or another dwelling, including tasks such as dusting, washing floors, cleaning bathrooms, and organizing rooms. The expression is used in everyday British and American English for both a particular cleaning session and the general upkeep of a home. It can sound more specific than housekeeping, which is the broader practice of keeping a home clean, comfortable, and supplied, and it can also sound more focused than simply cleaning. A thorough housecleaning may be a demanding occasion, and the word is sometimes used in a humorous or exaggerated way to suggest that someone has made an unusually serious effort to clean. The compound is formed from “house” and “cleaning” and directly identifies the type of activity being performed.
nounThe act of cleaning and tidying a house or other dwelling. It may also refer to the general practice of maintaining a clean home.
- The act of cleaning and tidying a house or other dwelling.
- The recurring practice of maintaining a clean and orderly home.
"We spent the weekend doing housecleaning before the guests arrived."
"The house was small, but the cost of housecleaning was manageable."
"Her housecleaning routine includes washing the windows every spring."
Usually plural when referring to separate cleaning sessions or occasions.
"The two housecleanings took most of the afternoon."
Housecleaning is a compound in which the room being cleaned comes before the action: the house is the object, and cleaning is the work done to it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does housecleaning come from?
Housecleaning is a compound of “house” and “cleaning.” Both elements are English words: “house” comes from Old English hūs, while “clean” derives from Old English clǣne, meaning pure or free from dirt. The compound describes the cleaning of a house and developed within ordinary English usage.
How housecleaning is actually used
The term is common in everyday speech in both British and American English. It is sometimes used humorously for extensive tidying, especially before a visitor or event.
Easily confused with housecleaning
Housecleaning focuses on cleaning and tidying a dwelling, whereas housekeeping is the broader, often recurring practice of maintaining a home.