What is the 75 year old housekeeping rule?
The so-called “75-year-old housekeeping rule” is a surprisingly simple practice: always close your kitchen drawers and cabinets immediately after you open and retrieve items from them. This rule isn't based on a historical document from 75 years ago, but rather is a modern rediscovery and re-popularization of a common-sense habit. By consistently keeping drawers shut, you prevent debris, crumbs, and other food scraps from falling inside, which can lead to messy, sticky interiors that require deep cleaning. The logic is simple yet effective: it's far easier to prevent a mess than it is to clean one up later. For busy individuals or families, this small, mindful action can have a significant impact on maintaining a clean and organized kitchen over time.
The psychology behind the rule
This simple act taps into the power of preventative habits. Instead of allowing a mess to grow and then spending significant time on a major cleaning session, you perform a tiny, almost-unconscious action that wards off the problem entirely. This is known as “micro-maintenance.” When everyone in the household adopts this habit, the collective effort leads to a continuously clean space with minimal overall effort. This approach reduces the mental burden of a large, looming cleaning task and fosters a sense of order. It's a proactive approach to cleanliness that prioritizes consistency over intensive, sporadic deep cleaning sessions.
Modern comparison to old-school habits
While the “75-year-old” timeframe is likely an exaggeration for marketing appeal, the rule aligns perfectly with many old-school housekeeping philosophies. Many homemakers from generations past, particularly before the prevalence of modern appliances and cleaning products, focused on daily, meticulous maintenance to keep a home tidy. This contrasted with more intensive, less frequent cleaning sessions. The drawer-closing rule echoes this approach, proving that some habits remain timeless regardless of changing technology.
Steps for implementing the drawer-closing rule
- Educate the household: Explain the reasoning behind the rule to every member of your family. Frame it as an easy way to keep things tidy for everyone, not as a chore.
- Make it a visual cue: For the first few weeks, consider a temporary note or sticker on the inside of a prominent cabinet or drawer to serve as a reminder. Forgetting is natural at first.
- Practice consistency: The habit will only stick if everyone is consistent. Gently remind family members when they forget, focusing on the positive outcome rather than scolding.
- Reward small wins: Acknowledge when the kitchen stays cleaner than usual, reinforcing the positive impact of the new habit.
- Expand the rule: Once the kitchen drawers are consistently clean, you can apply the same principle to bathroom cabinets, utility room storage, and anywhere else that collects stray debris.
The comparative advantage: Old-school prevention vs. modern cleaning
| Feature | 75-Year-Old Housekeeping Rule (Prevention) | Modern Cleaning Methods (Reaction) |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | Low, consistent, and integrated into daily routine | High, sporadic, and often overwhelming |
| Time Commitment | Seconds per interaction | Hours per deep-cleaning session |
| Result | Consistently clean and tidy drawers | Clean drawers after a lot of work |
| Impact | Reduces long-term buildup; less frequent deep cleaning | Addresses mess after it has already occurred |
| Behavior | Proactive, mindful habit | Reactive, task-oriented chore |
Conclusion: The simple power of a tiny habit
The “75-year-old housekeeping rule” proves that effective cleaning isn’t always about advanced techniques or special tools. Sometimes, the most powerful methods are the simplest, most consistent ones. By making the tiny, effortless habit of closing drawers a part of your daily routine, you can drastically reduce the mess and maintenance in your kitchen. This old-school principle of preventative cleaning saves time, effort, and stress, proving that sometimes the best solutions have been right under our noses (or in our cabinets) all along. By adopting this one change, you’ll likely find that you’re not just keeping your drawers cleaner, but you're also setting a new standard for effortless tidiness throughout your entire home.
Authoritative Resource for Further Reading
To learn more about the psychology of habits and how small changes can lead to big results, consider exploring the work of James Clear, author of Atomic Habits.
