Cleaning costs rise with so many tackling their annual deep clean to usher in good fortune before the Lunar New Year.
Video script:
With the Lunar New Year approaching, many are rushing to deep clean their homes, a tradition symbolizing clearing out bad luck to welcome a fresh start.
Stubborn areas like kitchens and bathrooms often drive people to hire cleaning services, but high demand and labor shortages have driven up cleaning service prices.
Some cleaning companies charge an extra NT$100 (US$3) per hour and an additional NT$200 (US$6) on holidays. In central Taiwan, the increase is NT$150 (US$5) per hour, with a minimum four-hour booking. In Kaohsiung, cleaning a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home costs NT$15,000 (US$457), nearly double the off-peak rate. Reservations are about 90% full, with some clients having booked as early as June.
If you’re left to handle cleaning yourself, don’t worry! Experts recommend using citric acid on toilets to prevent buildup, coffee grounds in ovens to reduce grease and odors, and tools like sponges and newspapers for cleaning window screens.
However you choose to approach your cleaning, just remember: out with the dirt and in with the new (year) and you’ll be ready to sweep in a prosperous 2025!