The reason washing and cleaning on New Year’s Day is considered bad luck
Share:
Mopping grubby floors, sorting the laundry, and finally getting your house may seem like a positive way to start 2025, but is it bad luck to clean on New Year’s Day?. That’s right, don’t grab your bucket and bleach yet, because superstition says you should avoid doing chores on January 1.
![[Girl preparing to spring clean kitchen]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-143276834.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=482)
So, if your New Year’s Eve celebrations mean that a hangover has stapled you to the sofa, you might have just found the perfect excuse. Result!. So, why is cleaning on New Year’s Day said to bring bad luck?. Here’s what you need to know. Much of the folklore surrounding cleaning at New Year seems to date back to Chinese traditions, but many of the superstitions are observed around the world.
![[Clean Folded Towels in Laundry Basket on Top of Washer and Dryer]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SEI_122363574-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Many cultures have superstitions, myths, and old wives’ tales that say you shouldn’t do any cleaning at all on January 1. For instance, doing laundry on the first day of the year is said to ‘wash away a loved one’, meaning that a friend or family member will pass away in the following 364 days – Now, if that’s not a reason to steer clear of JCloths, we don’t know what is!.
![[Woman's hand holding four leaf clover]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-573552243.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=509)
Washing clothes or dishes on New Year’s Day will simply ‘wash away good luck’ and sweeping the floors could also sweep away good fortune. Even emptying your bins and taking out the rubbish is also a big no-no on New Year’s Day, as superstition says that removing things from the house could encourage prosperity to disappear.
