Homemaking may not be the first thing you think of when considering French culture. Food, fashion, wine, lifestyle? Yes. But let’s dig in and see what we can learn about homemaking French style.
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It’s easy to find lots of information about French fashion. Food and wine, also. But how do the French keep house? How does the French culture influence life in the home? These topics aren’t written about nearly as much.
I did some research and here is some of what I found:
4 Things the French Know About Cleaning That You Don’t
- They aren’t as into scented cleaners and believe a clean house shouldn’t smell of anything. I grew up with a mom who loved Pine-Sol and for me, that scent will always smell like a clean house to me.
- They clean in moderation. Keeping up on a daily basis rather than major cleaning sprees.
- They do their cleaning in the morning. Then they can enjoy a clean house all day.
- They don’t think of cleaning as a chore but simply as part of what it takes to have a beautiful environment. The French phrase for “cleaning your house” is faire le ménage which means “to make the household”.
Women do bulk of housework in France
Well, that’s pretty self-explanatory.
3 Secrets the French Know About Cutting Down on Housework!
According to a survey by The Independent, the French do less housework than any other nation – less than 16 hours a week. They maintain tidy homes by doing a little at a time, often, so things don’t pile up, not worrying as much about disinfecting everything, and cutting out the clutter that can make a home look messy.
How the French Keep House: 6 Secrets You’ll Be Dying to Steal
This article highlights half a dozen tips from the book, Home Sweet Maison by Danielle Postel-Vinay. I read this book and found it really enjoyable. I also reviewed it chapter by chapter in my Facebook group, French Chic which you are welcome to join.
5 Things the French Know About Laundry (That You’re Probably Doing All Wrong)
The French have smaller wardrobes but often of higher quality pieces. Perhaps that is why they take such pains with their laundry. Careful stain removal, air drying, meticulous ironing…clothing looks better and lasts longer when well cared for.
My Favorite French Cleaning Products
These products aren’t available in the United States (or at least I couldn’t find them) so this is more for curiosity than any real help.
Living Forever Chic: Meet French Lifestyle Author Tish Jett!
This is what author Tish Jett has to say about French homemaking:
When it comes to French homemaking, I see it as a combination of three elements: art, science and tradition. Cooking, entertaining and decorating are the art. Science comes in with the cleaning, maintaining, and organizing of the home. Finally, tradition is that very special ingredient each family brings to the whole by adding its unique mix of culture, heritage and customs. When all those components are in harmony, households run smoothly and pleasantly while providing a restorative retreat for all within. The homemaking chapter looks at everything from linen closets and a well-stocked larder to decorating and cleaning tips.
If you’d like to delve a bit deeper into this topic, here are a few books I found that you might enjoy:
I have lived in France for 30 years and I would just add some precision to these thoughts. Since most women work full-time, they aren’t doing their cleaning in the morning during the week but yes, on a Saturday, generally morning is for chores and afternoon is for going out. And since both parents work and kids are in school or day care from age 3 months, including eating at school or work, the house stays quite a bit neater since no one is there to mess it up most of the time. French kids are calmer and more obedient because parents are firmer so they aren’t making huge messes when they are there. There is generally someone who comes to look after the kids on Wednesday when there is no school or afterschool during the week. This person often does ironing (necessary when you don’t have a dryer), light housekeeping and meal prep. Laundry- dryers are not common in France so most people constantly have a 5 ft tall drying rack in the kitchen. Personalky, I can’t stand having my underwear drying in my kitchen. Homes are also much smaller here and so take less time to clean.
Thank you so much for sharing these! I totally agree with your comment about houses staying neater when everyone is gone all day. For a few years when my kids were in elementary school I worked as a nurse and they were in school. No one was home to make any messes. Then I quit and we homeschooled the next 9 years. Totally different scene!
I had read that French parents are firmer and I certainly saw much better behaved children when we visited Paris a few years ago. I’m not French but I’m also a believer in requiring children to behave. I didn’t let mine utterly destroy the house like I see so many do.
I was not aware of the no-school-Wednesday thing and that household help was common. I’m sure that’s a huge help. I’m with you about underwear in the kitchen – ha! I do appreciate my dryer. Again, thank you so much for sharing these little tidbits!
French don’t like scented cleaners? Not the French I know. I personally hate artificial smells and import many of my cleaning and cosmetic products from Germany, where you can find some without any perfume at all.
A typical smell in French homes is an artificial smell of savon de Marseille, which actually smells much stronger than the real savon de Marseille. Sometimes people walk past you in the street and leave a faint smell of it behind them , because of their heavily scented washing powder…