Traveller Women Emerge as TikTok's Latest Cleaning Sensations
Move over Mrs Hinch, a fresh wave of 'cleanfluencers' has captured the attention of social media users. These home-proud individuals, primarily women from traveller communities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, dedicate several hours each day to scrubbing their residences from top to bottom. Their extreme cleaning routines have garnered a legion of followers who eagerly replicate their innovative tactics.
Innovative Cleaning Techniques That Captivate Audiences
The unique methods shared by these women include weekly dismantling of refrigerators for a thorough internal and external scrub before restocking with fresh groceries. Another popular tip involves using old paintbrushes dipped in a mixture of bleach and Fairy liquid to meticulously clean window edges. For many women in these communities, maintaining an immaculate home is a fundamental aspect of life, often aligning with traditional domestic roles.
Some are so dedicated to perfection that they wrap furniture in protective plastic to prevent damage or staining. TikTok creator Chantelle Fury, known as chantelle19xoxo, recently showcased her weekly deep clean to her 485,500 followers. 'Come and clean with a gypsy wife. So it's Monday... I wanted to have a real deep clean today, so I started off by doing all my window frames,' she explained in a video that demonstrated using a paintbrush for window edges followed by Spanish window cleaner.
Community Recognition and Viral Cleaning Kits
Spanish cleaning products have gained particular popularity among traveller women, frequently praised in TikTok clips. Chantelle noted, 'The weather's been lovely so I opened up all the windows. I do have a steam cleaner but I just couldn't be bothered to go out and get it from the shed.' Her routine includes wiping down sofas, televisions, kitchen counters, and coffee tables.
Followers have expressed admiration, with one commenting, 'Travellers are probably the cleanest people I know and the most house proud.' Another added, 'Travellers' literally have the cleanest, most beautiful homes,' while a third stated, 'Travellers' homes are absolutely immaculate because they take great pride in their homes. So many people put travellers down. It’s just so wrong. Your home is beautiful.'
The paintbrush technique especially impressed viewers, with one noting, 'Oh a paintbrush is a great idea. I’ve used a toothbrush but it is still hard to get into places.' Another said, 'That paintbrush idea is great. I never thought of that. Going to give that a go to clean my windows, thank you.'
Essential Tools and Protective Measures
Content creator McKenzie, posting as bleachandbubbles, demonstrated a 'typical' traveller method using Fairy washing up liquid and bleach mixed with water for windows. Meanwhile, Courtney Burton, who uses hashtags like #gyspygirl and #gyspycleaning, revealed the 'traveller starter cleaning kit.' This includes:
- A Vileda bucket or JOYO bucket, praised for its stylish color range
- A toothbrush or paintbrush for cleaning around doors and windows
- A cutlery knife to clear rubber around appliances like refrigerators
- Spanish cleaning products for their pleasant scents
- A steamer to efficiently remove mess
Courtney explained to her 8,794 followers, 'They can just blow away any mess you find.'
The Plastic-Wrapping Phenomenon for Pristine Homes
Another cleaning secret involves wrapping fixtures and soft furnishings in plastic. Hundreds of traveller women across the UK and Ireland have shared videos on TikTok demonstrating how to cover cushions, bathmats, settees, kitchen tops, tables, rugs, and upholstered headboards. Natalie, who sells plastic through her TikTok shop, showed followers all the 'dust collectors' in her home that she covers for easier maintenance.
'Obviously, I've got every single pelmet in my home "plastic-ed"; they are dust collectors, so [putting plastic on] them just makes it so much easier to wipe over. My front doormat, as you can see there, is also "plastic-ed"... also my headboard and my island in my kitchen,' she detailed.
TikTok influencer Charlotte-Ann Maguire remarked that cleanliness is 'the one stereotype that is actually quite true' for traveller women. Explaining the rationale, creator Cuzinsuzy told followers, 'This plastic just protects the top of tables, you can put it on seats, in your kitchen. We just put it on the furniture so it doesn't get destroyed. It's also good if you've got children.'
The 33-year-old traveller mentioned knowing women who wrap rugs and even refrigerator fronts in plastic. In one video, she demonstrated putting 'plastic on my tables' to keep them looking 'like new' and 'save you a lot of bother in the long run.' Afterwards, she noted, 'you can't really tell the difference' as she displayed her shiny round table. Large sofas, kitchen islands, and dining tables are among the most commonly protected items in traveller homes.
