Learn Key Korean Words & Phrases for Cleaning Your Home + Cultural Tips

Whether you’re tidying up your apartment or preparing for a special guest, this guide will help you master the most important Korean cleaning vocabulary (청소 관련 어휘), useful expressions, and cleaning culture in Korea!

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🏠 Basic House Cleaning Vocabulary in Korean

Korean	Pronunciation	English
청소	cheong-so	Cleaning
청소하다	cheong-so-ha-da	To clean
대청소	dae-cheong-so	Deep cleaning
정리하다	jeong-ri-ha-da	To organize/tidy up
먼지	meon-ji	Dust
쓰레기	sseu-re-gi	Trash
쓰레기통	sseu-re-gi-tong	Trash can
빗자루	bit-ja-ru	Broom
걸레	geol-le	Rag
진공청소기	jin-gong-cheong-so-gi	Vacuum cleaner
대걸레	dae-geol-le	Mop
세제	se-je	Detergent
락스	rak-seu	Bleach
유리세정제	yu-ri-se-jeong-je	Glass cleaner
먼지떨이	meon-ji-tteol-i	Duster

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🧽 Common Cleaning Actions & Tools in Korean

Korean	Pronunciation	English
닦다	dak-da	To wipe
쓸다	sseul-da	To sweep
빨다	ppal-da	To wash (laundry, rags)
헹구다	heng-gu-da	To rinse
버리다	beo-ri-da	To throw away
정돈하다	jeong-don-ha-da	To put in order
소독하다	so-dok-ha-da	To disinfect

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🗣️ Useful Cleaning Phrases in Korean

Korean	Pronunciation	English
집을 청소해야 해요.	jip-eul cheong-so-hae-ya hae-yo	I need to clean the house.
쓰레기를 버려 주세요.	sseu-re-gi-reul beo-ryeo ju-se-yo	Please throw out the trash.
먼지가 너무 많아요.	meon-ji-ga neo-mu man-a-yo	There’s too much dust.
창문을 닦을게요.	chang-mun-eul dak-eul-ge-yo	I’ll wipe the windows.
청소기 돌렸어요.	cheong-so-gi dol-ryeo-sseo-yo	I vacuumed.
오늘 대청소해요.	o-neul dae-cheong-so-hae-yo	Let’s do a deep clean today.
화장실 청소는 했어요?	hwa-jang-sil cheong-so-neun hae-sseo-yo?	Did you clean the bathroom?

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📌 Cultural Considerations & Facts about Cleaning in Korea

🧹 Shoes Off Indoors
Koreans never wear shoes inside the house. Cleaning starts at the entrance (현관), where guests and residents remove shoes.

🧽 Cleaning Before Moving In/Out
It’s standard to clean thoroughly when moving into a new place or before handing it over to a landlord. Cleaning services may even be hired!

🌬️ Spring & Fall Deep Cleaning
Much like other cultures, seasonal 대청소 (deep clean) is popular, especially before 설날 (Lunar New Year) and 추석 (Chuseok).

📦 Decluttering and Recycling
Recycling (분리수거) is taken very seriously. Koreans separate trash by material (plastic, paper, food waste, etc.).

🪣 Cleaning Supplies Stores
Local marts, Daiso, or online markets like Coupang have everything from 싹쓸이 걸레 (magic mops) to 다용도 세제 (multi-purpose cleaners).

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🧼 Bonus: Cleaning by Room (Korean Vocab)

Kitchen (주방)

• 싱크대 청소 (sink cleaning)
• 기름때 (grease stains)
• 주방세제 (dish soap)

Bathroom (욕실)

• 곰팡이 (mold)
• 변기솔 (toilet brush)
• 욕실 청소용 세제 (bathroom cleaner)

Living Room (거실)

• 먼지 제거 (dust removal)
• 소파 닦기 (cleaning the sofa)
• 카펫 청소 (carpet cleaning)

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🧠 Quiz Yourself!

1️⃣ How do you say “vacuum cleaner” in Korean?
2️⃣ What phrase means “I need to clean the house”?
3️⃣ What’s the Korean word for “deep clean”?

Comment below with your answers! 👇

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📚 Want to Learn More?

✔️ House Moving in Korean
✔️ Culture in Korean
✔️ Religious Customs in Korean

Do you need personalized Korean lessons from a certified Korean tutor? 🎓 Click here to book a session! 🚀

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