How to Finally Bring Order to Your Home? Home Management in Eastern European Style

Everyone knows where Europe begins—somewhere around ancient Greece. But where does it end? Politicians constantly argue over this, yet the answer is simple: Europe ends where people stop putting their rubbish in the bin, tossing it carelessly at their feet. Thus, countries like Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and others that hold back the spread of the bloody and dirty "Russian world" from the East are certainly part of true Europe. After all, if there’s one thing people in these places know, it's how to maintain perfect order—even during wartime.

So, how should one properly use baking soda in housekeeping? How can you grow blooming violets on your windowsill even in winter? Can simple cleaning actually improve health? What should you do with hundreds of books stacked in towers on the floor? Is it possible to turn the chaotic contents of a wardrobe into a work of art? How can you get along with modern robotics? Should one even attempt to become a minimalist? And most importantly—where to find the motivation to finally start that dreaded deep clean? Eastern European home organisation experts share their insights on all of this on their channels…

Ula Pedantula

Cleaning, decorating, and organising home space is not about tiresome, unpleasant chores—it’s about inspiration, energy, and well-spent time. Of course, this is only the case if you approach household tasks with the right mindset, which you can find in abundance on the channel of Poland’s queen of housekeeping, Ula Chincz. Here, you’ll learn how to conquer the chaos in your home, how to clean those hard-to-reach places quickly and easily, how to remove stubborn stains from clothes, and even how to give a second life to broken household appliances. For example, everyone knows that baking soda is essential for housekeeping, yet few know how to use it correctly. But don’t worry—Ula Pedantula has it all covered. 

The Queen of Cabbage

Once living in Kyiv and building a successful career in marketing and advertising, Antonina Lesyk’s life changed dramatically: she married, had two children, and moved to a house outside the city, where her new passion became creating a harmonious space around her. Antonina’s main interest lies in building a garden, cultivating fruits and vegetables, as well as flowers, which are the focus of numerous detailed videos on her channel. She approaches every task in her personal green paradise equipped with professional books, later sharing her gained experience with anyone interested. In addition to outdoor plants, Antonina also grows indoor ones. If, like her, you are a fan of violets but aren’t sure how to care for them in the cold season, all the tips on lighting, temperature, and humidity are compiled here. 

Léčivý úklid

Czech Michaela Mrázková believes that cleaning has healing powers. And if you think about it, it’s true: anyone who has tidied up their room has probably noticed an improved mood, and some even report relief from various physical ailments. This is why Michaela developed an entire original concept of energy space cleansing and cleaning rituals, which she calls The Healing Cleanse. She lectures in Prague, promotes slow living and minimalism, and is a certified consultant of the famous Japanese tidying expert, Marie Kondo. If you’re still unsure how to fold your clothes according to the “magic of tidying” rules, Michaela is here to help.

Peake-week Papers

Every home has its quirks. For a bachelor, it might be beer cans scattered everywhere; for a mother of many, children’s toys; for a grandmother, various medical pills, bottles, and blister packs. And for avid readers, the main issue is the mountains of books accumulated over many years—something that must be dealt with eventually. It’s one thing to live in the cozy atmosphere of a library, but quite another to reside in a chaotic book stall, where guests have to step over collections of European classics just to reach the table for tea. Popular Ukrainian booktuber Alisa shares her experience in reorganising a large home library on her channel.

Julia Machunik

Socrates once said, "Speak, so that I may see you." But there are indeed many other ways to gauge who you are dealing with. One way is to discreetly sneak a peek into someone's wardrobe when visiting. It may not be the most polite behaviour, but it’s an effective method, as a wardrobe often reflects its owner’s soul. After all, there’s a reason the British speak of “skeletons in the closet” when referring to hidden secrets. Whether your wardrobe is a sock storage, a moth farm, or even an entrance to Narnia, it does need a tidy-up now and then. Polish organiser Julia Machunik shares her wardrobe cleaning tips here.

Indefatigable Monroe

Once Ukraine’s top drag diva and now a transgender woman, Monroe believes that one’s home environment shapes one’s consciousness. In times of turmoil, like the brutal war that has engulfed all of Ukraine, it’s even more crucial to focus on maintaining harmony in your personal space. If you thought drag queens and transgender women only concern themselves with high heels, feather boas, and lipstick collections, Monroe will surprise you. She is just as much a homemaker as any other woman and is a fan of the Marie Kondo method, using modern technology to keep her space orderly. Discover how a lively transgender woman and a quick robot vacuum coexist here.

Madalina Blaj

What does a young mother need, who spends all day caring for her child, cooking family meals, or scrubbing floors to keep the home clean and cosy? In reality, all she needs is appreciation and respect for her hard work. It wouldn’t hurt to receive a sign that she is not alone in her daily efforts. Romanian mother Madalina Blaj, with her adorable daughter, regularly posts motivational videos to encourage homemakers worldwide. Watching someone tidy up is surprisingly inspiring and might even motivate you to grab a broom and start cleaning yourself…

m(n)iej więcej

Anyone who has seen Fight Club knows that mindless living – working hard to earn money to spend on things you don’t really need – ultimately leads to disastrous consequences. But you don’t have to join radical clubs or declare war on the consumer world. Instead, subscribe to the channel of Polish minimalist Mirella, who will gladly teach you about minimalism and the zero-waste philosophy, with extra tips on houseplant care. Of course, the best way to start, as all experienced minimalists know, is by clearing out the clutter in your wardrobe. Here’s a list of things you can throw out right now.

Anuta Mo

Being a teenager doesn’t mean pushing off cleaning responsibilities onto mum or grandma. Learning to organise a clean, comfortable, aesthetic, and ergonomic space around oneself is where adult life begins. Today’s teenagers face tough times, from pandemics to wars, with an uncertain future ahead. Many students are now learning at home, attending classes and lectures online, making an organised workspace more important than ever. Ukrainian teen Anuta Mo shares her personal techniques and suggests starting the process with a vision board.

Olha Chymych

Spring cleaning – just hearing these words is enough to make one want to run away. For most people, spring cleaning conjures up images of an epic, multi-day ordeal, filled with sweat and nerve-wracking labour. In fact, it's likely that many millionaires became rich precisely so they could afford to hire a professional cleaning crew, thus completely avoiding these deadly quarterly or yearly battles with household chaos. However, Ukrainian Olha Chymych believes that a thorough cleaning of your flat can be accomplished in just one day – and you might even enjoy the process. How is this possible? It's best to let her explain herself.