THE first cleanfluencer to make waves online was Mrs Hinch, but now GypsyTok has taken over with tens of millions of people searching for their hacks compared to Hinch’s 4.8 million followers.
Those from the traveller and gypsy community are sharing their pristine homes on TikTok and exactly how they do it, leading to an uprising in people taking on their cleaning advice.
Mrs Hinch has been dethroned as the Queen of Cleaning[/caption]
Now, people are heading to Gypsy Cleaning tok to get their hacks[/caption]
Mrs Hinch paved the way, but now the TikTok hashtag Irish Traveller Girl Cleaning is becoming more popular with over 14 million videos.
While Mrs Hinch still remains popular, they seem to be overtaking her reign as the ultimate cleanfluencer with videos with the hashtag Mrs Sophie Hinch coming in with 6 million clips.
Whether they live in a trailer, caravan, chalet or a house, it seems they all have the same tips and tricks to keep their homes spotless.
ANd that’s not all those with over 10,000 followers are even cashing in while doing their domestic chores thanks to the TikTok creator fund which pays users for each view they get.
Here, Fabulous looks at their most popular cleaning hacks and why they’re worth implementing in your own routine.
Life in Plastic
One way traveller women keep their furniture lasting for years is by covering it in plastic.
One woman, Pashy, 42, who is known online as ‘Gypsy Queen Pashy’, recently took to TikTok to show off her freshly decorated living room for spring, and explained why she covered her sofas and rugs in plastic.
She revealed: “With the plastic, yes we leave it on there all the time.”
Pashy added that she can take it off once her son is older, but would probably leave it on to protect her sofas since they’re white and grey leather.
“Haven’t you ever had a pair of trousers on or a pair of jeans and you’ve sat [on the sofa] and it’s dyed it all up? Well I don’t want that to happen,” she said.
But Pashy isn’t the only one to plastic wrap her furniture, cleaning sensation Suzy revealed it was super common to do it within their community.
“I don’t know anybody, really, that doesn’t put plastic on the furniture,” she explained
“Tables, chairs, sofas. I have known people to plastic rugs.”
The mum of one revealed that she likes to plastic wrap her furniture to keep it protected from chips or stains – not so people can’t use them.
“First off, is to ensure it doesn’t get chips, or marked up,” she said.
Suzy added: “It’s basically to just look after our furniture because we love our homes and we don’t want nothing to get damaged.”
Plastic wrap can be purchased from Dunelm and prices start at £3.50.
One traveller woman revealed why they plastic their furniture and even rugs[/caption]
Scent-sational
It’s common within the community for women to stay at home – keeping it clean and looking after the family, although more and more are going out to work.
But as they take such pride in how their homes look, they also want to smell just as good.
And it seems there’s one particular type of cleaner that always comes up trump – Spanish cleaner.
Chantelle Devonshire, who is part of the gypsy community, said she’s perfected her cleaning regime over the years of living in her chalet and couldn’t wait to share some of her hero products.
And the majority of them were from the IJ Spanish Cleaning Products brand.
One of her favourites was the scented cleaning solution which she said made the whole house smell incredible.
Singing its praises, she said: “This stuff lasts for hours and you’ll walk back into another room and you’ll smell it. It just smells really good.”
Chantelle revealed her favourite cleaning products that pack a punch[/caption]
Traditions in the gypsy/traveller communities
Nomadic lifestyle: Traditionally, many travellers maintain a nomadic lifestyle, living in caravans and moving frequently. This mobility is a core aspect of their identity, reflecting a deep connection to freedom and independence.
Strong family bonds: Family is central to traveller culture. Extended families often live and travel together, providing a strong support network. Marriages and social events are significant community affairs, reinforcing familial ties.
Distinct Language: Many travellers speak Shelta, also known as Cant or Gammon, a distinct language that mixes elements of Irish, English, and other languages. This language serves as a cultural marker and a means of private communication within the community.
Religious practices: The traveller community often follows Roman Catholicism, with religious festivals and milestones like baptisms, communions, and weddings being particularly significant. However, individual beliefs and practices can vary widely.
Unique celebrations: Events such as horse fairs and traditional weddings are major social gatherings for travellers. These occasions are marked by elaborate preparations, vibrant attire, and communal participation.
A Girl’s Best Friend
While many cleaning experts warn against putting bleach everywhere as it can damage surfaces, the gypsy community won’t hear of it.
In fact, many say it’s the cleaning product they use the most.
Chantelle admitted to getting through a bottle of bleach every single day.
The gypsy girl revealed: “I go through a lot of bleach, I use it for everything.
“In the toilet, it has its own bottle in there, then one under the sink, then I have bleach outside, for the steps, and for the dogs [pens].
“I go through one bottle of bleach a day. I use a lot of bleach. I think a lot of travellers do.
“It smells better, it’s cleaner and it gets rid of all the germs.”
And they don’t just use it in the house; Pashy revealed it was a godsend for cleaning filthy patios.
“Every day, I get out here with a bit of disinfectant and a bit of bleach, because my boy plays out here.
“I’ve put a bit of bleach down to kill the germs.”
Pashy simply poured bleach onto the patio, and used her scrubbing brush to clean it.
‘Gypsy queen’ Pashy shared how she scrubbed up her patio with bleach[/caption]
Cleaning and household chores in numbers
Well Polished conducted a survey and the results are in!
Most Hated Household Chores
- Cleaning the oven – 34%
- Ironing – 15%
- Cleaning the toilet – 10%
- Washing the dishes – 5%
- Decluttering – 4%
Most Liked Household Chores
- Cooking meals – 21%
- Decluttering – 12%
- Hoovering – 11%
- Doing the laundry – 9%
- Tending to pets 8%
Men VS Women: Who Puts the Work In?
Men spend 7 hours 54 minutes a week cleaning.
Women spend 12 hours 15 minutes a week cleaning.
The mum-of-one regularly shares tips on social media[/caption]
Seeing Double
Being house-proud for a traveller is not just about being clean – it’s also about decor.
Many travellers love Crown Derby diningware sets thanks to their intricate designs, but best believe they aren’t using them.
In fact, these collections, which can cost upwards of £250 for a single plate, are strictly for display in their kitchen.
“Dinner sets. These are not to be used. These are for decoration purposes only,” said Suzy.
And that’s not all, expensive appliances like toasters, kettles, and microwaves go untouched.
Cleaning influencer Adele Preece revealed she had a display toaster and kettle in the kitchen that nobody uses.
“I have another toaster that I use just for making toast, cause I don’t wanna ruin my display toaster,” she explained.
The Bugatti set costs £590 and she wants it kept pristine, so uses a cheaper kettle and toaster hidden in her cupboard for breakfast time.
