January Routines: what I do
This text is a January reflection on care at home. If you’re interested in the broader thinking behind this approach, you can read more here.
That January can feel like a fresh start is nothing new. What is relatively new to me is extending that idea of a restart beyond myself. What used to be mostly about my own health and well-being now also includes the spaces where I spend my time.
I’ve never been the type of person who enjoys cleaning. I have always loved a clean home, but if I’m honest, cleaning it myself has never been something I truly enjoy. I won’t claim that this suddenly changed because of my Såpa project, because that wouldn’t be true. I still struggle to get started with larger cleaning tasks.
What has changed is that I’ve managed to introduce small, everyday routines that make caring for my home noticeable. I really like that. It makes cleaning tasks much easier and less overwhelming. But that’s a topic for another time, because today is about January.
Såpa Spray - The number one cleaning routine to kick off the new year
My number one tool for everyday care is my Såpa spray. SÅPA is the Swedish word for liquid soap, and the Såpa from Pataholm is made from linseed oil. In practice, it works as an all-round cleaner, but when it is made from linseed oil, it does more than just clean.
Linseed oil has natural caring properties. It cleans without stripping surfaces and helps maintain balance in materials like wood, stone, painted surfaces, and metal. Used regularly, it supports durability rather than wearing things down. This is one of the reasons linseed oil has been used for centuries in Scandinavian homes.
Using Såpa as a spray makes care part of everyday life. I keep a spray bottle next to my kitchen sink and I grab it for all the time - when I spill something, to clean off the table after dinner, washing off the sink, for cleaning dishes when I dont use the dish washer. It is also handy when you get a stain on the clothes. A spray bottle is easy to reach, easy to use, and lowers the threshold for doing something small right away. A quick wipe of a surface here and there is much easier than letting tasks pile up into larger cleaning projects. For me, this is the key difference.
It also differs from most modern cleaning sprays. There are no harsh chemicals and no synthetic perfumes that I don’t want to breathe in or have lingering in my home. The scent comes from the raw materials themselves and disappears quickly after use.
This is not about deep cleaning or perfection. It’s about making everyday care simple enough that it actually happens.
So if there is one small routine I would add to January, then it is making Såpa spray and everyday routine for your Kitchen and your Bathroom.
The Spray is ether available as a ready-to-use Spray made from Såpa concentrate and RO-water (cleaned water). But when you get the spin on this routine, I can highly recommend that you mix your spray by yourself with our Såpa Concentrate. A 100 ml Såpa is enough to make 2 spray bottles of linseedoil all-round home cleaner (SÅPA). And did you know that one 500 ml bottle of concentrated Såpa makes enough solution for 10 spray bottles, which makes is also a really economic alternative.
Other things I do in January
If you have snow, use it for your carpets and wool.
Såpa is ideal for cleaning carpets. But during the winter season this can be tricky. Luckily, snow is the simplest way to refresh them. Lay the carpet outside, pile clean snow on top, press it in, and shake it off. The cold lifts dust and smells naturally- efficient, cheap and practical.
Cold air for wool, cedar spray for wardrobes
Winter is the best time to care for wool.
Hang wool sweaters, blankets, and coats outside in cold air. The cold helps prevent moths and refreshes fibers. All this makes the things you love simply last longer.
While the wool is out, clean wardrobes. Handles, shelves, and corners collect dust over time. A gentle cedar Såpa spray cleans surfaces without harsh chemicals and leaves a subtle protective scent. I make our Cedar Wood Såpa with essential oil from Virginian Red Cedar. More info on this topic in our textiles instructions.
Oven cleaning after winter cooking
Winter in the Nordics means roasts and heavy cooking.
January is a good time to clean ovens before grease and residue harden. Såpa works well: apply, wait, wipe off. No harsh chemicals, no extra fuss. It’s simple, effective, and makes the kitchen feel lighter.
Windows and January light
One of my favourite parts with January has always been the magic light - rare and clear. The mornings can bring a color show that rather feels like a Disney Movie. Dirty windows block it.
Our Såpa is great for most surface - but it won’t clean your windows.
I clean mine with a simple mix:
- 2 parts 12% vinegar (ättika)
- 3 parts water
- A small dash of our Såpa
There is no need to buy another glass cleaner. This mix removes grease and dirt without leaving a film, letting the light in and making the home feel fresher. By the way, it works just as well for the Induction stove.
Gifts that make sense
When visiting a new home, I used to bring bread and salt. Bread for nourishment, salt for preservation. A gesture of care that doesn’t add clutter or unnecessary things.
Today, I often bring a bottle of Såpa as well, with a spray bottle. It’s practical and will actually be used. It supports daily care without overconsumption or waste. It’s useful from the first day and becomes part of life, not decoration.
What January has taught me
I used to think good care meant lots of effort and strict routines. Now I know it’s about timing, focus, and using the right materials. Fewer products, considered effort, better results.
Simple everyday care with the right care makes a home last longer - and makes January a month I can respect, even enjoy.
Malin, Pataholm