French Household Customs That Americans Find Odd

The Bread Bag (or Bread Drawer)

In America, buying bread from the grocery store and leaving it wrapped in plastic when we bring it home is standard. However, this is rare in France. Bread doesn’t come in plastic bags. The French know that bread needs to breathe. Wrapping it in plastic can add dampness, softening the crust. It may also lead to soggy bread.

Therefore, French homes typically have a dedicated bag, like a canvas bag or drawer, to store their bread. Bread will have a specific dedicated place in the kitchen. A bread bag or drawer will give bread room to breathe and keep it flaky and fresh for longer. This practice is beneficial because bread is popular in France and is often eaten with every meal.

Using House Shutters

In America, house shutters are typically used specifically for decorative intentions. However, in France, house shutters are the norm. Often, these window shutters are either manual or metal rollers.

Additionally, they are a cultural must for a few reasons. First, they offer protection. House shutters also help the French with temperature management and offer privacy.

It’s common to keep the house shutters closed during hot summer days, even if the house will be darker. Doing so keeps the heat out and keeps the rooms cooler.

A/C is Not Common in France

In America, it’s normal for most houses to have central air conditioning. The A/C keeps homes more relaxed during summer, making families more comfortable.

However, in France, air conditioning is not standard. Lack of air conditioning is the result of many factors. Many homes do not have enough space to install air conditioning. Even if they did, it’s often believed that air conditioning is a waste of money in France. It is thought that air conditioning negatively impacts the environment, and the energy costs are too high.

For these reasons, older houses were built to keep the heat out, negating the need for air conditioning. However, air conditioning in France is becoming more and more accepted.

Less Housework Than Any Other Nation

The French do not consider cleaning their homes a chore. Instead, they choose to clean a bit at a time, which helps them maintain their homes more manageably. Additionally, cleaning as you go, a little at a time, means things stay manageable. This practice indicates that France has less housework than any other nation.

The French also believe in quality over quantity. This practice keeps clutter away, making it easier to maintain a clean environment.

The mindset of not thinking of cleaning as a chore but as something that helps create a space you love is beneficial. You will be more positive and joyful when you feel good in your home. The less clutter consuming your home and mind, the easier it is to tackle other priorities.

While this may not be the American way, if you would love to cut down on housework, this practice may be a great one to implement in your household routine.

Scents Do Not Equal a Clean Home

In France, many believe that a clean home should smell like nothing. They do not equate a clean home with a fresh, fragrant smell. This doesn’t mean they don’t use candles or things like lavender. Instead, these extras are used for other purposes, not for making a house smell good.

Candles are great for setting a mood, but as for scented sprays, the French use them less than Americans.

Cleaning is Reserved for the Morning

The French reject the idea that cleaning needs to be done in one giant chunk or whenever you can fit it in. Instead, it is traditionally accepted that cleaning is typically reserved for the morning.

The morning cleaning practice allows homeowners to enjoy their clean spaces throughout the day. It also reduces stress as they entertain guests, receive pop-up visitors, and more.

Also, reserving cleaning for a specific time of day means that they know what they are doing, which prevents messes from piling up and creating unnecessary stress.

Not Having a Dryer

In America, having a washer and dryer that sit alongside one another is common in many homes. However, this practice is rare in France. It’s entirely normal for most homes not to have a dryer. For starters, homes may have less space to have a dryer.

Older homes may not have the correct type of venting for a dryer. Lastly, energy savings are also a big factor in why France homes often lack dryers.

Instead, the French dry their clothes using drying racks or clotheslines. Some apartments have a washer-dryer combo machine, which makes drying clothes more convenient. Additionally, it’s common for a laundromat to offer both a washer and a dryer in French countries.

Holding the Shower Head While Showering

In France, the shower head is not mounted on the wall. Instead, it’s more common for a shower to have a handheld showerhead. This means you must use the handheld while showering to help soap off your hair and body.

It’s common practice to use a handheld shower head to wet your body. Then, it is turned off while you soap off and shampoo. The water is turned back on to rinse off your hair and body.

Scheduling a House Showing While the Homeowners are There

It is standard practice in America to schedule a home showing with a realtor while the homeowners are out. This is often done while they are at work or are asked to leave. However, this practice is infrequent in France.

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to be present when the realtor is showing a home if they happen to have nothing else to do. This practice has a few pros and cons. If the homeowner is not there, the potential buyer feels more free to discuss possible negatives with the realtor.

However, if the homeowners are around, they can answer any questions the realtor may not know the answer to.

In Conclusion

It’s normal to think that everyone lives the way we do. However, if you travel to another country, you may experience quite the culture shock with some customs that are considered normal.

These French household routines may confuse Americans for several reasons. Although having no air conditioning or showering with a handheld shower head is less common in America, that doesn’t mean they aren’t beneficial. Certain practices in France, like not having a dryer or air conditioning, cut down on energy costs. Other practices, like cleaning as you go, keep stress at bay.

While these practices may confuse Americans, they can be beneficial when implemented in household routines, especially if you feel stressed out by cleaning or large messes in your home.