English cleaning vocabulary

Hello I’m Jane at DailyStep English and welcome to our Audio Blog!

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This week Bren is back with a new video blog – how to clean the kitchen. He’s going to show you and teach you some of the words for describing these actions.

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Right, now let’s take a look at Bren cleaning the kitchen. How well is he going to do it, do you think?

Bren’s Practical English #007 – Cleaning the kitchen

Brendan: Hello, today I’m going to clean the kitchen.
It’s a bit of a mess[1] at the moment – there are dirty dishes in the sink[2] and the floor needs cleaning.

So, I’m going to need a broom[3] to sweep the floor[4], a damp cloth to wipe[5] the surfaces and a bucket[6] and a mop[7] to clean the floor.

OK, so first of all I’m going to wash up[8]. Wash the plate then rinse[9] it.

Now, I’m going to wipe the work surface with this cloth[10], a damp[11] cloth to remove all the crumbs[12] and all the scraps of[13] food.

Next, I’m going to sweep the floor with a broom. Then with a dust pan and brush[14] I pick the dust up[15] and put it in the dustbin[16].
Oh, it’s quite hard work, this housework, so I’m just going to have a cup of tea.

Wife: Brendan. (Brendan looks at the camera with a frightened look on his face)

Brendan: Yes, darling!

Wife: Have you finished that cleaning yet?

Brendan: Er, nearly darling, nearly. (Brendan springs into action and works at a very rapid pace)

Notes:

1. It’s a bit of a mess = It is a little untidy and disorganised (things are not in the correct place so Brendan needs to tidy up (phrasal verb)

2. the sink = the metal bowl where we clean the dishes, which has a tap with hot and cold water

3. a broom = a brush on a pole that is used for sweeping the floor

4. sweep the floor = to clean the floor with a broom

5. To wipe = to clean with a rubbing action, often using a cloth

6. a bucket = a container, usually made from plastic or metal, in which we carry water

7. a mop = a piece of cloth fixed to the end of a pole which we use to wash the floor

8. to wash up (phrasal verb) = to wash the dishes

9. rinse = remove the soap with clean water

10. cloth = rag / piece of fabric

11. damp = slightly wet

12. crumbs = very small pieces of bread or other dry food

13. scraps of = small remains of / little pieces of

14. a dust pan and brush = a small container and a brush for collecting dust from the floor

15. I pick the dust up (phrasal verb: to pick something up) = I collect the dust

16. dustbin = contain for waste that is usually kept outside the house / trash can (American English)

 

So, now you know how to clean the kitchen in English. Thanks Bren! 

Did you notice Brendan’s Northern English accent? He’s from a town near Manchester in Northern England, and I’m from Hampshire in Southern England.

So, Brendan says ‘bucket’ /’bʊkɪt/ and I say ‘bucket’ /’bʌkɪt/ ,

Brendan says ‘wash up’ /wɒʃ ʊp/ and I say ‘wash up’ /wɒʃ ʌp/,

Brendan says ‘wipe’ /wæɪp/and I say ‘wipe’ /waɪp/.

It’s quite a similar accent in some ways but it’s just the vowel sounds that are different.

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