housecleaning

American  

[hous-klee-ning] / ˈhaʊsˌkli nɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of cleaning a house, room, etc., and its furnishings, especially the act of cleaning thoroughly and completely.

2. the act of improving or reforming by weeding out excess or corrupt personnel or of revising methods of operation.

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Etymology

Origin of housecleaning

First recorded in 1860–65; house + cleaning

Example Sentences

Bowman has slashed staff and pursued what many inside and outside the central bank view as a housecleaning of the supervision and regulation division’s senior leadership.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

But even after a new album — the band’s 12th — was released in April, concert sales lagged, leading to the cancellations and a housecleaning behind the scenes.

From New York Times • Jun. 6, 2024

She says her housecleaning service uses all-natural, nontoxic ingredients with no known carcinogens, human or aquatic toxins, and no known reproductive toxins.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2024

Spending time with such a character inspired Wenders to do a little housecleaning.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 29, 2023

I am not sure, however, that I could have maintained the seven-day-a-week regimen month after month or eluded the kinds of injuries that afflicted my fellow workers in the housecleaning business.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich