This Good Samaritan Cleans Homes for Free
CleanTok — that is, the endless cleaning and organizing videos you’ll see all over TikTok — is chock full of satisfying clips and expert tips that will both help and inspire you to keep your space spruced up. But one cleaning influencer has risen to popularity on the viral video app all because of her benevolence, amassing 7.5 million followers and counting, thanks to her charitable cleaning of homes that haven’t been cleaned in weeks, months, and sometimes years.
TikToker Auri Kananen (@aurikatariina) dubs herself the “queen of cleaning,” cleaning homes for free for those who are not able to do so themselves. Her transformation videos frequently receive millions of views as she demonstrates her process from taking other people’s homes from unlivable to sparkling.
She tackled the “filthiest home in Europe” with ease and grace, helping the owner who suffered from depression by giving them a “new fresh start” — naturally, thousands of comments came in from users who praised Auri’s ability to help others without judgment. “I always avoid asking for help during depressive episodes bc ppl tend to be so judgmental,” wrote one commenter. “Trust me, this woman didn’t choose to live like this.”
Another person who struggles with mental health wrote: “It’s not just cleaning. It’s giving someone hope when they’re lost and don’t know how to function anymore. I have depression with ptsd. I love this.”
Back in 2020, the Finland native told Metro UK that she got her first cleaning job at 14 and views cleaning homes as a hobby. Now, she cleans houses for people in need for free full-time, receiving only social media sponsorships for payment. “I do it for free for those who need it the most,” she shared. “I like to do voluntary work of many kinds and cleaning is one of them. I’m happy that I can use my talent to help other people.”
“It doesn’t matter where you come from,” she continued. “It’s not about your skin color or who you are: almost everybody likes clean things. My dream is that I could clean all around the world for these people who need it the most. That would be so cool.”