Broom and Dustbin Placement as per Vastu

A broom should be kept out of sight on the South-West, West or North-West side of the home, in a utility corner, a dry balcony or behind a door. These zones are used for storage and service areas, so cleaning tools fit there naturally.

The झाड़ू (jhadu, the broom) is a tool that removes dust and waste. Vastu simply asks that it does not sit in the open where guests, food and prayer are.

Avoid keeping brooms and mops in the North-East, in or beside the pooja area, on the kitchen platform and right at the main entrance. These are the clean, light zones of the home, and cleaning tools carry dust and damp.

The dustbin is traditionally placed on the South-West, West or North-West side of the home or room, and kept away from the North-East and the centre. Waste is something leaving the house, so it sits on the service side and not in the prayer or entry zone.

In the kitchen, a small covered bin under the sink or at the West end of the platform works well. Keep the centre of the home, the ब्रह्मस्थान (Brahmasthan, the centre), free of bins. If you are unsure which side of your flat is which, the free direction finder gives you a quick compass reading.

The broom is treated with respect because many families link it with Goddess लक्ष्मी (Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity), who is said to stay where a home is clean. This is a household custom passed down through generations, not a rule from the classical Vastu texts.

From this belief come several familiar habits. People avoid stepping on a broom or kicking it. Many keep it lying flat or resting on its handle instead of standing on its bristles. Follow what your own family practises; there is nothing to fear if your habits are different.

Not sweeping after sunset is a regional custom, and it is not a strict Vastu rule. The saying is that sweeping in the evening sweeps Lakshmi out of the home.

The practical reason is easy to see. Before electric light, a small earring, coin or grain could be swept away in the dim glow of an oil lamp. If you return from work late in Mumbai and that is your only time to clean, clean. A tidy home is the purpose behind the custom.

The hygiene sense is simple: waste and dirty tools should stay away from food, water, prayer and sleep, and should leave the home quickly. Most of the customs are good housekeeping said in the language of tradition.

In a small flat, hang the broom and mop on hooks behind the bathroom or balcony door, on the West or South side if possible. Out of sight and dry is the main aim when space is tight.

A slim cupboard, a curtain below the wash basin or a closed box in the dry balcony all work. These are small, free changes that suit rented homes too.

Consult a Vastu expert when the toilet, store or washing area itself falls in the North-East or the centre, or when the home feels heavy even though it is clean and well kept. Broom and bin placement is a small part of a larger picture.

Dr. Kimaya Parikh-Ambekar of VastuKimaya, based in Andheri East, Mumbai, studies the whole floor plan and suggests non-structural remedies in a written report. You can read more about residential Vastu or book an appointment for an on-site or distant consultation.