koristusajastu

Koristusajastu is a term used in Finnish cultural history to describe a broad tendency toward meticulous cleanliness, order, and hygienic practices that shaped private life, public spaces, and institutions. The word combines koristus, meaning cleaning or tidying, with ajastu, meaning era or age, yielding a concept often translated as the era of cleanliness or cleanliness ethos. It is commonly discussed in relation to modernization, urbanization, and public health campaigns in Finland and other Nordic societies during the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Origins and development began with the modernization of cities, advances in medical knowledge, and the state’s interest in sanitation. Municipal authorities promoted sanitation, standardized domestic routines, and supported schooling that reinforced orderly behavior. The rising middle class placed emphasis on domestic virtue and efficiency, and households adopted routine cleaning practices, time-saving devices, and structured daily schedules. Women often occupied central roles as custodians of the household and its cleanliness.

Core features of koristusajastu include an emphasis on daily routines, high hygiene standards, and orderly living environments. It influenced the design of schools, hospitals, and public services, as well as the adoption of cleaning protocols and maintenance practices in workplaces and public transport. The consumer culture surrounding cleaning products, appliances, and furnishings also reflected and reinforced the ethos, alongside urban planning and waste management policies.

Impact and criticism centers on the health benefits and social efficiency associated with the movement, balanced against critiques of reinforcing gendered expectations and social conformity. Some scholars view it as a form of social control or a driver of consumerism, while others see it as a catalyst for improved public health and urban livability. Legacy persists in contemporary Nordic design, service efficiency, and hygiene norms, though it is understood in nuanced historical context.

See also: Hygiene in Nordic countries, Domestic ideology, Public health in Finland.