The superstition about not doing laundry on the 1st usually refers to New Year’s Day (January 1st).
Don't Clean the House on New Year's Day
You will wash away any good luck coming your way.
The Laundry Rule
You aren't supposed to do any type of cleaning. The idea is you'll wash or sweep away your good luck before the year really begins.
No washing on New Year's Day 🧺✨ There's an old superstition that says doing laundry on New Year's Day can “wash away” good luck for the year ahead. Traditionally, all the washing should be done before midnight on New Year's Eve… just in case!
No washing or cutting your hair
It is believed that if you wash your hair on New Year's day, you'd also be washing away all your luck.
There are many superstitions dictating what you should do around New Year's to make the next year lucky: eating 12 grapes, kissing someone at midnight or even wearing pink underwear, to name a few. But there are also activities to avoid: according to lore, you shouldn't sweep or shower if you want 2026 to be lucky.
Cutting your hair, for instance, has been seen as a way to release past traumas and negative influences, allowing for a fresh start. This perspective aligns closely with practices like rituals, cleansing, and even certain types of meditation aimed at freeing the body from unwanted energy.
Some believe washing dishes on New Year's could “wash away” good fortune, while others hold that creating a clean kitchen environment signifies a clean, fresh start to the year. To stay on the safe side, save your New Year's Eve dishes until January 2nd.
It's best not to eat lobster on New Year's. Your luck and your wallet will probably thank you. "It's not good to eat lobsters because they walk backward," said Pelaccio. That backwards movement could bring you bad luck and set you back on your goals and resolutions.
Many individuals hold the belief that washing clothes on December 31st could potentially wash away good luck or even lead to losing loved ones in the upcoming year. This tradition is influenced by folklore across various cultures.
FAQ. Q: Is it bad luck to do laundry on New Year's Eve? A: Many cultures believe washing clothes on New Year's Eve or Day could bring bad luck, but there's no scientific evidence for this—it's up to personal belief.
No Laundry on New Year's Day is believed to “wash away” good luck, abundance, or blessings for the year ahead. In some versions, it's even said to symbolically wash away a loved one.
Stepping on money on New Year's Eve can bring good fortune for the New Year. It's not bad luck to spend money on NYE, as this money should be used towards your first purchase in the New Year, which brings luck and wealth throughout the year.
New Years Superstitions
Keep Cash in Your Pocket: Having money in your wallet or pocket at the stroke of midnight is believed to ensure a steady flow of cash throughout the year. Avoid Paying Bills: Do not pay back loans or mail out checks on January 1st.
People believe that the way they spend the first day of the year is how they'll spend the entire year. So, on January 1, many people chose not to spend on anything as this means they'll be able to manage their money wisely the entire year.
Here are five things not to do on New Year's Day.
Red – Energy and Good Fortune
A classic New Year color, signifies luck, passion, and protection—perfect for lucky color outfit ideas for New Year.
In Chinese tradition, white is an unlucky color because it symbolizes death, so all white foods are out for the celebration. Tofu, eggs, rice, cauliflower, and white cheeses—say goodbye to them for the night. Instead, fill your New Year's table with other colorful foods.
This custom refers to the first person to enter a home after midnight on New Year's Eve. According to tradition, the “first footer” should ideally be a dark-haired man, as this is considered most auspicious.
Perform a cleansing ritual
White sage is a popular herb in cleansing rituals. Its calming, earthy aroma is used to rid a space of negative energy and evil spirits via a process called “smudging”. Smudge sticks are readily available online and in spiritual shops — just be sure to buy the best quality you can.
🚪 Don't clean your house on December 31st. According to old Irish tradition, if you sweep, hoover, or tidy on New Year's Eve, you are sweeping the luck straight out of the house before the year even begins. The rule is simple. Clean before the 31st.
It's an old superstition that says you shouldn't clean on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day because it can sweep away your good luck and blessings for the year ahead. And maybe it's also a reminder that you don't need to begin the year exhausted cleaning and doing laundry.
Getting rid of heavy or negative energy in your home involves physically and spiritually resetting your space. Start by deep cleaning and decluttering to clear out stagnant energy, then use rituals like smudging with sage or burning incense, and let in fresh sunlight and air to restore balance.
Disposing of hair spiritually means respecting its strong connection to your personal energy and DNA. You can safely release these energetic ties—or protect yourself from negative influences—using four main methods:
Static hair happens when your hair loses moisture, building up an electrical charge that makes strands repel each other. To instantly tame flyaways and coat the hair, grab a hair serum, hair oil, or anti-frizz/humidity spray. Spray a little hairspray onto your hands or a metal comb and run it through your hair.