Public places like children’s playgrounds exist in almost every neighbourhood, but sadly, many are dirty and neglected.

Instead of walking past the mess, one group decided to take matters into their own hands by cleaning these spaces and restoring them to their former glory.

Who are they?

Home Habit is a Malaysian home-care brand built on a simple idea: to make cleaning easy and accessible for everyone.

What started as a casual attempt to clean a dirty public playground using their products turned into a full-blown mission when their cleaning videos gained massive attention on social media.

According to Home Habit’s founder, Farah Iskandar, 37, they never expected their simple cleaning video to receive such positive feedback from the public.

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“One day, we decided to test our products by cleaning a dirty public playground. We recorded the process and posted it without expecting anything. The video resonated with the public almost immediately, and many parents related to the discomfort of letting their children play in unclean playgrounds,” she said.

Founded in 2020, Home Habit began by importing cleaning products from the United Kingdom before developing their own formulas tailored to Malaysian households.

Despite not having a formal background in the field, Farah credited her understanding of customer behaviour for helping her create products that solve real, everyday frustrations.

“I realised most cleaning products felt intimidating or overly technical, and many people just wanted something that worked without stress. That inspired me to create a brand that champions effortless cleaning through smart formulas, great scents, and solutions that tackle real problems faced by Malaysian households.”

Home Habit started with Farah and her sisters before evolving into an efficient team handling everything from product development to warehousing and community work. They also collaborate with cleaners and suppliers across Malaysia.

Image Credit: Photo provided to Rojak Daily

On a mission to revive forgotten play spaces

According to Farah, most locations they clean are suggested by the community. Parents often send photos of playgrounds their children frequent.

“We prioritise areas that are heavily used by families or look visibly dirty. Some followers tag us in videos of neglected spaces. Sometimes, we just drive around and choose places we believe deserve a transformation.”

Although the cleaning videos could be seen as a creative marketing strategy, Farah said it’s also a way for the team to give back to the community.

“We only use Home Habit products in our cleaning videos. We want viewers to see the real, unedited results of the formulas we’ve created ourselves," she explained.

"It’s very rewarding to see how a simple act of cleaning can uplift an entire community. On the brand side, it’s heartwarming to see Malaysians supporting local products because they recognise the authenticity and effort behind them.”

Image Credit: Provided to Rojak Daily

It’s not all smooth sailing when cleaning public spaces. Farah said the biggest challenge is the lack of water supply.

“We usually work with limited bottles of mineral water and need to refill them repeatedly throughout the cleaning session."

"The weather is another challenge, as we often clean during non-peak playground hours, usually around noon when the heat is intense. These challenges are manageable, but they require planning and teamwork,” she shared.

The secret weapons powering the clean-up

Since their cleaning videos went viral, Farah said they’ve received positive feedback from grateful parents and motivated viewers.

“One message that truly stayed with me came from a mother who said her child refused to play at their local playground because it looked too dirty. After watching our cleaning video, she felt hopeful knowing someone cared enough to make a change."

She added, "Another memorable comment was from someone who said we were cleaning places they grew up with, and it meant a lot to see those memories restored. These comments remind us that these spaces carry emotional value and that a simple cleaning effort can have a deeper impact than expected.”

The buzz around their cleaning videos has also boosted sales of Home Habit’s products.

Image Credit: Provided to Rojak Daily

Farah said their ‘Scrub-A-Bath’ product remains the brand’s best-seller for its ability to clean multiple areas like bathrooms, corridors, and outdoor messes. Their ‘Pink Powder’ and ‘Brush System’ have also become crowd favourites, especially for families who enjoy deeper, transformative cleaning results.

What’s next for Home Habit

For now, Farah said the team plans to continue cleaning playgrounds, but they also aim to tackle other spaces like school areas, walkways, and benches.

“We plan to keep producing impactful real-life cleaning videos and introduce more educational and community-focused content. We’re also planning to expand our public cleaning initiatives to include mosques, public toilets, and other high-impact community spaces.”

As for the brand, Home Habit is working on new formulations, expanding its fragrance series, and creating products inspired by international cleaning trends, adapted for Malaysian homes.

If you’re interested in checking out their products or watching them clean public spaces, visit their Instagram and TikTok pages.

Featured Image Credit: Provided to Rojak Daily