to tidy/clean up, to put away, to clear out [verb] [ruimde op, opgeruimd] [‘op-rui-mun‘]

“Opruimen” usually involves putting away or reordering objects 🙂 Cleaning in the general sense is translated with the verb “schoonmaken” (“to make clean”).
(Photo: Erik Vos (flickr.com) – some rights reserved.)

The noun “opruiming” is generally only used for the sale or clearance in a store. Note that it is very common to use the English “sale” signs in shops even though in speech it is mostly “opruiming”.

Examples:
– “Mamma mag ik buiten spelen?” – “Straks, eerst moet je je kamer opruimen!”
(“Mum/mom, can I go outside and play?” – “Later, first you need to tidy up your room!”)

– “Mijn directeur heeft altijd een heel opgeruimd bureau; het lijkt wel alsof hij helemaal niets doet!”
(“My manager/director always has a very tidy desk; it seems as if he doesn’t do anything at all!”)

– “Sommige stelletjes spenderen een deel van het weekend aan het opruimen van het huis.”
(“Some couples spend parts of the weekend on tidying up the house.” It is common to use the diminutive “stelletje” for a young couple (as opposed to “stel” in general).)

– “De opruiming is begonnen. Zullen we dit weekend gaan winkelen?”
(“Sale has started. Shall we go shopping this weekend?”)

– “Na het hardlopen heb ik altijd een heel opgeruimd hoofd.”
(“After running/jogging, I always have a clear/empty mind.”)

– “Opruimen is als meditatie voor mij, eerst is het een zooitje, maar daarna is alles netjes!”
(“Cleaning/tidying up is like meditation to me, first it is a mess, but afterwards everything is neat and tidy!”)

Expressions:
– “Opgeruimd staat netjes”: literally “cleaned/tidied up looks neat” this is said when having concluded your “opruimen”, or it can be used ironically when for example you got rid off somebody unwanted.

– “Een opgeruimd gevoel hebben”: to be in a relaxed mood (after having dealt with issues). Literally: to have a cleaned up feeling.

Related words:
– “Magazijnopruiming”: storage clearance.
– “Opslag”: storage. Derived from “opslaan”: to store.
– “Berging”: storage room. Derived from “opbergen”: to put away.
– “Opbergen”: to put away (with the aim of tidying up).
– “Voordeel”: advantage, benefit, discount.
– “Aanbieding“: special offer, discount.
– “Korting”: discount.
– “Ruimen”: to cull (when ill livestock or poultry have to be killed).
– “Schoonmaken”: to clean.