(n) (figurative) the act of reforming by the removal of unwanted personnel or practices or conditions, Example:more housecleaning is in store at other accounting firms; many employees were discharged in a general housecleaning by the new owners
[すすはらい, susuharai] (n) (1) cleaning dust etc. from rooms; housecleaning; (2) (See 煤掃き) (the traditional Japanese end-of-the-year, 13th December) big house cleaning; spring cleaning (only not in spring)