Pineapple-rolling ritual for good luck leaves marks on new home’s floor

8world, 滚黄梨求好兆头 新家地板竟留痕
(Translated summary)

“Pineapple-rolling”, a traditional housewarming ritual in which a pineapple is rolled into a new home to symbolise good luck and prosperity, is common ritual done by many locals. However, a homeowner recently took to social media to share about their damaged floor after leaving a pineapple on the floor for several days following the ritual.

SUTD Senior Lecturer Teo Tee Hui from the Engineering Product Development pillar noted that pineapples are relatively acidic, and any juice that leaks out may react chemically with stone surfaces such as marble. This could cause corrosion or leave stains that are difficult to remove. Singapore’s hot weather may also speed up the fruit’s decomposition, increasing the chances of juice leakage and, in turn, the risk of floor damage.

Teo added that the extent of damage may vary depending on the type of pineapple and flooring material. However, as most fruits are acidic, any fruit juice that comes into contact with stone surfaces should be cleaned up as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage.