Sophie resolves to prove to Howl that she will be a good cleaning lady. As she begins cleaning, Michael answers the Porthaven door and sells a spell to a young girl for a nominal price, as she can’t afford much. The girl notices Sophie inside and Sophie teases her, claiming to be the “best and cleanest witch in Ingary” (83). Even though Michael and Calcifer warn her against accidentally spreading rumors, Sophie finds that old age has given her more confidence to say whatever she wants. Michael hides the payment from Howl when Howl exits the bathroom so Howl doesn’t spend it.

Howl spends the day out of the castle, returning late at night while Sophie is still cleaning. Calcifer and Michael complain about how vigorously Sophie is cleaning everything. Over the next few days, Sophie cleans the castle and secretly looks for clues as to the contract between Howl and Calcifer. More people visit the Porthaven door as rumors spread around the town of a new witch living in Howl’s castle.

While cleaning, Sophie reorganizes Howl’s beauty products in the bathroom and discovers that Michael has letters in his bedroom from a lady. Calcifer explains that Howl only spends every day outside the castle when he’s pursuing a girl; Sophie takes this to mean that he is trying to eat a woman’s heart with black magic.