Do you ever have one of those days where everything feels off? You can’t focus at work, snapping at your friends and family, and you generally feel unhappy. We’ve all been there. But there’s one surefire way to turn that day around: cleaning.
There’s something about taking a few minutes (or hours) to tidy up your living space that feels good. Suddenly, the world doesn’t seem so chaotic anymore. Your bed is made, the dishes are done, and everything is in its place. Even if everything else in your life is a mess, at least your home is clean and orderly.
But why does cleaning have this effect on us? Is it simply the satisfaction of completing a task? Or is there something more going on beneath the surface?
As it turns out, there are actually a few reasons why cleaning makes us feel better. Here are a few of them:
Cleaning Reduces Stress
Chronic stress can have all sorts of negative effects on our health, both physical and mental. It can contribute to headaches, anxiety, depression, and even heart disease. So it’s no surprise that reducing stress would positively impact our overall well-being.
And cleaning is a great way to do just that. In fact, a study found that women who performed cleaning tasks for just 20 minutes experienced a significant reduction in stress levels.
So next time you feel overwhelmed, try tidying up your living space. It just might help you relax and de-stress.
No Sickness or Allergies
If you keep your house tidy, you may rest easy knowing that illness is less likely to strike your family. After a detailed cleaning, your home is free of germs, bacteria, and viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends frequent disinfection.
Asthma-inducing allergens are reduced when carpets, mattresses, and upholstery are vacuumed. Preventing pests is another benefit of maintaining a clean environment. Make sure to wipe up any food remnants or liquid spills right after eating or using the kitchen, so they don’t have a place to stay and breed.
These insects are a vector for a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. In order to avoid contracting numerous diseases, it is essential to keep the environment clean and free of breeding grounds for these pathogens.
Cleaning Gives You a Sense of Accomplishment
We all crave a sense of accomplishment in our lives. But sometimes, it can be hard to come by. If you’re stuck in a job you hate or struggling to complete a difficult task, it can feel like you’re just treading water.
Cleaning, on the other hand, is a great way to boost your sense of accomplishment. There’s a tangible before-and-after to cleaning that you just don’t get from other activities. You can see the results of your hard work, and it feels good to know that you’ve made a difference.
Cleaning Can Help You Let Go of Negative Emotions
Sometimes, cleaning can be therapeutic. If you’re going through a tough time in your life, cleaning your home can be a great way to process your emotions and let go of any negativity you may be feeling.
Cleaning can be a form of self-care and help you work through difficult emotions in a healthy way. So if you’re feeling down, try tidying up your space. It just might help you feel better.
Cleaning Gives You a Boost of Energy
If you’re feeling sluggish and tired, cleaning can be a great way to give yourself a boost of energy. Just the act of getting up and moving around can help increase your energy levels. And as you get more involved in the cleaning process, you’ll likely find yourself feeling more awake and alert.
So if you’re in need of a pick-me-up, consider giving your home a good cleaning. It just might give you the energy boost you need to get through the day.
Discover Creativity
Having a tidy home not only feels great but can also help you feel more creative. In a moment of inspiration, you may want to rearrange your furniture, redecorate your walls, or completely transform your home’s look. Since there are no obstructions, you can imagine how your room will seem.
If you clean your house, you’ll be in a better frame of mind to come up with fresh ways to spruce it up and make it more cozy and welcoming. Since this is your house, nothing should stand between you and make it exactly as you imagined.
Reduce Fights In The Family
Keeping the household well-organized can help keep arguments to a minimum, as everyone will always know exactly where their personal items are. As opposed to a dirty house, where you can become frustrated trying to find something amongst all the debris and end up having a fight, a cluttered room will only make you more impatient. If you reduce the number of fights in your family, you will feel much happier.
Have a Pride In Your Home
Taking care of your home and making sure it looks nice gives you a sense of pride. You worked hard to make it look that way, so take a step back and admire your handiwork. It’s a great feeling to know that you have put in the time and energy to make your home look beautiful, and it can even inspire you to work harder to maintain it.
You Will Save Money
If you keep your house clean and tidy, you will save money in the long run. For example, if you have a lot of clothes, you might be tempted to go out and buy more because you can’t find what you’re looking for. But if you keep your closet organized, you’ll be able to see everything you have and won’t feel the need to shop as much.
The same goes for other areas of your home, like the kitchen. If you need help finding what you need, you might end up buying duplicates of items you already have. But if you keep your kitchen organized, you’ll save money and time in the long run.
It’s Good For Your Health
A clean home is a healthy house. Living in a cluttered and messy house can be bad for your physical health and mental health. Dust mites, mold, and other allergens can cause respiratory problems, while stress can lead to a variety of health issues. But if you keep your house clean, you’ll reduce your risk of these health problems and feel better overall.
Sharing a Clean Space Improves Relationships
If you have roommates, there’s always the potential that your standards of cleanliness and tidiness aren’t the same. The state of your mental health may be negatively impacted by the presence of unpleasant distractions like dirty dishes in the sink and hair in the bathtub.
Make an effort to divide up the household chores evenly. Having a clean, clutter-free house where you don’t have to argue over who buried the remote control under a pile of filthy clothing can do wonders for your mental health, and so can learning to work together and compromise with your family members.
Cleaning Tips For a Happy Home
Having a clean house isn’t just about appearances-it’s also essential for your physical and mental health. If you’re looking for ways to make your home a happier place, here are some house cleaning tips to get you started:
✅ Declutter First
It’s already a pain to clean, but trying to get past piles of junk is a monumental headache. Clear the clutter first before you dust.
Make use of a classification scheme like the “three boxes” approach. Separate the things you plan to keep into one box, the things you plan to toss away into another, and the things you plan to store into a third.
Donate or sell items in a yard sale or thrift store by placing them in a box. In light of this, it’s important to recycle as much as possible; the fewer home things that end up in landfill, the better. Think carefully about what you really need to keep as you go through each room.
Should you keep an item that you last touched a year ago? Doesn’t the fact that you forget you held something to imply that you no longer require it? You should check the functionality of everything. Finding out that half of your electronic goods are broken, or obsolete is a terrific method to get rid of unnecessary stuff.
To get the hang of things, you should begin with the simpler rooms. Once the advantages become clear, you’ll be more motivated to resolve the issues.
✅ Set a Time Limit
After you’ve sorted everything out and know what needs to be done, it’s time to get to work. But before you start your cleaning routine, setting a time limit is important. Otherwise, you’ll never get anything done.
Set a timer for 30 minutes and see how much you can get done in that time. Once the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break and then set it again. Working in short bursts like this will help you stay focused and motivated.
✅ Start with the Big Stuff
Once you’ve got a game plan and a time limit, it’s time to start deep cleaning. But where should you begin?
It’s usually best to start with the big stuff, like furniture and floors. These things take up the most space and make the biggest impact. Dusting, vacuuming, and mopping will greatly affect how your home looks and feels.
Once you’ve tackled the big stuff, it’s time to move on to the small stuff. This includes wiping down surfaces, cleaning the bathroom, living room, doing the dirty laundry, and doing the dishes.
✅ Involve the Whole Family
Regular cleaning doesn’t have to be a solo activity. In fact, it’s often more fun (and more effective) when the whole family pitches in.
If you have kids, involve them in the cleaning process. Give them specific tasks to do, like dusting the furniture or picking up their toys. This will teach them responsibility and help them develop good habits.
If you have a partner, delegate tasks and make sure you’re both doing your fair share. An organized system will make keeping the house clean and prevent arguments easier.
✅ Create a Cleaning Schedule
One of the best ways to keep your house clean is to create a cleaning schedule. This will help you stay on top of things and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Start by making a list of all the tasks needed, then break them down into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. For example, dusting and vacuuming can be done weekly, while mopping and cleaning the bathroom can be done monthly.
Once you’ve got your list, start assigning tasks to specific days. Make sure to leave some wiggle room in case something comes up.
✅ Invest in Good Cleaning Supplies
If you want to make your life easier, it’s worth investing in some good cleaning supplies. This includes a powerful vacuum cleaner, microfiber cloths, and an all-purpose cleaner.
Having the right supplies will make it easier to keep your house clean and save you time in the long run. So take some time to research the best cleaning products for your needs.
✅ Set Some Ground Rules
Once you’ve cleaned your house, it’s important to set some ground rules to keep it that way. This includes things like putting away your belongings and wiping up spills as soon as they happen.
Enforcing these rules can be tough, but consistency is an important thing. If you let things slide, it will be harder to keep your house clean in the long run.
✅ Reward Yourself
Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself for all your hard work! After all, keeping a clean house is no easy feat.
So go ahead and treat yourself to a relaxing bath, a delicious meal, or a new book. You deserve it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a clean room really make me feel better?
A: Yes! A clean room can help you feel more relaxed and less stressed. It can also boost your mood and improve your sleep.
Q: What cleaning motivation tricks actually work?
A: Some popular cleaning motivation tricks include setting a timer, starting with the big stuff, and involving the whole family. But ultimately, what works best will vary from person to person.
Q: How can I achieve minimalism?
A: Minimalism is a lifestyle choice that involves living with less. To achieve minimalism, you need to declutter your home and get rid of anything you don’t need. It would be best if you also focused on quality over quantity regarding your possessions.
Q: How can I divide cleaning tasks between family members?
A: The best way to divide a cleaning task between family members is to list all the tasks that need to be done, then break them down into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. For example, dusting and vacuuming can be done weekly, while mopping and cleaning the bathroom can be done monthly. Once you’ve got your list, start assigning tasks to specific days. Make sure to leave some wiggle room in case something comes up.
Q: Can carpet cleaning be done by myself?
A: Yes, carpet cleaning can be done by yourself. However, it’s important to note that there are different types of carpet cleaning. For example, deep cleaning requires special equipment and solution you may not have access to. As such, it’s always best to consult a professional if unsure how to proceed.
Q: Does physical activity help with cleaning?
A: Yes, physical activity can help with cleaning. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. This can make the task of cleaning seem less daunting and more manageable. Additionally, physical activity can help to increase your energy levels, making it easier to get through a long list of tasks.
Final Words
Keeping your house in order is no easy task, but doing so may be essential to your health and happiness. Cleaning and decluttering can give you a renewed sense of purpose and mental clarity, allowing you to take on other tasks in your life.
Expect to feel better about yourself and become more productive at home and work once you’ve organized and established new routines. You will view housework as a form of meditation and value the many advantages of a clutter-free lifestyle. Who knew that cleaning could be so therapeutic?
So what are you waiting for? Get started on your journey to a cleaner, happier life today!
