We know how we feel when our house is dirty and there's tons of laundry to do and a pile of dishes in the sink. Bummed. Depressed even. But a clean house that smells fresh? Somehow our mood changes. But what about the process? Does that have as much effect as the end result?...
When we jump into our chores, running through them instead of dawdling, suddenly we find that our mood picks up. Is it the sense of accomplishment? The burst of energy? The enjoyment of having our house back the way we like it? We don't know. But it's true that after cleaning, energized, we often pick up the phone, invite friends over and maybe even bake a little something. So, tonight, after a crazy week, even with a thousand excuses not to, we'll dive into our chores and channel that burst of energy into our weekend hike tomorrow. TGIF!
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YES YES YES!
So does washing the car. Ever notice how the car drives better after washing it.
Yes it does! It changes my mood because I feel like I am taking care of myself. Why am I cleaning my toilet on hands and knees (I clean the base and behind it every single time, where most people forget)? Because I deserve to have a clean toilet! Why am I mopping my wood floors twice? Because I deserve it! I deserve to have a clean, clutter free home that smells good, and it makes me feel good to know I'm the one creating this home for myself.
A detail I noticed about this photo...the bookcase has a window treatment, but the windows don't? Am I seeing that right?
Cleaning, most of the time, makes me tired and grumpy. After the fact, I like how my house looks but I hate the process.
Nope, not for me. I loathe cleaning. I'm much, oh so much, happier when I come home after my housecleaner's (twice-monthly) visit than after a day spent scrubbing my own self.
I do enjoy a good round of organizing, however, it's quite invigorating. But scrubbing the bathroom floor? Nyet.
Yes, my whole attitude changes when my house is really clean. I feel like I can think more clearly!
ditto on the house-keeper visit. I do *love* the results of puttering, a.k.a tidying. For example, in 90 minutes of puttering this evening, I did the dishes, hung a curtain rod and curtains, sorted 3 days of mail, played with the kitties, reheated left-overs for dinner, took a bunch of cardboard boxes to the garage for recycling, put away paint supplies (just finished painting the bedroom), and ..... phew! then sat down with some wine to catch up on AT and feel the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing my house is tidy and various home improvement/decor projects are progressing right along. It also gives me a vague feeling of superiority over my neighbors.
I'm a terrible procrastinator, so I'll do anything to delay the start of a bout of cleaning, but once I'm in process, I feel really focused. And of course I'm happy with the results -- being in a clean, organized space is a great mood-lifter.
I actually don't mind cleaning at all. I have a sedentary job, so I crank up the music and clean and view it as exercise.
I do like to do it in a fast burst, though.
"It also gives me a vague feeling of superiority over my neighbors." -kimg
hahahahaha
I must gear myself up to the challange of a big cleaning day but I LOVE the result. I feel 100x better when the house gets a good clean up.
"SHHHHHH!!!!! Don't say anything!!! GET DOWN! Get DOWN I said! No sudden movements!! They will see our shadows!!!! Please God, maybe they wont notice both of our cars out front! seriously shhhhh.....It's ok, just stay still, and we will just say we were in the shower."
Testimonial of a recovering messaholic:
For the longest time my husband and I lived in a messy home, not filthy, just messy. A few years ago we turned over a new leaf, and Trust me, your life improves considerably! You will be amazed at the new lease on life that you will have knowing that your home is clean, and the panic that we once had every time we had unexpected visitors, has lifted. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what a relief. We no longer live in fear of Rude visitors....
"Hey! Come on In!"
Haha!!! I just read that! Yes, I have has some wine.
I completely agree with amiencc -- I deserve to live in a place that I love, and have only myself to blame if I'm not happy with it! I feel infinitely better after I clean and I love working up a sweat too with a fast paced cleaning.
Speaking of working out, my friend starts up her treadmill, runs for 10 minutes, then keeps it going while she cleans for 10, then jumps back on for 10 more...she gets her workout and her cleaning done in one 1-hour session.
I used to clean the stove/oven when I had a really bad day. A couple hours of scrubbing out your frustration really helps. I don't know if my days aren't as bad or my stove isn't getting as dirty but it isn't as satisfying lately. Now I sweep, even the carpets, perks up my apartment and my mood!
yeah, i enjoy it. i was totally feeling horrible yesterday until i tidied up a bit. i think there is a trick to it though. if you have a system, a place for things, then it's easy to put things back. but when it's actually a mess, it can be upsetting to try to clean.
I truly enjoy cleaning. It can be very therapeutic. Since I don't have a dishwasher, I wash my dishes immediately after using them. It makes me feel great that I don't have to look at a pile of dirty dishes in the morning. Also, if you have something upbeat and fun to listen to while you are cleaning, that helps with lifting your mood, and your reward is a clean home.
yes, and that is a very lovely living room
I love vacuuming, and cleaning in general. it might just be OCD, but I really, really enjoy it.
oh poptart..it does! I thought it was just me..a smooth and lovely ride ..gliding along the road...!
Most definitely. I always say the state of my home is a direct reflection of the state of my life. Messy home = messy state of mind.
I get in a downright mean mood if I've been too busy and the house gets out of hand messy.
I find it very calming to come home to a nice clean, organized home or to get up early on weekends and clean. Just puts me in a good mood!
when I clean I don't just clean up the dirty I go through drawers and papers and trash unneccessary items. I feel very cleansed - even emotionally - after trashing old magazines and post it notes. sometimes I get so detailed with cleaning out my closet it turns into a whole days event, looking through old journals and photo albums. :)
I love it.
I have noticed that cleaning is more fun when you have the right cleaning products, that actually do what they are suppose to. There's nothing worse than cleaning glass/mirrors and having tons of streaks.
i should be doing it right now...instead of looking at apartment therapy.
Just finished cleaning my apartment - a Saturday routine leftover from childhood. Feels so good! I just can't relax if the place is messy, so my weekend is off to a good start after cleaning on Saturday morning.
Also, cleaning the apartment or the car makes me appreciate them more! As I lovingly scrub and wipe down, dust, and vacuum, I remember all the things I love about my home and my vehicle.
Yes, HeatherAB, I just spent all day cleaning and rearranging my apartment! I usually don't get time to clean too much during the week, so the weekend is where it's at.
For me, cleaning is like beginning an exercise routine. I don't really LIKE doing it, but I feel sooo much better once it's over.
i'm going through a break up and cleaning the house is awesome... it is just about the only thing that i can do that keeps me from thinking about it, so big YES on the change of mood!
Oh absolutely. I love how it feels to have a clean house. I always scrub down the kitchen or wash the floors or something when I'm feeling a bit stressed. (I think I hear my mom laughing from 4,000 miles away since my room was a dump when I was a kid.) ;-)
Just got done cleaning the house and I feel so much less stressed! Am now relaxing with a glass of wine and enjoying the cleanliness. The only thing that would make it better is if our vacuum wasn't broken. Sweeping the carpets just doesn't cut it. :-(
Definitely, I actually have to clean my bedroom because it's been neglected and there are clothes and blankets everywhere! I just got new blinds and the freshness of them doesnt match the messiness. Plus, my sister has been on holidays and had rearranged and cleaned up the living area of my unit so it makes me want to clean up the rest of the house. Last week when I came home and saw the house had been cleaned up, I was inspired to neaten up our garage, I put down old carpet and set up a bit of a "band area", I dont want to fill the living area with amps and guitars now it's so neat.
A few things happened over the last few weeks (electrician fixed up my bizarre outlets, my venetians arrived after THREE MONTHS of waiting) that make the house feel much better, so I have incentive to keep it clean and happy... and not looking half finished.
Oh this is SO true.... when i was suffering a major depression my house got disgusting... its reflective of whats going on. Now i try and keep it from getting bad, to keep ME from getting bad. My tactic for cleaning is to turn the stero up and clean by category, round up dishes, start dishwasher, then round up trash, then return things to proper places (clothes to hamper, books to shelf), then actually clean the dirt (broom and wipes). I do it in this fashion so i don't ever have to stop what i'm doing becuase something else is in my way. My other tip is to sort the mail LAST. Anything that involves reading results in sitting, which stops everything.
If my house is messy, my head is messy. I'm not sure I always enjoy cleaning but I enjoy the result. I try to keep my apartment clean enough that if I were to have an unexpected guest I would not be embarrassed.
Amazing that a major study hasn't been done on this recently... (feng shui has known it for thousands of years though, hasn't it?) All comments seem to reflect bits of what I feel. I am mostly clean/tidy; but when I lapse, I know something is going on with 'me' and also that sometimes I love to clean, but other times it is sort of hard to get started, but once I do.. it all feels so much better.
It is definitely something that changes your space much more than just the dust and grime getting removed.
Not for the better.
I totally love when everything is clean - we do a major: sheets, towels, mop and scrub on Thursdays to get ready for the weekend starting Friday. I am not mad about the scrubbing generally, but the results keep me motivated and headed in the right direction.
I'm not big on deep cleaning/sanitizing work, but I love to declutter/tidy/edit my stuff: put books away, gather paperwork, fill a box of things to bring to the goodwill, post a piece of furniture for sale on craigslist, reconfigure the exercise area, etc. I'm very visually oriented, and a streamlined home helps me feel relaxed.
I am very happy with my apartment and have made it my home. Keeping it clean and organized is tantamount to leading the best life you can. I have a neighbor who is a hoarder and is aged and lost her car and lost her job and lives everyday without the shades open or lights on at night. I made some attempts to give her written inspiration to clear the clutter and enjoy your space. I don't think she'll ever get it.