Why Does a Clean House Make You Feel Good?

It’s that time of year again – Spring cleaning time! Why does a clean house make you feel good?

There’s nothing like a clean house. I love the faint smell of Pine-sol that lingers after we clean our house. It is somehow comforting to me. Is that weird, or do you like that too?

There was a period when we let our house go. We were not “keeping up” with the dog hair, mopping the floors, and dusting. I ensure the house is tidy, but the tumbleweeds from Tucker in the corner make me cringe, even if it is. Sometimes cleaning the house feels too overwhelming. I finally figured out that trying to do everything simultaneously was the issue.

No one wants to spend one day out of the weekend cleaning. Post-cancer, the days of having cleaning people bi-weekly came to a screeching halt. Luckily, the house we are in now is much smaller than our pre-cancer house. There is no reason why we (hubby and myself) cannot keep it clean except for our son’s room, of course. That’s a whole other blog post, lol!

The Secret to Keep a Clean House

To begin with, break your cleaning chores into smaller tasks. Instead of tackling the whole bathroom, use a Clorox toilet wand on the bowl every other day or two. All you need to do is swish that baby around a couple of times, and you are done. Likewise, you can spray SC Johnson Scrubbing Bubbles in the tub before you use the toilet. When finished, use a dollar store broom to remove the cleaner spray and rinse with the shower head. Bang! The tub is shiny, and you didn’t even have to bend down. (In full transparency, I saw that trick on TikTok.)

Also, you can use a disinfectant wipe in the sink after you wash your hands or brush your teeth to keep the sink clean. That leaves you mopping the floor and cleaning the mirror on the weekend.

Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganization drain our cognitive resources, reducing our ability to focus.

Libby Sander

A Clean House Impacts Your Mental Health

Are you aware “disorganization and clutter have a cumulative effect on our brains?” Growing up, I always felt compelled to do something or take action when my sister and I rearranged our bedroom. The newly arranged room incented me to do more—Ditto for today. If I move the furniture around our living room, I usually rearrange our mantel or home decor. One action prompts another.

I can feel my anxiety rising if I come home at night after a stressful day to find “stuff” cluttered on the dining room table. My initial instinct is to put things away immediately. I need order in my house when I am not feeling great. Can you relate?

There is something about getting home and feeling better because you are in your safe space. If that space is a mishmash of newspapers, mail, empty glasses, etc., it can put me over the edge. “Clutter can affect our anxiety, sleep, and our ability to focus.” An excellent article on the newsgroup website is https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/what-does-clutter-do-to-your-brain-and-body#:~:text=Clutter%20can%20affect%20our%20anxiety,other%20people%20decluttering%20their%20lives). I found myself nodding my head while reading it. Please let me know if you enjoy it.

When My House is Tidy, I Feel Good

Small habits make a big difference. I make my bed daily and tidy up my dresser and desk each night before bed. Also, I select my outfit each night for the following day. This eliminates wardrobe stress in the morning. While I have only been doing these tasks for about six months, it has dramatically impacted my mornings. Rarely do I start my days feeling anxious or stressed.

No doubt about it, when my house is tidy, I feel good. I start my day on sound footing. It seems like such a simple thing, right? There are so many things in life that are out of your control. Luckily, you control your surroundings.

People with good self-esteem do not live in messy surroundings. They command better. I find it very interesting how your living space impacts your self-esteem. According to psychiatrists, a clean, hygienic, and well-organized home affects us psychologically. Once complete, cleaning brings on a general feeling of peace. Gandhi states, “Physical clutter competes for your attention, decreases performance, reduces focus, and increases stress.”  

Ghandi also said, “We seldom acknowledge the cause of our problems to be clutter and blame other factors to be obstacles in our life. Hence effective organization helps us save time, space, money and bring calm, composure, and comfort in our lives.”

A Clean House vs. Your Psyche

I like a clean house and know it makes me feel good. Yet, I didn’t realize the correlation between a clean, organized home and my psyche. Did you? Researching this post opened my eyes! I must admit that I am a bit disappointed in myself for not recognizing this sooner. It is obvious to me now that a clean home would affect my psyche just as a messy or disorganized house would. It is all very logical!

The next time I feel anxious or stressed, I will look at my surroundings. Chances are the Tucker tumbleweeds are in the corner again! I am thrilled to know that there’s something I can do to make myself feel better.

Have you ever noticed a correlation between your stress levels and the cleanliness of your abode? Leave a comment below and tell me. As usual, I’d appreciate you sharing this post with a friend. I am always looking to grow my readership.