Most of my friends think I’m a bit mad that I enjoy tidying, organising and cleaning the house. I get a sense of order and calm if the house is tidy and the floors and surfaces are clean.
Obviously, with two kids it doesn’t stay like that for long, but that doesn’t stop me from following them round with cleaning sprays, bin bags and antibacterial hand gel!
Having a tidy desk means a tidy mind; I can think more clearly, I seem to prioritise my workload much more readily and I also feel more in control for some strange reason. Bizarre? Most definitely, but it turns out I’m not the only one.
I recently read the results of some research conducted by a company called Avery UK. It found that eight in ten adults reckon tidying and organising is a real stress buster – whether it be filing away important documents, having a pristine desk at work or labelling files.
This is surprisingly more than I’d hazard a guess at – and in fact, four in five people even said they find mess stressful (yup – me too!), while 63% don’t feel on top of things unless their items are in the ‘right place.’ Mmmh, ditto.
I don’t need therapy – I just need to clean!
I’m sure my friends think I’m a bit of an obsessive too; when I go over to some of their houses and discover that they are disorganised and dare I say it, even a little grimy, I feel agitated and unable to relax.
Part of me hates that; just last week I had to fight the urge to jump up at one of my male friend’s flats and start clearing stuff away, putting things into neat piles and wanting to give it a good old vac!
I had to make a comment of course, but he took it like water off a duck’s back rather than take the hint.
The survey I read found that the average adult spends the equivalent of almost eight days a year – or more than three-and-a-half hours a week – getting things in order at home and work. I think mine is more than double that – at least.
But as I say to VIP, wouldn’t he rather have someone who is a bit obsessive with tidying and cleaning than some lazy slob who lounges around and doesn’t lift a finger?
I’ve tried to curb my enthusiasm for cleaning by doing short cleans rather than delving in for deep cleans on a weekly basis. So, for example, when I’m brushing my teeth I’ll get a wet wipe out and be cleaning the sink at the same time.
Or when I’m watching the telly I might be polishing some shoes – the way I see it, I’m burning off extra calories, so it can't be a bad thing.
Plus it means that the chores don’t pile up – and I’m saving time as well. So actually, I’m not apologising for the way I am. In fact, I’m embracing my cleaning issues by sharing my top go-to cleaning products – here they are!
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Flash Spray Lemon £1 – has a lovely lemony smell that lingers in the room.
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Orange Glo Wood Cleaner – it’s super expensive in this country – the cheapest I’ve seen it for is £18.49 off Amazon, so when I’m in the States I’ll make a point of buying it to bring home! But it does the job sooooo well and smells divine.
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A pack of Microwave and Fridge Wipes – £1 – for a quick daily wipe in the fridge and microwave. So handy.
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JML Magic Eraser The Range £4.99 I swear by this! I use it every week without fail – it removes hard-to-shift marks off walls, mirrors, work surfaces, light switches, appliances, cupboards…you name it. The best thing is – there are NO chemicals – all you do is wet the sponge. Genius.
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E-Cloth Window Cleaning Pack – £8.99 – these also work really well on stainless steel appliances – brings up a lovely shine and I don't add any chemicals either.
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Bar Keepers Friend £4.99 – a stain remover and cleaner that works on all surfaces – and is great for keeping white sinks super white! I also use mine on grouting as it's great at reviving it!
Here’s a list of 30 tidying or organising tasks Brits find most therapeutic…
- Crossing stuff off a to-do list
- Putting together a to-do list
- Organising important personal documents
- Vacuuming
- Tidying my desk at work
- Organising your storage
- Making your bed
- Washing the dishes
- Cleaning the bathroom
- Dusting/polishing my home
- Mowing the lawn
- Wiping kitchen worktops
- Writing things on my calendar
- Filing away documents at work
- Ironing
- Putting ironing away
- Labelling files, folders or storage
- Tidying my desk at home
- Loading the washing machine
- Organising CDs/vinyl alphabetically
- Washing the car
- Cleaning the inside of the car
- Sorting through paperwork at work
- Arranging wardrobe by colour, size and/or clothing type
- Arranging pots and pans by shape and size
- Organising books by genre and/or alphabetically
- Creating a filing system
- Organising DVDs/blu-rays alphabetically
- Clearing the garage
- Emptying the dishwasher
My favourites have to be making a to-do list (and then ticking it off) and tidying my desk at work. And my least favourite? Ironing! But thank god we have some decent telly in this country to make ironing a more pleasurable chore!
Which ones do you love or loathe?
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62 comments
Bingo! This is the second time am reading about the correlation between cleaning and stress relief, first is the research you are talking about.
Never thought of it, but I follow a daily routine of cleaning my home, organizing stuff after which I feel much relaxed, calm and motivated to tackle down other tasks. Now, I figured out the reason, haha 🙂
Thanks Alex – I’m the same. I go even crazier when I watch programmes like Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners!
I hate ironing but I find cleaning the bathroom is very destressing x
Yes, I know what you mean. The bathroom is my least favourite room to do!
I vacuumed for about an hour yesterday!
I bet your place is nice and sparkling now!
I have depression & social anxiety, which I manage well. Order & a clean environment are very important to me, not just for a sense of wellbeing, but to eliviate stress, provide distraction & focus the mind.
Sounds like you’re controlling the situation and not letting it control you – nice one Graninne!
I am afraid the fact I hate housework makes me more stressed when I look at it rather than helping me work off the stress
Ah shame – we could help each other out by letting me pop over to do yours 😉
I wish I had a reason to clean – I find it a chore and have to motivate myself to do it by putting fast pace music on !!
At least you know how to motivate yourself Kim – and that’s a great idea. I might start doing that myself if it means I speed things up – and get to clean more!
I find tidying up very therapeutic. My son & his girlfriend have gone on holiday, so I’m popping in to feed their cats. Yesterday I could not resist organising my son’s T-shirts, underwear and socks so that his chest of drawers is all neat and tidy. There’s something very satisfying about doing this, so I shall probably tackle another chest of drawers when I visit today.
He’s very lucky to have you as his mum Fiona – how nice to come back and have drawers organised and sorted! That will probably be me when my kids move out!
I agree – it allows you to clear your head while actually doing something useful. I find that if there is a major family crisis and I’ve done all I can to help solve it I then clean.
It’s odd isn’t it? It just brings a sense of calm I find. I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Great post! I honestly thought that I was the only one. I’d be cleaning and rearranging the house even when it was neat and tidy. Thankfully, I’m not the only one.
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Nah, you’re certainly not the only one don’t worry! 🙂
I am going to come right out and say it: when in the office, and I visit the ladies, nothing is more calming than cleaning up the surfaces around the sinks in the ladies. I hate when others leave behind them a wet mess, and theres plenty of paper around so why not give it a good dry down? :))))
Oh Jenny – you sound like my twin….I have an overwhelming urge to clean and tidy as I go…I try very hard not to, but my instincts take over!
I do this but I sent the family out for the day when I’m tidying. Firstly, cos they get in the way and secondly, to stop me biting their head off. It’s the only time I get to myself. Ok, it’s normally trashed when they get back home but those few hours are priceless x
AH YES – It’s that precious ‘me time’ we keep talking about isn’t it?!
I’m totally with you on this, including ironing – you will never see me pick up an iron!
I begrudgingly pick the iron up – sounds like you’re doing one better than me!
I’m always tidying but I hate to use the hoover….. I think the noise does something to me. I’m also not a fan of cleaning the oven eaither. But I love getting out beeswax to polish the bannister and the dining room table. Smells amazing.
Maybe you’re hyper sensitive to noise (I’m the same with smells funnily enough!) I love the smell of Beeswax too!
So happy to hear i am not alone – when i am stressed i also go for cleaning sprees hehhe
You must also like those extreme cleaning programmes too then! Mine gets worse when I watch those!
I always feel better when my home is clean and tidy. It’s like an instant stress reliever. Only problem is living with children makes all my efforts totally worthless. I swear they follow me around leaving a trail of destruction where I’ve just cleaned. Then that makes me even more stressed.
I can sympathise with that Stacey – the same thing happens to me. But I am quite good at making them clean up their own mess when they make it now – teaching good manners and all that!
I wouldn’t say I find it therapeutic- I don’t like cleaning but I do much prefer a clean house! And that average of three and a half hours seems rather low, if you have kids anyway! Vaccuming the stairs and cleaning toilets are my worse chores, hate them x
Ah it’s the ironing for me – gets me every time.
When I was stressed I was permanently cleaning, all day every day. Major ocd and it took all my will power to get out of the constant cycle in my new stress free life. Ok my place is a mess, but it’s a clean mess if that makes any sense.
I find ironing the most relaxing thing……. I know I’m an oddball! Everything else is just a chore.
Ooh I wish I found ironing relaxing – it’s my worst chore. How about I come clean for you and you do my ironing?! 😉
oh this is me all over too
I think a lot of people can relate to this.
I definitely feel I clean more when I am stressed – it can be quite therapeutic.
But what a great feeling when everything is clean and tidy though eh?!
I’m that lazy slob on the couch, lol! I’d rather go for a 30-mile bike ride than clean the bathroom, tbh, but yes, I do tend to clean frantically when I’m feeling stressed, lol!
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I think any sort of exercise (cleaning or cycling!) are great stress relievers!
Oh no, I am not one of those that clean to relieve stress and I dont regret it one bit. Hahaha. Great post though!
Life would be a bit boring if we were all the same!
This was charming….I tend to clean in massive bursts or whenever a friend comes by. I can chat but then I’ll start cleaning as we talk. I know that I’m supposed to this this BEFORE company but then again,I am not normal anymore….*LOL*
Orange Glo is an amazing cleaner….
I do exactly the same! I’ll start loading the dishwasher or something and then have to stop myself! Glad you agree on Orange Glo! My mum told me about it…!
My mummy says cluttered house, cluttered mind x she finds cleaning very therapeutic too x
Sounds very similar to me!
I feel less stressed when our home is clean and tidy, but never to relieve it. Maybe I should start as it would help me out in the long run!
If you watch Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners that might give you a nudge – it always seems to work for me!
This makes complete sense. I always feel fab when I have had a good spring clean out lol x
Having a good clear out makes you feel quite smug too doesn’t it?!
When I am stressed I do one of two things. Eat or have a clear out!
I usually end up doing both! ha ha..
I wouldn’t say that I clean to relieve stress, mine is more for a feeling of control as much as anything x
Yes, I’m with you on that one!
Cleaning is a form of therapy! It’s something that I also do to make myself feel better. It allows you to calm down and think clearly! You’re totally not alone in this one.
It’s strange isn’t it Alison? Perhaps hoarders should take a leaf out of this post!
There is nothing as rewarding as the fresh smell of a clean home and freshly washed bed sheets!
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Hallelujah!
totally with you on this! I find scrubbing the bathroom tiles pretty therapeutic as you can see such a difference. I hate vacuuming though!
I knew I wasn’t alone! Thanks Rebecca!
Its so great to see that people find cleaning therapeutic, I find that I find cooking calms me down. But after making all the mess, I have to end up cleaning, so these list of products and the information about it is so helpful.
There are worse things to find therapeutic right?!