Experts reveal the five cleaning tasks that can improve your mood the most

TIDY HOME, TIDY MIND: FIVE CLEANING JOBS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GREAT

Currently, 71% of people claim that cleaning makes them feel happy, but which are the best chores to try for the ultimate satisfaction?

For over 40 years, the phrase ‘tidy home, tidy mind’ has been used, prompting cleaning experts Astonish to team up with Psychologist Barbara Santini, to dig deeper into how decluttering and cleaning can create a positive mental wellbeing.

A recent study from Astonish revealed that although over two-thirds (71%) of Brits enjoy cleaning, one in three (32%) don’t have a favourite cleaning job, and a further 55% avoid specific tasks.

Howard Moss, CEO at Astonish said “There’s no doubt that cleaning offers an escape, giving people a focal point to concentrate and achieve a goal in the comfort of a home. We hope our tips encourage people to try jobs that give the ultimate satisfaction, which can in turn improve mental wellbeing.”

From washing the dishes, to revamping the floor and making tiles sparkle, try the five cleaning tasks below to feel great afterwards:

Bathroom basics – Gain a sense of efficiency by cleaning parts of the bathroom before or after use. Cleaning in the shower is a great opportunity to feel productive and to multitask. Barbara recommends “Wash the shower drain or bathtub, void the stagnant water, and scrub the bathroom tiles.”

Wash the pots – Leaving a pile of dirty pots makes a person feel like they have a to-do list as soon as they arrive home from work. Try to clean up after a meal to feel ahead of the game with housework. Barbara adds “A clean home makes you feel in control and makes it easier for you to restore your mental psyche, wash the dishes to feel good throughout the day.”

Floor revamp – The floor is a huge area of a home, keeping on top of any hoovering or mopping makes the whole space appear more hygienic. Do an in-depth job for a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Barbara adds “cleaning can be a form of workout that burns calories and triggers a release of endorphin hormones which are linked to elating a mood. Scrub the floor until it sparkles and thoroughly vacuum the carpets.”

Kitchen update – Focus on specific rooms at a time to spread the workload. For example, there are multiple areas of the kitchen than require cleaning, which can give a bigger sense of achievement once a bigger area is sparkling. Barbara explains “Clean the kitchen tiles, reorganise your fridge and all contents in the cupboards or drawers. The sense of satisfaction or accomplishment after tidying your home can increase happiness and motivation to complete other pending challenges.”

Clean eco-smart – To further improve a positive mentality, clean with eco-friendly products to ensure you are taking small steps to being environmentally conscious. Try eco-friendly multi-purpose cleaning pastes to finish several different tasks with one product – clean smart! Barbara concludes “Be convenient to focus on your family, connect with yourself and do things that matter to you which lowers stress.”