Happy New Year! How do you feel about January? This month can seem rather dull and dreary after all the Christmas feasting and festivities. Most of us have more lbs (but fewer £s!) to deal with and spring seems like a very long way away…But it’s not all bad news. January is, of course, a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. It’s also traditionally the period when a lot of us reassess our health and fitness.
This year however, I’m thinking of approaching this from a different angle. Instead of diets, deprivation, and hours in the gym, why not harness house cleaning instead? Hear me out – you might be surprised how many calories you burn doing chores and my advice isn’t just about physical fitness. In fact, keeping your house spick and span can improve your mental health too, alleviating anxiety and boosting your mood.
Doing things differently
A clean, tidy home makes most people happy. The time and effort this involves, however, is usually much less appealing. This is where a new and different mindset is important. So, this year I’m determined to view house cleaning as an opportunity to stay fit and healthy, rather than seeing it as a boring chore. House cleaning really does offer so many benefits – research shows that a sense of order and control can help you manage internal feelings. However, clutter in your home can lead to a lower quality of life and a feeling of being overwhelmed. If you keep your household items in order, this can help with familiarity and consistency which will make your life feel less chaotic and add more stability. Physically cleaning can also help to release endorphins. This can act as a fantastic pain and stress reliever and enhance your overall wellbeing. House cleaning can also help you to slow down and make you feel calmer, which will enable you to manage life’s up s and downs.
I realise that I spend too much time sitting down while working in my garden studio. And I also understand how hard it is to find time to exercise regularly. You probably already know how much I love walking, and I’ve always been a serious Pilates aficionado. But cleaning, tidying, errands and life admin do get in the way of workouts. So what’s the solution? To make the house cleaning become the workout.
Help with house cleaning
Full disclosure: I do have some help around the house. However, my cleaners come once a fortnight, and they alternate the areas they maintain. So there’s always plenty of house cleaning for me to do between visits. And I’m planning to view this as an opportunity to boost my mood and shed festive excess weight. I must admit I haven’t managed to put on as much this year, which must be the first year ever. Usually I tend to put on at least 5 or 6lbs. However, this year my weight gain was lower, because we all came down with the flu over Christmas. So this meant no dining out with friends and family or cake treats in cafes for me. Still, I’m making up for it now (!) however I’m keen to keep my health and fitness levels in check, too.
Reducing stress & improving health
Turning your brain off is natural when you’re cleaning, so this physical activity could enable you to relax your mind. Studies over the years have shown that even spending 20 minutes cleaning can reduce anxiety and stress by up to 20%. A clean space should also help to increase your productivity – which could be perfect for those of you who, like me, work from home. Clutter can make it difficult to focus so the less distractions you have, you should find it easier to concentrate. When I’ve cleaned my home, I always find the end result so satisfying, too. When everywhere is neat and tidy and smells super fresh, this boosts my endorphins and I find it elevates my energy levels, too.
Vacuuming with vim
So, I’m determined to embark on my 2023 personal health plan with a more structured cleaning routine and, yes, I’m even trying to look forward to the vacuuming. Did you know that 30 minutes of vacuuming can burn around 90 or so calories? That’s about the same as ten minutes on the cross trainer (and it can help to tone your arms, too).
My two rescue cats shed so much hair, this chore often feels like a full-time job in itself! But I’m very impressed with my new AirRAM MK2 K9 cordless pet vacuum by Gtech. It’s specially designed to tackle stubborn dirt and pet hair, and I like how it’s designed to glide from carpets to hard floors. Best of all, it incorporates replaceable scent cartridges (and a spare filter) to neutralise any odours and leave your home smelling fresh. It’s incredibly lightweight (3.3kg) with no cables to contend with and extremely easy to use, too. You’ll benefit from up to 40 minutes’ run time and only have to charge the removable 22V lithium-ion battery for 40 minutes before use. It’s even got a 4-stage LED display so you can see how much time you have left when you’re using it.
That sinking feeling
Do you have a dishwasher? When the husband and I renovated our kitchen I made sure to include one from Caple. However, I still seem to spend time washing up items that simply aren’t dishwasher-friendly. The good news is that scrubbing away at dirty dishes can burn up to 180 calories over the course of a week, if you spend 15 minutes doing it every day. That equates to around 30 minutes of swimming – and you don’t have to get your hair wet!
Eco-friendly options
I do like to protect my hands as much as possible when I’m house cleaning. So I always wear gloves. Where possible, I try to shop sustainably – and I’m a big fan of vegan products – so my other go-to gloves are these Eco options from Seep. They are ethically made from FSC-certified natural rubber, and are 100% plastic-free. Importantly, all the packaging is sustainably sourced and recyclable, too.
I always use Moam Organics washing up liquid. It’s made with essential oils, so it smells divine. The packaging is classy and there are even liquid refill pouches to help minimise waste. And I’ve just come across Scrubbies where the panda design is one of my favourites. I use these colourful handmade compostable cleaning pads for so many house cleaning jobs now. They’re made from 100% organic cotton thread with naturally antibacterial bamboo lining. They tackle everything thoroughly but gently, and you just wash them at 40°C.
Bust the dust
Dusting really is the Sisyphean task of house cleaning. I wonder repeatedly where so much dust can possibly come from! Happily, getting rid of it also burns calories. If you really put the effort in for half an hour, bending and twisting, this chore could equate to a 30-minute abs class. In my pursuit of a New Year six-pack (I wish!), I’ll be stocking up on these Eco Bravo Reusable Bamboo Fibre Kitchen Cleaning Cloths from eco bravo. For those hard-to-reach places, I also recommend this Microfibre Radiator Brush from Lakeland. It’s tailor-made to fit behind radiators perfectly, but I use it all the time to dust narrow gaps elsewhere too.
Mad about the mop
I must confess I’ve never been a fan of mopping. I have vinyl flooring in my kitchen, hall and tiles in my utility room and cloakroom. And, at this time of the year, it’s another job that seems to need doing very regularly. But, since I’ve learned that 30 minutes’ mopping could burn around 90 calories, I’m far more keen on this house cleaning chore! I try to make it less mundane by putting on my favourite music and adding in a few dance moves – well, why not?! I use the Vileda 1-2 Spray Mop System for all my floors – no cumbersome bucket required. The clever cleaning pad microfibres remove over 99% of bacteria with nothing more than water. However, I must admit I add Method floor cleaner in Wild Rhubarb to mine because I adore the scent.
Fabulous Fabulosa
I love how my bathroom (and cloakroom) look after a deep and thorough clean. All that rubbing and scrubbing can be pretty aerobic, and it’s great exercise for your arms and shoulders. If your rooms are compact, this type of house cleaning can even improve your flexibility too. Be as enthusiastic as possible with the elbow grease, and you could burn up to 80 calories in half an hour! Speaking of grease (and dirt, limescale and soap scum), I tackle mine with Fabulosa Dazzling Bathroom Spray Filthy.
This family-led, fragrance-focused brand is ‘scent-sational’! I love the aromas after using these products. Fabulosa is cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and sources only sustainable raw materials from reputable manufacturers. I also use the brand’s Multi Surface Polish Energise in my bedrooms and living room.
The benefits of a clean home
As mentioned, a commitment to house cleaning doesn’t just benefit you physically by upping your activity levels. A clean, clutter-free environment can also enhance your mental health. Research suggests that living in dirty, messy spaces can lead to higher levels of cortisol, known as the stress hormone. Conversely, clean, tidy rooms feel restful and restorative. A clean, ordered bedroom can even lead to better sleep.
Lastly, a consistently clean and tidy home can even save you money – a big bonus as the cost of living crisis deepens. Regular and thorough house cleaning means you won’t need expensive, extra-strength cleaning products. You might also want to lower the number of visits from your cleaners. And your surfaces and appliances are less likely to become damaged and need replacing if they aren’t coated in grime and dirt.
AD: Huge thanks to all the brands who have kindly contributed to this blog with free products, including Gtech and Fabulosa.
Click here to discover some more of my favourite eco-friendly cleaning products
