Feeling a little stressed? If so, you’re certainly not alone. It’s almost a little comical that during a time when many of us are experiencing one of the most intensely stressful periods of our lives, it’s also National Stress Awareness Month– a time centered around celebrating the triumphant effort to reduce stress in our lives.
So, if you’re busting at the seams with stress right now, it’s okay! After all, with an unprecedented level of unemployment and restrictive nationwide stay at home orders in effect, it’s pretty natural that your anxiety levels would be up just a bit.
Have no fear though, we have a solution if you’re feeling like a caged animal!
Did you know that there’s serious therapeutic value to spring cleaning? We kid you not!
Most of us have heard the term, “rage cleaning.” For some it’s a funny joke and for others a shameful reality. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, it’s actually a behavior based in human psychology.
Maybe you’re familiar with the saying, “anger is a secondary emotion?” Whether you choose to believe it or not, there is actually a good amount of research behind it. We tend to use anger unconsciously to protect ourselves from feelings that make us vulnerable, such as fear and anxiety.
Naturally, we tend to turn to rituals to help us ease those feelings of vulnerability. You see, we don’t like uncertainty– we have a need for things to be predictable. Rituals help us to create predictability, and cleaning, as a ritual, helps us to manifest order in our environments- providing the structure we crave.
More so, creating order in our environment helps us to tame the chaos in our brains. Not only does a clean environment ease anxiety, but it also increases productivity and is associated with lower rates of depression.
So, whether you’re trying to kill time, create a more productive work space at home, or about to snap like a twig and need an outlet for your pent-up stress, we’ve got the spring cleaning solution for you!
Read on for some ideas on creating a tidy brain and living space!
Gross! Those Carpets Are Filthy!
While there is something uniquely warm and cozy about a floor covered in soft carpet, it’s a hot bed for dirt, dander, germs, and so many other gross things in this world. This is especially true if you haven’t adopted a shoe-off policy in your home.
We kid you not! Your carpet is bacteria’s playground! Everything from dog poop, to skin flakes, mold, and more can be found in that glorious rug!
Now that we’ve disgusted you, know that not all is lost. Even though you can’t exactly hire a carpet cleaning pro to give your carpet a deep clean right now, you can still rent a Rug Doctor for a few bucks from your local grocery story or purchase a cleaner from Amazon.
Quick tip, skip the expensive carpet cleaner and use some Tide laundry detergent and Borax in your machine. We guarantee your carpets will come out looking as good as new and your house will smell fresh and clean!
Don’t Be Afraid to Scrub Those Floors
You could use a mop or one of those spiffy Swiffer tools to clean your floors. But, if you want a true clean you’re going to need to get on your hands and knees and scrub. While traditional mops leave your floor looking clean, it’s a facade- they’re really just spreading those sneaky germs around.
Here’s a pro tip- make sure to use a product tailored for your floors. For instance, if you have wood floors, you should be using a product like Murphy’s Oil or something else designed for a wood surface.
Looking for another reason to scrub those floors? It’s a great way to get your heart pumping! Scrubbing floors burns an average of 189 calories every thirty minutes.
So, what are you waiting for? Get scrubbing!
Ahh…the Glorious Wonders of Bleach
The Coronavirus and other gross germs don’t stand a chance when bleach is on the job! Who needs expensive disinfectant wipes when you can use a cheap $2.00 bottle of this miracle worker. Bleach is a potent chemical that is good for so much more than whitening clothes! This stuff kills everything in its path!
Mold on the bathroom walls? No problem, put bleach in a spray bottle and hose it down! Stinky drains? Pour a little bleach down them! Funky slime on the shower curtain? Run it in the laundry with some bleach and say goodbye to that filthy bacteria!
I’m telling you, this stuff can do anything! You can even try using it in place of toilet bowel cleaner for a cheaper, deeper clean!
While this stuff is amazing, we have a quick word of caution. Bleach will whiten anything it comes in contact with, will irritate your skin, and has a powerful odor of clean! Make sure to open your windows if possible and wear gloves as well as old clothes when using it. Additionally, don’t mix bleach with ammonia products. It will create a toxic gas that is dangerous.
What? I Didn’t Know Vinegar Could Do That!
White vinegar is one of the best kept secrets out there for people looking for a cheap and effective cleaner for their germ busting arsenal. Dilute and use it to clean your floors, counters, windows, and pretty much anything else you can think of.
Not only does this stuff leave a streak free shine, but it also has some significant antimicrobial properties! While it doesn’t stand up to the germ fighting power of bleach or disinfectant wipes, it has been shown in studies to kill bacteria such as M. tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.
Insider tip- you’re unlikely to find anything that will leave your stainless steel more sparkling than vinegar. Word of caution though, the stuff will leave your house smelling like a dill pickle.
Looking for more content to start you on your path to a happy and healthy life? Check out our blog today and don’t forget to follow us at People of Youth Dynamics and Youth Dynamics of Montana on Facebook.
