What can I clean that will make me feel better

[Anonymous]

Fridge. Dump all the crusty condiments and expired items. Put a fresh liner down in the produce drawer.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for the refrigerator. It's a PITA to take things out to get the shelves and drawers out to wash, but it is so satisfying to look in there later and NOT see a ring where something was sitting on a shelf or small pieces of greens or whatever little stuff ends up in the veg drawer. The only downside is how fast it comes back.

[Anonymous]

Hire it out.

[Anonymous]

I love KC Davis' Five Things Tidying Method. That helps me power through when the house becomes a nightmare and I can get a lot more accomplished with that framework because in the moment when I need to get some quick cleaning done - I stop obsessing and guilting myself about the organizational system I should have in place and just power through the five things. Even if I only knock out 2 or 3 of the 'things' the end result is way better and more decluttered than if I decided to go deep and totally clean/organize one thing - like the bathroom, or the pantry.

https://www.npr.org/2023/04/19/1170846100/how-to-keep-house-clean

[Anonymous]

There used to be this website called “Fly Lady” who would advise women to start their cleaning off by scouring their kitchen sinks initially.
This was used as a baseline & had read that it works for many.

I think you will feel better if you clean the interior of your refrigerator.
There is no better feeling than a clean ➕ shiny ✨ refrigerator interior.
Shelves, drawers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Fridge is easy because it takes zero thought to dump old food in the trash, while cleaning closets takes a lot more thought about what to get rid of and where to take it..
Then a good scrub and it looks like new.
Kitchen and bathrooms are so easy and satisfying to clean.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone! I went with car interior. I did all the cupholders and the center console. It helped a little. The consensus about the fridge is correct, I think, but it felt too big in the moment.

[Anonymous]

Vacuum all rug areas, sweep the front door outside.

[Anonymous]

I took all my makeup and divided it into zipper bags (from the dentist) and labeled them: lips, eyelids, brows, face, nails, etc. Very satisfying.

[Anonymous]

Cleaning makes you feel better? I can understand the need to clean, things have to be cleaned -- but the desire? Interesting. Not how I'm wired.

Any posters with psychological training want to weight in why people are wired differently?

[Anonymous]

NP - this is a great thread.
I want to clean my garage but it needs to be warmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cleaning makes you feel better? I can understand the need to clean, things have to be cleaned -- but the desire? Interesting. Not how I'm wired.

Any posters with psychological training want to weight in why people are wired differently?

I'm sure it's more common than you think.
Like the urge to nest - can come at different times- not just when pregnant.

I am a regular flosser but I have strange urges (probably around PMS) to floss. Like the personal deep clean the brazilian poster suggested!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cleaning makes you feel better? I can understand the need to clean, things have to be cleaned -- but the desire? Interesting. Not how I'm wired.

Any posters with psychological training want to weight in why people are wired differently?

Idk but try getting a car detailing brush, the round interior one, a spray bottle of cleaner and a few microfiber clothes and clean the window track where the screen goes. If you don’t feel better, you can give up on this concept.

[Anonymous]

Bump ~. Do a substantial number of people like cleaning?

[Anonymous]

Many people feel better when their bathrooms are properly cleaned.

Even if the rest of the house is dirty/messy…if their bathroom is clean and tidy they feel that that is the thing that matters most.