Why cleanliness can now be next to mindfulness

Kirsty Mcluckie benefits from the popularity of virtual tidying

Spring cleaning has always been a tradition, but this year those embarking on an annual tidy up have the craze of online cleaning influencers to inspire.

It seems it is not enough just to swish a feather duster round your lampshades and heave your mattresses out into the sunshine for their annual beating.

Now it seems that, like every other part of our lives that hitherto have not required a digital record, a spot of housework must be published online for the world to admire.

Instagram sensation Mrs Hinch, who demonstrates cleaning hacks, is followed by two million fans online, while Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo encourages devotees to declutter, keeping only items which “spark joy”.

Her work has inspired films, lectures and a Nexflix series, tackling subjects such as folding.

It is big business. Home interiors specialists Hillarys has conducted a survey of homeowners with results suggesting that two-fifths of Britons are now hooked on following and learning from cleaning influencers online.

It says that 69 per cent of UK homeowners are buying products they’ve never purchased before, almost half are carrying out more detailed cleans of appliances, and a further third are decluttering and throwing away items they no longer want or need.

The idea goes beyond merely the advantages of having a clean and wellordered environment, to encompass mindfulness and mental wellbeing.

The survey reported that respondents said cleaning influencers have made them feel good about themselves and their homes, and some admitted that their mental health has improved since following influencers.

Tara Hall, spokesperson for www.hillarys.co.uk, says: “Social media is a great place to share ideas and form communities of like-minded people, and the astronomical success of Mrs Hinch is proof of how powerful it can be.

“It’s great to see that these accounts are genuinely helping and encouraging people to take more care of their home.”

I can understand the restorative powers of having a tidy space.

While I don’t think I have ever achieved a totally clean and organised house since becoming an adult, there are definitely fillips to your mood as a result of decluttering and cleaning, even if it is just a small part of the house.

We’ve recently cleared out the garage, which has principally been used as a dumping ground for broken appliances, old plant pots and sporting equipment built up over the years.

Two days of hard grind and several trips to the dump later and the space was a revelation.

The ease with which we can access tools and manoeuvre bicycles in and out is indeed a great benefit to our mental wellbeing and has stopped quite a lot of bad language.

The tidiest of my children – and hardest worker – even took to popping in to admire his handiwork several times a day.

But I feel that the main advantage was possibly the couple of days spent carrying out physical labour, chatting over some of the longforgotten items found and – most importantly – not spending those hours on a laptop, phone or in front of the TV.

Cleaning can undoubtedly be good for the soul, but perhaps it is despite social media not because of it.