CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The first week of spring means a turn of a season and new beginnings. It also means time for some spring cleaning.
Mental health experts say spring cleaning can be good for your home and your happiness.
According to a 2024 study from the American Cleaning Institute, 80% of American households plan to spring clean this year, up 10% from three years ago. So, while more people will be scrubbing their homes, is it actually good for their mental health?
OUR SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
"We're coming out of maybe a sense of hibernation, and when we are able to go through our homes, our apartments, wherever it is that we're living and go through and begin to reduce some of the clutter, it really can feel like a new sense of beginning," Borland said.
According to Borland, spring cleaning allows us to regain a sense of control and accomplishment, which can help with anxiety and depression.
Princeton University compared the impact of living in cluttered and organized spaces and found people living in cluttered spaces had too many visual stimuli, like shoes on staircases, dishes in the sink, wrinkled clothes, etc. That overload, researchers found, caused more stress.
It can feel like a lot, tackling all those rooms or mess. That's why Borland recommended people take it one step at a time.
"Maybe one shelf in one cabinet, and you view that as your goal, and you see that through to completion," Borland said. "What that does is it helps to build momentum."
The American Cleaning Institute said most Americans take their time cleaning:
- 45% said it takes three or more days to do their spring cleaning.
- 23% said it takes three to four days.
- 22% said it takes five or more days.
So, it's more like a marathon than a sprint, but at the end of it, all, experts said you will feel better about your space, which can reduce anxiety and stress.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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