As great as it feels to have a tidy, spotless house, we'll be the first to admit that the cleaning process can feel tedious, at best, and overwhelming at worst. Cleaning was never meant to be fun, but some days, it can feel all-consuming and often prevents you from wanting to start in the first place. This is where Ally Love comes into play.
Ally, the celebrated Peloton instructor, teamed up with Scotch-Brite to introduce National Shine Brite Day, an annual celebration that invites people everywhere to transform their views towards cleaning: Shifting the mindset from a task on a to-do list into a way to express yourself, refresh your space, and enjoy the entire process.
Known for her love of movement, Ally inspires people to reframe their routines by pairing cleaning with music, dance, and the kind of positive vibes that turn even the smallest tasks into mini-celebrations. Best of all, her cleaning tips translate to every kind of home. All you need is a playlist.
'It’s finding music that you love but that doesn’t take you out of your element. We all have songs that, when we’re in a conversation, answers will come to our brain, but we can’t function fully because our favorite song is on! So, you don’t want to play your favorite song; you want songs that you enjoy, but still allow you to stay in the moment,' Ally says, in an exclusive interview with Homes & Gardens to mark her partnership with Scotch-Brite.
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'I don’t think anyone is asking you to be super excited about cleaning. We are not asking you to be inspired to clean all the time; it’s simply about shifting your perspective and finding joy in the little routine things, whether that’s cleaning, spending time with your family, or taking care of yourself,' she adds.
'These little things often talked about can feel a little bit more routine or mundane, so it’s about shifting your perspective and saying: How can I find levity and joy in these moments? If you wake up in the morning like, “Oh my goodness, I have to clean my house because I have guests coming,” it’s going to feel daunting. And naturally, what you should take solace in is that it probably feels daunting to most people.'
The key, Ally explains, is to focus on the result. With your desired outcome in mind, you will feel more motivated to get started, especially when hosting a cocktail party or dinner over these summer months.
'Think: In these spaces, I’m going to gather my friends, my colleagues, my family—we’re going to have a good time. When you keep the end goal in mind, that shift in perspective can help you rediscover the joy in the process. These are the spaces you’ll share with the people you love and care about, and that’s a powerful motivator,' Ally says.
Plus, as she explains, cleaning is part of our everyday lives, whether we enjoy it or not. So, why not make the best of the experience? We don't need to get excited about cleaning, but equally, we don't need to dread it, especially when the end results are so rewarding.
'The truth is, most of us will have to clean our space whether we want to or not. But once you shift your perspective and recognize that you own this space – that it reflects who you are and who your family is – cleaning stops feeling like a chore. Instead, it becomes your personal time,' she says.
'As someone who works in wellness, health, and fitness, I know self-care is important, and we often think of it as getting a facial or a massage. Those things are fun, but the reality is we don’t always have the luxury to do them. Restorative self-care can also mean cleaning or organizing your space and finding moments where everything you touch reflects who you are. That’s why it’s so important to shift your perspective on cleaning and organizing, and to find joy and levity in those moments.'
If anyone can shift our cleaning mindset, it's Ally. These tips, paired with the perfect playlist, are a failsafe combination.
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