I've romanticized cleaning, and my tedious chores are easier than ever – 5 ways to turn loathed housework into 'meditation'

Housework can easily feel like a burden, especially when there are usually far more exciting things we would rather be doing. That is why I have started romanticizing cleaning to take some of the load off.

It might all sound a bit ‘wishy-washy’, but romanticizing chores can be a fantastic wellness activity, allowing you time away from screens and working with your hands to improve your environment, and thus your mental health.

I spoke to a cleaning expert about the benefits of romanticizing your life in this way, and share my tips for romanticizing spring cleaning, so this mammoth seasonal task feels less daunting.

Why I romanticize cleaning to ease chore dread

I have tried several ways to make cleaning fun in the past, but none of them really worked long-term. Instead, I settled on smart ways to motivate myself to clean as a serial procrastinator, one of which is romanticizing the tasks.

‘Romanticizing’ life has become a trend across social media in the last few years, designed to make the most mundane parts of life a little more special.

Generally speaking, it focuses on finding joy and appreciation in small, everyday activities to become more mindful and grateful overall. It is a smart way to hack your brain to make chores easier while avoiding the common trap of having days pass without making anything of them.

If you have ever read Marie Kondo’s best-selling book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’, available at Amazon, or tried to work out if an item ‘sparks joy’ when decluttering, then you are already halfway there.

It isn’t just influencers and I who are tapping into this wellness trend, either.

Samantha Shpeen, controller and chief home officer at Cleancult, shares, ‘Honestly, I love that people are romanticizing cleaning. Cleaning doesn’t have to feel like a chore; it can be grounding, even meditative.

'When you slow down and use products that smell amazing and feel good in your hands, the task becomes more about creating a peaceful space than just checking something off your to-do list. It’s a simple act of care for your home and yourself.’

How to romanticize cleaning

How you romanticize cleaning is personal to you. What one person finds soothing might irritate another – for example, I enjoy using soothing music or listening to the sounds of nature while working at my own pace to feel more grounded and focus fully on the tasks at hand, while others might prefer to use upbeat music and make it a dance party, and so on.

Luckily, there are a few things you can try to make cleaning into a more meditative task.

1. Slow down

If you hate cleaning, then you might roll your eyes at this one, but trust me when I say slowing down is a fantastic way to romanticize spring cleaning.

Usually, we are focused on the bad habits to ditch to save time on chores, or task stacking to turbocharge your chores; however, slowing down removes a sense of panic or urgency, giving you all the time you need to complete a task properly. No missed corners, no smears, no rushed jobs that will need going again in a few days.

While it is still helpful to pick up a few quick daily cleaning habits for a tidier home, when it comes to deep cleaning, I find that working more slowly makes the task quicker overall, as I am not having to go back on myself to fix mistakes. Plus, it gives me more time away from screens and a constant bombardment of information. It’s a real brain breather.

Picking the right tools can ensure that you are not spending hours on end scrubbing and cleaning one space. For example, a Sonic Power Electric Scrubber from Target can make light work of tough grease on stoves or when cleaning grout, or a Scrub Daddy Damp Duster, from Walmart, can make picking up dust without spreading it around more efficient.

2. Invest in nice products

This is not a must, but building up a more luxurious cleaning supplies checklist can make the act of cleaning a little more enjoyable, especially if you switch to non-toxic cleaning products, such as the Attitude all-purpose cleaner from Walmart, or the Attitude bathroom cleaner, also at Walmart, which benefits your health as well as your home.

After all, who would enjoy chores when all you can smell are harsh chemicals such as bleach that burns your nose?

Samantha adds, ‘I think one of the most powerful ways to romanticize cleaning is to tap into the senses, especially scent. That’s something we’ve leaned into heavily with our latest launch at Clean Cult. We introduced three new signature scents that aren’t just pleasant, they’re designed to transform how you feel while you’re cleaning. Each one helps turn an ordinary task into a little moment of joy or serenity.’

The Cleancult All Purpose Cleaner in French lavender, available at Walmart, for example, is refillable, reducing waste and your impact on the environment. It is also available in Cleancult Detergent Sheets, also from Walmart, to help you establish a signature clean scent in your home.

3. Stack chores with wellness activities

If you are always trying to clean when feeling overwhelmed, or desperately wishing for a task to be over, why not make cleaning a part of your preferred pastimes? For instance, if you love a spa moment, why not clean while your face mask is setting or hair oil is soaking in?

Alternatively, you could listen to a podcast or audiobook to help overcome a cleaning roadblock. Because you are working with your hands with no screen distractions, it is often easier to fully take in the words, helping you to slow down and appreciate the smaller details and hidden meanings.

On days that permit, I personally choose to open up my windows to listen to the birdsong outside and feel the breeze. It’s incredibly grounding, and I find that I appreciate my home a little more.

4. Change your mindset

This is one I still struggle with, but it is often recommended for changing your relationship with housework.

Instead of dreading tasks and framing them as ‘I have to clean the kitchen’, try to change the wording to ‘I get to clean the kitchen, ready to cook more delicious, nourishing food.’ It sounds a bit ridiculous, I know, but one simple mindset change can make a huge difference as help you feel grateful for creature comforts.

While I have not mastered this mindset shift with cleaning my home yet, I have noticed its effects in other parts of my life.

For example, my personal trainer started using the wording of ‘I’ll accept no less than six reps’ for an exercise, rather than ‘try to get to six reps’, and I find myself pushing harder and achieving more. Words are powerful – use them!

5. Don’t stick too strictly to scheduling

In the past, I have been prone to creating a cleaning routine and trying to stick to it like glue. The results were often me feeling guilty that I didn’t complete a task in its allocated slot because I was busy or tired.

The most common task for this was cleaning the kitchen. Back when I was a student and I could spend time on weekdays doing things I enjoyed around studying, I had allocated the task some time on a Saturday morning. I then tried to bring this with me into my working life, and very quickly found that I was skipping it more often than not.

Saturday mornings, I discovered, were now for getting ready to go out on a hike, or spending time in bed, or in summer, enjoying a slow morning in the yard. Now, I set a two-day window each week where the task has to be completed for hygiene purposes, but allow myself to tackle it whenever the mood strikes.

For instance, I recently tackled it on a Saturday evening while my partner was busy and I had nothing else to do, working slowly and methodically. Not setting a time limit on myself and listening to relaxing music meant that I not only tackled the essential chores, but also ended up deep cleaning a washing machine and cleaning a fridge, too – tasks I certainly would have skipped if I had forced it into my calendar.

An undated weekly planner, from Target, can help you keep tabs on when you might have some free time for chores to help you prioritize fun events, such as time with friends or days out, over cleaning.

Cleaning essentials

Meet the expert

Samantha Shpeen

Samantha Shpeen is the controller and chief home officer at Clean Cult, where she helps bring sustainability into every corner of the home. A mom of two and passionate advocate for practical eco-living, Samantha serves as the brand’s go-to expert on household sustainability.

Romantizing is certainly one way of slowing down and embracing the smaller parts of life to make stressful or tough moments a little more palatable – and I owe finding the right cleaning balance in my home to romanticizing life.

However, failing that, you could always give rage cleaning a go instead – it's surprisingly effective.