With ‘cleanfluencers’ becoming the latest trend to sweep our social media feeds, we suddenly feel the urge to spruce up our homes. As the annual spring clean is underway for many people, we consider how the likes of Marie Kondo and Mrs. Hinch are shaping our cleaning habits and decluttering our minds.
Who are ‘cleanfluencers?’
It’s official – in 2019, cleaning is cool. Social media influencers who boast this niche, such as Marie Kondo and Sophie Hinchcliffe, are revolutionising domestic life on a global scale. Combining marigolds with smartphones, these decluttering gurus have become the latest digital phenomenon.
Marie Kondo took the world by storm in 2012 with her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’. In 2019, she has sold over eight million books, has her own hit Netflix show and boasts almost three million Instagram followers.
Kondo’s theory centres on general tidying, claiming that “when you put your house in order, you put your affairs, and your past in order, too.” For Kondo, letting go of unnecessary items in the home helps to cleanse your mind – if an item doesn’t “spark joy”, then it’s time to move on.
Sophie Hinchcliffe, known as ‘Mrs. Hinch’ on Instagram, documents how she cleans her home every day, with many of her two million followers claiming that this has helped with their anxiety struggles. For Mrs. Hinch, her cleaning routine is interconnected with positivity and improved wellbeing. In fact, she went on to write a book entitled ‘Hinch Yourself Happy’, which is already a bestseller.
Top tips for domestic bliss
At Altin Homes, we believe that cleaning your house should be fun and if it also helps to improve your wellbeing, then it’s a win-win situation. With this in mind, here’s our top tips for completing a spring clean that truly “sparks joy” in you.
- Tidy by category, not location. The five categories suggested by Kondo are clothes, books, papers, sentimental items and komono (miscellaneous items). Begin by making a pile in each category, then assessing which ones still make you feel great. Disregarding the ones that don’t, helps to create a clutter-free home and a positive new mind-set.
- The ‘Kondo fold’ – This method of folding your clothes has become somewhat iconic over the last 12 months, allowing you to see and reach every item that you have while also saving on space. Kondo uses this tactic to show how you can develop a new appreciation through touch and use. If you haven’t tried this storage method yet, your spring clean is the perfect opportunity to do so.
- Storage solutions – Effective storage solutions are a great way to prevent mess. Investing in the correct furniture which can be anything from console tables to shoe cabinets, can help to improve how your rooms function, while also avoiding visual clutter. If, like us, you’re fortunate enough to live close to Altrincham, there are numerous homeware stores where you can pick up a stylish storage space for your home – take a look at some of our favourites here.
- Start small and “hinch” before bed – Apparently, Mrs. Hinch cannot sleep at night without cleaning her sink first, claiming the process allows her to sleep by feeling refreshed for the day ahead. While this may seem a little extreme for most of us, Mrs. Hinch has got herself into a habit that serves her own mental wellbeing and this is inspiring. It takes 28 days to make or break a habit – why not add a little something extra into your cleaning routine? It may create a lasting impression on your home and your attitude.
- Getting ready to entertain – When it comes to visitors, we all want our home to look perfect. That’s why we spend hours cleaning, tidying and allowing ourselves to get stressed to the point where hosting is no longer enjoyable. Sound familiar? Small changes to your daily and weekly routines can prevent this. Minor commitments, such as decluttering the living room every night or vacuuming the guest bedroom every Sunday, will help to take away the panic before welcoming visitors.
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