Dr. Jennifer Hartstein was recently featured as a contributor in this article, originally posted on The Daily Nonpareil.
Want to boost your mood this spring? Get cleaning – seriously! In addition to having a fresh and organized space, cleaning has been proven to improve your mood and give you a rush of adrenaline, according to the new Cleaning Rush Study by Mr. Clean. So grab your cleaning caddy and rock out while you clean your way to feeling good.
Cleaning may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you want to de-stress, but the Study found that 100 percent of participants agreed that cleaning provides peace of mind and a sense of control over one’s environment, while 82 percent strongly agreed they like to admire their work after a good clean, and 81 percent felt a sense of accomplishment when they finished the task. In fact, after cleaning, participants reported feeling more determined, inspired and proud, and less jittery, nervous and hostile. Now that’s something to clean to!
Now, for a little bit of the science. The Cleaning Rush Study measured the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and Heart Rate (HR) — both automatic bodily responses that happen without control among Study participants while they completed various cleaning tasks. While cleaning, changes in both GSR and HR were observed as being driven by factors such as emotional enthusiasm and excitement. This revealed that the act of cleaning results in an adrenaline rush, much like the feeling people have when watching a simulated, high-intensity activity or sporting event.
“Cleaning anything, whether it’s wiping smudges off your fridge or removing greasy build up from your car’s wheels, can boost your mood and give you a sense of pride for a job well done,” said Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, clinical psychologist. “This positive mental boost can lead to an increased desire to continue cleaning and ultimately results in a truly satisfying experience that leaves the cleaner feeling accomplished.”
