Cleaning house is a necessary chore but it may be good for your health to invest in a cleaning service every now and then. Most busy moms will attest to the fact that a clean and organized home makes the daily strains of parenting a bit more bearable. Can a clean home bring a semblance of sanity to a seemingly crazy home front?
The clean factor
Parenting is a messy job. Moms are often in the midst of clutter, both literally and figuratively. Whether they’re wiping sticky fingers or sorting through the mental chaos, a sense of calm can be painfully evasive, which is why a professionally cleaned home can make a huge difference in a mom’s mental health. When Heather, a mom of three from Arizona, walks in the door after her house has been cleaned, her mood immediately improves. “I know in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a huge deal but when my house has been cleaned, I feel like the rest of my life is suddenly organized,” she says.
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Hire it out
It is the rare mom whom actually enjoys cleaning her own home, so many moms are willing to do what it takes to fit professional cleaning into their budgets. For some, the almost emotional reaction to a clean home is worth the cost. “While having a clean house is very important it is not important for me to be the one to clean it,” says Graciela Meibar, chief diversity officer for Mattel. “It’s not the best use of my time or gifts. A clean house gives way to a clear mind. It gives children a sense of security and order. It provides time and space — haven for the soul, in a world of chaos.”
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A useful luxury
There are some luxuries that are plain and simple splurges, like a nice car or a killer pair of shoes. A professionally cleaned home, on the other hand, can be a useful luxury. With the weight of cleaning off her shoulders, a busy mom can focus on other areas of her life and breathe a bit easier knowing that at least her home will be in order.
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Creative clean
Clearly, budget can be a huge issue for many moms, but they are still deserving of quality mental health. Greg Nicklas, general manager of Maid Brigade in Portland, Oregon provides moms with the following tips to help them experience a professional-caliber clean without the price tag:
- Clutter is your No. 1 enemy. A cluttered home further stresses a person out and creates a thought of impossibility when it comes to the actual cleaning of the home.
- Make it a point to spend 20 minutes a morning or at night going through and moving laundry to the proper receptacles, bills to a basket and dishes tended to.
- Delegate — kids love to help out. Yes, they may not do a perfect job but running a vacuum is something even a 6-year-old typically finds entertaining.
Read more about reducing parenting stress
5 Ways to stress less about housework
Getting your family to help in the kitchen
How to de-stress your stressed mom life