10 tips for a cleaner space

It might not yet be as popular a New Year's resolution as exercising or healthy eating, but thanks to Marie Kondo, more and more people are becoming keen on keeping their spaces clean.

As it should: cleaning and having a clean space have a significant impact on one's well-being.

For anyone who wants a cleaner space in 2018, here are ways to deal with common cleaning challenges.

Illustration: Jannielyn Ann Bigtas

1. "Cleaning is so stressful!"

On the contrary, it just might be your messy space that's causing your stress. "The physical activity of cleaning your home will improve your well-being by making you feel less stressed and anxious. Cleaning your home can also make you feel good when it is mindfully done," explains Dr. Seann Tan-Mansukhani, a clinical psychologist from De La Salle University.

Joel, who sets aside time for apartment cleaning on the weekend, practices this. "I make it a point, that when I come home, my place is at least appealing, even for a little bit."

"Part of cleaning is to create spaciousness and beauty in your personal environment and in your life. Place an object of beauty in the space you have cleaned to inspire you to keep it that way," adds Tan-Mansukhani.

2. "But cleaning is boring."

It doesn't have to be. Cleaning is as fun as you make it. Be playful and creative. "Get your groove on," says Joel, who recommends playing good music when cleaning. "I like to listen to music that I usually listened to when I was kid doing chores back at home. So, it is somewhat nostalgic but it works," he adds.

"Sometimes, we have 'cleaning dates'," shares Patti, who shares a 30th floor Makati space with her partner April. "I think also it's a way to make your relationship stronger, if you live with a partner," says Patti. A sense of humor helps, too. April, who chooses to be on bathroom duty, calls it 'giving the bathroom a bath.' Meanwhile, Patti refers to their air filter as an alien, because of the blue light it emits.

As with anything challenging, motivation is key. According to Tan-Mansukhani, cleaning shouldn't be seen as just a chore. "Before you start and as you are cleaning your space, keep in mind that the act of cleaning is making your space not only tidy and organized but is also a commitment to care for yourself by creating a restorative living space," she says.

3. "Someone else can do the cleaning."

That may be true, but you're all probably thinking the same thing. "Avoid assigning blame. If you see something you don't like, don't blame the person you live with," says Patti, who used to get annoyed by a full trash can, but has since realized there's nothing stopping her from taking it out.

Tan-Mansukhani also recommends setting an example for others. "If you want to influence family members to do their own share in cleaning, you will be more convincing if they see that you are actually doing it on a regular basis," she says.

4. "I have so much work to do."

A tidy space will be more conducive to work, and may even help you finish your tasks faster. "Seeing a clean, uncluttered space at home uplifts the mood and it will make you feel relaxed. People are visual-oriented. When there are too many irrelevant stimuli or objects in our visual field, the brain (visual cortex) gets overwhelmed and it becomes difficult to focus our attention on tasks. It’s hard to have a relaxed or peaceful state of mind when you see objects strewn all over the place," says Tan-Mansukhani.

5. "There's too much to clean."

If you've put off cleaning for a while, you'll feel overwhelmed. You don't have to clean everything at once. Tan-Mansukhani has this advice for cleaning newbies: "Resolve to clean one’s home (or office space) by attending to a specific area depending on your available time (minutes or hours).

Start cleaning a small area, say, a working table or drawer, that will take just a few minutes. Keep the area tidy and organized on a regular basis so the clutter does not pile up. Schedule a bigger area when time permits, like a room or closet. Learn to let go of things that you have not used for a long time (say a year or two) and donate it to the church or a charitable organization."

6. "Where do I put all my discarded but still useful things?"

Caritas Manila accepts pre-loved items - anything and everything that does not need repair. You could also set an appointment with Aling Puring, the Clutter Diva. Puring Dy, who has been in business since the 1970s, is not picky when it comes to helping people find new homes for old things. "Basti pakinabangan ng tao, kinukuha ko. Mayroon akong individual, mayroon akong take all," she says in an interview on Unang Balita last August.

"You really need to set aside time," says Joel. Another way is to agree on a system, and apply the classic CLAYGO practice. "We try to clean up after ourselves as much as we can - no letting dirty dishes accumulate for example," shares Patti.

7. "I don't feel like cleaning."

As Joel says, it's important to avoid procrastination. At the same time, find what works for you. "You gotta find your groove or mojo. It might sound petty to some but for me it matters. When your mind isn't there, you can't get to cleaning," he says.

Patti agrees. "You have to know how to clean the right way for your place," she says, sharing that they have to clean more often because of the dust that gets in through the vents. On the other hand, Waffle's describes his space as low-maintenance, since he and his sister are at work most of the time.

8. "I don't know how to clean on my own."

Whether it's because you don't know how to clean, or the space is too big to manage on your own, or you're unable to make time for cleaning, you can always get some help. Find a cleaning buddy, or try a cleaning service. Rates are around 600 pesos for a day, and you can learn cleaning techniques by observing a professional cleaner.

Patti recommends tipping your cleaner, and offering them food and water. "They keep your house clean and peaceful," she says. Cleaning-related arguments are inevitable at first, but communication helps smoothen things out. "Know each other's strengths (and neuroses) and delegate accordingly. "It's fairly easy to say clean up after yourself, but when things get overwhelming, it's okay to ask for help," says Patti.

There are several cleaning services for different types of needs, a number of which focus not just on their clients but their employees. IdeaSpace startup business Cleaning Lady, for instance, provides jobs to unemployed mothers. 

Another startup, Cleanhome.ph, provides opportunities for returning OFWs and working mothers to earn part time. "Because of our model we have helped women sustain their family expenses, put their children through school, open up a tricycle franchise, and renovate their homes," shares James Yabut, CEO.

9. "I like my things. They're all important."

While you don't have to go on a total decluttering spree, consider reducing the number of objects in your space. Fewer objects, fewer things to keep clean. "To truly keep an object with a sentimental value means you must cherish this object by putting it in a place that honors the memory and tender (or even, bittersweet) emotions attached to that object. A dirty, cluttered space devalues the personal meaning imbued on these sentiment-laden objects," says Tan-Mansukhani.

Asked about the Marie Kondo method of letting go of things that do not "spark joy", she explains:  "I think that a lot of people (Filipinos or not) hold on to many things out of a misguided belief that holding onto these concrete possessions will capture memory and meaning forever. But this is not the way. Memorable experiences cannot and must not be fossilized; memories—and their representative objects, have to be refreshed by tending to them, as if flowers, through acts of cleaning the honoring space. Cleaning, as with remembering, is a way to maintain one’s heartfelt relationship with cherished objects."

10. "I can live with a messy space!"

Keeping a clean space isn't just good for your physical health. Tan-Mansukhani explains: "For those who are spiritually inclined, cleaning can be seen as keeping a sacred space clean. At a spiritual level, mindfully sweeping, cleaning and organizing a space can symbolize cleansing one’s mind and letting go what is no longer needed or useful in one’s life; it can produce a feeling of lightness in one’s being. A clean space becomes a form of clearing, a sacred invitation to commune with the inner self and the Divine."

Decluttering is especially important, considering all the literal and figurative noise that surrounds us. "In some of my work with clients, who felt constrained by a small and cluttered living space, I encouraged them as part of their therapy, to create a specific, uncluttered space in their homes where they can do private spiritual or soul-enriching activities requiring peace and quiet, such as journaling, doing yoga, meditation or art work," she shares.

As cleaning fanatics know, the list of cleaning tips and tricks is never-ending. Every challenge comes with a solution. Find out what works for you, so you can have a cleaner space, and improve your overall well-being. — LA, GMA News