Celebrate the Art of Cleaning

Denise Frakes • February 23, 2023

“When you consider it, the world of your actions and activity is a very precious world. What you do should be worthy of you; it should be worthy of your attention and dignity, and conform to your respect for yourself. If you can love what you do, then you will do it beautifully.” 

John O’Donohue, Anam Cara

March 26th-31st is national cleaning week: Celebrate cleaning and cleaners everywhere! Cleaning is lifegiving and essential work. If you clean your own home, if you help others care for theirs, if you are a professional cleaner, part time cleaner or clean because there is no one else to do the job, this week we say THANK YOU!


For all of those days you cleaned, picked up, washed, cared for, did the little extras and your work didn’t get celebrated or even noticed, THANK YOU! We celebrate you! We celebrate your heart and determination to make our spaces safe, beautiful, and healthy.


Your work is essential to everyone’s health and wellbeing. In a healthy clean space, we breathe better, we think more clearly and have more energy. A well cared for space lowers our stress and increases our happiness and sleep quality. Healthy cleaning reduces and prevents illnesses and minimizes environmental waste and toxic exposure. Cleaning refreshes and improves the flow and function of daily life.


Unhealthy cleaning or lack of cleaning can take us in a negative direction. It can lead to occupational asthma, environmental toxin exposure, lung and skin damage and central nervous system depression. It contributes to environmental waste and damage. Too little cleaning begets stagnation, chaos and muddled energy. Without cleaning, our productivity, happiness and energy drop. Intentional and healthy cleaning at regular intervals matters!


Insist on using safe products and procedures. 

Require the safest and mildest cleaning products. Focus on fragrance free cleansers with no harsh chemicals and quality microfiber cloths for cleaning. Use few products and keep it simple. Spray cleaners into a towel, never in the air. Increase ventilation. Read your labels. Advocate for building cleaning skills and improving efficiency. Make sure those who clean for you and your spaces can safely do their work. Empower their health.


Uplift perception and level of skill. 

Your perception of this work will dictate its value internally and it will affect what others experience. Growing up, I watched my mom sing as she cleaned. Her attitude while she worked affected our whole family. After cleaning, there was an ease in our home, in our family and in my mom that was broad reaching and profound.


Cleaning is an art, a science, a habit and a craft. 

Learn to make it easier, more enjoyable and more effective. The act itself can even be an opportunity for gratitude in action - be thankful for what you’re cleaning while you’re cleaning! The repetitive nature of cleaning can wear us down, so keep improving your skills for everyone’s good. Practice gratitude in action.


Raise visibility.

Cleaning lives behind the scenes. It hides in the shadows. Be visible in your work and proud of the results! Appreciate yourself, your work, and efforts that may go unacknowledged by others. This work is essential to the health and wellbeing of yourself and those in your care. Learn to see and value this work and honor others doing it.


How we perceive and value ourselves while doing this work affects everything. It can wear us down or it can be a nourishing partner. Move your perspective about the drudgery of cleaning into a mindset of health and joy, because this essential work will be with us our entire lives!


Denise Frakes is a Home & Life Coach and Facilitator of the Puget Sound Asthma Coalition. She specializes in healthy homes, joyful work and healthy lifestyles. Learn more about her work at DeniseFrakes.com and about the Puget Sound Asthma Coalition at breathing-space.circle.so/home.

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