Cleaning your home doesn’t have to be torture if you Add Hygge Elements to Your Cleaning Routine. There are some of who love to clean. And then…there’s the rest of us.
“You do not get gold stars for cleaning your toilet. In actual life, there is a depressing lack of stickers.” – Alexandra Petri
If you like hygge, I’m guessing you love all things cozy. I just started a new Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life. It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.
Where did Hygge originate?
The word hygge originally came from Norway. It’s translation loosely meant well-being. The Danish adopted the word as their own and they embody the hygge lifestyle. Danes are among the happiest people in the world and they attribute their happiness in part to hygge.
What is Hygge?
Hygge cannot be summarized in just a word or even a sentence. The best way I can describe it is an outlook on life that focuses on simple pleasures and taking the time to cultivate more of them in your life.
It’s when you give your body, mind and spirit a rest and enjoy the good things in life, like a sunrise or sunset, reading a book in front of crackling fire, taking the time to savor a delicious mug of gourmet tea, and spending time with friends and family in a comfortable setting.
How do you pronounce Hygge?
Hygge is not pronounced the way you think it is. “Hoo-gah” is the correct way to say it. If you want even more clarification there are Youtube videos that will help you out. Here’s one that nails it!
What is a Hygge Lifestyle?
Instead of living your life on autopilot, hygge is a way of life that makes sure you live your life in a way that brings deep contentment to your soul.
Sometimes the outer things in life (money, power, achievements) aren’t the things that will make us happy. A hygge life encourages us to look at what truly brings us joy and it to make sure we include those things in our days.
Resources on Hygge Living:
The Hygge House is a famous blog that focuses on all thing hygge. She covers hygge décor and lifestyle ideas.
I love a YouTube channel with a host that actually lives in Denmark. You can find it here.
Changing the way you think about cleaning is all in your approach. By adding feel-good ideas to your routine, you can transform your thoughts overnight.
Here are some ideas on how you Add Hygge Elements to Your Cleaning Routine:
1) Smell.
Use products that are organic and have wonderful scents using essential oils. There’s a difference cleaning your windows using a toxic spray cleaner that you breathe in all those fumes or an all-natural spray with the scent of Lemon Verbena wafting through your rooms.
Having a delicious-smelling house will give you happy memories associated with cleaning.
2) Listen.
While you’re cleaning save up those podcasts you’ve wanted to listen to and immerse yourself in a different world. Not only will you have a clean house, but you’ll be learning something as well.
3) Before & After.
Take a photo of the room before you start cleaning, and then take a photo of the room after you finish. Feel good about your accomplishment and keep it as a reminder of how you would like the room to stay.
4) Incentive.
Give yourself little rewards along the way. After you finish cleaning out the refrigerator, eat that truffle you’ve been saving. Finish all the dishes? Ten minutes to pleasure surf on the computer is in order.
Decide in advance how to divide up the zones in your house and have your rewards already picked out for accomplishing each task. Leave your favorite reward for last, when you finish the entire project.
5) Pair it up.
Invite one of your friends over to help you and then do the same at her house. Time will go much faster as you catch up on each other’s lives.
6) Blessings.
Realize that not everyone is as blessed as you are. Give thanks that you have dishes to wash because that means you have food to eat. Be grateful you have laundry to clean because that means you have a family to care for. Clean those windows with the knowledge that you have a roof over your head that keeps you warm and cozy.
7) Music notes.
Your home is your stage. Now is the time where you test out those dance moves and sing at the top of your lungs. Make cleaning a time where you get to get in touch with your inner rock star and let loose.
8) Memory lane.
While you’re cleaning and touching all the items in your home, why not go down memory lane and remember the special moments in your life where that object came into it.
As you put away your platter, does it bring up memories of your grandmother serving you Sunday supper on it? After dusting your crystal vase, does it remind you of how special your wedding day was and all the family and friends that were there to support you? Your home is filled with treasured memories, use your time cleaning those items as a way to warm your heart with your past.
9) Give.
Use your time cleaning as an opportunity to give to others. As you clean out your closets, look for things you can donate to those who are less fortunate than you and feel good about having the means to do so.
10) Invite.
Plan a fun gathering at your home complete with board games and a pot luck menu. There’s nothing like the threat of company that will motivate you to make your home in tip-top condition. The reward is entertaining your friends and family and making happy memories.
11) Timed event.
A timer will let you do small segments of cleaning at a time. Cleaning a whole house doesn’t sound like much fun. But cleaning for 10 minutes? That’s doable. Set a timer and go!
12) Less = more.
It’s much easier to clean if you have less to clean. Perfect logic, right? Strive to have higher quality items in your home that you use all the time, like a handmade serving bowl that an artist poured his or her soul into, rather than a bowl made in a factory.
If you spend your money on a higher value item, make sure you get the most of it by hosting small gatherings at your home and making sure you create memories with each piece.
Here are some products to make your cleaning experience much more enjoyable:
1) Ms. Meyers.
I either make my cleaners with essential oils, or I use Ms. Meyers. They have a variety of scents: Peony, Lilac, Mint, Basil, Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Geranium, Rosemary, Blueberry, and Honeysuckle.
You can find some of their items here on Amazon.
2) Micro-Fiber Cloths.
Save money on paper towels and make your job much easier with micro-fiber cloths. These cloths are what professionals use, and they will save you money to boot! Find a 50-pack of Micro-Fiber Cloths here.
3) Micro-Fiber Mop.
Instead of replacing your mops, get a micro-fiber mop and just throw the micro pads in the wash. Find your new mop here.
We’ve reached the end of Add Hygge Elements to Your Cleaning Routine. I hope you enjoyed it!
Make sure you don’t miss a single post. Have them delivered to your in-box by signing up. Don’t worry; I’ll never sell your information or spam you, that wouldn’t be very Hygge of me, now would it?
Thanks for stopping by!
Related Posts:
Best Hygge Books to Inspire a Cozy Life
Cozy Hygge Bedtime Rituals to Try Tonight
What a fantastic and thoughtful list. Music is always on here, essential oils when I remember and the timer is useful too
Hello Lizzy! Thank you so much for writing in. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Kelly
I love Mrs. Meyers! My favorite is Honeysuckle…such a happy scent!
Yes, it’s my favorite too. It makes doing housework a whole lot easier. Plus, your house smells like a dream after all the hard work! Kelly