It’s no secret that a clean, tidy home lifts our spirits. Here, two-in-one tips that’ll help you ditch dirt and grime while increasing your joy and energy levels.
Get sparkling windows and rev energy with lemon
Letting more light into your house via clean windows can instantly make you feel happier. In a spray bottle combine 1 cup of water and 2 Tbs. of lemon juice. Spritz windows and wipe immediately with a dry cloth. Mood boost: “Lemon’s scent lowers stress hormones and increases energy,” says clinical psychologist Carolina Estevez, Psy.D.
Clean fast and melt stress with a basket
“Grab a laundry basket and take 5 minutes a day to go from room to room collecting clutter,” says Kait Schulhof, of A Clean Bee. “Stash in a closet and set aside time to sort through it on Sunday.” Mood boost: Regularly removing clutter—even if we don’t sort it in the moment—is shown to lower stress.
Straighten bookshelves and spark joy with the rainbow
“One of the easiest ways to wrangle a bookshelf is by using the ‘rainbow method,’” says organizer Diana Ciechorska. “It creates a visually pleasing arrangement, and it makes books super easy to organize—you simply group them all by color and place them onto shelves to create a wall of vibrant hues.”
Mood boost: Using color to spark joy is called chromotherapy—cool colors like blue and green make us feel serene while warm hues like red and orange rev energy.
Clear the air and increase focus with the right plants
Many houseplants, like pothos and peace lilies, filter indoor air, helping you breathe easier. “You can even put them in windowless basements—a grow light turned on for an hour is typically all they need,” says holistic design expert Gala Magriñá.
Mood boost: Studies show that simply gazing at houseplants eases anxiety and improves focus.
Make your bed easily and improve your outlook with a duvet trick
To make your bed look perfect, simply grab a duvet one size smaller than your comforter. The smaller duvet will force the filler to condense, creating a super fluffy effect. Mood boost: In a survey, people who made their beds described themselves as “happy” with their lives, while 62 percent of non–bed makers reported feeling unhappy!
