Click here for the natural all-purpose cleaners I recommend!
Does cleaning your home bring you joy? It does for me—most of the time. One of my best tips for keeping the house tidy is to make the cleaning process enjoyable. If you dread it, you’ll avoid it. If you savor it, you’ll do it more often.
I find that engaging your senses can transform chores into something pleasant. Little rituals and sensory cues make a big difference.
To set the right mood I change into my “cleaning clothes” and wear sturdy house shoes. I’m much more productive in shoes than in socks or slippers—this practical habit helps me move and clean efficiently. I also create cozy lighting with lamps when it’s dark outside so the house feels warm and inviting. That atmosphere makes piles of dishes and laundry feel out of place and more motivating to tackle.
If it’s morning, I start a pot of coffee before I begin; the aroma fills the house and lifts my mood. I love frothy oat milk with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top—it feels like a small act of self-care to enjoy while I work.
Music or a podcast keeps me company while I clean. Lately I’ve been listening to Vance Joy or an Enneagram podcast called The Road Back to You. Having a favorite playlist or episode makes cleaning feel like a shared activity rather than a chore.
I’m also big on seasonal scents. Cozy notes in fall and winter, and citrus or floral scents in spring and summer—adding scents that suit the season makes cleaning more pleasurable.
I stopped buying pre-scented cleaning products because many contain unwanted chemicals. Instead, I customize a non-toxic cleaner by adding a few drops of essential oils to my favorite unscented cleaner. It’s simple, safer for my home, and lets me change scents by season or mood.
Personalizing my cleaner with essential oils has been a small change with big payoff. Mixing scents and using a pretty spray bottle turns cleaning into a little ritual I actually look forward to.
Why I stopped using scented commercial cleaners
My current favorite seasonal scent blend:
Lemon myrtle + geranium
I add several drops of each oil to one capful of concentrated household cleaner in a 16 oz glass spray bottle, then fill the rest with water. This gives the cleaner a fresh, seasonal scent while keeping the ingredients simple and non-toxic.
Recently I mixed 2 drops lemon myrtle, about 5 drops bergamot, and around 8 drops peppermint into one capful of cleaner, then topped it with water. The result smelled delightful and brightened the whole cleaning session.
Sometimes I find myself looking forward to cleaning just so I can use the bottle I mixed and enjoy the scent. A task that once felt tedious now feels like a small, restorative ritual.
I use high-quality essential oils to ensure purity and safety, especially since they affect the air we breathe. Choosing reliable oils gives me confidence that the blends support wellbeing while adding pleasant fragrance.
Happy cleaning!
What are your most inspiring cleaning rituals?
