When I try to explain when I feel most spiritually fulfilled, I sound more like Martha Stewart then Buddha. I feel that I found myself when I found the role as the keeper of the hearth and home.
In the past, my practice has been very on the fly and not really a practice. More of a general acknowledgment that kitchenwitchery felt right to me, and the disinterest in explaining it to other people.
But on my 26 for 26 birthday list, exploring my spirituality was very high on the list. This includes meditation, visiting spiritual places, reading, and speaking honestly about how I feel.
So to start things off, my top 5 tips for cleaning
1. No chemicals! Don't use anything that you would think twice about eating off of. If you are willing to make out with a bathtub after spraying a foaming cleaner, then you are braver then I.
I went to a strict no chemical cleaning process about 4 years ago. I was really examining the different aspects of my environment that can influence my life, and I thought what it meant when I used a bathroom cleaner that made me woozy when scrubbing the sink or that my window cleaner was not a color you could find in nature. I had a transition period where I used mostly natural brands (e.g. Method) but now I'm averaging about 75% of cleaning materials made in the house. I make some exceptions for myself when it comes to laundry and dish detergent, but I buy smart and examine labels when buying anything.
How does all of these relate to your health and happiness? Consider how many chemicals the average person is confronted with on a daily basis, consider the possibilities in mixing your own cleaning solutions, and definitely consider how nice saving a little bit of extra money can be. I use vinegar solutions for the majority of surface cleaning and when vinegar can't do it, baking soda normally can. Dr. Bronner's smells better then most soap on the market and had the extra perk of being an inspirational read. I even bought a steam mop eliminating the need for chemicals on my floors.
When I clean my house, I'm trying to create an environment that I will grow in. Clouding it with unnecessary chemicals and smells goes against all of my goals.
2. Take your shoes off at the door.
You will spend less time vacuuming and mopping the floors.
You will have pretty floors with fewer scuff marks and no footprints.
You are ensuring that everything from the outside is staying out. From bad energy to bad chemicals, you want to leave all of that at the door.
3. Act with intention, use your cleaning as meditation.
Have you ever gotten into the scrubbing zone? Or the dishes zone, where you are completely aware of the fact that you are doing dishes, but you are relishing the experience? When you set forth with the attitude that you are not just cleaning your surroundings, but you are preparing the staging area for your life, you can live in those moments and enjoy them more.
I go into autopilot far too easily, so using my cleaning as meditation with the intention of improving my quality of life, I know that I can accomplish great things.
4. Make it a daily practice.
Too often do we leave cleaning to the weekend, allowing ourselves to spend an entire day finally getting the house back into order. I'm part of this guilty party, I spent the majority of Saturday getting our kitchen back in working order. If you do that cleaning trying to be present, by the end of the day, you are tired, cranky, and very drained.
If you try to leave a little bit of time to clean each day, it becomes less daunting and you are able to make your little contribution to your tomorrow by having things in line.
5. Dress the part.
I have aprons that I put on while cleaning. Even if I struggled to brush my hair and are wearing clothes that don't match, I'm prepared for battle. The apron becomes my symbol, this house is mine and this is my crown.
If you don't like aprons, I'm not sure what to tell you. Aprons are awesome. Maybe a special cleaning hoodie would work, but I'm telling you, given the apron a try.
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