I Tried "Rage Cleaning" My Apartment — And I've Never Felt Better
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I consider myself someone who likes things a certain way, especially when it comes to home organization. If my closet isn't organized by item (shirts, then pants, sweaters and blazers in that exact order), it irks me all day. So when things aren't the way I like them, I can get a bit overwhelmed. That's when the frantic cleaning and organizing begins.
When I first discovered the viral 'rage cleaning' trend, I had a feeling I'd be able to get on board pretty quickly solely based on the name. After scrolling through a few of over 8 million TikTok videos filed under the term, I found myself laughing at the ridiculousness of it all while simultaneously relating in a real way.
“Rage cleaning is a phrase that makes me laugh," says Katie Ortega of @heyitskatieortega. "It’s not as bad as it sounds, but to me, it’s when I’ve just had enough of a mess in my house and I’m aggressively tackling the mess.”
So I decided to wait until the next time I wanted to scream into my kitchen cabinets or kick all the shoes blocking my front door to give the popular cleaning method a shot. Unsurprisingly, that happened pretty shortly after. Read on for more on what I learned about the trend, the results of my experience and the best areas to rage clean according to an expert.
What is rage cleaning?
Like exercising, rage cleaning is a way to let out some steam (and surprisingly, it can be just as physically demanding, depending on the chore you decide to tackle). By channeling anger into motivation, rage cleaning not only helps you release pent up tension — it can also help you clean more efficiently, according to our cleaning experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
"Cleaning is very therapeutic and so satisfying! You take something dirty or disorganized and make it clean and beautiful again," says Carolyn Forté, Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director. "Cleaning takes effort and it's a great way to relieve stress while accomplishing something you've been putting off. And the payoff is big. You feel better in two ways, less stressed or angry and you have a cleaner home to show for it!"
So if you find yourself consistently glaring at an unorganized or dirty area of your home, try channeling that aggression for good. It may just trigger the most thorough cleaning session of your life.
My rage cleaning results
My first rage cleaning victim? My container cabinet. Because it's pretty high up, I often find myself blindly tossing containers and water bottles up there after washing them (which often results in something dangerously flying out each and every time I dare to open it up). I'd even started to keep other containers and bottles that didn't fit on the kitchen counter. I decided that I finally had enough of the clutter.
After cleaning the cabinet, I not only felt less agitated — I felt relieved. I can now open up that cabinet anytime without fear. Plus, I feel more motivated to keep it that way now that I know its potential.
Next up was my stovetop. Although the permanent stains are from previous renters, I noticed how grimy it had gotten recently under my watch.
I put on some music and started scrubbing away. By the time I was all done, I was actually smiling just looking at the results. I then proceeded to aggressively empty my dishwasher, refill it with the dirty dishes in the sink and wipe down my counters while I still had the motivation. I sat down afterwards and soaked in the feeling of not having any more cleaning to do for the rest of the night. And it sure felt good.
My biggest takeaway? Clean and organize whenever you feel the sudden urge. I often hold off cleaning until I have plenty of time to really commit, but with rage cleaning, it's all about just getting what you can done while you feel like it.
What are the best spots to tackle while rage cleaning?
According to cleaning experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute, the best spots to rage clean are those you might not get to often but show the biggest results when you do. Here are a few recommendations:
Organize a messy closet. If you find yourself feeling bothered every time you open your closet, it might be time to start rage cleaning. Channel that anger into energy and get organizing. Be open to getting rid of clothes you no longer need, too.
Scrub dirty floors. There's nothing more therapeutic than getting on your hands and knees with a sponge and some cleaning supplies. You'll be left with floors that sparkle and a better attitude.
Vacuum the carpet. Had enough of lingering dust and hair on the rug? It can be exhausting, but committing to vacuuming the entire carpet (yes, that means under the furniture) is one of the most rewarding areas to rage clean.
But if you're not feeling up to a chore that may take a bit longer, try quick tasks that can be completed in a matter of minutes. It's all about tackling an area that makes you feel overwhelmed and freeing yourself of that feeling through cleaning.
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