5 questions about the mental health benefits of cleaning

1. What do experts say about the mental health benefits of cleaning?

Psychologists and Zen monks alike say that manual chores like sweeping, mopping and decluttering can be calming and almost meditative. Clinical psychologist Holly Schiff explains that repetitive, physical activities are regulating for the nervous system because they are predictable, structured and provide a clear sense of completion — giving people feelings of control and grounding.

2. Why does cleaning feel satisfying in a way other tasks don’t?

Unlike many cognitive or emotional tasks, cleaning produces an immediately visible result, which Schiff says can be uniquely gratifying. Buddhist monk Shoukei Matsumoto adds that the time spent carefully tending to a space is “extremely fulfilling” because, in Zen practice, cleaning is seen as removing worldly desires and freeing oneself from attachments.

3. How can people who dread cleaning change their relationship with it?

Schiff recommends slowing down and shifting focus to the sensory aspects of the task — like the rhythm of movement or the temperature of water — so that cleaning begins to function more like a mindfulness exercise. Matsumoto suggests reframing cleaning not as controlling the environment but as “Habitat Care,” an extension of caring for oneself and one’s relationship with the world.

4. What advice do experts offer for people who feel overwhelmed by cleaning?

Both experts say perfectionism and the sense of a looming to-do list are key sources of dread. Schiff recommends breaking tasks down into very small actions — starting with just one surface, one task or one room — because much of the overwhelm comes from mentally anticipating the entire job rather than simply taking the first step.

5. What is the broader Zen philosophy behind cleaning?

Matsumoto says peace comes not from achieving a final tidy state, but from the humble, ongoing act of cleaning itself. He points to nature as a reminder that perfection is impossible — “leaves fall the moment you finish sweeping” — and notes that a well-tended space carries the awareness of the person who cleaned it, creating a sense of peace and safety similar to what people feel in sacred spaces like temples.

For more on this report, read “A mop, a broom and a calmer mind. Why some find mental health benefits in everyday tasks” from The Associated Press, published on The Washington Times.