The Amazing Effects of Cleaning: Try Wiping Your Entrance, Floors, and Windows—You Won't Regret It

A story about something I've been feeling lately.

Cleaning should not be underestimated.

Seriously, just try it—wipe your entrance, floors, and windows.
Even just one spot is fine.

The most obvious one is the windows.

How does the view from your window look?

Before I wiped my windows, they were covered in rain streaks and dust, and
naturally, they were cloudy.

Yes, the view wasn't good.
No matter how nice the weather was,
the outside view didn't look clear.

"Isn't that the same as your own reality?"

If so,
let's start by making the view in front of you clear.

It's a hassle, but try wiping the windows.
While you're at it, try gently wiping the screen doors too.

When you do that, the view improves, and
the breeze coming through the screen door
feels better too.

Reading self-help books or
sitting at a desk to do self-analysis is
good, of course, but

if you are feeling a bit stagnant,
sulking because you don't know what to do,
or feeling a vague sense of unease,
(all of which was me in the past),

spending your time at home feeling good
is something that connects to the emotions
you feel in the outside world.

I think cleaning is what builds that foundation.

Really!!
Just try it, you won't regret it!!!
I want you to give it a go.

Since you're moving your body, it's also good exercise.

Below,
for those who are thinking,
"But what should I do when you say 'clean'?"
I will introduce some simple cleaning methods.

Things to prepare

Old towels or similar items.
Thick items like wet wipes or kitchen paper
are also fine.

To lift your mood,
it's okay to play your favorite radio station or music.

Entrance

If you have a broom, give it a quick sweep.
If not, wipe it down with a damp towel.

You'll likely find
grit and sand coming up from somewhere.
If you have the energy,
wiping the soles of your shoes while you're at it is a great idea!

Floors

Remove dust with a vacuum or a floor wiper.
After that, wipe them with a damp towel.

There's no special trick to wiping.
Just remember how you wiped the floors in elementary school,
and doing it casually like that is just fine.

Windows

Use a two-pronged approach with a damp towel and a dry towel.

Wipe a little with the damp towel,
then follow up by wiping over it with the dry towel.

Doing this prevents water streaks from the towel
and leaves them sparkling clean.

When they become sparkling clean,
it feels absolutely wonderful!!

Window Screens

A damp towel is fine.
Wipe gently in a circular motion so the screen doesn't come off.

To think that this much dirt was stuck on them...
and that the breeze was passing through that
to enter my room...
it's chilling to think about.

Bonus

In this flow, you don't even have to wipe it, but
I want you to look in the mirror.

How is it?
Is it cloudy?

If this becomes sparkling clean,
you should look beautiful too...!!
That is, unfortunately, not the case.

If you're going to look at it anyway,
it feels better if it's clean.

Well, whether you wipe it or not is up to you.

(If you do feel like wiping it,
I recommend wiping it gently
so as not to scratch the mirror.
Also, use the two-handed technique, just like cleaning windows.)

As for the dirty towel,

it's fine to wash and reuse it, but
for my first cleaning session,
it was so dirty that I threw it away.

Nowadays you can buy kitchen cloths at 100-yen shops,
(like a pack of 20 with various patterns)
and since I hate keeping
dirty towels, I use them as disposables.

If you find your favorite cleaning supplies,
cleaning becomes a little less annoying
(or so it feels).

It's the rainy season, you're feeling sluggish, and you don't feel like going out.
Even at times like that, I really want you to try it
just trust me.

I clean windows once a month,
wipe the floors once a week,
clean the entrance and the soles of my shoes when I have time,
and wipe the mirror when it bothers me.

This is my third month since I started this cleaning routine.
I feel better at home,
and my mind has cleared up (in my own estimation).

I've become more active outside,
and paths have opened up for me to attend a return-to-work program.

I feel like a good cycle has been created.

See you later 🧹