50 Moments When People Conquered Their Clutter, And The Results Were Worth It

Cleaning transforms your space—and your mood!

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• December 4, 2024

Cleaning often gets put off until it becomes a big task. It’s easy to ignore the mess, thinking you can always clean up later. But once you finally get around to it, you wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. The satisfaction of seeing a clean space can make you feel lighter and more proud of your home.

For many people, cleaning tasks that have been put off for a while can lead to amazing transformations. A dirty sink or faucet might seem impossible to clean, but it can shine like new with some scrubbing.

Many people have shared before-and-after photos showing how their cleaning efforts paid off, and those images can inspire others to tackle their messy areas. Cleaning also positively impacts your mind.

A tidy room can make you feel calmer and more organized. Simple tasks like wiping down counters, cleaning cabinets, or organizing your pantry can make a huge difference.

These small steps can help you feel in control and create a more peaceful environment. It’s about feeling accomplished.

Seeing a messy area turn into a neat one can give you a sense of pride. And sometimes, all it takes is seeing someone else’s cleaning success to motivate you to get started on your own.

A clean space can make you feel calmer and more organized.

"My Newest Cleaning. Took 2 Days. (Mental Health Problems)"

"The 44 Bus Stop Got Trashed Overnight. I went Out To Clean It And Met A ‘New’ Neighbor, Debbie (She’s Lived Here For 30 Yrs), Who Lent A Hand. People Talk Trash About SF, We Pick It Up"

"I Finally Cleaned My Kitchen After Months Of Depression. I’m So Proud Of Myself"

"Update On The Copper Pots I Found For 6$cad Each. They Cleaned Up Well"

"My Little Weekend Project Before And After"

"I Cleaned My 23 Year Old Favourite Plushie"

"Depression Den: Progress, Not Perfection"

"Just Cleaned The Pool At My New House For The First Time… Surprise Dolphin"

"Not Perfect But I Feel Very Accomplished"

"Before/After Of A Backyard I Cleaned Up Today"

"I Clean Up Illegal Dumping For Fun In The San Francisco Bay Area. Enjoy Some More Before And Afters"

"Between Work And Struggling With Depression, I Finally Found The Motivation To Finish Cleaning My Room From NYE To NYD"

"Who Doesn’t Enjoy Clean Kitchen Lights (Before And After)"

"Cleaning My Depression Flat After Months Of Being In A Bad Place"

"Several Weeks Ago, I Asked Y’all About Cleaning This Thing On The Side Of My House"

"I Scrubbed The Floor At Work Today And It Traveled Two Years Into The Past"

"CLR Is Actually Magic. (With Some Elbow Grease)"

"I've Been Cleaning Up The Cauldron I Found Buried In My Forest"

"3 Days Cleaning Help For Free. This Was The Hardest Job Ever"

"It Was So Hard To Find The Motivation"

"A Mid-Century Silver Cocktail Shaker For $7. Look At What Some Polish Can Do"

"Before And After From The Back Of The Oven In My New Apartment"

"Bedroom Before And After"

"Before And After Photos Of This Pool I Cleaned Today. How’d I Do?"

"Before-And-After Cleaning Of A 300-Year-Old Silver-Inlaid Sword Pommel"

"1995 Zippo, Before And After. One Day, It Will Look Like It Did Before The Sanding And Polish"

"We Cleaned And Organised The Whole House For My Mum’s Birthday. This Was The Pantry"

"Client Called Me Thursday, Went To The Pool Friday, Started The Clean Up Process. Before Is From Friday And After Is Tuesday, Quick Turn Around In 100+ Degree Louisiana Heat"

"Bathtub"

"Years Of Grime Removed From Tile Floor With Vinegar, Baking Soda, Dish Soap And Water"

"Currently I Reorganize All Of Our 80 Workplaces In The Office"

"30 Minute Soak In Vinegar"

"My Work On This Oven From Today's Job... Before/After"

"One Of The Dirtiest Cars I’ve Detailed. The Lady (86) Was Super Sweet And Tipped Me $100"

"Hurricane Helene Destroyed Our House But Not Our Cast Iron"

"30 Yrs Of Grease And Grime On A Le Crueset - Before And After"

"I Cleaned My Grandmother-In-Laws Old Watch For Her"

"Grout Clean In My “New” House"

"I Scrubbed One Side Of A Pan I've Had For Many Years"

"Before And After Some Cleaning Of A Friend's Friend's PC"

"Ancestral Grime Update"

"Found This Solid Copper Mug At An Antique Store For $4 And Spent An Hour Cleaning It With Vinegar And Baking Soda"

"Cleaned My Keyboard For The First Time In 13 Years"

"This Bathroom Cabinet I Just Cleaned"

"Cleaned My USB Cable With An Alcohol Wipe"

"Before/After Of A Backyard Cleanup I Did Today"

"I Polished My Silver Spoons Today"

"Before And After Photos Of My Oven That The Previous Tenant And Landlord Left For Me. Not Perfect, But So Much Better!"

"Last Year We Had A Bag Break And It Dropped A 1.75l Bottle Of Vodka And The Pavements Been Clean There Ever Since."

"Professional oven cleaner here - would anyone be interested in my top tips and products?"

Cleaning goes beyond just a task—it's a way to reduce stress and create a comfortable environment. We often put it off but feel proud and at ease once done. The changes from simple cleaning efforts can be surprisingly rewarding and inspire us to continue.

Tasks like washing the sink or organizing drawers help create a calm and orderly space. After finishing a cleaning task, the sense of accomplishment can be the push needed to finally take on the clutter and enjoy a cleaner, more peaceful home.

Damjan