I tried ‘rage cleaning’ and my bad moods have never been so productive – the experts love it too

We all have our bad days – times when nothing goes our way and we end up festering on the sofa, glaring at the TV screen. But what if we started to put that negative energy to good use?

After hearing about ‘rage cleaning’ I decided to store this cleaning tip away in the back of my mind until my next bad day. The idea is to use this pent-up frustration to fuel a big cleaning session, scrubbing your bad mood out to make yourself feel better.

After I woke up on the wrong side of the bed last weekend, I decided to finally give this method a go to tackle the hardest household cleaning tasks I had been putting off. Here’s how I got on, and why I am almost looking forward to my next bad day.

What is rage cleaning?

The concept of rage cleaning is simple. When you are in a bad mood, take the energy, combine it with some cleaning jobs, and get to work. The goal is to get moving and achieve some helpful tasks to help release dopamine and feel better.

Forrest Webber, cleaning expert and owner of Bear Brothers Cleaning explains, ‘Physical movement from cleaning will release endorphins, improve mood, and provide control over one's surroundings. By using your emotions, you get your chores done, sometimes at a better and more efficient rate!

‘For example, scrubbing pans and surfaces repetitively can be therapeutic. Vacuuming and sweeping can positively direct energy. Home organizing ideas can also create a sense of order in your life, with tasks such as doing laundry, folding, and sorting clothes putting you into a more meditative state, helping to boost your overall mood. Deep cleaning can also make you feel accomplished for the day, another thing off the checklist!

‘All of these together can help release pent-up energy in a positive direction.’

How I got on

There were several big cleaning tasks I had been putting off over the last month. January is draining at the best of times, so thoroughly cleaning a bathroom and cleaning my car were constantly put on the back burner. I woke up pretty angry at the world, so I quickly got to work, deciding that I was finally going to tackle the bathroom.

I changed into clothes I didn’t mind getting messy, and shoved on my headphones. It turns out that putting on some ‘rage’ songs helps to fuel your energy, and it helped me to stay motivated to clean.

Working from top to bottom, I started with my prized Scrub Daddy Damp Duster, to get rid of dust in the bathroom before attacking the shower which, despite weekly cleaning with bathroom cleaner and a sponge, was starting to turn a bit pink with bacteria build-up, especially around the grout and sealant.

It is safe to say that when my partner walked in on me scrubbing furiously to clean shower grout with a steam cleaner (the best way to clean shower grout in my opinion), he quickly backed away – it was probably for the best.

I am not exaggerating when I say I powered through tasks I had been avoiding for months. Removing cobwebs from around the high ceilings, cleaning houseplant leaves, cleaning drains – you name it, it was attacked and cleaned within an inch of its life. I even managed to tackle my bathroom decluttering checklist, all within about an hour and a half.

As Forrest said, there really was something very therapeutic about channeling my anger into something productive. If I had gone about wallowing all day, I likely would have snapped at my partner and sulked, doubtless causing an unnecessary argument. Instead, as I started to tire and my bathroom started to look less chaotic, I found myself growing calmer. Arguments averted.

Tips for rage cleaning

Now that I have tested it myself, I can say for sure that there are some things I would and would not do again next time (let’s face it, there will always be a next time no matter how much meditation I try).

• Use music to keep you going: Music is one of the best motivators. High-energy songs that you love are great for keeping your energy levels up. The last thing you want is to feel drained mid-task, leaving your home a worse mess than you started.
• Manage your expectations: I got a lot done when rage cleaning, but I didn’t accomplish as much as I originally planned to. I thoroughly cleaned the bathroom before my anger started to fade. I then also managed to clean the inside of my car as my energy started to wane. I had initially planned on also cleaning my office and possibly my kitchen, but I was a lot calmer by then and settled on relaxing for the rest of the day instead. Picking smaller tasks and seeing where your energy levels sit afterward might be more sustainable.
• Pick tasks with a big payoff: That being said, the whole point of rage cleaning is to tackle harder tasks that you usually put off. It could be that you need to clean a glass stove top that you burnt milk onto a few weeks earlier, or your pans desperately need scrubbing after a big roast. Anything that will give you noticeable, satisfying results is a big win for rage cleaning, helping you to feel better more quickly.
• Know your limits: Rage cleaning can be therapeutic on occasion, but if you ever start to feel like you are cleaning when overwhelmed, it is probably time to put the sponges down and have a sit-down instead. Knowing when to use your rage and when to relax is important to avoid burnout.

All in all, rage cleaning is certainly an infrequent cleaning habit I now won’t live without, helping me to channel my energy on days that seem to be slipping out of my control. That being said, we don’t recommend actively putting yourself in a bad mood just to get through your chores. Know your limits for a healthier you and a cleaner home.