In our multi-tasking, fast paced world, it would probably be difficult to find someone who doesn’t juggle a multitude of things to get done while doing other things. There is perhaps a time for this sort of scattered attention: cooking dinner while putting dishes away and helping a child with homework is a common experience—there are only so many hours in a day.

That coupled with the COVID-19 restrictions that have forced so many to wear different hats at the same time in the same space: boss, parent, employee, partner, spouse, friend, and so many more, it is no wonder that we find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and like there is still so much more to do.


Mindfully Avoiding Burnout

Katie Shulist, founder and CEO of Dhyana Cleaning, a successful and sought-after green cleaning services provider in Toronto, Ontario says that by using her mindful cleaning method, one can manage their energy, not just their time and move towards a more fulfilling life. This is done in part by becoming more skillful in the cleaning process, but also by using cleaning as an opportunity to be grounded in the present moment.

Over Katie’s almost 2 decades of experience as a social entrepreneur and a professional cleaner, she has developed some important insights regarding the many opportunities cleaning provides for developing mindful attention to one’s thoughts, ego, and physicality. Reading about Buddhist and Yogic philosophy led Katie to realize that she was doing the same sorts of introspection and mindful attention when she was working as a cleaning professional.

This inspired Katie to develop a program that could help others access the kind of mindful cleaning practice she knows is accessible to all of us. Katie says, “it is within our practice that we come to realize our boundaries are self-imposed, that anything is possible with the right mindset.”


Mastering Mindset

If we want to become more efficient and focused, we can do so by creating the right mindset, which can often be honed through meditation practice. Neuroscientists who study the effects of meditation on the brain have found that meditation not only affects change at the behavioural level, but at the level of brain functioning as well. In a 2018 study conducted by Benjamin Schöne et al, they found “that mindful breath awareness meditation may lead to refinements of attention networks, enabling more efficient use of attentional resources.”

​In a social world where multitasking is not only valued, but often a sought-after skill in various forms of employment, learning to have more efficient use of our attentional resources may look differently than we think. Rather than becoming improved multitaskers, we are better able to begin a task and see it through to its end with more accuracy and focus (Adler & Benbunan-Fich, 2012).

More than rushing through the cleaning process to simply get it done, Katie’s mindful cleaning is one that engages body, mind, and spirit. Cleaning is a physical task, one that is bolstered by using “effective and efficient systems to clean skillfully.” Next, says Katie, we shape our experiences with our attitude and mindset. The mental experience of the cleaning process is very important. If we look at cleaning as a menial task that is somehow beneath us, it will not serve our mental states.

But if we look at cleaning as an opportunity to come back to the body, to breathe with awareness, to have concern for the products we use for our own health and that of the environment and we see cleaning as an opportunity to check in, to be real with our emotional and physical states, we can begin to see it in a different light. And that different light is one of having a spirit open to providing service, whether just for yourself or for all beings that live in your home.


Fine Tuning Attention

In a study done by Kathleen G. Burger et al (2017) mindfulness meditation was shown to improve executive attention “which is the type of cognitive processing required under technically difficult conditions involving critical decision making, trouble shooting, and prioritizing one's attention among competing stimuli” (Burger et al, 2017).

Mindful cleaning, like mindful walking or mindful movement is a practice that can help to develop such focus (Crivelli et al. 2019). Given all the many competing items for our attention, especially since the COVID-19 restrictions, a practice that can support prioritizing attention in a skillful manner can be quite beneficial.


Many Benefits of a Mindful Cleaning Practice

Many people are interested in meditation for a variety of reasons, not the least of which include gaining a deeper sense of self-awareness and emotional resilience to help avoid burnout. Through Katie’s practice of mindful cleaning, there are the overlapping benefits of positively affecting your space by creating a clean and ordered environment alongside a deepening of our self-awareness.

As Katie says, “my aim is to create an environment that enables you to deepen your connection to all of life, and open to transformation within yourself.” By using Katie’s mindful cleaning principles as outlined in her Clear Mind course, we learn to transform the world around us by transforming the world within. Want to try Katie’s course? Contact her at katie@dhyanacleaning.com.

Green Cleaning for Healthy Spaces, Minds and Bodies

As awareness of the impact of chemical cleaners on personal and environmental health grows, more people are turning to the benefits of green cleaning products and services to help them with their cleaning needs and goals.

When Katie Shulist, founder and CEO of Dhyana Cleaning, Toronto’s premier provider of green cleaning services was asked to weigh in on what green cleaning is, here’s what she said:

“Green cleaning isn’t just cleaning for appearance. It’s cleaning for health, so the outcome is different.”

While of course green cleaning takes appearance into consideration, it’s a holistic process that also considers human, animal and environmental health. For Katie, green cleaning principles inform “the products that we use, the processes that we follow and the tools as well.”

Kicking VOCs Out and Inviting Cleaning for Health In

The products Dhyana Cleaning uses are those that have low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which are, says Katie, “damaging to the planet and to people’s health. They not only damage the environment—they can damage the air in our homes.”

VOCs have been linked to cancers, birth defects, hormone disruptions, and neurological disorders (Bably & Arif, 2019, McDonald et al 2018)). Katie says the use of harsh chemicals goes against green cleaning principles which are “to remove germs and bacteria to create a space that’s healthy so that you can thrive.”

From Thriving to Dhyana Cleaning’s Mindful Cleaning Movement

It’s that thriving element that has really driven Katie to become one of Toronto’s foremost providers of eco-friendly, green cleaning services. She is passionate about what it means to truly thrive, and how she can help her clients and her employees develop opportunities for personal growth. Enter Dhyana Cleaning’s Mindful Cleaning Movement.

After reading a book on Buddhism back in 2005, Katie remembers thinking that she was learning to apply the same kinds of teachings she was reading about in her daily work as a cleaner.

“It opened up a world of non-judgement for me because I saw our universal, shared humanity. Going into other people’s private spaces, you see their struggles. You see their wins and their losses.”

Noticing all of this gave Katie the opportunity to relate to her clients and their cleaning goals on a deeper level. Reflecting on those early days she says, “I think that shared humanity is the first lesson cleaners learn.”

Katie’s expertise in green cleaning led her to seek out a path that most resembled how she felt about the cleaning process itself. Mindful cleaning is “a way to get in touch with how you’re feeling in the present moment,” she says, and it offers “a practice to build present moment awareness. Once you become aware of what is coming up inside, you can choose to put those thoughts aside, in service for the person you are serving, as well as for yourself. It’s a practice in humility.”

Ultimately, mindful cleaning is “a practice to build loving kindness for yourself and also to build that for the people you’re cleaning for.”

And if all that weren’t enough, Katie Shulist’s Mindful Cleaning Movement is one that offers “a practice to become more self-aware, which is so important for well-being.”

Research into the positive effects of mindfulness meditation are numerous, and studies show benefits such as decreasing anxiety, improving emotional regulation, improving attention regulation, and positive change on perspective of the self (Holzel, et al 2011, Hulsheger et al 2013, Davis & Hayes, 2011).

Revealing the Beauty of a Space to Reveal the Beauty Within

Katie was inspired to create a way for people to learn about these principles, whether they practiced mindfulness or not. She developed #revealbeauty to help her employees, clients, and those using the green cleaning resources on her website as a way to begin to develop the self-awareness that mindful cleaning can offer.

Katie’s #revealbeauty reflects her philosophy that through mindful cleaning, as you “reveal the beauty in your space, you become more spacious in yourself, thereby revealing the beauty within.”

Katie’s vision includes all people who are engaging in the cleaning process, whether they are a professional, like her employees, or someone cleaning their own space.

In fact, gaining such expansive personal growth opportunities from her own commitment to mindful cleaning and revealing beauty was what motivated Katie to expand her company. Dhyana Cleaning also invests in their employees by offering them learning and development opportunities and supporting them to develop the unique strengths within themselves.

Katie is committed to providing green cleaning services and helping others learn to clean mindfully as an opportunity to develop self-growth and awareness. She’s also aware of the powerful mental-health benefits of a clean and organized space where “not only germs and bacteria are being removed, but by organizing, the visual aspect of order helps to lower stress.”

Katie’s experiences and understandings of how a clean, organized space can lower stress echo recent scientific studies that saw a direct correlation between higher reported stress levels and clutter (Arnold et al, 2012, Roster et al, 2016).

“It was from that awareness and that practice that I thought ‘this is what I want to teach other people. This is what I want other cleaners to experience.’”
​

Katie has most recently been inspired to help people reveal beauty in their homes and in themselves by how much the current COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions have added to their stress and anxiety.

While mindful cleaning can benefit everyone, it can be particularly helpful when transitioning from work mode to home mode. This is especially true when so many people are missing the physical division of these spaces.
There’s no longer that separation between work and home, Katie says, and a 20-minute round of mindful cleaning at the beginning and end of the workday can help. This provides a way for those working from home to check in with themselves, slow down, and be more completely present when it’s time to shut the computer off.

Given the complexities of our current times, a practice that can help deepen self- awareness, lower stress and anxiety, and help get the house in order sounds like just the thing. Katie’s Clear Mind program is one that offers immersive training in how to begin and then continue a practice of mindful cleaning. In the meantime, Katie says anyone can become more mindful when cleaning with her 5 easy tips.

Katie’s 5 Easy Tips to Practice Mindful Cleaning

1. Set your intention (for example, do you want to increase your energy or learn to become more patient?)
2. Make it easy to get started by committing to a small task for 1-5 minutes. Starting is the most challenging part!
3. Make a plan. This creates an efficiency-mindset while conserving energy and making the best use of your time. (Stay tuned for the next post that covers this tip in more detail!).
4. Focus on your environment. Appreciate what you have and what you are cleaning. Are the items in your space gifts from a loved one? What about the care that was taken by all of the people who made the products in your home? This teaches us about our interconnectedness.
5. Set a timer and get as much done as possible within the time frame and without judgement. This helps you to drop into focus – focus on the next immediate step – not too far into the future, just moment to moment awareness of revealing the beauty of your space and within.

​
Adrienne Kitchin is a freelance health and education writer as well as a Liberal Studies and Anthropology Professor at Humber College in Toronto, Canada. She can be found on LinkedIn .

It’s no secret that at Dhyana Cleaning, we take our craft of all-natural cleaning seriously. We live and breathe “green cleaning”. We pride ourselves on being an ethical, eco-friendly cleaning company on a mission to support wellbeing, for both cleaners and clients. Your home shouldn’t just sparkle, it should support good health – your health, and the health of our environment. We’re proud to be one of the first cleaning companies in Toronto to embody this core principal. 

SAFE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!
Chemicals in many cleaners are common pollutants that contribute to smog, reduce the quality of drinking water, and are toxic to animals. Using all-natural cleaners contribute to a healthier environment. They help reduce ozone depletion, global climate change and pollution to waterways and air. Conventional cleaners are known to easily seep into your water supply, and water treatment plants have difficulty treating a large volume of such chemicals.
​
SAFE FOR YOUR HEALTH!
Ammonia-based cleaners are especially dangerous and should be avoided. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air may lead to bronchial and alveolar edema. This may obstruct the air passage and cause respiratory disorders. Direct contact with industrial cleaners that contain high concentrations of ammonia may also inflict severe skin burns, permanent eye damage, or even blindness.

1. OPTIM 33TB by Sci Can
For cleaning + disinfecting, we use OPTIM 33TB by Sci Can, the only cleaner-disinfectant registered with the EPA. OPTIM 33TB is a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning-disinfectant that cleans well, kills germs quickly, and is safe to use and safe for the environment. It even kills Norwalk-like viruses, the polio virus and even the common cold virus, all known to be resistant to many surface disinfectants.

2. DoTerra's On Guard Cleaner Concentrate
We love DoTerra's On Guard Cleaner Concentrate - a natural cleaner made of premium grade essential oils. Not only is this cleaner environmentally friendly and super effective - it’s an IMMUNITY BOOSTER! So when our cleaners breath it in, it actually improves their health! Quite the opposite of synthetic chemicals that are known to break down immune systems. BONUS: this cleaner smells DIVINE!

3. Pink Solution: Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Pink solution is a must for your non-toxic cleaning supply list! This multi-purpose all-natural cleaner is biodegradable and is also one of the best natural enzyme cleaners out there! When mixed with water, natural enzymes emulsify dirt, grease and grime, and restore finishes to their natural state.  Pink Solution contains no chemicals, and can be inhaled, eaten and used without any gloves, with no ill effects.
 
4. Nature Clean: Cream Cleanser
Nature Clean Cream Cleanser is a non-scratching, non-toxic, chlorine free, biodegradable cleanser that works wonders. This particular product provides a healthier clean without the use of potentially dangerous sulphates (SLES), alcohol ethoxylates, phthalates, parabens, perfumes, dyes or petroleum ingredients. It can be used to clean laundry, dishes, and produce!
​

OUR TOP AT-HOME GREEN CLEANING HACKS
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1. TOUGH STAINS ON YOUR FAVOURITE SHIRT OR LINENS?
​
SOLUTION: Wet the stained portion of the fabric with warm water. Apply concentrated Pink Solution as a paste (no diluting) directly onto the stain, rub in, and let sit for 10 minutes before tossing into the wash. 

Pink solution is a natural enzyme cleaner. Enzymes are macromolecular biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions and break down various types of stains.

2. MOLD OR MILDEW IN YOUR TILE GROUT?

SOLUTION: Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl to form a paste. Apply the paste to your tile grout and let sit for approx. 10 minutes (this allows the mixture some time to loosen any dirt). After 10 minutes, gently scrub the grout and tiles with a grout brush and wipe clean and VOILA!

Hydrogen peroxide for cleaning is safe to use on grout, as it is a natural cleaner that won’t eat away at grout like vinegar can. When mixed with baking soda, hydrogen peroxide forms oxygenated bleach, and that chemical reaction safely cleans the surface.

3. BURNT POTS AND PANS? 

SOLUTION: Tackle the problem by cleaning with baking soda and vinegar! Fill your burnt pot or pan with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of vinegar. Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiled, remove from heat, place in sink, and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. After the mixture has fizzed, empty out the pot or pan and scrub with a slightly abrasive scrubber (we suggest Pink Solution’s black nylon scrubber). Your pots will look brand new!

Baking soda and vinegar react with each other because they exchange atoms. In this reaction, baking soda acts as a base, and takes a proton from vinegar, which is an acid. The reaction releases gas because when the baking soda receives the proton, it transforms into water and carbon dioxide.

4. RUST STAINS OR LIME RINGS IN YOUR PORCELAIN TOILET BOWL?

SOLUTION: Pumice stone! First, soften the pumice stone by submerging it into the water of the toilet bowl (this will prevent scratching). Once wet, simply rub the stone over the tough rust or lime ring the same way you would use an eraser. We guarantee those stains will magically disappear within seconds!
Pumice (volcanic rock) is a very soft and porous stone. Pumice stone is effective for cleaning porcelain toilet bowls because the stone is harder than most mineral deposits and stains that typically develop on toilets, yet softer than porcelain.

5. NEED A NEW (AND BUDGET-FRIENDLY) ALL-NATURAL, ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER?

SOLUTION: Save your citrus peels! That’s right – when life gives you lemons… clean! 
​You’ll need: Citrus peels, white vinegar, 1 large mason jar, fine mesh sieve, 1 large bowl, and a spray bottle. To do: Fill mason jar halfway with citrus peels and then fill the jar entirely with vinegar. Cover the jar with lid and let sit in a dark place for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, strain your citrus cleaner using a fine mesh sieve placed over a large bowl and discard the peels. Pour your citrus cleaner into a spray bottle and there you have it! Your own all-purpose (and natural) spray cleaner!

Follow @DhyanaCleaning on Instagram and Facebook for additional all-natural cleaning tips! Have your own eco cleaning solutions? We’d love for you to share them with us!
 
Join our Mindful Cleaning Movement! Click here for Emails that #RevealBeauty
 
Looking for a professional green cleaning service in Toronto? Contact our team for a free estimate.

​With the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Toronto and flu season on the horizon, it’s critical that we understand how an effective cleaning and hygiene program can substantially reduce the spread of influenza, the cold and other infectious diseases. Creating a safe space is a vital piece in the process of going from surviving to thriving in your home.   
 
As professional eco-friendly cleaners, we feel it’s our duty to arm our clients with cleaning tips and home cleaning knowledge to keep our sanctuaries free of viruses, germs, and bacteria (especially as we continue to navigate through a global pandemic). In this blog, we’ll highlight the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, along with common cleaning misconceptions and best practices for each.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

First things first.  There’s a burning misconception that non-toxic cleaning products aren’t effective and that only toxic cleaning products properly disinfect.  In fact, accelerated hydrogen peroxide – the active, non-toxic ingredient in many eco-friendly disinfectants, is often equally or more effective than toxic chemical disinfectants, as it has a very short dwell time. Most importantly, it doesn’t irritate your skin or respiratory system.
 
Ammonia based cleaners are especially dangerous and should be avoided.  Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air may lead to bronchial and alveolar edema. This may obstruct the air passage and cause respiratory disorders.  Direct contact with industrial cleaners that contain high concentrations of ammonia may also inflict severe skin burns, permanent eye damage, or even blindness.
 
TIP: check your cleaning products label for the 'Emerging Viral Pathogens' claim. 
​

​We’ve seen some bold claims regarding ways to clean, sanitize and disinfect to stop the spread of COVID-19. The following are the most common misconceptions we read:
 
1. “Any household cleaner will work”
Each cleaner is designed for a different purpose – and only few are able to disinfect surfaces.  It’s important to note that only disinfectants and sanitizers will kill viruses. A cleaner-disinfectant is a type of disinfectant that cleans as well as disinfects, however it should be noted that a heavily soiled surface needs to be cleaned first, to remove all organic material, prior to disinfecting (even with a cleaner-disinfectant).

2. “Mixing cleaners improves effectiveness”
This not only dilutes effectiveness; it can create extremely toxic fumes from a chemical reaction.

3. “Cleaning wipes are a quick and effective alternative”
Reading the label reveals that these products actually require the surface to remain wet for approximately 10 minutes in order to achieve effective disinfection. It’s also important to remember that the surface needs to be cleaned prior to using the wipes.

4. “Homeopathic disinfectants are better than chemicals”
Not all chemicals are created equal. Similarly, most homeopathic remedies are reliable sanitizers but not necessarily as disinfectants.

​5. “You should disinfect everything”
Over-disinfecting can be dangerous to your home and health. Focusing on high touch areas while sanitizing everywhere else is a much safer and sustainable practice.

Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process doesn’t necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
 
Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.
 
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process doesn’t necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
 
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
​

CLEANING TIPS
​

• Use microfiber cloths.  Microfiber is the safest way to clean most surfaces. A cloth dampened with warm water can wipe away up to 99% of dirt and bacteria . Always choose high quality cloths.
• Wear gloves.  Even when using safe products, your hands can absorb the viruses you’re trying to mitigate from surfaces. Wash hands immediately after removing gloves and launder reusable gloves in hot water and hydrogen peroxide or oxygenated bleach
• Avoid cross-contamination.  Don't use the same cloths in different rooms of the house as this can transport germs. You should also launder them in hot water after use or keep sealed in a plastic bag until laundering.

SANITIZING TIPS

• Read the label.  Every product that claims to kill germs will have instructions on how long a surface must remain wet to be sanitized (typically around 30 seconds), as well as whether the surface must be rinsed afterward.
• Sanitize food areas instead of disinfecting.  Even green disinfectants can be harmful to ingest, so stick to sanitizing food areas and utensils regularly and only use disinfectant once in a while (rinse thoroughly!)
• Clean first, then sanitize.  Heavily soiled areas should be visibly clean before applying sanitizer or disinfectant. Even if your cleaner is also a sanitizer, dirt can get in the way of its effectiveness against germs.
• Make use of your dishwasher.  High heat is the best sanitizer. Some items you may not have thought of dishwashing include: cleaning brushes, toys, hats, hair brushes, tooth brush holders, sponges, dust pans, shoes, vent covers, and vacuum cleaner attachments.

 
DISINFECTING TIPS

• Disinfecting dwell time is critical!  Dwell time refers to how long the product must sit wet on the surface to be effective. Any less than this will result in a sanitized surface at best.  Homeopathic and botanical disinfectants often require 5-15 minutes to be effective, which is why they’re not always the best choice.
• Don't disinfect everything.  There is such a thing as being too clean. Lack of regular interaction with a safe level of germs disrupts our immune system’s ability to detect and fight off infection. Stick to frequently touched areas and horizontal surfaces.
• Prevention is still key.  The best way to keep a healthy home is to prevent spread to begin with. Practice proper hygiene, use appropriate PPE outdoors, when possible, take your shoes off before entering your home and wipe or quarantine groceries and packages before bringing them into your space.

 
Refer to the EPA list of registered N-list disinfectants to ensure your product is considered an effective option for novel coronavirus.
 
Six steps for safe and effective disinfectant use.

All disinfectants – whether toxic or non-toxic – kill viruses. So why choose non-toxic (green) cleaning products? Because toxic cleaning products greatly impact our long-term health and environment. The chemicals in many cleaners are common pollutants that contribute to smog, reduce the quality of drinking water and are toxic to animals.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency names phosphorus, nitrogen, ammonia and chemicals grouped under the term "Volatile Organic Compounds" as the worst environmental hazards in household cleaners. 
 
A Canadian Medical Association Journal study that looked at 26 types of home cleaners — disinfectants, laundry detergents, air fresheners and hand sanitizers — showed “young infants living in homes where cleaning products were used frequently were more likely to develop childhood wheeze and asthma by age three.”  - “Queen of Green”, David Suzuki
​

1. Pink Solution: Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Non-toxic and biodegradable.  Pink Solution is a natural enzyme cleaner, which when mixed with water, emulsifies dirt, grease and grime, and restores finishes to their natural state.  Contains no chemicals, and can be inhaled, eaten and used without any gloves, with no ill effects.
Works well for: Kitchen, bathroom, grout, grease, floor, almost all surfaces, soils and stains.
 
2. Nature Clean: Cream Cleanser
Non-scratching, Non-toxic, Chlorine Free, Biodegradable. Apply cleanser directly on surface. Rub gently with a damp sponge (or SOS pad), rinse and wipe clean.
Works well for: bathtubs, sinks, Greasy oven surfaces and hoods, spot cleaning on walls.
 
3. Optim 33 TB: Disinfectant
Optim is an used for disinfecting high touch surfaces.  Must let product sit wet on surface for 1 minute prior to wiping.

Our world has changed, and so has the way we approach our work as cleaners. We want to share the enhanced protocols we’ve implemented to ensure our team members and our clients are protected:
​

• Infection Prevention and Control Certification. As of April 6th, 2020, all Dhyana Cleaners responsible for cleaning and disinfecting your home will be certified in infection control from IPAC. 
• Social Distancing. We ask that our cleaners be given 6 feet of physical space while cleaning.  
• ​Wearing gloves and practicing hand hygiene. All Dhyana Cleaners will wear gloves while cleaning your home, and have been trained to follow strict hand hygiene protocols as per the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and Public Health Ontario. 
• Surface disinfecting. Researchers believe coronavirus and flu might spread from dust particles.  We’re now using a hospital grade EPA approved disinfectant on all surfaces with special attention paid to high risk touch points (counter tops, bathroom surfaces, doorknobs, light switches, refrigerator handle, etc.) This product is non-toxic and biodegradable.
• Disposable shoe coverings: The floor is a super-highway for the virus to collect, which is why we wear shoe covers and dispose of them at the end of each cleaning.  We also use microfiber mops (different mop heads at each home) and disinfect them with hydrogen peroxide and hot water at 60–90°C (140–194°F).
• Vacuums and mops. We would prefer to use yours; however, if this isn’t possible, our cleaners will empty and disinfect our equipment after each use.   
• Disposable cloths. In order to eliminate cross-contamination between homes, we’re now utilizing biodegradable disposable cloths.
• Changing linen. We’ll continue to make beds, but ask that you or your guests strip the bed and remove the linens, if you want us to put on fresh linen.

Click here to access our in-depth Dhyana Cleaning Guide for information on how to effectively disinfect your home with your health and safety in mind.
 
LET'S GET SOCIAL!
Connect with Dhyana Cleaning on Instagram and Facebook! 

Are you comfy? Great! The art of cleaning is a topic that we at Dhyana Cleaning are passionate about.  Grab your coffee and settle in. If you’re interested in mindfulness and learning more about yourself with simple daily actions, read on! 

WHY DOES CLEANING GET SUCH A BAD RAP?

Let’s face it, cleaning your home is not a ‘task’ many of us look forward to.  Why do we hate cleaning? Perhaps we find it boring, or finding time in our fast-paced lives is too difficult. 

Finding joy in cleaning is a process of self-discovery which leads to more open awareness about ourselves. Noticing what emotions and feelings come up and cleaning with the negative ones is an act of self-compassion. Cleaning isn't always going to be enjoyable, but this is where learning and growth happens. Mindfulness techniques can go beyond seated meditation. By incorporating mindfulness into activities (especially your least favourite ones) you can reframe housework so things like cleaning, washing, and vacuuming become pleasant experiences

Our physical environment impacts our mental state. In a clean and organized space, we are typically healthier, less stressed, and have a greater ability to focus. Researchers at Princeton University found that cluttered and unclean environments make it more difficult to complete regular tasks due to distraction.

We’ve put together our top tips to avoid procrastination and start revealing beauty in your home, and most importantly, in yourself. When we clean mindfully, it’s a gift for ourselves; we’re cleaning the internal as well as external.

​If you don't naturally enjoy cleaning, then the thought of cleaning your entire home in one go is, well, overwhelming!  Our advice: Start small: Small actions, small timeframes, small rooms. Start with one room (or one task) at a time, and take a step-by-step cleaning approach. This could be as simple as setting a 5-minute timer, grabbing that dust cloth, and wiping down the horizontal surfaces in your living room until that glorious buzzer sounds. VOILA! You’ve earned your break, and have completed the first step!  Doesn’t that feel great?!
 
Why does this aid in our process of finding joy in cleaning? Starting with smaller actions trains our brain to build the habit because of how easy it is. After 5 minutes are up, you’re free to stop. What you’ll find is that you’ll continue doing chores even after time runs out because it’s harder to start cleaning than it is to continue. After each cleaning session, try increasing the task or timeframe. As you move on to tackle the dust bunnies in the next room, increase your timer to 7 minutes.  As your habits increase, motivation naturally kicks in because recognizing you’ve completed a task is a dopamine response trigger (the larger the task, the greater the surge). 
 
Cleaning Habit = Dopamine Hit
 
Dopamine is a big part of our unique human ability to think and plan. It helps us to strive and focus. It also affects other parts of our behaviours and physical functions such as: learning, motivation, sleep, kidney function, and heart rate. It’s the act behind cleaning, the sense of accomplishment, in combination with how the space looks and feels, that makes us feel good
 
As Brian Patrick Eha of Entrepreneur.com says in How to Reward Your Brain and Boost Productivity, “The key to achieving your goals may be in understanding your brain chemistry. When you succeed at something, your brain releases dopamine, a reward chemical which boosts memory and triggers increased concentration and a desire to repeat the experience.”
 
Mental Hygiene and Cleaning

Cleaning your mind is just as important as cleaning your physical environment and body. But what is mental hygiene and how is mental hygiene related to cleaning?  Simplified, mental hygiene is the practice of maintaining mental health through proactive behaviour.  Just as we’ve trained ourselves in the physical habit of brushing our teeth, we need to mentally check in with ourselves. Leading psychological research found that clutter increases stress and anxiety. Research has also discovered that housekeeping has a positive benefit on your mental health. Practicing good mental hygiene can help you deal with psychological trauma, such as the death of a loved one or a professional failure.
​
Cleaning mindfully is a simple practice we can incorporate into our daily routine. Through habit-stacking – a concept coined by James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits – you can pair a habit you want to master with one you’re already doing. In doing so, you check in with yourself and clean any internal ‘dirt’ that may have accumulated during the day. 

Transform cleaning into meditation. Meditation teachers and cleaning-product makers say that doing household chores which require gentle concentration can steer the mind from worry and provide a sense of control amid uncertainty. 
 
You may have feelings of self-doubt and frustration – and that’s OK! The key is remembering to refocus your thoughts on your five senses. This practice is a form of self-care and active meditation. It’s said to be that the best rituals utilize many (if not all) of the senses. The more unique the stimulus, the more powerful the motivating effect will be. 
 
“Housework for most of us is probably not enjoyable, but if we see it more as an opportunity to train the mind, it actually becomes a very pleasant thing to do,” says Headspace co-founder Andy Puddicombe during a housework exercise on the company’s meditation app. “Rather than being caught up in the story line of ‘I don’t really want to do this, I’d rather be somewhere else or doing something else,’ instead we’re simply present with the physical sensation of we’re doing in the moment.” 
 
A study published in the journal Mindfulness found that participants who mindfully washed up, i.e. took time to try to take in the smell of the washing up liquid etc... reported a 27% reduction in nervousness, along with a 25% improvement in "mental inspiration.
 
CLEANING RITUAL TIPS:

• Scent (Olfactory): Start your cleaning ritual by lighting your favourite candle or incent. Actively acknowledge the scent.
• Taste (Gustatory): Sip on flavoured water, or pop one of your favourite candies in your mouth. Is it sweet or sour?
• Touch (Kinesthetic): Acknowledge the texture of the cleaning tool you’re using. Notice the pressure you’re putting on the bottom of your hand as you wipe across a surface, or the warmth of the water as you wash plates.
• Sound (Auditory): Put on an uplifting tune and mindfully move throughout your home.
• Sight (Visual): Focus on the details of what you’re seeing (textures, colours, the movement of dirt being swept from the floor.

 
Creating a ritual sets the tone for your next activity. You’re training your mind to generate momentum and assign a sense of meaning to an activity. A creative ritual is, at its root, about setting an intention for a specific purpose. One such purpose is to generate motivation. The more personalized the ritual, the stronger the desire for it becomes.

What Is Your WHY?
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Ask yourself, why am I doing this? What do I intent to accomplish?  Consistent reminders to yourself of what you want to achieve will motivate you to complete the task at hand and reach your goal. Perhaps your why is to create a healthy, safe space, free of germs as we navigate our way through a global pandemic. Maybe your intent is to improve mental hygiene through forms of meditative cleaning (as we touched on in the five senses ritual).  Or to simply feel how energizing a clean space can be.
 
How Does Intention-Setting Help?
 
Through setting intention, you’re demonstrating to yourself that you can create your reality because you are seeing immediate results. It’s a simple way to show yourself that you have the power to set your mind to something and accomplish it (Locus of Control). So, even when the cleaning process isn’t enjoyable, remember your why, and it becomes easier to overcome the difficulty.
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​What is Locus of Control? It’s understanding the difference between a growth (internal) mindset vs. fixed (external) mindset. It’s the degree to which people believe they have control over the outcome of the events in their lives.
 
“A “fixed mindset” assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are static givens which we can’t change in any meaningful way, and that striving for success and avoiding failure at all costs become a way of maintaining the sense of being smart or skilled. A “growth mindset,” thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of unintelligence, but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities." – Carol Dweck, Brain Pickings.

As we set intentions, we strengthen our self-awareness.  Attention is caring; the act of noticing is the beginning of social change. Caring about ourselves is in turn, caring for others. Here's how: When you are attuned to what you are experiencing inside, you become familiar with raw human emotion. When cleaning with your emotions - you are processing where they come from and why.  We become more mindful of our reactions and how we treat others.

​In summary: Our living environment is part of the subjective experience of ourselves. The cleaning process itself can be regarded as a powerful form of meditation and overall wellbeing.

Now that we’ve mastered the joy in cleaning, stay tuned for our next blog topic, coming Thursday, October 29th, which will continue to Reveal Beauty in our lives through the craft of cleaning.
 
Q: We’d love to hear from you! What ‘cleaning for wellness’ topic(s) are you most interested in reading about? Email us directly to share your thoughts!
 
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At Dhyana, we are a team of conscious cleaners who believe cleaning can be a path to self-awareness. Click here to learn more about how we Reveal Beauty within the homes we clean, as well as within ourselves.
 
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