It’s official – I am a self-confessed ‘Hincher’. For those who have been living under a rock for the last few years, Hinching is a recent phenomenon created by Sophie Hinchliffe, also known as Mrs Hinch, an Instagram account dedicated to cleaning. The cleaning sensation, who has over 3 million Instagram followers, shares cleaning tips and hacks and as well as videos of her beautiful home and family. I must admit I was a little late to join the Hinching world, or to use the correct terminology #hincharmy, but now that I have, it has changed my life!
I have always been a little ‘addicted’ to cleaning. Growing up, whilst other children looked forward to watching cartoons or playing in the park, I looked forward to cleaning and organising my bedroom. And the obsession continued through my teens to my 20s and to this current day. I do not have OCD but cleaning has always helped me relax and the feeling of everything tidy and in the right place is like no other. This has of course been a little more challenging ever since I had my son, who lives to destroy everything I clean and leave crumbs, toys and his snot in every corner of the house. The world of Hinching has helped me feel like I am not alone with my obsession plus I have picked up some great tips. These are the things you will know (or come to know), if like me, you are a fellow Hincher:
1. You have been living in filth up to now. I thought I was super clean but after watching Mrs Hinch’s videos, I feel a little like Waynetta Slob. Who knew the washing machine was hiding so much dirt?!
2. Hinchlists – I find myself making lists for EVERYTHING. Mentally it helps me feel like I have my sh*t together. Even if that pile of dishes is getting higher by the minute and my son is emptying the box of cheerios on the kitchen floor for the 10th time today, my Hinchlist gives me strength.
3. Labelling – this has completely revolutionised the way in which I store everything. Everything needs a label. I mean everything. Even my socks drawer has one. Just in case I forget where I store them, of course.
4. The variety of cleaning products. I was one of those people who used the same cleaning spray to clean everything. My bottle of Flash could clean all the furniture, skirting, windowsills, the floor. You name it. Mrs Hinch has opened my eyes to some of the amazing products that are available on the market AND all at a reasonable price. Of course, I consider the impact of my cleaning choices and I try to use environmentally conscious brands. Look for word such words such as ‘biodegradable’, ‘ECO-certified’ and ‘recyclable’ when purchasing products.
5. Getting excited about your next trip to Pound Stretcher, Home Bargains or B&M. (Wilko was on that list but I had to stop going there as I’m sure the staff started to think I had no life beyond their storage solution aisles). The thought of getting some more baskets (you can never have too many) or another multi-pack of cleaning cloths has become one of the highlights of my week. Rock ‘n Roll.
6. Being house-proud. If there is one thing I love about Mrs Hinch is that she demonstrates that it is not about how expensive something is, it is about how you look after it. She has shown that you can buy some gorgeous bits for the house on a budget and use simple cleaning techniques to keep your house looking beautiful.
If you are not already following her, do it. You will not regret it. Happy Hinching!
