How Professional Cleaning Services Boost Happiness, Reduce Stress, and Save Time

James Sturmay
June 8, 2025
8 min read

Keeping a spotless home in a busy city like London can be a huge challenge, but the rewards are clear. Research shows UK adults spend hundreds of hours a year on housework – the equivalent of about 10 days (237 hours) annually – and an increasing number of households are hiring help. In fact, a recent YouGov survey found that 17% of UK homes now pay for regular cleaning assistance, up from just 10% before the pandemic. By outsourcing chores to a professional cleaning service, London residents reclaim precious free time and enjoy a consistently tidy home – factors that boost both happiness and mental well-being.

Clean Spaces, Clear Minds: Mental Well-Being Boosts

Clutter can stress us out.  Studies in psychology show that living in a messy, disorganized space elevates stress hormones and distracts the brain. For example, one experiment found that mothers caring for infants had higher physiological stress when surrounded by clutter.  Experts note that visual chaos bombards our brains with competing stimuli, making it hard to focus and increasing feelings of tension. Conversely, an orderly home induces a sense of calm and control. As Stanford researchers put it, you will be “less irritable, more productive, distracted less often, and able to process information better with an uncluttered and organized home”.  In practical terms, finishing cleaning tasks – or outsourcing them – often brings a sense of pride and relief. In the same ACI survey cited above, 70% of Americans said having a clean home gives them a sense of accomplishment, while 66% reported it immediately improves their mood.  Cleaning can even be a form of self-care: therapists note that the repetitive motions of decluttering or wiping surfaces can act like meditation, reducing anxiety and fostering a serene mindset. In short, professional cleaning transforms not just floors and counters but also the headspace – making home a sanctuary rather than a stressor.

Time on Your Side: Saving Hours and Gaining Freedom

Hiring a cleaning service essentially “buys” free time, and time saved often translates into greater happiness.  Behavioral researchers have found that spending money on time-saving services boosts life satisfaction.  In one large international study, respondents who paid to outsource household chores (like cleaning, cooking, laundry) reported significantly higher life satisfaction, even after controlling for income.  A follow-up experiment confirmed this causal effect: people who spent on services that save time were measurably happier than when they spent the same on material items. This suggests that an extra hour of free time is emotionally worth at least as much as buying another possession.

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Those hours really add up.  Self-reported surveys show Americans devote considerable time to housework.  One ACI poll found the average person spends about 6 hours per week cleaning their home (and parents average even more, around 7 hours).Bureau of Labor Statistics time-use data confirm that on any given day many people spend between 20–40 minutes on cleaning and laundry tasks.  In other words, hiring a professional cleaner can free up several hours per week – time that busy parents might otherwise spend scrubbing bathrooms or vacuuming floors. That time can be reallocated to family, hobbies, exercise, or simply relaxing.  Not surprisingly, one consumer analysis of U.S. time-use surveys notes that Americans collectively spend about 8.7 days per year on cleaning chores.  Reclaiming even a slice of that – say a day each month – can noticeably reduce the “time famine” feeling that many professionals and households experience.

Buying back time with cleaning services also pays dividends. With chores handled, people report doing more of what they enjoy, which in turn improves mood.  In fact, in the ACI survey 63% of respondents said a clean home helps them be more productive, suggesting that saved time is well-spent on meaningful activities. By offloading routine tidying to professionals, individuals gain flexibility and reduce daily juggling of tasks, which research links to higher overall life satisfaction.

Harmony at Home: Reducing Tension and Conflict

Household chores have long been a source of family friction. Uneven chore burdens or unclear divisions of cleaning duties can strain relationships.  A study highlighted in Time magazine found that couples who shared three or more chores jointly reported much greater relationship satisfaction and sense of fairness than couples who strictly divided up tasks.  In fact, partners who evenly share cleaning duties overwhelmingly feel the arrangement is fair, whereas those who do 50/50 time split but never overlap chores often feel quite unfair. The takeaway: cleaning chores tied up in arguments, so taking them off the table is huge.

woman enjoying coffee
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Professional cleaners can diffuse these conflicts.  When a cleaning team comes in (regularly or as-needed), it eliminates the nagging question of who will scrub the bathroom or vacuum the living room – and removes a common cause of nagging and guilt.  Couples and families can therefore enjoy their free time without the background stress of undone chores. One cleaning company blogger notes that hiring pros “has definitely reduced my stress and provides a sense of relief knowing my family can enjoy the little bit of free time we have and still live in a clean and tidy space”.  In other words, outsourcing cleaning lightens the mental load (often called “mental bandwidth” or “mental load” in psychology) and prevents resentment over unbalanced workloads. The result is a more peaceful home life.

Tailored Cleaning Solutions for Busy Londoners

London life is hectic – long commutes, demanding jobs and social calendars can leave precious little time for tidying up. Indeed, many Londoners admit to squeezing cleaning into odd moments: one survey found that 60% of Britons even clean during work breaks when working from home. For the busiest professionals, a cleaning service can be a game-changer. Instead of arriving home to a sink full of dishes or a bathroom that needs scrubbing, you arrive to sparkle and order. This saves time and mental energy, so you can focus on career and relaxation rather than chores.

By delegating the cleaning, you restore balance to your schedule. Rather than spending Monday evening mopping floors, you might spend it at a London theatre or unwinding in the bath. Even a quick weekly clean frees up hours of productive or family time every month. For London employees and parents juggling remote and office work, hiring home cleaning help brings back a true work-life balance. You’re free to log off or switch gears the moment the workday ends, without feeling guilty about unfinished housework.

The Airbnb Advantage: Cleanliness Sells

For Airbnb hosts and short-term rental managers, cleanliness directly translates to business success.  Travelers today expect sparkling spaces. In fact, Airbnb itself formalized this in 2020 by rolling out an Enhanced Cleaning Initiative, developed with medical experts and CDC guidelines, to set a high sanitation standard across its platform.   Unsurprisingly, cleanliness strongly affects guest reviews and bookings. A Zillow-backed analysis reported that 94% of Airbnb guest reviews give hosts 4 or 5 stars for cleanliness.  High cleanliness ratings aren’t just vanity – they drive demand. Internal Airbnb data (cited by The Economist and industry blogs) show that listings with a cleanliness score of 4.8 out of 5 receive about 20% more bookings than those with lower scores.  Even beyond bookings, poor reviews on tidiness can sink a listing’s search ranking and revenue.

A professionally cleaned Airbnb usually features crisp linens and spotless decor like this, making guests feel immediately welcome and cared for. In turn, the host earns glowing reviews and repeat bookings. Given that 81% of travelers say cleanliness is one of the most important factors in their stay decision, many hosts find that hiring a pro cleaning team between guests is well worth the expense. It saves them time (and often headaches over lost deposits or bad ratings) and keeps guests healthy and happy. Especially in the post-COVID era, adhering to strict cleaning protocols can earn a property a special “clean accommodations” badge, attracting health-conscious guests and giving a competitive edge.

FrescaVida Home Solutions – Your London Cleaning Partner

Ready to enjoy a cleaner home and more free time? FrescaVida Home Solutions is here to help Londoners get there. With flexible options and professional standards, FrescaVida offers a range of services tailored to your needs. Their core services include:

  • Regular Cleans – Scheduled weekly or fortnightly cleans to keep your home sparkling.
  • One-Off Cleans – Thorough top-to-bottom cleans whenever you need them (before guests arrive, after a party, or any time).
  • Deep Cleans – Intensive cleans that cover every corner of your home, from oven to ceiling fixtures.
  • Airbnb Turnovers – Fast, detailed cleans between guests so your short-let always impresses.

Each FrescaVida clean is handled by a vetted, professional cleaner, using high-quality equipment and eco-friendly products. Customers praise how the team “saves you time, stress, and elbow grease,” providing a sparkling home without you lifting a finger. FrescaVida’s booking is fully flexible – you can schedule or reschedule online or by phone to fit your life. The result is a reliable, stress-free service that adapts to your household’s routine.

By choosing FrescaVida, you’re choosing flexibility and professionalism. Their cleaners arrive on time, respect your home, and focus on the details that matter. Whether you need a quick tidy-up or a comprehensive clean, FrescaVida’s customer-centric approach means every clean is done right. In short, they bring “sparkle, calm, and joy back into your home” across London – giving you the freedom to spend time on what you love.

Make time for life again – not chores. Contact FrescaVida Home Solutions today to schedule your next clean and experience the difference professional cleaning can make. Your home, your time, and your well-being will thank you.

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James Sturmay

Director at Frescavida Home Solutions
James Sturmay is the founder of FrescaVida Home Solutions, a trusted cleaning company based in London. With years of hands-on experience in the industry, James leads a dedicated team committed to delivering consistent, high-quality cleaning with a focus on reliability, attention to detail, and customer satisfaction.