I don’t know about you, but after seeing Post by Stacey Solomon self titled ‘Tap to Tidy’ I have been addicted.

The aim is to take a picture of an area or room in the home that looks messy, untidy. You then go crazy ass cleaning and tidying, then snap a photo again. upload the first picture onto Instagram stories with the hashtag #taptotidy followed by your new shiney photo and walla, the magic that has happened.

So why have I become addicted? After you have taken a picture, this wave of excitement and determination takes over you, you desperately want the thrill of creating a before and after. You clean every nuck and cranny so you can achieve the perfect clean after image. Upload and find the joy in tapping an image to create something better. If only life was really like that! The award feels amazing.

Is this concerning? I think so, I have never suffered from OCD, never felt the need to keep an immaculate home (apart from that 5 mins before the mother in law calls to say she is on her way round)

I work, I have kids, which means I have to run around after them taking them to clubs, inviting friends over and keeping up to date with their busy schedules! I don’t have time for immaculate and spotless! But lately, since this has come into my life, I have become obsessed, I spend the hours at work thinking about all the tap to tidy images I could be creating right now, instead of being sat at a desk working away, maybe I should off had a sick day to get that cleaning done. I think about missing the children’s swimming lessons just so I can sort the under sink cupboard, or filter through the ironing pile. It then gives me a little anxiety that I simply don’t have time to sort and filter my life like this. A busy life makes tap to tidy so much harder behind the scenes then it does on my story line.

Are we creating an OCD, cleaning addicted era? With so many cleaning inspired Instagram accounts popping up, like the very popular and ever growing Mrs Hinch (@mrshinchhome) it’s hard to not see what products everyone is using, how they are storing there wires, batteries and micro cleaning clothes in all sorted colours for each room or area. I think we all want a part of that life, a nice bright and clean home, fresh for whenever that unexpected visitor turns up. I have released this week alone I have spent several hours watching others clean, several hours more then I have actually spent cleaning (and not in some weird fetish type of way- yuk to that thought, not that type of blog)

What I need to do is find a balance, we all need a balance in life and try not to be obsessive over having a cleaner house then Susan who this week had 18 Tap to tidy’s and noted all her progress in a journal. I’m jealous you have achieved so much cleaning, but not jealous enough to stay up until midnight trying to complete these tasks.

This week, I vow my house will be clean, but not necessarily tidy, and there is a difference! I vow I shall enjoy at least one (but not more then Susan) Tap to Tidy, it just brings me joy. I shall not skip work or clubs or change my life timetable to clean, I will get a good night sleep which makes me a happier person and we will eat healthy as a family.

My conclusion is, I’m making changes but not obsessing over them.

Mrs AP