N.S. woman’s viral TikToks show link between a clean home and mental health
Nova Scotia psychology student Brogan Ingram is using her online voice to help people better understand the correlation between mental health and cleaning.
She shares her stories and cleaning hacks on TikTok, where she’s gained more than four million followers.
“If you’re living in the constant clutter or mess, it can actually trigger a low-grade flight or fight mode,” said Ingram.
She says many people don’t understand the impact having a messy home can have on their mental health.
“It can raise cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone,” she said. “When you’re struggling to take care of your mental health and yourself, cleaning is the last thing you’re going to want to do.”
After receiving thousands of comments and messages from people “living in unlivable situations” looking for help, Brogan started fundraising to hire cleaners.
“I did that for a little bit until I realized these cleaners were actually rejecting the jobs, because they were too big, too hard, there was either bugs or rodents they would not go near.”
That’s when she started doing free cleanings each weekend for locals in need.
A mother of three had a fridge full of food that was all expired. Another had mice living in their oven.
She says when clients walk into their clean home, it can be as fulfilling as it is heartbreaking.
“I’ve seen children come home to clean houses, and it's almost like they’ve never seen their house clean before.”
When she goes into a new home, Ingram says she tries to bring openness and understanding.
“People who are living in this, they don’t need more judgment, they need kindness and compassion. I think that’s why a lot of them are allowing me into their homes,” said Ingram.
“It’s definitely a life-changing thing all around.”
You can find her on TikTok as Nottheworstcleaner.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.