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
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.