Cleaning might not be the most fun activity there is; not for all, at least. But even those who take no joy in wiping and mopping would likely agree that few things are more satisfying than viewing the before and after of a cleaned-up mess—whether it was a pot that needed a good scrub or an entire room one had to tackle.
A picture of something before and after the magical touch of a sponge, a cloth, or even a power washer if need be, allows you to fully appreciate the difference and the hard work it took to reach it. That might be one of the reasons people tend to share the images of their hard work with others, and today we’ve gathered some of their best examples on this list for you to view. Scroll down to find the before and after pictures, but browse them at your own risk as they might make you want to start a major clean-up mission.
#1 Showing Depression Who’s The Boss Made Me Smile. I Can Finally Relax In My Room
#2 My Parent’s Cast Iron Brought Back To Life
#3 This Is Just A Work Of An Hour
For some people, cleaning or tidying up is close to torture; especially when it comes to things and places that have been waiting for their turn for quite some time. Decluttering a garage or doing a deep clean of all the bedrooms, for instance, can seemingly last ages. (In most instances, it can also feel like a good workout session at the gym.)
Even doing the laundry can become quite a quest, considering that clothing often has to be picked up from random corners around the house—especially if it is home to a child or two—washed, folded, and ironed (depending on how willing you are, of course). Not to mention sorting out whatever it is that’s happening on the chair—you know, that temporary stop where worn clothes end up as they alternate between the bed and the aforementioned chair itself.
According to The Waycroft’s 2022 survey, roughly 36% of Americans try to tidy up daily (around 33% do so weekly). A similar number of people tend to do a deep clean at least once a month, which likely requires taking care of more than just the chair and calls for a before and after picture to make the end result seem even more impressive.
#4 Nobody Weeds A Playground Better Than We Can
#5 I’m An Art Teacher And I Moved To A New School. The Previous Teacher Did Not Share My Love Of Organization. Behold The Before And After Of My Paper Closet
The Waycroft revealed that nearly 26% of those surveyed consider themselves “neat freaks”, saying that their home is always clean. Half of surveyed Americans said their homes are frequently clean and one percent admitted to being “total slobs”, as their place is never like that.
The data pointed out that the majority of people (46.5%) clean their homes themselves or share such duties with their partner (27%). Others leave it to their partners or moms (and other relatives) to take care of; some—less than 3%, though—pay someone to do it (housekeepers, for instance).
#6 Friend’s Aunt Gifted Me Her Deceased Father’s Car. “If You Think You Can Get It Running, You Can Have It”. Before And After
#7 I’m Finally Done Clearing Out My Depression Nest Of A Garage After Weeks Of Hard Work
I donated 55 trash bags full of stuff and threw away 12 cubic feet of garbage. I can park my car in there for the first time in a year.
#8 I Restored A Really Old Mausoleum Door
Leaving clean-up duty to your partner might not slide with everyone, though. Not only that, certain habits when it comes to cleanliness alone can be deal breakers for people. According to the 2022 survey, leaving dirty dishes laying around, for instance, is considered the biggest cleaning-related deal breaker for nearly 27% of people.
Never offering to help with the chores or walking around in dirty clothing would send roughly one-in-five significant others out the door. Moreover, nearly three-in-ten people would rather give up spending time with their beloved family members than live with someone who doesn’t leave their shoes by the door.
#9 Cleaned My Room Thoroughly For The 1st Time In 2 Years. Feels Like A Physical Sign My Depression Is Getting Better
#10 Maybe Not The Most Satisfying, But I Polished A 25-Year-Old Christmas Ornament
#11 I Got A Hundred-Year-Old Painting Cleaned Earlier This Year
Considering that cleaning habits can differ drastically from person to person, it is no surprise that they differ from country to country as well; though people all around the world seem to unanimously agree that they enjoy a tidy home. Kärcher’s survey of 6,000 people from Brazil, China, Germany, France, Poland and the US revealed that roughly 90% of participants consider a clean home important or very important. The survey pointed out that out of the six countries, Brazil is in the lead based on where people value cleanliness the most.
#12 Can The Steam Cleaning Community Get Some Love?
#13 I Did It Even Though I Thought It Would Be More Complex To Clean But It Wasn’t. I’m Proud Of Myself Even If It Isn’t The Best Cleaning. I Still Think I Did Good
#14 Before And After Of Some Corcoran Jump Boots That I Refurbished
Another thing quite a few countries have in common in regards to cleaning is changed habits before and after the pandemic. The Independent pointed out that according to recent studies, people in numerous countries, including Spain, China, and the US, just to name a few, have upped their game when it comes to cleaning since Covid struck.
#15 I Do Carpet Cleaning For A Living And I Absolutely Love My Job
#16 The Company Wouldn’t Pick Up Unless Someone Sorted It. So I Did
#17 Cleaning A Chandelier From A Smoker’s Home (Bottom Piece Is Cleaned)
It doesn’t take a pandemic for people to start furiously scrubbing their homes; sometimes all it takes is relatives coming over for a visit. That is why the holidays are often not only about quality family time, but dusting, mopping, and vacuuming as well. A survey of 2,000 Americans showed that half of them are stressed beyond belief about holiday cleaning, People reports.
The biggest headaches during such times seem to be caring what others think about one’s home, worrying about missing some spots while cleaning and having high standards when it comes to it in general, as well as having kids who are not willing to keep a place tidy for a longer period of time.
#18 Copper Sink Before Cleaning And After
#19 Restoring A Wall At Notre-Dame De Paris
#20 Customer And Her 10-Year-Old Son Looked At Each Other, Then The Mom Asked Me If I “Brought Any Body Armor”. Weed Whacker Just Requires Thick Skin
Even if it seems to stress people out, cleaning can actually have a positive effect on them. For one, it allows them to feel a sense of accomplishment, especially when the end result is clearly visible. Director of the Bio Behavioral Institute in New York, Dr. Fugen Neziroglu, told Real Simple that after cleaning, we get to enjoy an end product. “In many tasks you don’t get an end product that’s so observable.” (It sure is in the before and after pictures, at least.)
Real Simple also emphasized that tidying up our space evokes a feeling of control, which can be comforting. In addition to that, it can even reduce stress. Studies show that the state of our environment and even the words we use to describe it indeed affect our mental well-being; those who refer to it as “restorative” seemingly experience lower levels of stress.
#21 A Friend Was Using Levcoware Japan Skillet As A Yard Decoration. After 10 Years Of Being Exposed To Harsh Weather, I’ve Brought It Back To Its Former Glory
#22 The Magic Of Quarantine, Sore Muscles From Scrubbing, A Sunburn, And A Cocktail Of Chemicals: Turning My Pool Back Into An Oasis From The Swamp Mess
#23 Using My Time At Home To Clear Out My Pantries, What Do You Think?
Surveys reveal that keeping your home neat and tidy can even promote empathy. Moreover, it simply makes you happier—regular cleaning is believed to boost your happiness by over 50%. A study of 2,000 Americans showed that those who enjoy cleaning tend to be quite significantly happier than those who don’t.
#24 I Detailed A 1968 Torino. Couldn’t Believe I Was Able To Get The Seats This Clean
#25 Before And After Of Deep Cleaning My Room After My Depression Slump
#26 Giving Our Restaurant’s 10-Years-Old Wooden Floor An Industrial Cleaning
If you’re not in the mood for cleaning yourself, you can always enjoy the end result of others by browsing lists such as this one or viewing similar content. However, if you gathered enough motivation to start a mission around your own house, browse these easy home hacks you’ll wish you tried earlier here.
#27 Freshly Polished Silver For Thanksgiving
#28 My Great-Great Grandmother’s Cast Iron Dutch Oven, Circa 1880. Before And After Cleaning, And Seasoning
#29 This Mess Is The Aftermath Of A Previous Net Admin Who Didn’t Care Anymore. Before vs. After
#30 Cleaned Oven Door
#31 Father-In-Law Asked Me To Swap Out His Old GTX 770 For A GTX 1070, Gave Some Much Needed TLC While I Was At It
#32 Carpet Cleaning
#33 Before And After Of A Hoarders’ House We Cleaned Out. Ready To Renovate
#34 My Work From The Weekend. Sand, Buff, Clear Coat, Correcting 287k Miles Of Age
#35 Moved Into A New (Old) Place And Spent A Weekend On This Linoleum
#36 My Mom And I Work At Cleaning The Apartments In Toronto. This Is Before And After Of The Oven
#37 Satisfying Chiminea Restoration – Before And After
#38 Cleaned My Grandmother’s Oven Yesterday. The Before And After Feels So Nice. (She’s 96, So Be Kind About The Before Photo)
#39 I Gave A New Life To This Abandoned Ammo Box. Satisfied
#40 I Thought Y’all Might Like My Grout Transformation
#41 I Cleaned A Very Hairy Car Today
#42 Just Finished Cleaning This Backyard Up
#43 First Wild-Caught Griswold. Cleaned Up Nicely
#44 When Grandma Says She Hasn’t Cleaned It In 30 Years
#45 Just Proud Of My Polishing Skills
#46 Gave This Pot A Good Blasting
#47 Gotta Love Those Cottonwood Trees (Before And After)
#48 I Did My First Refurbish. The Gameboy Was Reduced From A Hoarder’s House Set To Be Demolished
#49 Before And After Of A Backyard I Reclaimed From Nature
#50 I’m Over Halfway Done Restoring This Leather Sofa, The Before And After Is Pretty Dramatic
