Depending on What Time of Day you Like to Clean: Here are Seven Albums that Match Your Energy
Written By Lucy Lee
The “Sunday Reset” exploded in popularity alongside the rise of Clean-Tok, and is no different than a regular deep clean, other than the fact that it usually takes place on the day it was named for. “I do an everyday pick up as soon as I wake up, but my actual clean—the whole nine yards—is always Sunday. I take off work specifically so that I can reset for the week ahead,” says Faith Ildefonso, a former cleaner at Memorial Community Church in West Harrison, New York.
Ildefonso is now a full-time student at Georgia Southern University but carries three years’ worth of professional experience with her. Like the rest of us, she has a dorm to clean, and between classes and homework, not a lot of time to do it. Ildefonso says that the only way to romanticize this overdue task—the only way to romanticize anything, really—is through music.
“Picking the right type of music, at the right time, and for the right task, can be a powerful productivity booster,” says Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic in the Harvard Business Review. “It can improve your mood, and make you more relaxed, focused, and proficient.”
In a survey I conducted amongst SCAD students, 92% of participants reported that they used music as a tool to maximize their cleaning productivity. Whether it’s in the morning or the dead of night—hell, maybe you even “Sunday Reset” on a Wednesday afternoon—here are seven albums that best accompany any type of spring-cleaning day that suits you.
For the Crack-of-Dawn Cleaner: “Coastal Grooves” by Blood Orange
Early birds may be tempted to gravitate towards the slow, melodramatic albums in the wee hours of the morning. “I can’t listen to sad music,” Ildefonso says, “I’d be sitting there on the floor mopping myself up.” “Coastal Grooves” by Blood Orange strikes that balance, effortlessly combining groovy baselines with a laid-back vibe, making it ideal for easing into your morning cleaning routine without feeling overwhelmed. It’s like your morning coffee, but in music form. Most Motivational Track: “Sutphin Boulevard”
For the Slept-Through-The-First-Alarm Morning Cleaner: “Vampire Weekend” by Vampire Weekend
After hitting snooze one too many times, you need something to snap you out of that morning funk. “When you’re looking to focus or get inspired…Augment your emotional state by choosing music that represents how you want to feel.” says Dr. Chamorro-Premuzic. Vampire Weekend’s self-titled album offers an eclectic mix of quirky arrangements and intelligent songwriting. The complex time signatures are ideal for keeping your brain engaged and power through the task at hand. Most Motivational Track: “Bryn”
For the While-Brunch-Is-Cooking Late Morning Cleaner: “Charm” by Clairo
A whopping 65% of survey participants shared that they were late morning cleaners. Clairo’s 2024 album “Charm” didn’treceive nearly enough flowers due to “‘BRAT’ summer,” however, I would consider it a quintessential cleaning album. It has enough of a rhythm to keep you moving but not too intense to feel like you’re working overtime, this bedroom indie-pop album with a hint of lo-fi influence packs just enough of a punch to keep your late morning reset feeling relaxed yet productive. Most Motivational Track: “Second Nature”
For the Pep-in-Your-Step Early Afternoon Cleaner: “Chromakopia” by Tyler, The Creator
Like that midday burst of motivation, “Chromakopia” is bold, it’s loud, it’s experimental. Ildefonso, a self identified afternoon cleaner, recommended Tyler, The Creator’s newest album. Why? “It’s that funk!” she says. “It’s loud—it needs to be loud—because I can’t have any thoughts. Otherwise, I’d be thinking ‘Oh, I have to fold this laundry.’ I just wanna get through it.” Ildefonso used to clean the church with her father, David. I asked her if he at all influenced what music she listened to while cleaning. “He played 80’s rock music and 90’s techno music. That fast beat was like rave music, and it would get the vibes going.” Though she doesn’t listen to the same genre, Ildefonso still gravitates towards fast paced tracks to overcome the afternoon slump. Better find a mop and get it over with. Most Motivational Track: “Sticky”
For the Begrudging, Early Evening Cleaner: “Heatwave” by Michelle
Cleaning is hard! Especially when you’ve left it just a little too late in the day and the sun is going down—already? Michelle’s Heatwave makes this daunting realization a little more bearable. Using influences from both Disco and R & B, “Heatwave” is a masterclass in groove. You can’t help but dance your way through this reset. A piece of wisdom that our cleaning expert, Ildefonso, imparts: “When I clean, I need a pep in my step. And I also need a Snapple.” Who are we to disagree with the expert? So, grab yourself a silly little drink and get to work! Most Motivational Track: “Mango”
For the After-Dinner Power Surge, Nighttime Cleaner: “How to Be a Human Being” by Glass Animals
According to the survey, only 9% of students clean in the evening. If your energy peaks after dinner and you’ve decided to tackle your cleaning at an unexpected hour, then “How to Be a Human Being” by Glass Animals is your perfect companion. It’s vibrant, quirky, and surreal, much like late-night clean. Tracks like “Youth” and “Take A Slice” are certainly loud enough to appease Ildefonso and keep you in the zone. Most Motivational Track: “Pork Soda”
For the Delirious, Midnight Clean: “The Slow Rush” by Tame Impala
“The Slow Rush” stays true to Tame Impala’s psychedelic pop sound but embraces more danceable beats than previous work. In the interest of not inconveniencing your neighbors at God-knows what hour of the evening, the album’s hypnotic production creates an immersive, trance-like atmosphere, which will help you power through while staying in a relaxed, meditative state. When you’re done, you’ll be ready to hit the pillow and conk out. Most Motivational Track: “Breathe Deeper”
