Yahoo News Mrs Hinch on what she's learned since finding fame
It’s hard to believe that someone could shoot to fame simply by cleaning their loo and posting the videos online. But this is exactly what happened to Sophie Hinchliffe, now better known as Mrs Hinch, the cleaning influencer, who has more than 3.8m dedicated fans.
And nobody is more shocked than the 30-year-old former hairdresser from Essex. "I’m still coming to terms with it all," she says. "Every day there seems to be something new happening!"
Sophie quickly went from being unknown to sharing her cleaning tips on daytime TV and working with huge household brands. Her self-help cleaning guide, Hinch Yourself Happy, became a Sunday Times number-one bestseller in April 2019. Since then, she has become a mum to son Ronnie, now 16 months old, and has released two more books. When she talks to GH, she’s about to publish her memoir, This Is Me, revealing the real woman behind the perfectly manicured nails and antibacterial spray.
So, how has she achieved such success? It all started when she and her husband Jamie bought their first home in 2016. An interior design fan, Sophie started an Instagram account dedicated to her home in 2018. As more people followed, they’d ask how she kept everything so spotless, and her signature cleaning videos began. While she chatted, laughed and played music, Sophie shared her favourite products and hacks, and her following grew.
Soon, the products she mentioned (such as the old-school disinfectant Zoflora) were selling out, and her signature techniques became known as Hinching. The common thread throughout her videos is that they make cleaning fun. This, alongside the increased need for cleanliness during the pandemic, could be why her following grew during lockdown. Retreating into our homes allowed us to take pleasure in the little things, such as a freshly made bed or blasting out power ballads while mopping.
"When I hear I’ve helped people with their mental health or taking pride in their homes, it blows me away," says Sophie. Here, she shares the philosophies she’s learned along the way.
Cleaning is calming
I truly believe that a tidy home equals a tidy mind. I find it easier to be calm and think more clearly in a clean and organised space. Plus, I find the act of cleaning so therapeutic. If my mind is racing at a mile a minute, it really helps to interrupt those thoughts by giving my brain something else to focus on. Deciding on an area of my house to clean can help break me out of any immediate worry I was feeling and, once I’m done, I have a real sense of achievement. That said, I won’t clean if I don’t feel like it; I never put pressure on myself. I actually quite like it when Ronnie’s toys are all over the place!
Trust your gut
When Ronnie was born, I would fret over whether I was getting things right, and I’d always go to my mum for advice. She told me to give myself more credit for how well I’ve done so far and to trust my gut instinct. So now, instead of second-guessing and double-checking everything, I think: "If that’s what I think is the right thing, then that’s what I’ll do."
Make time for yourself
I’ve struggled with prioritising myself in the past, but now I’m making a conscious effort to look after my mental health. I take a day off my phone each week and write gratitude lists. It helps me get everything in my mind out on paper.
You can't do everything
I’m pretty bad at accepting help because I love being involved with everything! But I’m learning that there’s only one of me, and I have to accept my limits.
Prioritise positivity
Sadly, I’ve been on the receiving end of trolling on social media, which I’ve found difficult to deal with. Although I can’t control what pops up in my inbox, I don’t seek out negative comments any more. Instead, I screenshot positive ones and keep them on my phone so I can go in at any time and check them. They are so reassuring and remind me of the good in the world.
Check in with the people you love
Jamie and I are complete opposites. Unlike me, he’s so laid-back; he’s more-or-less in reverse! Between us we meet in the middle and it just works. When we wake up, we always ask each other, "How are you feeling this morning?" It always starts the day right.
Find comfort in friendship
I have had the same group of five friends since school and they’re so important to me. We have a ‘friendship jar’ that we fill with things we want to do together, including things such as wave watching or a teddy bear’s picnic for the kids. Every so often, we take out a piece of paper from the jar and go and do it. Despite everything, we always make time for each other. While the world around me is a complete whirlwind, I’ve always got that centre to come back to. They help me retain a sense of normality.
We all have more in common than you might think
Before I started my Instagram, I always felt that I was a bit weird. When I was young, I’d prefer to stay in with my parents and eat a takeaway than go out. I never felt as though I was doing the coolest things or wearing the best outfits. I used to think, "What’s wrong with me?" But sharing my life and feelings online, I’ve realised there are so many people who feel the same way I do.
Embrace life with open arms
I’m a very anxious person and I used to get really nervous about travelling or going away, but the pandemic has made me realise that we never know what’s around the corner, and we should take advantage of all life has to offer. It’s taught me that I should try to worry less, go and see more of the world and have new experiences as soon as it’s safe to do so. I’m trying to tell myself: pack that bag, go to that place and just enjoy yourself more.
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