Sophie Hinchliffe (née Barker; born 16 February 1990), known as Mrs Hinch,[1] is a British influencer whose Instagram account features tips for home cleaning. Her cleaning books and her memoir have been included on the Sunday Times Bestseller List.

Sophie Hinchliffe
Born
Sophie Barker

(1990-02-16) 16 February 1990 (age 34)
Basildon, Essex, England
Other namesMrs Hinch
Occupation(s)Influencer, author
Years active2018–present
SpouseJamie Hinch
Children2
Websiteinstagram.com/mrshinchhome

Early life

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Hinchliffe was born Sophie Barker, in Basildon, Essex.[1][2] Before creating her Instagram account, she was a hairdresser.[3] She stated that she suffers from anxiety, and that cleaning helped her cope with it.[4]

Career

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Instagram

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Hinchliffe created her Instagram account, mrshinchhome, in March 2018,[5] initially to show how she and her husband were decorating their house.[6] Within two years, she had accumulated two million followers on the platform, known as Hinchers[2] and by the hashtag #HinchArmy.[7] By June 2019 she had 2.5 million followers,[8] as of October 2020 more than 3.8 million.[6] Her content includes stories and short 15-second videos in which she cleans and organises her home.[7] In March 2021, ratings site GoCompare listed her as the highest-paid 'homefluencer' or 'cleanfluencer' in the United Kingdom, second highest worldwide.[9]

Books

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In April 2019, Hinchliffe's first book, Hinch Yourself Happy, sold 160,302 copies in three days, making it the second highest-selling non-fiction book in the UK at that time.[10] Her second book, The Activity Journal, was released in 2019 and reached number 1 on the Sunday Times Bestseller List.[11] Her third book, The Little Book of Lists, became the number one bestseller in the UK in April 2020, boosted by a surge in interest in cleaning and home care following the introduction of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.[12] In October 2020, her memoir, This Is Me, also became a number 1 bestseller.[1][13]

In 2023 she published a book, Welcome to Hinch Farm, with illustrations by Hannah George, dealing with the topic of children's anxiety about moving house. Hardback and ebook versions in 2023 were followed by a paperback in 2024.[14][15]

Other media

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This Morning has featured Mrs Hinch's cleaning tips.[7]

In March 2021, Hinchliffe's podcast, All the Best, was recommended by The Guardian as 'podcast of the week'.[16]

Product promotion

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Hinchliffe's recommendations have caused a surge in sales, such as when a cleaning pad she recommended quickly sold out.[17] In 2019 and March 2023, she was investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority for allegedly failing to make legally required disclosures that product promotions on her Instagram were paid advertisements.[8][18]

Personal life

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Hinchliffe lives in Maldon.[5][19] She and her husband, Jamie,[6] have two sons: Ronnie and Lennie.[20]

Hinchliffe suffered health problems after a gastric band operation that resulted in her losing eight stone. She was prescribed anti-depressants due to anxiety.[21]

Hinchliffe and her son Ronnie have both been diagnosed with autism.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Mrs Hinch (2020). This Is Me. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-0-241-45431-2.
  2. ^ a b Llewellyn Smith, Julia (5 April 2019). "Mrs Hinch interview: from Instagram fame to Hinch Yourself Happy". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Why Mrs Hinch and the 'cleanfluencers' are sweeping up the book charts". The Guardian. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  4. ^ Tchiprout, Arielle (5 April 2019). "Mrs Hinch reveals the star she wants as her 'best mate'". Prima. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Mrs Hinch: Instagram cleaner wants to make chores fun". BBC News (Essex). 14 September 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Tchiprout, Arielle (20 October 2020). "Mrs Hinch reveals what she's learned since finding fame". House Beautiful. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Who is Mrs Hinch? Essex housewife who's become famous for her cleaning tips". Heart. 21 February 2019 [21 September 2018]. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Mrs Hinch: Influencer investigated by advertising watchdog". BBC News (Entertainment & Arts). 5 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  9. ^ Edwards, Francesca (28 March 2021). "Essex's top home influencers who are earning millions and Mrs Hinch tops the list". Echo. Essex. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Why Mrs Hinch and the 'cleanfluencers' are sweeping up the book charts". The Guardian (Books blog). 11 April 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  11. ^ Mrs Hinch: The Activity Journal. Penguin UK. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  12. ^ Flood, Alison (8 April 2020). "Mrs Hinch cleans up with book sales as Britons tidy homes in lockdown". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  13. ^ Smith, Gwendolyn (11 October 2020). "Cleaning up: the social media stars making housework cool". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  14. ^ George, Mrs Hinch,Hannah (7 March 2024). Welcome to Hinch Farm.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Mrs Hinch announces she is releasing a children's book". Good Housekeeping. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Good, clean fun with Mrs Hinch – podcasts of the week". The Guardian. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Meet the 'cleanfluencers', the online gurus who like things nice and tidy". The Guardian. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Instagram influencer Mrs Hinch investigated by advertising body". The Guardian. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  19. ^ Walden, Lisa (20 November 2019). "Take a peek inside cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch's spotless Essex family home". House Beautiful. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  20. ^ mrshinchhome, Instagram.
  21. ^ Shepheard, Georgia (27 September 2020). "Mrs Hinch interview: 'I never said I was perfect'". YOU Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Mrs Hinch praised as she reveals her and son Ronnie's health diagnosis". FM104. Retrieved 21 December 2023.