It can be very tempting to ignore that nudging feeling that tells you to clean your home; after all, how much harm can a dirty home actually cause? While this is a completely understandable habit, it might be negatively affecting your mental and physical health. This guide is here to help you understand how keeping your home clean can benefit your health.
1. A Clean Home Reduces Your Chances of Getting Sick
Regularly cleaning your home means that you are removing a build-up of dust and allergens that might be present. However, it is not just hoovering that can help to keep you healthy. If you do not regularly clean your kitchen, particularly your kitchen sink, this can lead to a clogged drain. It could become a breeding ground for bacteria like E. Coli and Salmonella if you do not unclog drain quickly. The stagnant water produced by a blocked drain can also lead to a build-up of mold, mildew and attract pests like mosquitos.
2. You Will Have Better Quality Sleep
Everyone knows that eight hours of quality sleep is beneficial for both physical and mental health but did you know that your messy home can negatively impact your sleep? A study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that even small efforts to tidy up can make a real difference. Even just making your bed in when you wake up in the morning can improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep by 20%.
3. Your Productivity Will Increase
Research has found that a messy environment can drastically reduce your productivity rates. This is because the distracted mind automatically looks for stimuli to focus on rather than concentrating on the task at hand. When your home is messy, there are many more apparent stimuli that you can focus on.
4. Reduced Stress Levels
Have you ever heard the phrase, messy home messy mind? This might seem like a slightly nonsensical saying, but it has a very strong grounding in reality. One study found that people who live in messy homes sustain much higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) than those who live in clean and tidy houses.
5. You Will Make Healthier Choices
Studies have found that the way that one’s home looks, particularly its level of cleanliness, can have a big impact on the type of choices people make in their daily lives. Specifically, people who live and work in organized spaces usually eat healthier foods than those living in mess and clutter. The study found that those who work and live in a mess are two times more likely to eat a chocolate bar than an apple.
6. You’ll Move Your Body More
Getting up and cleaning your house might not seem like a strenuous physical activity, but the effects of cleaning can pay off over time. Cleaning regularly helps you increase your daily activity rate, which helps you stay happy and healthy. In particular, activities like hoovering, cleaning the windows, and ironing can all burn off a surprising amount of calories.
