We often refer to the homes we live in as our sanctuaries, and rightly so, because of how much time we spend in them. But that begs the question, just how much organising and cleaning are we doing for the roof over our heads and the 4 walls that surround us? The importance of regular home cleaning cannot be stated enough, especially for our health and well-being.
Unfortunately, dust and dirt live in all corners of our homes, many of them hidden. If these elements aren’t taken care of regularly, it will compromise well-being factors like health, allergens, and indoor air quality. In this blog post, we’ll explore why regular home cleaning is the key to maintaining a happy and healthy home, and how the expert team at SweepSouth can make this possible.
Health and Well-being Benefits of Regular Home Cleaning
Keeping a clean home isn’t just about impressing your guests. In fact, the benefits pertaining to your and your family’s health and well-being should come before first impressions. Listed below are the health and well-being benefits deriving from regular home cleaning. Keep reading to discover more about each benefit.
- Reduces allergies and respiratory problems
- Prevents the spread of germs and infections
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Improves indoor air quality
- Enhances physical health
1. Reduces Allergies and Respiratory Problems
Regular home cleaning reduces allergies and respiratory problems by eradicating dust, pet dander, and other allergens from the surfaces we touch and the air we breathe. Without cleaning, these irritants could trigger allergic reactions or worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma. The best way to remove these allergens is by dusting and vacuuming, while air filters and proper ventilation are a bonus to improve indoor air quality.
For fabrics and materials on bedding, curtains, and the like, regular washing can reduce the presence of dust mites, another common allergen. Use the cleaning tips below to ease allergies and respiratory problems:
- Avoid clutter – Boxes and other clutter lying around will hide allergens, and even insects if left for long enough.
- Machine-dry laundry – If your allergies are really bad, avoid air-drying where possible to stop clothing from picking up pollen
- Wear a mask while cleaning – This will limit your exposure to dust and dander that becomes airborne during the process.
- Take your shoes off when indoors – Avoid bringing extra dust and dirt in by leaving your shoes at the door.
2. Prevents the Spread of Germs and Infections
Regular home cleaning plays a vital role in removing bacteria and viruses from frequently touched surfaces. These pathogens are able to survive on surfaces for days, increasing the chances of them spreading. Disinfectants kill these pathogens and reduce the risk of infection.
Certain surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and countertops that get touched frequently should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Other useful tips to take note of are regular handwashing, and proper food handling and storage.
3. Reduces Stress and Anxiety
The more clean and organised your home is, the happier you’ll feel living in it. A good way to picture this is through the comparison of an overwhelmed mind with an abundance of clouded thoughts. The less cluttered your head is with negative thoughts, the more relaxed you’ll feel.
A study published by the Journal of Neuroscience concluded that clutter makes it difficult to focus solely on a particular task, mainly because our visual cortex gets overwhelmed by objects unrelated to that task. So while you’re cleaning, make sure you’re also decluttering to reduce your levels of stress and anxiety.
4. Improves Indoor Air Quality
Cleaning your home regularly avoids the buildup of dust and other potentially harmful particles, meaning less of it will be found in the air. This is especially applicable to surfaces such as carpets and curtains, as they gather and store allergens more easily than other surfaces. That’s why it’s important to vacuum regularly (1-2 times a week), especially on surfaces that see the most foot traffic.
Improved air quality in a home means there will be fewer allergic reactions and illnesses, and an overall better quality of life. With so many people working from home nowadays, it only makes sense to do it in an environment conducive to productivity.
5. Enhances Physical Health
Need to get those 10,000 daily steps in? Regular cleaning can help with that. While it may not be the most orthodox way to burn calories, it counts as a form of exercise that will keep your body in a state of healthy movement. Living in a clean home will also inspire you to exercise more because your thoughts won’t be blurred by the clutter surrounding you. Rather, you’ll feel more motivated to keep your physical health in line with the state of your spotless home.
Conclusion
Regular home cleaning is a task that should not only be done when needed, but rather something that gets planned in advance to maintain the health and well-being of you and your loved ones.
If you’re struggling to fit and add all the essential chores into your schedule, we get that. Life can get busy and overwhelming, but there will always be a SweepStar available to help. Book a SweepSouth cleaning service and get the professional help you need 365 days a year, for any occasion.
