7 Ways to Clean Your House and Improve Mental Health

Improve Mental Health With Cleaning

A cluttered house can sometimes equal a cluttered mind. Even beyond clutter, there might be some toxins in your house that can be messing with you. Research has shown that cleaning can decrease stress levels and fight symptoms of mental illness. Furthermore, your house might be making you sick. Here are a few ways you can clean your house and experience the benefits of a clean body and a clean mind.

1. Make a cleaning checklist

The idea of cleaning your entire house can feel incredibly daunting and may cause you to put it off even more. Look at what you need cleaned and make a checklist. Inspect each room and write down each task that you can do for each room. This helps clarify your biggest projects, but also the easier ones you can do within minutes.

2. Do one room at a time

Some rooms are going to be big projects for you, like the kitchen, the bathroom or bedroom. Instead of going for the whole house all at once, pick a room and just work on that. If you can enlist family members to help you do the room, all the better. This may make your deep cleaning efforts a little longer than you might like, but it will help you get things done.

3. Clean naturally

Research by scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway has shown that regular inhalation or use of harsh chemical cleaners can be as rough on your lungs as smoking. Find alternative ways and natural cleaning solutions to help you eliminate the really nasty stuff in your home. It’ll make cleaning less daunting (because you’re not coughing), and you can feel safe knowing you won’t harm yourself.

4. 15-minute daily cleaning

This is good for when you’re worried cleaning will take forever. Focus on a big picture cleaning strategy so you don’t get bogged down in one room or area for too long. Play a game where you time yourself and see if you can finish cleaning a specific area of the room in 15 minutes. Even when you aren’t doing deep cleaning routine, just use it as an exercise in becoming efficient and enjoying a clear room.

5. Eliminate allergens and mold

“Issues like mold, radon and carbon dioxide can be hazards to your health. If your home contains one or more of these elements, you may be at risk for ailments that could have been avoided!”

Studies have shown that carpet can actually improve the air quality and allergens in your home. The key to this is regular vacuuming and maintenance. You can also get an air purifier to help eliminate some of the toxins that might be in your house. If your house is making you sick, have it inspected to see what could be affecting you. Take samples of dust in your home to see what kinds of allergens might be there. Regularly clean your bedroom, since you spend at least six hours in there sleeping.

6. Deep-clean once every two weeks

Some kinds of bacteria such as Staphylococcus can be particularly resistant to elimination in areas such as the bathroom, so it’s important for your immune health that you regularly do a deep clean, which can clear out stubborn microbes. Get areas you typically don’t think of: the blinds, baseboards, corners, lamps and other areas that can house bugs and toxins.

7. Clean your cleaning appliances

According to the Washington Post, you should give a little extra love to appliances like your washing machine or garbage disposal once a month. These are areas where bacteria can grow and keep things dirty. Clean out your vacuum regularly and switch out your mop. You can sterilize sponges in the dishwasher as well to help prevent growth.

Cleaning regularly can improve so many aspects of your life, from preventing sickness and improving heart health, to helping you sleep and eat better. All this contributes to mental health and helps you think more clearly and be happier. Take a little extra time to do some cleaning and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits.