A clean home is more than a pretty sight ⎯ it comes with a load of health benefits to those who live in the home and those who visit as guests. Between mental health benefits and better eating and sleeping habits, keeping a clean home helps set the mood for everyone involved. Let this list of health benefits encourage and motivate you as you clean, knowing your whole family will benefit from the results.
1. Reduced stress
One of the best health benefits of a clean home is reduced stress. Living in a clean home allows you to think less of clutter and dirtiness, and more about other necessary things like family needs, work, planned activities, etc. A clean home not only improves your mood but the mood of those who are also in your home. No one is irritated over dusty furniture or toys thrown about because the toys are stored where they’re supposed to be.
2. Better productivity
Have you ever been working on a task while simultaneously getting distracted by thoughts about how your home needs cleaned? Having a clean home frees your mind to focus on the task at hand so you’re more productive overall. Being in a clean home is also motivating! You feel ready to tackle your to-do list and you aren’t burdened by mess, clutter, or cleaning chores.
3. Improves creativity
In addition to increased productivity, another health benefit of a clean home is that it improves creativity. Creativity flourishes when the mind has room to think and explore. This is why writers go on “writing retreats” so that they can sit in a peaceful, quiet, and clean space to do their creative work. A clean home encourages creativity in children as well. You may notice that kids tend to play more frequently in their rooms when they are clean as opposed to when they are cluttered.
4. Reduced chance of illness
Of course, a huge health benefit of a clean home is the reduced chance of illness. When you properly sanitize the kitchen, bathrooms, eating spaces, and other common germ harboring areas, you’re reducing the entire family’s chance of getting sick. This is even more important if you have little ones playing on the floor, putting hands in their mouth, etc. Young children haven’t yet learned all the ways to reduce spreading germs, so keeping counters and spaces clean is extra helpful.
5. Allergens are more controlled
No one likes dealing with allergies, especially in their own home. Reducing allergens is another health benefit of a clean home for you and those who visit. Pet hair, dust, and other allergens build up in the home if they’re not vacuumed or wiped up frequently. Those with asthma also benefit from living in a clean home because the air is more fresh and clear of irritants.
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6. More likely to host guests
Many homeowners are hesitant to host guests unless their house is sparkly clean. If that’s the case for you, keeping your home clean will increase the chance that you invite guests over, which is also a health benefit of a clean home. Studies show that high-quality social relationships improve mental health. Therefore, as more guests come over to your clean home, your mental health and mood improve greatly over time.
7. Better sleep
According to a study done by The National Sleep Foundation in 2011, 66% of respondents said that a “clean bedroom” is important in getting a good night’s sleep. It makes sense! When the house is clean, the mind is not bogged down by thoughts of clutter, mess, and chores. Items are in their proper places and there is more calming “blank space” around the home, meaning our eyes and minds aren’t in sensory overload, which is calming overall.
8. More likely to eat healthier
When the home feels messy and disorganized, it can make a homeowner feel tired and lazy. Laziness tends to lead to unhealthy eating choices, like takeout or delivery. On the other hand, a clean and organized home is a huge health benefit as it boosts the mood and encourages healthier eating. This is especially true of a clean kitchen space. Counters that are free of mess and dishes that are clean and put away encourage cooking and baking.
9. Reduced chance of injury
It’s true that a cleaner home is less likely to create an opportunity for injury. A slippery floor or wayward toys can cause someone to easily slip and fall. Stepping on toys can cause pain (if you’ve ever stepped on a LEGO you know what we mean!). Be careful not to stack too many items on top of one another because a heavy stack can fall and injure someone as well.
Keeping your home clean doesn’t have to be daunting. Creating a schedule of daily tasks, weekly tasks, and monthly tasks may be helpful in keeping rooms clean. Spending a little bit of time cleaning every day is better for you overall than spending a whole Saturday cleaning the entire home. If you’re struggling to find time to keep your home clean, consider opting for a cleaning service.
Do you have a cleaning schedule that you follow? What are some tips and tricks that make cleaning easier for you?
Morgan French is a wife, mom of two, writer & editor. After traveling for 3 years with her family, she now lives back in her hometown of Dayton, OH. She makes frequent stops for coffee, enjoys the outdoors, and loves board games.
All great tips!