Cleaning Helps Your Physical Health

 

Windows are closed for much of winter, making rooms stuffy. Fresh air is not just pleasant; it’s also better for your health. Built up dirt and dust can increase allergies, unhealthy bacteria and dust mites. A deep cleaning eliminates germs, bacteria, and viruses left over from your family’s winter ailments, allowing you to breathe easier.

If you’re in need of some physical activity, try organizing your closets, basement, garage, and other storage areas. While you must be careful not to lift anything you can’t handle, this kind of housekeeping can give you a good workout and will motivate you to begin an exercise program as the weather improves.

One surprising way that spring cleaning is good for your body? It helps you eat healthier! A study at the University of Minnesota showed that people in clean, organized rooms tended to pick healthier foods to snack on. And messy homes were more likely to increase junk food snacking, according to this post.  Who knew cleaning was good for your diet, too?

 

Cleaner is Better for Mental and Emotional Health

 

Dirt, mess, and disorganization can actually lead to stress. According to this post at Psychologytoday.com clutter overloads our brains with more stimuli than we can handle, causing our senses to work harder than normal. That makes it difficult to relax and focus. So if you want less stress in your life, declutter your home.

An organized home can also boost your productivity. Do you waste time seeking out “missing” paperwork, keys, and other items, or trying to find a working pen? Those tasks eat away at your time but keeping an organized area puts you back in control of your day.

Finally, cleaning is often its own reward. How many times have you felt satisfied and accomplished after tidying your home? That boost to your self-esteem may be a good reason to bring out the vacuum. Learn more psychological benefits of spring cleaning from this post at Stylecaster.

 

Efficient Cleaning 101

 

It’s time to get cleaning but how should you start? Removing dirt and clutter after the winter season can be a lot of work but you can make a more efficient job of it.

First, it’s time to sort out the junk. Go through your closets and throw out all the clothes that you never wear. Take a critical look at stored items including ancient check stubs or your high schooler’s first-grade artwork. Figure out what you actually need to keep and throw the rest away. Anything in good condition can be donated or sold at a yard sale.

In the kitchen, go through your pantry and refrigerator. Toss out anything that is out of date or unrecognizable. If you’re unsure how old something is, it’s probably too old to eat.

Next, you’ll need to have the right cleaning tools in place. For dusting and vacuuming hard-to-reach places, use a duster and vacuum hose with extension. Try a microfiber cloth to wipe up dust on molding and vents.

When it’s time to start cleaning, Woman’s Day Magazine recommends doing each chore one at a time. For example, you dust your entire home in one shot, going from top to bottom and left to right. This saves you time getting out various tools as you’ll use them all at once.

Last but not least, change out any old air filters so you can keep air fresh and free of dust.

Spring cleaning is a great way to boost your mood, improve your health and air out your home, preparing you for a great season.

 

Recently we were called in to do a crime scene clean up.  Fortunately there aren’t very many events like this in Walla Walla.  This was an apartment complex where a stabbing had occurred.  I asked and they told me that the victim lived through it.  There was so much blood, it was a little hard to believe.  It took special tools and cleaning solutions and a lot of time and energy but we removed all the blood and applied disinfectant to make sure it was sanitary.  You may not have any cleaning issues that even come close to the complexity of this job, but you can be assured if we can take care of this stuff, we can take care of you and your cleaning needs.

Matthew Richerzhagen, founder and president, shares the first video in the five part series on Clean ‘n Dry’s Core values used to fulfill their mission: Providing YOU with the Most Outstanding Service Experience Possible.  Thanks for watching!