As we are all spending more time at home these days, your home needs to be a healthy sanctuary for you and your family. There are many ways to keep your home healthy, from keeping it organized and clean with the best cleaning products to open windows, letting fresh air flow through, and keeping pests under control.
A healthy home helps contribute to a strong and healthy immune system, which is particularly important these days. Keep reading for our best tips on keeping your home in the best shape to prioritize your family’s health.
Organizing
Albert Einstein once said, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” He was, of course, implying that a cluttered desk is a sign of genius. While that may be true for the desk of one of the world’s wisest men, the truth is that a cluttered home leads to subconscious stress and anxiety. Added stress has been linked to lower immune systems and a variety of other health issues.
A 2015 survey from the National Association of Professional Organizers found that 54% of Americans are overwhelmed by the clutter in their home. On top of the stress, we already have in our day-to-day lives, that stress is often too much to handle. This is why we have seen a rise in the popularity of professional organizers like Marie Kondo.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, what can you do? Our advice is to start small. Don’t think about tackling your whole home at once, as that just adds to the stress. Instead, set a timer for 15 minutes and focus on cleaning up one area of your home. The biggest key to organizing is making sure that everything has a home. Often clutter piles up because we don’t know what to do with our stuff. If everything has a place, keeping the house organized is much easier.
Open Windows
Fresh air can do wonders for your health and happiness. According to the American Heart Association, “Spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing.”
By opening your windows, you’re allowing that fresh air to circulate through your home. As we’ve previously discussed, lowering your stress levels can help boost your immune system and protect you from illnesses.
In addition, a breath of fresh air can be a great mood booster. If you need a break from your fifth straight Zoom meeting, open up your window and take a deep breath. The clean oxygen can do wonders for you.
Air Filters
Speaking of fresh air, many of us often forget about the air filters in our homes. You must check and replace your air filters every six months.
Air filters are an excellent defense for filtering out dust and particles that are otherwise circulating through your home. This can help reduce allergens and viruses that may be circulating. Not only should you check these regularly, but also invest in higher quality filters. It is definitely worth it.
Cleaning Products
A healthy home basically equates to a clean home in many cases. Throughout the day, we track in dirt and germs from our adventures outside the home. If you have pets, the impact can be even worse, as our 4-legged friends track in a lot of dirt and other allergy-causing microbes.
It’s important that you use really good products that are going to kill bacteria and not harm your family with toxins. There are many natural cleaning products on the market, and some you can even make yourself.
In addition, there are some really genius cleaning hacks using inexpensive products you already have in your home. Make sure you’re not adding to your stress by overengineering your cleaning tasks.
Pest Control
Not only will seeing a spider scamper across your floor add to stress levels, but little pests can also carry a variety of diseases that don’t help to promote a healthy home. To make sure your home stays critter-free, make sure you’re employing a good pest control company.
A good company can protect your home from spiders, scorpions, bees, and even mice and rats. Sometimes in order to avoid pests, you need to kill their food source. It’s important to have regular visits from a qualified pest specialist to keep them at bay.
Zen
Last, but not least, important piece of having a healthy home is creating a space that helps you relax as soon as you walk in the door. Your home should be a sanctuary where you are able to shut out the world and feel comfortable.
There are many inexpensive ways to add little comforts to your home. Maybe you have a favorite candle you light each day to end your day, or you have a favorite throw blanket for your couch where you can snuggle up with some tea and a good book. Whatever it is, find small joys in your home.
It is more important than ever to reduce your stress and boost your immune system as much as possible in today’s day and age. Since we spend so much of our time at home, keeping your home in good working order will do wonders for your health. Outside of keeping your home sanitized, there are many other ways to boost the healthiness of your home. This includes keeping the home organized, getting fresh air, and keeping pests at bay by using qualified pest control companies.
A clean, healthy home can be a sanctuary for you and your family. A place where you can gather at the end of the day and relax in comfort. If your home is extremely cluttered or there is a lot of work to do, just start small. One room or one project at a time. At the end of the day, we spend more time at home than anywhere else. Invest the time needed to improve the health of your home to help boost your own mood and immune system.
