Hey there, I’m Emily! Today, I want to talk about something that people often not take it serious – the connection between a clean, well organized home and your well being.
Two years ago, I moved from a tiny apartment to my first actual house. The space felt overwhelming at first. So many rooms to keep clean, so many surfaces to dust. I had no idea where to start.
I decided to teach myself proper home cleaning techniques. Not the surface-level stuff my mom showed me growing up, but really understanding how a clean home impacts everything else in life. I’ve learned through so many mistakes, research, and yes, even those late-night cleaning marathons when I couldn’t sleep.
When I started sharing my cleaning journey, my goal was simple: help regular people with regular homes feel good about their space without getting lost in perfectionism. I think the most important thing is understanding WHY we clean, not just HOW.
I’m really pumped about today’s topic. This is the first in my “Clean Home, Happy Life” series where we’ll dig into the connection between your home’s cleanliness and your actual well-being.
How Home Cleanliness Is Connected With Well Being
Let me start with something that blew my mind when I first read it.
The average person spends about 90% of their time indoors. Ninety percent! And a big chunk of that is in our homes. When I learned that statistic from the EPA, it really hit me how much our home environment affects us.
A study from Indiana University found that people with cleaner homes are actually healthier and more active than those with messy spaces. They tracked 998 participants between ages 49 and 65, and found a direct correlation between clean houses and physical health.
Here’s another crazy fact: According to research published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, women who described their homes as “cluttered” or full of “unfinished projects” were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than women who described their homes as “restful” and “restorative.”
I used to think keeping a clean home was just about avoiding judgment from unexpected visitors. Now I realize it’s actually about taking care of myself.
But, let me tell you one serious thing – home cleaning isn’t always easy-peasy! So, when I moved 2 years back to my new house, my husband suggested me to hire a professional as well.
In my suggestion, it’s always best to choose cleaning professionals, like ShineOn.
Hidden Connection Between Home Cleanliness and Your Wellbeing
So what exactly happens when we keep our homes clean? Let’s break it down into the main benefits I’ve both experienced personally and found backed by research.
Reduces Stress
Ever notice how walking into a messy room can instantly make you feel overwhelmed?
Last winter, I was going through a really tough time at work. I’d come home exhausted and just drop everything at the door. After about two weeks of this, I couldn’t figure out why I felt anxious the moment I walked in my front door.
Then one Thursday, I spent three hours cleaning my entryway and living room. Nothing crazy, just putting things away and wiping surfaces. That evening when I came back from grocery shopping, I walked in and felt this wave of calm wash over me.
This isn’t just me being weird. A study from Princeton University found that physical clutter competes for your attention, which can increase stress and decrease performance and focus.
Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli, making us feel like our work is never done. It signals to our brains that there’s always something else needing attention.
When I keep my home reasonably tidy now, I find my mind feels less cluttered too. It’s like giving your brain permission to relax because there’s nothing screaming for your attention.
Increases Productivity
I used to try working at my dining table surrounded by mail, unfinished craft projects, and yesterday’s coffee mug.
Know what happened? I’d spend twenty minutes working, then notice something that needed cleaning, then get distracted by something else entirely, and suddenly an hour passed with barely any work done.
Once I started maintaining a clean workspace, my productivity skyrocketed. A study by Harvard Business Review actually confirmed this – they found that a clean, organized workspace can boost productivity by up to 15%.
I’ve got this little routine now. Before I start any work project, I take five minutes to clear my space. Just five minutes! I put away anything not related to what I’m working on, wipe the surface clean, and make sure I have only what I need within reach.
Those five minutes save me at least an hour of distracted time later. It’s the best trade I’ve ever made.
Reduces Allergens and Respiratory Issues
This one’s huge for me personally since I’ve got mild asthma.
Last spring, I was waking up with a stuffy nose every morning. I assumed it was just seasonal allergies until a friend suggested I try washing my bedding more frequently.
Turns out my bed was basically a dust mite party! After washing my sheets weekly and my comforter monthly, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my breathing.
According to the American Lung Association, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Regular cleaning reduces common indoor allergens like dust mites, pet dander, mold, and pollen.
Some quick facts that shocked me:
- The average bed can have between 100,000 to 10 million dust mites
- Most people shed about 1.5 million skin flakes daily, which become food for dust mites
- A typical carpet can hold up to four times its weight in dirt and debris
Gross, right? But also fixable! Regular vacuuming with a HEPA filter vacuum can remove about 99% of common allergens.
Prevention of Illness
I used to catch every cold that went around my office. It was almost a joke among my coworkers – “If someone’s sick, Taylor will catch it next!”
Then during the pandemic, like everyone else, I became much more aware of surfaces and hand washing. I started regularly disinfecting high-touch areas in my home – doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, phone chargers.
The difference was remarkable. Even as things opened back up, I found I was getting sick much less often.
The CDC tells us that regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces can prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses by 80%. That’s huge!
I’m not saying you need to go overboard with bleach on every surface. Just being mindful of those spots everyone touches can make a big difference in keeping germs at bay.
Better Sleep Quality
This connection really surprised me. I never thought my messy bedroom was affecting my sleep quality.
About a year ago, I was struggling with insomnia. I tried everything – melatonin, limiting screen time, even meditation apps. Nothing worked great.
Then I read about bedroom environments and sleep quality. On a whim, I completely decluttered my bedroom. I cleared off my nightstand, organized my dresser, and made sure nothing was stored under my bed.
That night, I fell asleep faster than I had in months. The National Sleep Foundation actually confirms this connection – they found that people who make their beds every morning are 19% more likely to report regularly getting a good night’s sleep.
There’s something psychologically soothing about climbing into a clean, organized bedroom at the end of a long day. Your brain registers it as a safe, peaceful environment where it’s okay to fully relax.
Now my bedroom is my sanctuary. No work stuff allowed, minimal electronics, and I maintain it as the cleanest room in my house. The sleep improvement has been one of the best unexpected benefits of my cleaning journey.
Conclusion
Looking back at where I started two years ago, I never would have guessed that learning to keep a clean home would transform my mental and physical health so dramatically.
I’m not perfect at it. Some weeks are better than others. Sometimes life gets busy and things slide a bit. That’s normal and totally okay.
The key is understanding that cleaning isn’t just about appearances. It’s not about impressing others or meeting some impossible standard of domestic perfection.
Cleaning is self-care. It’s creating an environment that supports your health, productivity, and peace of mind.
Start small if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Pick one area that bothers you the most and focus just on that. Maybe it’s your kitchen counter or your entryway or the area around your bed.
Notice how you feel in clean spaces versus cluttered ones. Pay attention to your body’s responses. That awareness alone can be motivating.
Remember that cleaning, like any skill, gets easier with practice. What took me an hour when I started now takes fifteen minutes because I’ve built systems and habits that work for me.
So grab a cloth, put on some music that makes you happy, and give yourself the gift of a cleaner space. Your body and mind will thank you in ways you might not expect.
Just start somewhere. Clean something. Notice how you feel. Repeat.
