How a Dirty Home Can Impact Your Health
Everyone has experienced a messy home. Whether it be from children running amok or a roommate who is scared of cleaning their dinner mess, a dirty home is unpleasant to live in. While a dirty home can certainly be annoying, at worst it can be detrimental to your family’s health. If you find any of these situations to be true, make some serious changes.
More Allergens
One of the less obvious dangers of a messy home comes in the form of allergens. Anything can be an allergen—pet dander, foods, dust, and pollen for example. But a messy home only amplifies your chances of interacting with some allergens a family member is seriously allergic to.
Keeping a clean house can make it easier to find these potentially lethal triggers. Make sure that you are cleaning fabrics around your home that love to hide allergens in their seams. Clothes, rugs, and even carpets should all be disinfected and cleaned to remove any invisible invaders.
Dirty Homes Attract Pests
Leftover crumbs, a stack of dirty dishes, and interesting smells—all of these can be associated with food. Little critters like rodents, bugs and even bacteria love these kinds of environments. A filthy home is like a magnet for pests. Bringing more to your home until it becomes an infestation.
This is certainly the worst-case scenario. Rodents can spread diseases and make home occupants sick, so it’s important to take care of the problem as soon as you can. Clean your kitchen consistently each day to reduce the temptation for unwanted creatures. Make sure food containers are sealed, and lay traps when absolutely necessary.
Cluttered Home, Cluttered Mind
Though the last two points have been physically-oriented, this last point is about mental health. There have been studies that show that cluttered, dirty homes contribute to stress within its occupants. Homeowners may feel out of control or anxious more easily and may detract from your ability to concentrate on anything.
In contrast, those who have an organized and clean home find it easier to stick to routines. Decluttering may feel overwhelming, but if you focus on one area at a time it can go much quicker. This can alleviate your stress and make you think of the bigger picture.
By doing these things, you will be able to help your physical and mental well-being in check. Keeping your home stable clean is especially important for younger families with infants who are developing. All it takes is some effort, and your home can feel good as new.
Read this next: How to Make Your Home a More Comfortable Place to Live
