Have you ever heard of the phrase clean space, clear mind? Well, turns out there’s some – or maybe a lot – of truth to that. The reality is, cleaning impacts mental health, from the key influence good hygiene has on our overall health (physical and mental) to the positive consequences a tidy environment can have on our minds. However, that factor is sometimes overlooked. When you are juggling several things at the same time, taking proper care of your home and organization can sometimes be one of the things you end up dropping.
That being said, we’re here to help! Let’s explore the impacts of cleaning and hygiene on mental health and leave you with a few tips to make every day a bit easier – and fresher.
The psychology of clutter: why mess causes stress
To understand why cleaning has so many benefits for our minds, we first need to look at the impact of its opposite: clutter. Clutter isn’t just an eyesore; it’s a constant source of stress for our brains. Studies have shown that a disorganized, cluttered environment can significantly increase our cortisol levels, the body’s primary stress hormone. One study conducted by the University of California found that women living in cluttered and stressful homes had higher levels of cortisol and heightened depression symptoms.
According to Erika Penney, Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of Technology Sydney, the stress is connected to what Psychology calls a “cognitive overload”. In practical terms, that means that everything around us competes for our focus when we’re surrounded by distractions, such as a messy home. That constant stimuli, and sometimes the added discomfort that can come with seeing your home in chaos, can overload our cognitive capabilities and affect our productivity and mental health.
Our brains are wired to prefer order. Constant visual reminders of disorganization, such as the unsorted laundry, the dirty bathrooms, and the kitchen that desperately needs a deep cleaning, can all overload our sensory systems. For your mental health, this persistent background stress is corrosive, contributing to feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and a lack of control. The best way to address the problem? Putting your hands (or ours!) to work to clean and declutter.
The obvious factor: good hygiene’s impact on physical and mental health
The connection between physical health and mental health is inextricable. When we feel physically unwell, our mental state inevitably suffers. A dusty, dirty environment can exacerbate allergies, cause respiratory issues, and generally make us feel physically unwell.
Cleaning regularly with simple tasks such as dusting all surfaces, vacuuming carpets and rugs, washing bedding, refreshing the mattress, deep cleaning the bathroom and etc, has a direct impact on our health. After all, it’s through cleaning that it’s possible to kill bacteria and remove dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and other common allergens from living spaces. By simply breathing cleaner air, you support your physical health, which in turn supports a more stable and positive mood. It’s much harder to feel energized when your own home is draining you due to the lack of cleanliness.
It is not that you need to have your home looking like a showroom every day, but when clutter and dirty spaces are more often the norm than the opposite, that reality will start impacting your overall health, physical and mental. It’s not a coincidence that hygiene (personal and of the home) is one of the first things that ends up being dropped by people who struggle with severe depression. Showing up for yourself while in that state can be truly challenging, especially if you think you need to do it all on your own. You don’t! From a certified mental health professional to a cleaning company such as our own, don’t be afraid to ask for help – no matter the kind.
Turning your bedroom into a sanctuary: how a clean space improves sleep and relaxation
The bedroom is where we can find another connection between cleaning and mental health. When the place that should be your very own sanctuary of rest and rejuvenation is constantly dirty and messy, it turns into another cause of stress instead of something that could help mitigate it.
A study from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests that people who live surrounded by too much clutter, like hoarders, are more prone to suffer from sleep disturbances, sleep latency, and even daytime disturbances, which, in consequence, compromise cognition.
A clean room helps eliminate overstimulation, signaling to your brain that now is the time to get into a state of rest. After all, we all know that there’s a profound sense of peace in lying down in a fresh bed after a long day. The importance of this specific cleaning task cannot be overstated, knowing that sleep is one of the most critical factors for mental health. A good night’s sleep can set a positive tone for your entire next day!
Again, you don’t need to aim for constant perfection, but it’s nice to think about ways to create an environment that supports relaxation. The process of cleaning your sleeping space is an act of self-care, a direct investment in your quality of life.
Getting to work! 3 practical tips to help you get the cleaning your house needs and the mental peace you deserve.
Now that you already understand the why, let’s get to the “how” of all of this. First things first, remember: you don’t need to get everything done on one day, not even in one week. What you need is to start. Start small, start on a weekend, but start. The goal is not perfection, is consistent progress.
1. Choose one place to begin
Try to start with the place where cleaning is most needed at the moment, or start on the areas that impact you the most. For example, if the state of your bedroom is making it hard for you to enjoy a good night’s sleep, then start there. If you enjoy cooking but your kitchen is looking like a huge mess, making you avoid doing something you like, then begin with that. The point here is to start with the parts of your house whose cleanliness and organization would have the biggest impact on you from the start.
Side note: If you live with other people (who probably also share their own part in the state of the house), get them involved! Turning cleaning into a shared activity can sometimes make it easier to get it done. If you live alone, you can still ask others to help you out or to hold you accountable when it comes to doing the things you need to do.
2. Pick something and do it for just five minutes
Using the five-minute rule can be super effective to get started when you’ve been procrastinating on a task for too long, and that also applies to cleaning. The goal here is not to make you feel too overwhelmed. Remember that it is ok to start small! Set a timer and put your hands to one small task that your home needs to get done. It could be unloading your dishwasher, putting your laundry in the washing machine, sorting out trash, or simply making your bed. Getting started is the hardest part, so if you feel like keeping it going, do so! If not, hey, at least you already did some of the cleaning.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Being it’s from friends, family, or a specialized company, don’t be afraid to reach out to others when needed. Ask for help, hire a service, and get the support you need in any way you can. Also, if you feel as if the messiness of your home is more than a consequence of busy days, reach out to a specialist. Mental health issues are real and can cause so much pain when unattended. You deserve better.
Need some help with all of that cleaning? Count on us!
We know wanting to do something does not always translate to being able to do it, especially when it comes to tasks that can sometimes be challenging, such as addressing the clutter and doing a deep cleaning in your house. That’s why no one should ever be afraid to ask for help. And when it comes to cleaning, we can be the hand you need!
Being it because you are too busy and out of time, sick, or just overwhelmed from not knowing where to start, Vetter Cleaning & Maintenance is here to get your house fresh as new for you. We don’t judge, we get the work done. You can take a look at what we offer and the area of work to pick what works best for you! We work with a broad range of services – from weekly housekeeping with our professional technicians, to disinfecting and fogging packages. Invest in your self-care! Show some love to your home.
Thank you for reaching this far! What else would you like to see around here? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Written by
Vetter Cleaning & Maintenance Team.
About the company
Vetter Cleaning is a professional cleaning service located in Colorado Springs, CO. They offer a variety of cleaning services to meet most residential cleaning needs, including recurring maid services, deep house cleaning services, and move-in/out cleaning services.
If you live in the Colorado Springs area, we invite you to request a free home cleaning quote.
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