Array of homes on a light yellow background

tidy your house.

and enjoy these 5 health benefits.

Keeping a clean and tidy home can feel overwhelming, especially when juggling busy work schedules, taking care of young kids, and feeling like you’re always on the go. We get it.

But the time you spend cleaning today can help you stay healthier tomorrow.

Tidier = healthier.

Not only is a clean home healthier for you and your family, but keeping it that way is truly a healthy habit. Here are five health benefits of keeping your home in order:

1. Reduces germs, dust, and bacteria.

A little regular cleaning can help eliminate the triggers of asthma and allergies, as well as kill germs that cause colds and flu.

2. Lowers stress.

Clutter makes it more difficult to relax. Your brain likes order and open spaces, and excess clutter is a visual distraction that causes anxiety and stress.

3. Improves productivity.

How much time do you waste looking for things that aren’t where they belong? Studies have also shown that people who feel overwhelmed in a cluttered home are more likely to procrastinate.1

1https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-case-for-finally-cleaning-your-desk

4. Increases physical activity.

Twenty minutes of sanitizing and de-cluttering is not a substitute for regular exercise, but it can help you burn some calories.

5. Promotes better sleep.

Cluttered or dirty bedrooms generate stress. To have more restful nights, start by putting stuff away, making your bed each morning, and washing your sheets at least once a week.

Your road to tidiness starts here.

You can do this! Start small and make a few simple changes to your daily routine:

Make your bed every day.

It will make you more productive and set the tone for accomplishing more tasks. A tidy, organized bedroom lowers your stress and improves your sleep.

Wipe off frequently touched surfaces.

Clear clutter off countertops to reduce your stress. Then use an anti-bacterial solution to wipe counters, appliance handles, doorknobs, and faucet handles to kill as many germs as possible.

“Reset” the room each time you leave.

Everything in a room should have its place. When you leave the room, return things to their place and take anything that doesn’t belong in the room with you.

Manage your mail immediately.

Don’t let unread mail pile up. Go through it as soon as you bring it in. Dump the junk and open bills and put them in a specific spot for paying later.

Do one load of laundry a day.

Instead of letting dirty (or clean) clothes clutter your closet or bedroom, throw a load in before you leave for work, then dry it, fold it, and put it away after dinner.

Our doctors and therapists can help.

“How can an untidy home affect your health? The mold, mildew, and germs in dust alone can impact your physical health – aggravating asthma and allergy symptoms, skin irritations, headaches, and more. And a cluttered home can impact your mental health, making you feel anxious, stressed, or depressed. If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, MDLIVE is here to help.”

- Dr. Cynthia E. Collins, MDLIVE Clinical Medical Director