Why Is a Clean House so Important for Your Family?

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Let’s face it. Having kids forces you to lower your standards for the cleanliness of your home. In no time flat, priorities shift from the house to the baby – and that’s perfectly normal! Fatigue and lack of time are just some of the factors that cause parents to spend fewer hours per week cleaning and tidying.

There are only 24 hours in a day. If you want to invest them smartly, the household can take a hit, unfortunately. That’s because it’s so important to spend time with your family.

Yet studies show that the connection between the cleanliness of your home and the well-being of your family are closely related. Here are some aspects of your daily life that are influenced by the state of your home, and therefore affect your family.

Stress Levels

Your stress levels are heavily influenced by the space you’re in. An article published by the University of Minnesota suggests, “Perhaps most importantly for health, the environment can create or reduce stress, which in turn impacts our bodies in multiple ways. Children also mirror their environment. If you are constantly stressed, they will feel the tension and be more likely to show anxiety symptoms.”

One of the top tips given by specialists to people who are experiencing anxiety is to reorganize their home. Just doing an activity that allows you to refocus and become aware of your environment, can calm you down. Go step by – you are already very busy. There’s no point in setting unachievable cleaning objectives. You’ll just get even more discouraged. And don’t be afraid to ask for help, or hire professionals.

It’s important to maintain a clean home, for a sense of well-being that reverberates through your whole family. If you feel overwhelmed, you can always ask your spouse or your older children to take a few minutes to tidy the common areas. Make it a happy moment by playing music, talking together or organizing friendly competitions! Cleaning may not seem like your children’s favourite activity, but when they see the positive effects on the whole family, they’ll slowly change their attitudes.

Physical health

Your family’s health is deeply affected by the quality of air circulating in your home. Children who come in contact with mold on a regular basis are more likely to develop respiratory diseases. Elsevir Masson, researcher for the bronchial clinic of Marseille, concluded one study with this insight: “[…] mold exposure is linked to a risk of ENT and bronchial symptoms, both the genesis and exacerbation of asthma and, lastly, hypersensitivity pneumonitis.”

So it’s a good idea to prioritize the elimination of mold in your home. When the seasons change, check high-risk areas for mold. These are often dark and damp places. For example, the shower, the bath, the seams of the shower curtain, under the sinks and in the ventilation hatches. Try to always stay one step ahead of the mold.

When children’s’ respiratory health is weakened by their environment, they’re also more likely to develop allergies. A home must be a refuge of peace where family members can rest safely. But if dust and mites build-up, your home can become more harmful to your health.

Mites are present in all homes, even the cleanest. But it’s possible to limit their spread. By doing so, you’ll reduce their negative impact on the health of your children. Among other things, you cover your bedding with waterproof mattress covers, wash the sheets with hot water every week, and opt for wooden flooring instead of carpet.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology advises cleaning your house regularly. Especially vacuuming every week, particularly if you have pets. It’s the simplest solution to ensure your family is safe under your roof.

Mental health

Your children’s self-confidence and sense of responsibility are also impacted by the cleanliness of your home. Your children will be proud to live in an organized home, and they’ll develop healthy habits in their own space.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes on its blog that it’s essential for the child’s development to give them more tasks and responsibilities each year. Younger people can help out around the house by cleaning up their rooms, putting toys away after games, or cooking with you.

This gradual process will allow them to learn how to start and finish a task. They’ll also be aware of everyone’s role in the family unit. For example, if you’re always storing craft materials after activities, your children may never understand the amount of time you actually spend cleaning. They need as many opportunities as possible to put the housework into perspective.

You can help them by clearly listing the tasks you need to be done and being grateful when they get done. Routine is also essential to the execution of a plan like this. Especially for young children, always doing the same actions at the same time makes it much easier.

For all the above reasons, a clean home is amongst the best things you can provide your family members. You can keep an organized house without even realizing it by incorporating just a few habits into your daily life. What’s more, you can free up your time by delegating a bit of your work to the other people living under your roof.