The health benefits of spring cleaning and how to do it properly

A clean house is a healthy house. Cleaning it has numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. With the arrival of beautiful weather came the fateful appointment present in every home: spring cleaning!

Spring is the season of change and a great opportunity to give our home a fresh look. You can read about the steps to follow for proper cleaning, as well as the benefits of living in a clean and tidy house, in the following sections.

Table of Contents:

1. The difference between cleaning and disinfecting
2. Preparing for spring cleaning
3. A short guide for every type of room
4. Product recommendations to make your work easier
5. The benefits of cleaning for mental and physical health

The difference between cleaning and disinfecting

The first step to proper cleaning is removing dirt (by vacuuming, dusting, washing) and only then follows the disinfection stage, which is the moment when germs responsible for diseases are eliminated. This is done using biocidal products (disinfectants).

Preparing for spring cleaning

• Create a spring cleaning plan: The first step is to make a list of the areas to be cleaned. This way, you will estimate how long this process will take. Take an inventory of the necessary items you already have at home.

• Buy what you are missing (cleaning products and equipment): On our website you will find a wide range of products, both individual and complete packages for cleaning your entire home.

• Organize yourself to be efficient: You can start easily, with small things every day. Try to involve all family members (partner, children) by sharing tasks. Set a time to finish what you set out to do, and this way you will focus on what you are doing until the end.

A short guide for every type of room

Kitchen and pantry

Cleaning these is very important because they are the places where food is prepared and stored. Dirty surfaces and utensils or spoiled food contribute to cross-contamination, increasing the risk of infection with E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Norovirus, or other pathogens.

It is recommended to first do a little tidying up, putting away items that clutter the kitchen, wash the dishes and then start from top to bottom: clean the ceiling and the light fixture, then the walls/tiles, cabinets, and countertops. Insist on grease deposits in the stove area. Continue with the sink, the pipes underneath, and the range hood. Finally, clean the rest of the appliances, wash the windows, doors, and floors.

Living room

Here too, spring cleaning should be started from top to bottom, paying attention to the ceiling, light fixture, and walls. Wipe the windows and dust the furniture. Carpets, curtains, and other textiles are favorable environments for the development of dust mites and mold, which is why they must be vacuumed and washed as often as possible. Use a suitable solution at the end to clean the floors. If the air conditioner is located in the living room, it is necessary to clean it as well. This will prevent allergens and pollutants from entering the interior, while also helping the unit operate at maximum capacity.

Bedroom

As in the other rooms, cleaning starts from top to bottom. Cleaning carpets, curtains, bed linen, and dusting is very important because this is the place where we spend many hours at night, and possible allergens can cause us health problems. Finally, wipe the floors and sort the clothes to make room for spring-summer ones, possibly donating what you no longer want to wear.

Bathroom

It is considered one of the most favorable places for the growth of bacteria and mold. Therefore, it must be cleaned and disinfected as often as possible.

Start with the ceiling, walls, tiles, and continue with the shower cabin or bathtub, removing soap scum. Insist on the faucet, as the shower head is an ideal place for bacteria, and mineral deposits can clog it. If you also have a shower curtain, it should be washed and dried. The sink, even if it looks clean, is a place that can harbor various pathogens. The E. Coli bacterium, responsible for gastric and urinary infections, can be found even 2 meters from the toilet and in the sink, so be sure to clean and disinfect it properly (Abney, Bright, McKinney, Khalid Ijaz, & Gerba, 2021). Wipe the mirror using a solution suitable for windows. Thoroughly clean the toilet bowl and lid. Chlorine-based products are recommended because they also remove limescale, but you can also disinfect using a solution based on quaternary ammonium salts. Finally, wipe the furniture, tiles, and change the towels. Do not forget to sanitize the washing machine. Detergent and limescale deposits, along with the humid environment, can promote the appearance of mold and bacteria. At the same time, a properly cleaned machine will last longer.

Hallway, storage room, and balcony

First of all, organization and sorting of items in the closets are necessary, then start from top to bottom, cleaning the ceiling, light fixture, walls, furniture dust, and finally, the floors.

For each room, do not forget to clean and disinfect storage spaces and the most frequently touched objects, using products appropriate for the type of surface. Make sure to ventilate the rooms every time you finish cleaning, and if you have the possibility, use an air purifier for your home.

To keep the house clean and organized, create a daily habit of making the bed in the morning when you wake up, washing dishes after every meal, putting clothes in the closet or not leaving them in the laundry basket for too long, and putting back the objects you have used every time. This way, every time you start cleaning, the process will be much faster.

Product recommendations to make your work easier

In the Klintensiv portfolio, you will find a series of effective and affordable products that will help you achieve a proper cleaning of every room in your home. Except for floor products, the goal was to use a single type of fragrance, lemon, in the composition, precisely to prevent possible allergic reactions. Citrus fragrances are known for their invigorating properties, playing an important role in increasing energy levels and mood while you clean (Hertz, et al., 2022). They also help mask unpleasant odors and drive insects away from the house.

The benefits of cleaning for mental and physical health

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Dawn Potter, "people's energy can be much lower during the winter" (Potter, 2021), and with the arrival of spring, when the days are warmer and brighter, people tend to get rid of the stagnant energy specific to the cold season.

Lowers stress levels and improves mood

According to a 9-year study of 60 women, published in the "Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin" (Saxbe & Repetti, 2010), a link was demonstrated between clutter and a high level of cortisol (the stress hormone), which can lead to fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Continuous stress can lead to the appearance of obsessive-compulsive disorder related to cleaning, according to another study conducted at Masaryk University (Lang, Krátký, Jan, Shaver, John H., Jerotijević, Danijela, & Xygalatas, Dimitris, 2015), offering a momentary feeling of calm.

Researchers at Florida State University conducted a study on 51 students and found that mindful dishwashing reduces stress and calms the mind. Those who were present with their minds, focusing on the smell of the soap, the warmth of the water, and others, reported a 27% decrease in nervousness and a 25% increase in mental inspiration, unlike the group that washed dishes without focusing like the others (Hanley, Warner, Dehili, Canto, & Garland, 2014).

During the cleaning process, but also at the end of it, endorphins and dopamine (happiness hormones) are released due to the physical effort made and the sense of accomplishment (Dfarhud, Malmir, & Khanahmadi, 2014).

Increases concentration and productivity

Clutter in the house has a negative influence on concentration and productivity. The brain no longer processes information quickly and we can be easily distracted by what surrounds us, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute (McMains & Kastner, 2011). When a room is crowded with items that are not useful, the brain exerts greater effort to process the necessary information, according to a study published in "The Journal of Neuroscience" (Seidl, Peelen, & Kastner, 2012).

Helps us sleep better

A clean and tidy bedroom greatly influences the quality of sleep. A survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation (***, -) found that there is a 19% greater chance of sleeping better when we make our beds in the morning and 75% when bed linens are freshly cleaned. Lack of sleep affects concentration, thinking, learning, and memory (Yang, et al., 2014), and can affect the immune system. With fatigue, heart disease, diabetes, injuries, or even car accidents can also occur.

Reduces the risk of allergies and respiratory problems, and improves air quality

Dust, dust mites, pet hair, pollen, and other allergens found in homes on furniture, carpets, curtains, drapes, bedding, and other surfaces contribute to the onset of respiratory problems such as asthma, rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis, as well as contact dermatitis-type allergies. Cleaning them significantly reduces the risk of illness.

Prevents the appearance of bacterial, fungal, and viral infections

Proper cleaning and disinfection of the home, using the right products, destroys the microorganisms responsible for infections. Also, this is necessary especially when one of the family members is ill, to prevent the spread of pathogenic germs.

Contributes to a safer environment and keeps us in shape

A clean and tidy house reduces the risk of accidents, and the cleaning process involves physical effort useful for maintaining good tone, even preventing the onset of obesity. For example, if you weigh 57 kilograms, by washing dishes with moderate intensity or changing bedding in 30 minutes, you will consume 187 calories, and if you vacuum carpets for 30 minutes, you will consume 103 calories (Bernstein, 2023).

Can contribute to an improved diet

When we are in a crowded, unkempt environment, stress levels increase and we tend to consume unhealthy foods, which leads to heart and circulatory system diseases, diabetes, or even cancer. If the home is clean and organized, the stress level is lower and therefore we can focus on a healthier diet.

Conclusion:

Health begins with good cleaning, and that begins with Klintensiv. Keep the tips mentioned above in mind to have a clean house, and you will enjoy great physical and mental health.

Bibliography

***. (-). Sleep Foundation | Better Sleep for a Better You. Retrieved from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/

Abney, S., Bright, K., McKinney, J., Khalid Ijaz, M., & Gerba, C. (2021). Toilet hygiene—review and research needs. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 131(6), 2705–2714. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jambio/article/131/6/2705/6716111

Bernstein, S. (2023). Calories Burned by Household Chores. Retrieved from webmd.com: https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/ss/slideshow-calories-burned-by-household-chores

Dfarhud, D., Malmir, M., & Khanahmadi, M. (2014). Happiness & Health: The Biological Factors- Systematic Review Article. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 1468-1477. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4449495/

Hanley, A., Warner, A., Dehili, V., Canto, A., & Garland, E. (2014). Washing Dishes to Wash the Dishes: Brief Instruction in an Informal Mindfulness Practice. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-014-0360-9

Hertz, R., Larsson, M., Trujillo, R., Casola, M., Ahmed, F., Lipe, S., & Brashear, M. (2022). A three-factor benefits framework for understanding consumer preference for scented household products: psychological interactions and implications for future development. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications. Retrieved from https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-022-00378-6

Lang, M., Krátký, Jan, Shaver, John H., Jerotijević, Danijela, & Xygalatas, Dimitris. (2015). Effects of Anxiety on Spontaneous Ritualized Behavior. Current Biology.

McMains, S., & Kastner, S. (2011). Interactions of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms in human visual cortex. Neuroscience Journal. Retrieved from https://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/34/11812

Potter, D. (2021). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/health-essentials/decluttering-your-life-how-cleaning-and-mental-health-are-connected-with-dr-dawn-potter

Saxbe, D., & Repetti, R. (2010). No place like home: home tours correlate with daily patterns of mood and cortisol. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19934011/

Seidl, K., Peelen, M., & Kastner, S. (2012). Neural Evidence for Distracter Suppression during Visual Search in Real-World Scenes. The Journal of Neuroscience. Retrieved from https://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/34/11812/tab-article-info

Yang, G., Wan Lai, C., Cichon, J., Ma, L., Li, W., & Gan, W.-B. (2014). Sleep promotes branch-specific formation of dendritic spines after learning. Science. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24904169/