Unquestionably, 2020 has been a trying year for us all. COVID-19 has changed our lives in so many ways. Just one of those ways is our approach to cleanliness. We can’t even shake someone’s hand these days, without fear of contracting germs. As a result, regular hand washing and sanitizing are the norm. Perhaps, they should always have been. But, one thing is for certain, we’re never likely to underestimate the importance of cleanliness again.

How does cleanliness keep us healthy?

The regular removal of dust, dirt and grime via dusting, vacuuming and mopping helps to keep air pollutants at bay. Wiping up spills and regularly checking for leaks helps to prevent mould growth. Evidently, being a neat freak is a healthy practice! As reported by Kate Eller of Advocate Aurora Health, people who keep clean homes also tend to be more physically fit than those who don’t clean up all that much.

Is it because cleaning is actually a form of exercise? Citing a study done at Indiana University, Eller reveals that there is a correlation between a clean home and physical fitness. “Researchers found participants with cleaner homes exercised more,” she reports.

Eller goes on to note that messy homes tend to exacerbate stress and fatigue. In her article, she quotes Dr. Rian Rowles who is a psychiatrist affiliated with Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. “When you live in a messy home, you are subconsciously reminded of work that needs to be finished and visually, your eyes do not have a place to rest,” says Rowles, “Too much clutter can cause tremendous stress and fatigue.”

A clean home reduces allergy and asthma symptoms.

Keeping a clean home improves the health of our respiratory symptoms. People with allergies and asthma know all too well how difficult it is to breathe in unkempt homes and buildings. Eller also quotes Dr. Uma Gavani, an allergy and asthma specialist on staff at Christ Medical Center, who points out that dust mites, pet dander and mould can trigger allergic reactions and increase potential asthma problems.

“The more stuff you have in your home, the harder it is to clean,” Gavani informs, “Messy areas increase the potential for dust, pet dander and mould to accumulate in closets, on surfaces and in crevices.”

Tidy homes limit the spread of germs.

Interestingly, Eller points to the kitchen, and not the bathroom, as the room of the home where most germs are bound to be located. Countertops are particularly known as problem areas thanks to the many different foods that are prepared upon them. Especially after raw meats and fish have come into contact with your counter, you should thoroughly sanitize the area.

“According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gastrointestinal illness can be spread by contaminated food, and food-poisoning is less likely in kitchens that have been properly cleaned and sanitized,” writes Eller.

Let’s work together on keeping your home a healthy environment!

Enviro-Works Inc. proudly offers a number of laboratory services to help ensure that your home is pollutant-free. They include VOC Testing which employs the EPA TO-17 using GC-MS method for the determination of VOCs. Our services also include detection of Mould In Air as well as through sampling bulk materials, using tapelifts and swabbing, also known as the Bulk/Tapelift/Swab methods.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to call us at 780-457-4652 or email us at info@enviro-works.com.