A cluttered home damages your health in a variety of ways. According to Healthline.com, cluttered homes make you feel stressed and confused. A cluttered home can even lead to accidents, mental health issues, and overeating. If you want to enjoy better health, deep cleaning is your best bet.
However, before you start cleaning, consider decluttering the eco-friendly way. When people clean using products and methods that are free of toxic or unsafe materials, and that are safe for the environment and human health, it is called green cleaning.
Eco-Friendly Products
According to Eco-Novice.com, there are several benefits to using non-toxic cleaning products. Since these products are free of toxins, you don’t have to worry about poisonous fumes as you clean. There’s no need to worry about proper ventilation when you scrub the sinks, toilets, or kitchen counters. You don’t have to use gloves as you clean, and you can recruit your kids to help you with the housework. Green cleaning products are better for the environment too. If residue from green cleaning products end up in the ocean, it won’t poison marine life.
Choosing green cleaning products is a difficult task if you’re not informed. Some cleaning products claiming to be green may contain hidden toxins. A single chemical may be referred to by six other names, so it’s difficult to unmask those products pretending to be green. A valuable resource to help you decipher product labels is the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Guide to Cleaning. The site provides a list of cleaning product ingredients and whether they are healthy. Green Seal is another site that helps you find green household cleaners. Click the Cleaning Products category to find a list of products certified by Green Seal.
Recycling the Big Stuff
But what about the large items cluttering your home? Maybe you’ve been meaning to get rid of an old laptop or some 20-year old cell phones. And what about that old coffee maker that recently kicked the bucket or mattress that you’re throwing out? Should you dump them in the trash so they can be taken to the landfill? Scientific American reports that “some materials in electronics, such as lead, nickel, cadmium and mercury, could pose risks to human health or the environment.” It’s not surprising that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that electronics should not be taken to landfills.
Do your part to dispose of clutter in an environmentally responsible manner. Take old cell phones and laptops to places that offer recycling. Some electronic retailers offer to recycle these types of items for free. Sell large appliances to scrap metal companies if the items no longer work. If your appliances are still in working order, sell them on a site like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You can earn some cash and still protect the environment. If all else fails, find out if your community offers recycling services.
Going Digital
Do you have a ton of old photos in albums? They’re probably hidden away in a closet, gathering dust. At any rate, they’re contributing to your clutter. Instead, go digital so that the photos can see the light of day. If you scan your photos and store them in the cloud, you can share those precious photos with family and friends. CNET.com suggests you plan how you are going to organize the pictures before you begin scanning them. For example, you can organize scanned photos by date or event.
Use a scanner or an app on your iPhone or smartphone to help with the process. Before you know it, your dusty photo albums will be a thing of the past.
Green Cleaning
If it’s time to declutter your home, clean it the environmentally friendly way. Recycling old appliances and electronics instead of setting them out for the garbage collector prevents those items from polluting the earth in a landfill. Using products free from harmful chemicals allows you to clean your home without fumes or poisons that could leak into rivers and oceans.
Of course, once you get everything clean and looking great, the trick, is to keep it that way. While maintaining hardwood floors isn’t always a problem, carpets can require a bit more effort -- especially if you have pets. A vacuum that addresses air pollutants, allergens, and pet hair and dander will help eliminate a lot of the work required to keep your carpet looking nice and neat. However, no matter how you decide to clean and declutter your home, use green methods to achieve a well-organized living space.
If your home is cluttered, now’s the time to address the problem head-on. And once your space is free from unnecessary items, you’ll have more time to enjoy your home without all those unwanted things getting in the way of your happiness.
