Your Mom was right!

Keeping your environment tidy and clean has multiple benefits. But there may be a few additional reasons for maintaining a spic-and-span appearance that even your sainted mother might not have thought of…here are just a few.

Firstly, who likes feeling sick? A clean home or office reduces the chance of you becoming ill, because germs and bacteria will have fewer places to lurk. As well, some of the other main culprits that leave you less than a hundred per cent (like allergens or dust) won’t be taking up residence, if a simple cleaning has been done to upholstery, carpets or the bedding at home.

It shouldn’t be surprising that cleaner surroundings lead to clearer thinking. Or as former VISA CEO Dee Hock said, ‘Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it.’

Studies have confirmed what you probably already suspected: your immediate surroundings can impact your mental outlook and performance. Think of the now-famous ‘broken windows’ theory that rejuvenated New York City’s Times Square. When the city mandated that derelict buildings needed to repair those damaged windows, it sent a potent subliminal message that those buildings (and their streets) were of value, and more importantly, the people who resided there were also of value. A well-maintained, functional room is bound to have a positive effect on anyone living or working there.

(And let’s not forget that a clean work area cuts down on any possible distractions.)

Even when you’re at home, your mind is still at work…sometimes when you don’t want it to be, either. If your immediate environment has areas that do call for some housekeeping, your subconscious is going to be aware of it, even if your conscious mind is doing its best to file that fact at the bottom of its to-do list. The National Sleep Foundation actually found that the simple act of making your bed in the morning resulted in a 20 per cent increase in the participants getting a good night’s sleep.

And it’s not just your time in bed that benefits from a cleaner home or office. No matter what time of the day, Mess causes Stress. And one of the most popular ways we treat stress is by reaching for junk food. Conversely, living and working in a cleaner environment has been shown to lead to healthier diet choices. In 2013, a study in Psychology Science found that people working in a space deemed clean and organized were twice as likely to choose an apple over a chocolate bar, as compared to those participants working in an untidy space.

Stress doesn’t always announce its presence, but we all know that feeling of unease whenever it makes an appearance. Your subconscious is setting off that ‘something’s just not right’ warning bell. As well, some of us can actually feel personally responsible for our home surroundings appearing ‘substandard’. Another very revealing study found that women with homes considered less tidy were found to have higher levels of cortisol, as compared to women in a tidy household. Just the idea of being judged sets off the body chemical that tells your body it needs to be stressed.

Do yourself a favour, and enjoy the multiple benefits of a clean environment. Whether it’s at home or work, iClean is available when you need us, and as often as you need us. Cut down the Mess, and Cut down your Stress; contact ustoday.