Maintaining a clean living environment is crucial for our well-being, but have you ever wondered if the very products we use to keep our spaces pristine could be making us sick? In this blog post, we’ll explore the potential health implications of common cleaning products and discuss ways to clean without compromising your health. Now, let’s address the question: Can Cleaning Products Make You Sick?
Welcome to the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series! We will be starting in the bathroom this month. Each day is dedicated to spending only 30 minutes decluttering your specific daily task. We will be working 5 days a week, so you can take 2 days to enjoy time with your loved ones.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home.
You can find that here.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price. Now, let’s get to the topic of: Can Cleaning Products Make You Sick?
Can Cleaning Products Make You Sick?
The Common Ingredients:
Cleaning products often contain a myriad of ingredients, some of which may have adverse effects on our health. If these products affect your health, they can also harm your children and even your pets’ health. If it bothers you, it probably bothers your kids and pets. Strong scents (cleaning products, candles, and scented plug-ins) affect my sinuses. Chemicals like ammonia, bleach, and phthalates are known to cause irritation, allergies, and other health issues. It’s essential to be aware of these ingredients and their potential impact. Here is my post on cleaning products you should never mix.
Indoor Air Quality:
Can Cleaning Products Make You Sick? Some can. The use of certain cleaning products can affect indoor air quality. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from many cleaning agents and can contribute to respiratory problems. Proper ventilation is crucial to minimize the concentration of these compounds in indoor spaces. I recommend you open the windows and turn on any ceiling fans as you clean with chemicals or use anything with a strong scent. If you cannot open windows because of the weather, use an air purifier as you clean.
Allergies and Sensitivities:
For individuals with allergies or sensitivities, cleaning products can be a trigger. Chemicals such as formaldehyde and fragrances are common allergens found in cleaning agents. Understanding these triggers is vital for those prone to allergic reactions. It would be helpful for you to ask your allergist the question: Can Cleaning Products Make You Sick? Or, you could certainly try going all natural in your cleaning efforts to help eliminate possible triggers.
Respiratory Issues:
Can Cleaning Products Make You Sick? I address certain tips here in this post on bad cleaning habits you should avoid. Some cleaning products have been linked to respiratory problems, including asthma. Some chemicals present in these products, like chlorine and ammonia, can irritate the respiratory system. It’s crucial to be mindful of these potential risks, especially for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Safer Alternatives:
Fortunately, there are safer alternatives to traditional cleaning products. Natural and eco-friendly options, such as vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils, can effectively clean without exposing you to harmful chemicals. Making the switch to these alternatives promotes a healthier living environment.
Tips for Safe Cleaning:
To minimize health risks while cleaning, follow these tips:
- Ensure proper ventilation by opening windows and doors.
- Wear protective gear, such as gloves and masks, especially when using harsh chemicals.
- Read product labels carefully to understand potential hazards and usage instructions.
Regulatory Standards:
It’s essential to choose cleaning products that meet regulatory standards for safety. Look for certifications and labels that indicate adherence to guidelines, ensuring the products you use are designed with consumer health in mind. I personally would avoid ordering cleaning products that come from outside your own country.
Can Cleaning Products Make You Sick? Certain cleaning chemicals certainly can contribute to sickness. In the pursuit of cleanliness, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential health risks associated with cleaning products. By understanding the ingredients, choosing safer alternatives, and following best practices, you can maintain a clean home without compromising your well-being. Make informed choices for a healthier living environment, and let cleanliness contribute positively to your overall health.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores and wondering: What Housework Should Be Done Daily? Grab my free ebook to walk you through the process. What Does a Deep Clean Include? One of my best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to use a House Cleaning Planner. Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price. Better yet… get it FREE when you subscribe to my site.
Maybe your house is clean but cluttered. If so, you need to know a few Declutter Tips and Ideas before you start using the Step By Step Decluttering plan I use. Does a Cluttered House Cause Stress? Let’s look at a reputable, mental health site to answer that question. They have given us 8 ways mess leads to stress. According to Psychology Today:
Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves. Can a Messy House Affect Your Mood? You bet! How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed. Yet, rarely is clutter recognized as a significant source of stress in our lives. (source)
Why does mess lead to so much stress? (source)Getting rid of all of that stress can be one of the best declutter motivation tips you need for some instant Decluttering Inspiration.
- Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t necessary or important. (source)
- Clutter distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on. (source)
- Clutter makes it more difficult to relax, both physically and mentally.(source)
- Clutter constantly signals to our brains that our work is never done.(source)
- Clutter makes us anxious because we’re never sure what it’s going to take to get through to the bottom of the pile. (source)
- Clutter creates feelings of guilt (“I should be more organized”) and embarrassment, especially when others unexpectedly drop by our homes or work spaces. (source)
- Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by invading the open spaces that allow most people to think, brainstorm, and problem solve.(source)
- Clutter frustrates us by preventing us from locating what we need quickly (e.g. files and paperwork lost in the “pile” or keys swallowed up by the clutter). (source)
Overwhelmed by a Messy House? It can really affect you negatively. How Do You Deal With a Cluttered Mess? One way is to have a plan, set aside a specific time, and learn the Step By Step Decluttering plan I use for Clearing Out Clutter using my Declutter Tips and Ideas. What Cleaning Should Be Done Daily? I have a room by room specific Printable House Cleaning Checklist linked above.
How I Get Help With Decluttering My House: For a clean, simplistic look, one of the best Deep Cleaning Home Tips is to declutter a room before cleaning and then use an Easy House Cleaning Schedule to maintain it. Declutter Checklists can help you learn How to Declutter a House.
How Does Clutter Affect Your Life? As you can already see, there are at least 8 ways we become negatively affected by clutter. Also, I though it might be thought provoking to look at some statistics on clutter.
- US consumers buy 40% of the world’s toys, but bear only 3% of the world’s children.
- Most people wear 20% of their clothing 80% of the time. (source )
- 9.4% of U.S. households rent a storage unit. (source)
- People do not look at 80% of the papers and information they keep.(source)
- The average American house is double the size it was in the 1950s–and getting bigger. (source.)
- The U.S. Department of Energy reports that one-quarter of people with two-car garages have so much stuff in there that they can’t park a car. (https://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-statistics-of-clutter/)
- According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in the average home.(https://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-statistics-of-clutter/) Wouldn’t eliminating a lot of housework provide some declutter motivation?
Today, we’ll lay out the solutions to get you some Help for Cluttered Homes using my tips on How to Declutter a House. Plus, we’ll look at a few ways to answer the question:What Cleaning Should Be Done Daily? A Printable House Cleaning Checklist will help you keep your home clean and maintained. I’ll even give you my Deep Clean Checklist and Declutter Tips and Ideas to help you get started.
Maybe you are thinking: My House Is So Cluttered, I Don’t Know Where to Start. How can I recognize clutter? Let’s address those questions. I have a visual below using some questions to help. Also, check out these 5 Important Guidelines I use to to keep me focused and motivated as I begin the process of getting my home decluttered.
A few guidelines to keep you on task:
1.Only spend time on your specific daily task.
2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted.
3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina.
4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. Recruit help if you are stuck in the decision process.
5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later.
We are working in the Main bathroom this week. Your task today for today, December 9th is to: Declutter any perfumes that are dated or that are no longer useful.
Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
Need to Declutter Every room? I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home.
Struggling to decide if an item is clutter? Use these questions below to help you determine whether to keep or toss any item.
How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Attic checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.
Happy Decluttering!
To Subscribe to this Declutter Series, drop me a comment below. Your email will be sent to me but will not be posted publicly. You’ll receive a daily declutter task via email for the daily task we are working on. You can unsubscribe at any time.
New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:
Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home.
Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.
Step 3: How do you remove clutter?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.
Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.
Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.
Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com:
14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered
How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule
How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter
What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?
Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips on decluttering and minimalism.
For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some great cleaning and kitchen decluttering ideas plus excellent organization tips to get you started.
I hope you have benefitted from my Declutter Your Home (tasks you can do in 30 minutes). Leave a comment below to subscribe to my daily declutter task email series.
Recent Comments