Ever notice that sprucing up your space lightens your mood? Science supports spring cleaning as a strategy for improving mental wellness. One study showed that people who had less clutter in their homes reported a higher sense of well-being than those with more clutter.
On the other hand, prior research has shown that more clutter can cause higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, especially in women.
“Clutter often causes the person significant distress and impairment on their life,” Dr. Ferrari says. Clearing away items that are no longer useful or have limited value can improve your sense of self and bring greater feelings of peace and order, he adds.
2. Spring Cleaning Could Improve Some Asthma Symptoms
Spring may be a beautiful time of birdsong and blooms, but for many people with allergic asthma, it can also be a time of dread, as flowering plants and pollen increase symptoms. While not all outdoor allergens are avoidable, keeping your home as allergen-free as possible could help curb some asthma symptoms.
“Spring cleaning can help remove some indoor allergens, such as pet dander, mouse and cockroach allergens, and dust mites, in your home,” says Dr. Hochfelder. “Removing these allergens, especially if allergic, can help alleviate respiratory symptoms by removing asthma triggers from your environment.”
She adds that wearing a mask while cleaning may be a good idea, too, since it can keep you from inhaling large amounts of allergens while cleaning.
3. Spring Cleaning May Enhance Productivity
A less-cluttered home might elevate your productivity, especially if you work from home.
In a study conducted by Ferrari and other researchers, they found that people with cluttered office spaces had higher rates of indecision, emotional exhaustion, and job-related tension than those with less clutter. They also reported lower rates of job satisfaction and perceived time management. All these factors contributed to poor overall job performance, notes Ferrari.
In short, clearing your home-office desk could clear your head for a better workflow.
4. Spring Cleaning Could Help You Make Healthier Food Choices
Cleaner desk, healthier diet? That’s the implication of one study in which participants were assigned to work either at an orderly desk in a clean room or at a messy desk in a cluttered room. They were then offered a choice of snacks on their way out. Those who worked at the orderly desk were significantly more likely to choose an apple, while those who worked at the messy desk gravitated toward candy bars.
5. Spring Cleaning Could Minimize Allergies
As mentioned, since seasonal allergies are typically caused by tree pollen (an outdoor allergen), cleaning the inside of your home won’t necessarily reduce seasonal allergy symptoms, says Hochfelder. But if you’re allergic to anything within your home, such as dust mites or pet dander, spring cleaning could do your chest, nose, and eyes some serious good.
“Removing indoor allergens from your home can reduce the signs and symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, such as congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes, if someone in the home has an allergy,” she says.
Specifically, she recommends using a vacuum with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to remove allergens as you clean.
6. Spring Cleaning Burns Calories
It’s no exaggeration to say spring cleaning can be good exercise. Thirty minutes of heavy cleaning (such as cleaning windows, for example) may burn an estimated 135 calories for a 125-pound person, 162 calories for a 155-pound person, and 189 calories for a 185-pound person.
For a genuine workout, try tackling harder tasks like yard work or scrubbing on your hands and knees. And if you’d like to torch even more calories, consider cleaning to some upbeat music.
7. Spring Cleaning May Promote Heart Health and Longevity
Springtime chores don’t just burn calories; because cleaning is a form of light exercise that can get your heart pumping, it can offer benefits for your cardiovascular (heart) health, too. That’s one reason why the American Heart Association recommends spring cleaning as a means of getting active and boosting heart health.
The impact of cleaning on your heart health could ultimately affect your longevity, too. One prior study found that housework was one of many daily activities that contributed to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
