Interior and Health

A recent episode of the Oprah Winfrey show focused on the health impact of too much clutter. Hopefully, the show will emphasize what health professionals have known for years — an unhealthy home can mean an unhealthy body and mind. Although most of us know that clutter is unsightly, few of us realize the health impact it can have on us. When relaxing, cleaning, or decorating up our homes, we do not always take into consideration the heaps of clutter — the unused decorations, the old collectibles, burnt out candles, the extra stuff — that each of us have in our homes.

The truth is, though, clutter can mean an unhealthy breathing environment as well as poor health overall. Clutter can mean:

1) Poor sleep. If you cannot find your things because they are buried under piles of junk, you may not be able to get through everything on your to-do list every day, and this can mean you start heading to bed later and later. If you cannot make your dinner until you clean off the table encounters, or if you cannot complete your take-home work until you’ve cleared off a space for yourself in your office, you are wasting time, and that can cut into your sleeping time. Poor sleep, in turn, can lead to fatigue, headaches, irritability, and increased blood pressure.

2) Breathing problems. If you have lots of clutter, you can be sure that you also have lots of dust — and possibly other pests as well. The truth is, clutter easily accumulates dust and other allergens. Plus, clutter provides an excellent space for bacteria to grow and an excellent nesting space for pests such as mice, spiders, and other unwanted guests. All of these problems can impact your sinuses and can lead to allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. If you notice that your air quality does not seem to be quite what is should be, try lighting some candles to eliminate any odor of associated with dust. Then, get cleaning and start getting rid of unwanted items quickly.

3) Stress. Just looking at piles of unwanted items is stressful. It is even more stressful if those items are keeping you from doing what you need to do. For example, if you no longer work out because your treadmill is covered with piles of clothes, or if you no longer use your kitchen for making healthy meals because the kitchen is too cluttered, you may be experiencing stress – and your clutter may be coming between you and a healthy lifestyle. This in turn can mean high blood pressure, can cause you headaches, and can result in many other ailments. If you are stressed out, start by de-cluttering your home as much as possible. This does not have to be unpleasant. Light a candle, put on some soothing music, and try filling up just one garbage bag a day to take to either a local charity or the local junkyard. Set aside 15 minutes a day to relax with some candlelight and some soothing music or tea while you appreciate your new surroundings. This will go a long way towards reducing the level of stress you may be living with right now in your cluttered home.