Spring cleaning season is nearly upon us.
Spring cleaning is something I delight in every year, mostly because it gives me a great opportunity to go through all the junk my children have accumulated in any given year, and throw out, donate, or rehome the things they don’t need. I try and instill in my children the sense that material objects aren’t important, so getting good at cleaning house will always ensure that your life, and mind, are free of clutter. If only it was so easy with germs.
The other component of spring cleaning has to do with actually getting rid of some of the dirt and grime that has built up, in an effort to make your home as clean and healthy as possible.
Any space, especially when it is shared with family members, is going to be a magnet for dirt and germs. We do what we can during the year, but I always look at spring as a great time to reset the clock, and figure out ways to make my family healthier overall.
READ MORE: 3 Ways to Sooth Your Spring Allergies Without Medicine
This starts in the home, so here are a few healthy ways you can upgrade your home this spring:
Add some plants. Plants purify the air naturally, so you really can’t go wrong by adding some greenery into your décor.
Leave your shoes at the door. A recent study showed that there are over 400,000 units of bacteria on the bottoms of shoes, and as much as 3,000 on the inside. Is that really something you want to track onto your floors? Put a shoe organizer by your door, and call it a day.
Use soy candles. While those scented candles might smell good, much of the time they contain all kinds of chemicals that we don’t really have enough information on, to be inhaling every day. Switch to natural wax candles like soy or beeswax, because it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Ditch harsh chemicals. The chemicals under your sink get sprayed into the air every time you clean something, and then your children breathe that air. Your home will be healthier overall if you switch to cleaners with natural ingredients.
Buy an air purifier. Air purifiers rid the air of allergens, pathogens, dust particles, mold, and even asbestos. If you live in a shared space with your family, there is no excuse for not at least trying to purify the air.
Wash your hands often. This one may seem obvious, but it’s a lot easier to do if you have hand soap at every sink in your house, and encourage your children to wash their hands every time they find themselves in the bathroom for any reason.
Filter your tap water. Buying and throwing away bottled water is a huge waste, especially when it’s so easy to buy a filter for your tap water. It doesn’t matter if you get one of the ones that attaches to the spigot, or goes in the refrigerator, drinking filtered tap water is just one more way you can save the planet and create a healthier life for your family.
Use glass storage dishes over plastic. Nowadays, plastic is filled with all kinds of things, some of which can affect our health and even give us cancer. Invest in some glass storage dishes and use those to hold leftovers. Just keep an eye on them, because we all know how Tupperware likes to sprout legs and walk away!
Wipe down paws when pets come inside. The germs, fecal matter, and dirt on our shoes is nothing compared to what gets trapped in the paws of our pets. Wipe them down with a damp microfiber cloth or natural (and flushable) baby wipes when they come in.