Cleaning your room might not be high on your priority list but did you know that people whose homes are cluttered are more stressed out, tired, and depressed than those whose homes are neat and tidy? What’s even worse, your bedroom could be behind your constant headaches, sore throats, or allergies.
Luckily, there are some steps you can take to ensure your bedroom stays clean and in tip-top shape for sound, restful nights.
Improve Air Quality
- Change the air in your bedroom by opening windows and keeping them open for a couple of hours each day. It will refresh the room and eliminate harmful gasses that may build up over time.
- Get a couple of green potted plants and decorate your bedroom with them. The plants will add life and color to your room, and will also serve as natural air purifiers, filtering out compounds and chemicals emitted by everyday items.
- Invest in a good quality air purifier that will clean the air from harmful pollutants and allergens like pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.
Clean Often
- Get rid of all the stuff you don’t need for rest. Not only does clutter collect dust (which can be hard to remove), it can also be stressful and distracting. Remove all gadgets, excessive decorations, and all work-related items before going to sleep.
- Even if you have an air cleaner, you should dust and vacuum regularly. Dust mites are the number one cause of indoor allergies and asthma, so a sore throat and congestion you keep experiencing could be a result of too much dust in your room. Dust and vacuum at least once a week and deep clean your carpets at least every month.
- Change your pillowcases, sheets, and duvet cover every one or two weeks to get rid of dead skin cells and dust mites that collect on your bedding.
- Clean your mattress every couple of months by sprinkling baking soda on it and waiting 15-20 minutes before sucking it up with a vacuum.
Eliminate Hidden Dangers
- Many everyday detergents and cleaners emit harmful chemicals that can cause headaches, respiratory issues, or eye irritation. Instead of using store-bought cleaning products, opt for those made with natural, organic ingredients or make simple DIY detergents at home.
- While burning scented candles sounds like a great way to get rid of bad smells in your bedroom, they can actually do more harm than good. Some scented paraffin candles are known to emit harmful chemicals as they burn and the fragrance itself can cause irritation for sensitive individuals. Opt for natural soy or beeswax candles if you must have them in your room.
- Some memory foam pillows are known to outgas VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can cause nausea, headaches, and eye irritation. Swap your regular pillows for those filled with natural, organic materials, like feathers or wool.
- As cute as pets are, they are likely to disrupt your sleep and their fur is full of allergens like dust, dander, pollen, and bacteria. If possible, keep them out of your room and definitely out of your bed. If you can’t resist them sleeping in your bedroom, get them separate beds next to yours – that way you can all sleep better.