5 Basic Habits for a More Sanitary Home

Nicole R. Keith, Ph.D., research scientist and professor at Indiana University, completed a study with her research team. They found that of the 998 participants, those that lived in a cleaner and more sanitized house experienced better overall health.

Optimize your health and wellness by keeping your living space cleaner. Consider implementing the following five basic habits to start keeping a more sanitary home.

Use Natural Cleaning Products
Use natural cleaning products in your home to clean the bathroom, kitchen, and floors. Don't use cleaning products with chemicals like bleach. According to the American Lung Association, "Many cleaning supplies or household products can irritate the eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other health problems, including cancer."

Purchase natural cleaning brands like Seventh Generation, Green Works, or the Honest Company. You could make your own natural cleaners like using white vinegar and water in a spray bottle or using white vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda as a cleaning paste.

Declutter Your Home
Keep your home free of clutter to decrease pest control issues and make it easier to maintain a cleaner living space. Decluttering can help you feel more relaxed in your home and decrease stress levels. Keeping your bedroom cleaner can help you sleep better. Schedule an organizational purge every six months to stay on top of clutter accumulating in your home.

Keep the Garage, Foyer, and Mudroom Clean
It's easy for you to track dirt or mud into the rest of your home. Keep the entrances to your home, like the garage, mudroom, or foyer areas clean. Take your shoes off and place them on a shelf or in a covered bench seat so you keep the flooring and carpets cleaner and healthier.

Think Outside the Box
When you think of cleaning, you likely picture vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, or tidying up in the kitchen. Don't forget about the little things that can become big problems. For example, don't allow dust to build up on your window blinds, furniture, or electronic equipment. Make sure dusting is part of your weekly cleaning routine.

Use microfiber cloths for cleaning since they can be easily cleaned and disinfected in the washing machine. If you use sponges, replace them frequently so they don't become a breeding ground for bacteria in your kitchen. Use ¼ cup baking soda and ¼ cup white vinegar and pour it down sinks and tubs as a simple way to clean out the drains and pipes in your kitchen and bathroom.

Create an Action Plan
Keeping your home clean can fall to the back burner when you have to deal with daily stresses. However, letting things go will only make the cleaning process harder. Create a cleaning action plan and stick to it. Pick one day a week to do a major cleaning. Put things away after using them. Take time to relax after you clean to reward yourself for keeping a clean house.

One Step at a Time
Cleaning doesn't have to be a big deal if you tackle things one step at a time. Follow these basic habits to get started on making your home more sanitary today.