It’s not uncommon to have a “messy” house most days. Life is busy, and there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to keep things looking neat and tidy before we wind down. But when does “messy” become “cluttered”?
If you’ve accumulated a lot of unnecessary items in your home, you might find that keeping your household clean can be tiring and next to impossible. If the clutter is bothering you (and it probably should) but you’re lacking in motivation, read this list of 10 big reasons why you need to take the time and start tidying up ASAP!
It Decreases Your Stress – A survey conducted by Rubbermaid found that 42% of homeowners experienced more anxiety when their homes were cluttered and in disarray. If you find that you’re more anxious or stressed out when you’re at home, chances are it’s because of your clutter. When you start clearing out the junk and unnecessary items, you’ll find that your state of mind will improve greatly!
You Can Make More When You Sell – If you plan on moving anytime soon, you might want to start decluttering right away. According to a 2013 survey by HomeGain.com, real estate agents ranked cleaning and decluttering your home as the top low-cost DIY improvement project for a home seller. In fact, the return on investment (ROI) was 403%! Remember, potential buyers like clean, organized spaces and are more prompt to buy those sorts of houses, so start clearing out unnecessary items right away.
Give Your Lungs a Break – All that stuff in your house gathers dust at best, and dust is bad news for your health, especially if you have asthma or other breathing problems. Regular house dust has also been known to contain arsenic, decomposing insects, pollen, and dust mites, and in more extreme cases, fecal matter, human skin, and even mold and other organisms. Keeping things tidy and cleaning regularly can help eliminate this, however!
Find a Parking Spot for Your Car – According to a UCLA study of home clutter, approximately 25% of garages couldn’t be used to park cars because they were too jam-packed with clutter. That’s one in four households! If your garage is packed with stuff, take the time to clear it out to shelter your car. Remember, a garage will help protect your car from the elements and help it last longer for you to use and enjoy.
You Can Save Money – Many households have the tendency to stockpile, which then typically becomes clutter. When you clear out the clutter, you may discover that you really do have enough frozen chicken, cans of green beans, toys that haven’t seen daylight in months, or all the cleaning supplies that you could ask for. This will help you to stop spending money on things you don’t need and keep your budget in check and your wallet fat.
You Can Find Money – Need money? Got a cluttered house? Take the time to clean it out and you might come up with some extra dough! Professional organizers have claimed that they have come across thousands of dollars in their clients’ homes including undeposited checks, gift cards, and even cash. Cleaning your home is like checking the pockets of old jeans and purses – you never know how much forgotten money you’ll come across!
It Will Clear Your Mind – Who can think clearly with all that clutter in the way? Apparently, not many people can. According to research conducted at Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute, when one’s environment is cluttered with stuff, that person’s ability to focus is diminished, and the brain’s ability to process information is limited. If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed, start small, begin decluttering, and try to keep it clean to help your mental clarity.
Improve Your Friendships – Not many people are okay with inviting their friends over to their messy homes. In fact, nearly half of homeowners said that they wouldn’t ask their friends over because of clutter, and 16% of moms with at least 3 children claimed that they won’t let their friends come over because of the state of their homes. If this applies to you, take charge and take control of your home’s clutter for the sake of your friendships.
Bump Up Your Credit Score – We know that a lot of valuables can go missing (including money) when a space is cluttered. Other important items that can vanish under piles of stuff are those pesky bills, which is bad news if you’re notorious for paying bills late. You won’t just rack up the fees – you’ll also kill your credit score. Keeping the house organized and clean, though, can help you keep those bills at the forefront of your mind, allowing you to pay them on time and keep your credit score going strong!
Have More Time for What Matters – Do you enjoy spending time with your family, reading, learning a new language, or doing crafts? Think about how much time you waste trying to find the items you need or attempting to clean up the clutter – time that can be dedicated to doing the things you want to do. According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40% of housework in the average home, leaving you with almost twice as much time to do the things that really matter.
After you’re done reorganizing, throwing out unneeded items, and donating the things that don’t fit anymore, you’ll need to complete the job by cleaning your house. That’s where we come in the picture! Check out our website at www.uswiping.com to view our durable, top-of-the-line cleaning products to help get even the toughest cleaning jobs done!