Why You Shouldn’t Clean Your House Too Much
Most housewives and cleaners like a clean, tidy home. But sometimes cleaning becomes an obsession and brings health problems.
You have to be very careful with the products you use. Quite a few of these products contain harmful and toxic substances.
Learn more about the risks of a house that is too clean.
When cleaning becomes an obsession
Everything too stands for is not good, except money in the bank. You probably know that. Even if you think you are doing something good for the people around you.
When it comes to the cleanliness of your home, many people go too far, sometimes even in the unhealthy, obsessive way. If someone persistently and nervously insists on cleaning, he or she may be suffering from a condition. Especially if he/she gets mood swings when something is not right.
Or if they clean the same piece over and over again.
Don’t be a cleaning maniac
This kind of behavior turns a person into a cleaning maniac, unable to control his or her actions. All he/she can think about is cleaning and tidying up.
There are also people who suffer from OCD. This stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsessive-compulsive behavior. This condition is characterized by an irrational obsession and urge to do a particular activity or task.
When it comes to cleaning, it can even stem from over-worrying about getting sick or getting an infection.
When cleaning becomes an obsession
Therefore, cleaning certain areas or surfaces and washing hands become a way of dealing with fears. Think, for example, of cleaning the counter or the dining table.
If someone has such an obsession, it is because his/her way of thinking has changed. That’s why he/she keeps repeating something. The person in question often does not even realize that he/she has a problem. And sometimes they don’t want to realize this.
You should be on the lookout for certain clues that may indicate a cleaning-related obsessive disorder.
Clues to an Obsession
A few pointers you should not ignore are:
- Spend hours cleaning the bathroom.
- Putting things down to the millimeter.
- Clean the kitchen completely as soon as someone has done something there.
- Have cleaning wipes in your pocket all day long.
- Not being able to sleep when something is out of place.
But of course this doesn’t mean that if you spend all Saturday cleaning your house, that you have a problem. It becomes an obsession if you miss out on other things because you are cleaning. For example, spending time with your family or a night out.
Excessive use of cleaning agents
Even if you don’t recognize yourself in the cleaning obsession mentioned above, we still need to talk about another common problem in today’s homes. And that is the use of cleaning products that can affect health. From you and from your roommates.
When you hear the word pollution, you probably think of garbage or smog. But even at home, you can harm the environment with your daily cleaning habits.
Harmful effects
It’s true. An average house contains 3 to 5 liters of toxic material in the form of cleaning agents and plant fertilizer.
The most commonly used cleaning agents, such as detergents and bleaches, have many harmful effects such as:
- Breathing problems
- Disorders of the endocrine system
- Eye irritation
Cleaning products pollute the air in your home. This can be up to five times worse than the outside air on the street.
In addition, it is not uncommon to experience :
- Result
- Nausea
- A burning sensation.
An unintended consequence
And that while these products are intended to keep your home clean and disinfected.
If they come into contact with your skin or lungs, cleaning agents can cause problems such as allergies and poisoning. Also think of harmful detergents that affect your skin. You also breathe it in when you wear the clothes you washed with it.
In addition, some dishwashing detergents contain a substance that contains dioxane. This is a major polluter of groundwater. It is highly toxic and not biodegradable like the other ingredients.
Bleach and its health effects
Bleach is considered one of the most powerful cleaning agents available. However, it is not at all harmless.
It was discovered in 1774 and is used to bleach certain materials. It was also used for many years in a diluted form to clean houses. The antibacterial effect of bleach is very powerful.
Don’t just think about the benefits of bleach. It protects you from microorganisms that can make you sick. Remember that long-term use of bleach also affects your immune system. After a while, your body no longer knows the difference between good and bad bacteria.
Be careful with bleach
In addition, bleach causes burning skin, eye and nose irritation, breathing problems and reduces your oxygen level in the blood.
It is especially harmful to children under 12 years of age. Increased risks of sinusitis, pneumonia and bronchitis may occur in this group .
And as if all this wasn’t enough, bleach can also affect the environment. It pollutes the soil, water and air.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t over-clean your house. Clean less often and when you do, use natural products. It’s worth it!