Is your clutter costing you your health, your time, or even all three?
Discover three hidden costs of clutter and how decluttering and organising your home can help improve these areas of your life.
Where there is clutter, there is always dust, ALWAYS!
We all know that clutter can make a space feel chaotic, but have you ever stopped to think about the health impact of all that "stuff"? One of the hidden consequences of a cluttered home is the build-up of dust. This is something that can have serious effects on our wellbeing, especially as we get older, or if we have underlying respiratory conditions.
Dust can gather on surfaces, under furniture, or in forgotten corners filled with belongings. It's made up of up of dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mould spores, and even synthetic chemicals from everyday objects like furniture, electronics, and clothing.
When our homes are cluttered, there’s simply more surface area for that dust to settle and build up.
Declutter & Improve Your Health
If you or a loved one suffers from allergies or asthma, you’ll know how easy it is for dust to trigger symptoms. But even if you don’t experience these issues, dust can still pose health risks over time.
Asthma and Dust Allergies - According to Asthma UK, 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma. Around 90% of people with asthma report that dust can make their symptoms worse. The more clutter there is, the more dust can collect, and the harder it becomes to avoid breathing in these allergens.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - Long-term exposure to dust can also contribute to conditions like COPD, which affects around 1.2 million people in the UK. This is a progressive disease that makes it harder to breathe over time, and managing dust levels in your home can play a key role in reducing flare-ups.
Cluttered spaces can trap moisture and lead to the growth of mould, another common respiratory irritant. Mould spores can cause allergic reactions and worsen asthma, and in some cases, even lead to bronchitis. When your home is decluttered and better ventilated, it becomes much easier to prevent mould from taking hold in forgotten nooks and crannies.
Did you know that household dust can also contain synthetic chemicals from our everyday items? Flame retardants, plasticisers, and other substances shed from furniture, clothing, and electronics over time, collecting in dust. Research is increasingly showing that prolonged exposure to these chemicals could have adverse health effects, especially for children and vulnerable individuals. While it’s impossible to eliminate all dust, reducing clutter can significantly lower your exposure to these unwanted substances.
Decluttering: Let’s Breathe Easier
So, decluttering isn’t just about clearing out the clutter—it’s also about creating a healthier home. With less clutter, there’s less dust to worry about, better air circulation, and fewer hidden spots for mould and allergens to accumulate. Fewer items means less dust, less stress, and most importantly, a home where you can breathe a little easier—literally and figuratively!
So next time you’re deciding whether or not to hold onto something, think about the bigger picture. Decluttering is more than just tidying up; it’s about making your home a safer, cleaner, and healthier place to live.
Declutter & Save Time
According to the National Soap & Detergent Association in the US, getting rid of clutter will reduce housework by 40%
Here are 5 reasons why having a decluttered and better organised home will speed up your daily or weekly cleaning process:
Fewer surfaces to dust and clean - when your home is decluttered, there's less "stuff" sitting on tables, shelves and countertops. This means fewer items to move when you dust and wipe down surfaces, significantly the time it takes to clean each room.
Improved access to floors and corners - a clutter free home makes it much easier to vacuum and mop floors, as you won't have to move piles of belongings and random objects. With clear, open spaces, you can clean more efficiently and get into the tricky corners where dust usually hides.
Simplified organisation = less tidying - when everything has a designated place, tidying up becomes so much easier (for your whole family). The less time you spend putting things away, the quicker you can get on with the actual cleaning.
Fewer items to dust - reducing the number of knick-knacks, books and ornaments around your home, means less time spent dusting.
Improved flow and efficiency - a well-organised home naturally has better flow. This means that you'll be able to clean more systematically and effectively, moving from room to room, without the constant distraction of having to stop and declutter as you go.
By decluttering, you're not just reducing the visual chaos, but also creating an environment where cleaning becomes quicker, easier and less of a chore.
Declutter & Save Money
If you’re thinking of getting a cleaner, declutter first!
When I posted this on my social media channels, it attracted comments to back it up.
Here's what they said:
"Our work in progress - the kitchen - took 20 mins less to clean according to our cleaner"
"I agree, my cleaner cut her customers but kept us because our house is easy to clean"
"This is the right approach, I know of many cleaners who struggle to clean because of the amount of clutter in the houses they work in."
If decluttering takes you less time to clean, it'll take your cleaner less time too!
A decluttered and well organised space is easier to clean and takes less time.
If you don't need your cleaner for as many hours, it will cost you less.
Maybe if decluttered and cleaning became so much easier, you wouldn't actually need a cleaner..? I used to have a cleaner... now I spend an average of 20 minutes a day cleaning and that's it, DONE!
Perhaps it's something to think about?
Which one of these reasons, your health, your time or your money would be the most important reason for you to declutter?
Please leave me a Comment, I'd love to know ⬇️
Jo Hall is a Professional Home Organiser and Clutter Free Living expert 🏠
If you would love to have a really good sort out but don't know where to start, or maybe you've made a great start with it, but have since lost your way, Jo can help!
Jo works online with clients worldwide 🌍 via 1:1 sessions, DIY resources and group courses 👩💻 Guiding overwhelmed people to break free from the burden of stuff.
Message Jo with the words "CHAT" to fix up a no obligation chat about your project:
For decluttering & organising ideas and inspiration:
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