​Home health care is the fastest growing sector in the health industry. But a healthy home should be your goal just as readily as it is for those who require health services in the privacy of their own home. An uncluttered home can provide beneficial psychological effects, improving your mood and mindset. It can also reduce the risk of bacterial infections in the home, improving your immune system. Moreover, a calm home lowers the risk of accident or injury for you and your family.

Improves your immune system
There is a difference between hygiene and microbial exposure. A misconception exists that having a clean home can weaken the immune system, but what it actually does is lower the chance of exposure to infectious microbial bacteria at home. Improving the hygiene of your home by cleaning dirty surfaces you may touch with your hands and so forth lowers your exposure to these infectious bacteria, which lowers your chance of getting sick and boosts your health.
​
Family members with lowered immune systems such as children or the elderly will also more readily notice the health benefits of a clean room. As dirt breaks down and suffuses throughout a room, it can create smells and attract flies and other disease-carrying insects. While dust and clutter may not themselves be infectious, these creatures they've attracted can carry a variety of illnesses. Thus, cleaning removes these vicarious forms of infection from your home as well and keeps your home smelling fresh and clean.

​Puts your mind at ease
Plus, cleaning the space inside your home can have benefits for your mental health as well. Many people exhibit subconscious or low-level forms of claustrophobia and mysophobia. This is often reinforced by our modern knowledge of dirt and bacteria, and while it may not be as invasive as diagnosed cases, it can increase our chances of depression and other negative mental diseases because we understand at some level the discomfort a dirty home gives us.

Lowers the risk of injury
The risk of an accident or injury in a cluttered home is also considerably higher. Of these, a disproportionate number of child injuries can be directly linked to child walkers, fire extinguishers, and clutter that sticks out into walkways in the home. You’re also more likely to suffer more serious injuries at home, such as injuries due to a home fire or smoke inhalation because it takes longer to respond to the affected area, and there are more flammable materials present.
An uncluttered home can provide a variety of health benefits. Removing dirt and dust that may lure in insects and other animals that carry diseases will lower your family’s chance of infection. It can lower the risk of injury to your family, and allow you to move through your home with ease and peace of mind. A clean living space can also boost your mood and sense of relaxation as you remove an overload of sensory triggers that might be unconsciously putting you on edge in your own home.

Gardening is an important and often over-looked part of spring cleaning. We all know that gardening is fun, but it can substantially improve your health. Research indicates that contact with nature has immense health benefits both to your body and mind. 

You may be thinking that you need a big gardening space to achieve this, but a simple backyard gardening is enough to relax, have fun, stay fit, as well as offer you delicious food much like a dream vacation.

Gardening gives you an opportunity for a whole body workout as you reconnect with nature. Spring Cleaning Week looks at five of the most surprising ways that a little digging can help you improve your health.

Reduced anxiety and stress

Is your job draining to the point of making you get home feeling mentally fatigued and stressed? What you need to do is to get out and start gardening. The comforting atmosphere, sights and sound offer a relaxing and calming effect as well as a “gardening glow.” Studies have gone further to postulate that a significant number of people who garden are less likely to be stressed. 

This is because the beautiful nature helps in reducing cortisol levels, which is the hormone that causes stress, poor health, and a weak immune system. In addition, results show that the effect is felt much longer after leaving the garden. Reduced stress levels are vital in preventing lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetics, heart diseases, etc.

Great way to work out for the whole family

Once upon a time gardening was thought to be an activity that was mostly for the elderly. This has changed over the years as younger people join the gardening club. One reason for this is that gardening has been linked to weight loss.

The surprising fact is that the moderate and simple form of physical activity has been squeezed into the same category as hiking, cycling and walking regarding the number of calories burnt. Unbelievable, right? So how about instead of going for your usual evening run you grab a pair of gardening gloves?

Gardening is among the few painless, fun and enjoyable forms of exercising. Through pulling, stretching, pushing and lifting you will get enough workout for the day. The fact that you will need to attend to your plants every day means that you will also get your daily portion of the workout. We all know that regular exercise is more like an apple a day in keeping health issues at bay. You also get the benefit of keeping fit without using up all your money in an expensive gym membership.

On top of this, gardening is a fun and enjoyable physical activity that can be done both by the elderly and the young. It is the ideal workout for the family. Through experiencing gardening, you can connect and bond with your family.

Improved mental health

Gardening is not only good for your physical health, but it is also critical for your mental health as well. While you generally use your hands, it also works on giving your brain a thorough workout. Gardening gives you an opportunity to think through problems and find answers.

Furthermore, it requires research on the different types of plants that may do well in your climate and soil. With time you may encounter some problems that may need you to rack your brain for solutions. This will undoubtedly elevate your creativity as well as give you a better understanding of your plants.

The pleasure and satisfaction resulting from gardening have a therapeutic advantage that promotes mental health. It also helps in keeping your sensory organs alert, thus keeping your mind engaged. According to studies, gardening is one of the most affordable and effective ways that help prevent mental disorders.

Strengthened immune system

Vitamin D also called sunshine vitamin, is essential for a good immune system and healthy bones. So, next time you go out into the garden soak up in the sun for a dose of vitamin D that’s essential to your body. Caution should be taken when going out to avoid sunburns. Sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses will do.

Before you go calling someone who has a little dirt under their fingernails hear this. A little soil under your fingers is a sign of good health. Surprised? Well, thanks to beneficial bacteria that are present in the soil, you can Instagram your soil-stained hands and be okay. The bacteria works on improving your immunity which means that you will be able to fight infections as well as get sick less. A little gardening also reduces and prevents certain allergies.

Better nutrition

What could be healthier than plucking your fruits and vegetables from your own grown garden? As you grow your food, you can opt to use natural and organic fertilizers, which ensures your harvests are always at the peak and most nutritious. The benefits this attaches to your health are numerous. If we are what we eat, then growing our own food will make us better people, right? We all know what a trip to the organic store does to the pocket, which is the reason why you will appreciate your own garden yielding more. You’ll learn how to save money on a healthy diet by growing your own food.

Apart from above benefits, gardening has been linked to other health benefits such as improving the health of your bones, heart, and lowers the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. Besides, if you want to burn calories reach out to your garden tools and burn up to 300 calories an hour. It's high time you grab a shovel and start digging.
If you still need convincing, check out Spring Cleaning Week's article on why gardening is good for your health.

Whether you have had a dinner party where some of the guests had a little too much and spilt the wine, or mud has been stomped into your carpet seemingly beyond repair, a carpet cleaner is something that we will all need at some point to help our floors look brand new. It is at this point that you have to start thinking about whether you need a professional carpet cleaner to come in or if you are going to just do it yourself.

Of course, each choice has its own strengths and weaknesses. The professional route is often faster, more thorough, and the workers are professionally trained (as well as insured against damage). DIY is cheaper, but also harder work, and there is always the risk of you damaging your carpet yourself. It’s a tough choice to make, but your choice all the same.

We all have our hobbies and the things we like, and gardening is one of the most calming ones out there. People love gardening as it doesn't cause any negative emotions. It's a soothing experience being among plants that you care for and have planted. But is gardening good just for making the surroundings of your home prettier, or is there something else to it? In this article, Spring Cleaning Week will help you understand why gardening is good for your health and why you should pick up gardening if you're having issues in life (whether you're too stressed out or just want to feel better). The psychological benefits of cleaning and making your space more aesthetically pleasing are well documented. There have even been occasions where a critical illness was improved by gardening as well, thanks to sunlight, fresh air, gentle exercise, and a positive mental state.

Gardening does require some skill, knowledge, and dedication, but overall, it won't pose too much of a problem if you find a great gardening guide! 
So, without further ado, here's all you need to know about why gardening is healthy!

​Stress Relief
Stress can cause even bigger and more dangerous health problems, and it's never a good idea to push yourself further than you should. Many activities help with stress such as meditation, but gardening is quite effective as well.
You simply feel connected to nature all the time, plus there's a feeling of accomplishment and happiness while you tender to your plants.
Besides, plants convert CO2 into oxygen, and even the smallest amounts will make a difference. 

​Boost Mental Health
Some psychiatrists and doctors recommend going to the gym or meditating as a way to fight mental health diseases such as anxiety, depression, and others. However, gardening is a good choice as well, except that it usually isn't presented to people as a choice.
Gardening will surely change your life as long as you give it a chance.
People usually don't feel alone when they're surrounded by plants, and if you're the one that's taking care of them, then the effect is even more powerful. 

​Good Environment Motivates you to Exercise
Why not combine a couple of methods that help you deal with mental health issues as well as improving your overall health? Working out is a proven way to deal with depression and gardening is great for preparing the environment.
If your garden is ignored and doesn't have a lot of plants, you won't be motivated to enjoy the little things in life. In this case, you won't make an effort to start exercising.
Now, if you manage to beautify your environment, then exercising in nature will definitely reward you. Get yourself some music and start working out!

​Good Environment for Yoga
If you aren't a fan of exercising and just want to feel better without breaking a sweat (in a relaxed, controlled manner), then the alternative is yoga. Yoga is an amazing method of ridding your body of all negative feelings, as well as releasing stiffness in your body.
But, you can't do yoga anywhere. Yoga (as well as meditation) is best done in a calm, healthy environment. A wonderful garden will do the trick fine!
Place the yoga mat anywhere you like and start doing yoga. You'll feel the bad feelings leaving your body, and you'll feel your body becoming ‘younger.' Just remember to maintain your garden constantly, so it doesn't get ruined by weeds and other culprits.

​Grow your Own Food
Sick of eating unhealthy junk food? You are sure that the potatoes you bought from the store aren't as fresh as advertised?
Well, there's only one real solution to this problem – gardening. There's no other way you can be sure that what you're eating is healthy and without artificial flavoring, or additives (and even pesticides which are the biggest issue people have with ‘organic' foods).
The food you would start with when you're just starting gardening is relatively easy to grow and doesn't require too much knowledge. The best thing about gardening is time – you just have to water the plants and sometimes switch up the soil.
In the end, if you grow your food, you'll be much healthier, and the food itself will be tastier (plus, you'll feel proud of yourself!).

​Divert your Mind
You can be alone with just your thoughts in the garden which will give you time to think about certain things. And if you just want to let your mind rest, grab a chair, a glass of wine, and sit in your garden.
Make the experience even better by doing this at night so you can gaze at the stars and enjoy the fresh air!

Spring Cleaning Week looks at all areas of both your home and your life, we believe everything can be cleaned, refreshed, and improved if you try. Follow us on Twitter @SpringCleanWeek

​Your garage is the biggest storage space you have in your home. If you’re like most people, though, you may not be using it properly. It’s easy to do, given how little time most of us spend in our garages. Because it’s out of sight and out of mind, you probably just stack boxes against the walls or pile items in the corner and forget about them until it’s time to use them. Then, you have to spend long, frustrating moments digging through all those piles of mismatched objects — looking for the one item you need. Your garage may be a cramped, cluttered, confusing mess — one that you might think is impossible to organize. Yet the truth is, de-cluttering your garage is simpler than you might think. Once you get your garage organized, it will be much easier to keep it that way.
 
Organizing your garage is as simple as following a few basic steps. First of all, you’ll need to take everything out of your garage to group items together and get rid of anything you don’t want to keep any longer. Next, take a close look at the space inside your garage and determine how you’ll want to use each area. If you’d like to designate a corner of your garage for a workbench, for example, you will know where to organize your tools. You’ll also be able to estimate how much room you’ll need to store certain items.
 
A streamlined garage means making better use of the space you already have. For example, take advantage of wall space. Using hooks, racks and shelves will provide more storage room and keep your garage from feeling cramped. For smaller, loose items, storage bins can help keep them all in one place. It’s also a good idea to keep related items close together in your new organization system. Because, this will make it easier for you to find tools or other items you use together frequently. No matter how you store belongings in your newly organized garage, it’s important to label everything. This way, you’ll know where each item is and where everything goes.
 
Having an organized garage can save you time and frustration. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be difficult. The following guide and checklist can help you make your garage a more organized place for your items. Take a look, and make the most of your available space. 

Spring Cleaning Week isn't all about cleaning inside your house, your garden is just as important! Spring remains the best time to prune your plants and generally tidy up your garden. But, for most gardeners, it can be difficult and highly intimidating to prune their plants. Most gardeners don’t prune their gardens due to the stress involved in it, which can leave them messy and unkempt.

The best starting point for those that want to prune their plants before spring is by removing damaged, diseased, dead stems.
Dead stems are not good for your garden; it invites diseases to germinate and attracts insects to your garden. Also remove water sprouts, crossing branches and suckers that develop from or near below ground.

 If you are one of the people that are stressed about it, then there is no cause for alarm, because this article will teach you 5 useful tips that will enable you to prune your garden within a record time. Do you want to prune your garden’s plants before spring?

There are many ways you can actually do it, but the principles mentioned below have been tested and trusted over time. So they are credible, reliable and effective. ​

By the time you read this analysis, you will know why it is recommended for you. If you browse through the internet, you will read wonderful stories and experiences shared by people about these gardening tips.
Pruning keeps plants healthy and encourages new growth. Here are 5 great tips you need to know:

Maintaining perennial bedding plants
​
Non-woody perennials are perhaps the most labor-intensive plants you can prune. At some point, you need to cut most perennial plants both before and after their growing season. Thus, they need consistent deadheading, shearing and pruning. ​

As you keep on gathering experience gardening, you need to learn the plants to prune, when and how to prune them. You will never go wrong by maintaining perennial bedding plants. 

Use great pruning shears

One of the best ways to maintain a beautiful garden is to make sure you're using quality pruning shears. Fiskars shears are some of the strongest on the market, and will help you keep your garden in order.

Make pruning a habit
It is totally up to you to prune your garden plants, but pruning your garden is something you will love doing, and it will make your garden look new and fresh.

It is an ongoing task, but if you keep doing it, it will pay off in the long run.

To help in getting started, try learning pruning basics, and you will be happy you did. Whether you are dreaming to have an outdoor oasis, a balcony of colorful flowers or a bounty of vegetables, learning pruning basic and applying it at the right time will help your garden look its best this Spring Cleaning Week.

Check out Spring Cleaning Week's spring cleaning checklist for more tips and advice!

​As people grow older, it can become more and more difficult to complete spring cleaning chores. What were once simple cleaning activities become a challenge with decreased mobility. Too many older people are forced to let their environment fall into disrepair, and unfortunately, a chaotic home environment only serves to speed up mental and physical decline. Luckily, in today's age of modern technology and the Internet of Things, it's easier than ever for seniors to keep their home in order. New technology helps older adults to remain safe and healthy, allowing them to age in peace. Spring Cleaning Week takes a look at just some of the ways that technology is helping us:

Personal Assistants
Personal electronic assistants such as Siri and Alexa are quickly becoming a fixture in most homes. They can be especially handy for the elderly, as they eliminate the need to move around the house to do things such as turn on lights or adjust the thermostat. Electronic assistants can help older people to keep the house organised by setting alarms, giving reminders, recording shopping lists, and much more. Better yet, most can be voice activated from any room of the house. Those who want to hire weekly or monthly cleaning services to help out can even do so by talking to their electronic assistant.
This year, it is expected that more sophisticated versions of personal assistants will be out on the market. It has been suggested that people of all ages may soon be able to have real chats with home assistants. Moreover, while it’s now possible to conduct relationships via computers through social media, it’s possible that people will also have relationships with them. Just like pets, computers and AI may soon become part of families all over the world.

Cleaning Robots
Most people are familiar with the Roomba, a handy little disk-shaped robot designed to sweep floors and vacuum carpets. The Roomba was one of the first futuristic cleaning tools to hit the market, giving homeowners a hands-free cleaning option. Instead of pushing around a heavy vacuum for several hours each week, older adults can simply turn on a small robot and kick their feet up for a bit.
Nowadays, robots can clean much more than just floors. The Braava is able to mop and disinfect hard surfaces, while The Looj is designed to clean gutters. This eliminates the need for seniors to climb a ladder and increase their risk of falling.
Older adults can even find more cuddly robotic companions designed to help out around the house. The SpotMini is a robotic dog that helps to pick up around the house, removing items from the floor that may increase the risk of slips and falls. It can also hand things to its owners so that they don’t have to crouch or bend.

Robotic walk assist systems
Older adults with mobility problems may be able to move more freely and regain their independence using robotic walk assist systems. Last year, Toyota Motor Corp. announced that it would be commercialising rehabilitation robots for rent. The technology was first made available to Japan’s elderly and it is expected that the system will be used all over the world in the next few years. By adding a high-tech element to mobility aids, it is likely that older adults will be able to stay independent longer and will be able to do everyday tasks with less difficulty.
Apart from enabling seniors to do their chores with ease, robotic walk assist systems can also help them to become more social. Imagine being able to go anywhere to visit friends and family members with the help of a robot. Staying social is part of a healthy lifestyle as it can improve mental health and also lessens the risk of social isolation and depression. As older adults become more mobile, they are also able to interact more and ask for help to do heavy chores that they may not be able to do anymore.

Modern technological marvels are making everyday cleaning tasks easier for seniors and older adult. Electronic assistants and cleaning robots are just some of the emerging technology designed to help us keep our houses clean and tidy.

For more ideas on cleaning upgrades, check out Spring Cleaning Week's top tips on technology to help your spring cleaning.