Why a spring clean can benefit your sleep health

As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, many of us start to have more trouble falling asleep. While there are several things you can do to combat this – investing in blackout curtains or sleep masks; banishing the phone from the bedside table – one of the most effective ways to achieve a good night’s sleep is to do a little spring cleaning.

Regular, deep, uninterrupted sleep is a sign of good physical and mental health, and few things are more damaging to your health than sleeping in a dirty, dusty, cluttered environment.

You can be forgiven for turning your bedroom into a warm nest during the cold winter months, but now that spring is here, it’s time for a refresh. Here are just a few of the ways in which a spring clean can lead to better, healthier sleep.

Better mental health

If you’ve ever tried to relax in a grimy living room, or sleep in a dirty hotel, you’ll know how stressful an unclean environment can be.

There is some science to this. Dirt, clutter, and mess raises the level of cortisol our brains produce. Cortisol is the body’s natural stress hormone, and too much of it can lead to many minor and major health issues, from acne to high blood pressure.

Needless to say, an excess of stress hormones is not conducive to restful sleep. Spending an hour going over your bedroom with a duster and a vacuum cleaner will reduce your anxiety, and help you feel less overwhelmed when you’re lying in bed at night.

It keeps you active

Exercising during the day will help you sleep better at night.

Spring cleaning is a surprisingly effective form of exercise. All the scrubbing, lifting, and moving around the house is equivalent to a low-to-medium impact aerobics session, releasing endorphins while raising your heart rate and body temperature.

By the time you’re ready for bed, your temperature and heart rate will have settled down, helping you feel relaxed as you slip beneath the duvet.

Improves productivity

Clutter is a distraction. By decluttering your house, you can increase your focus, and therefore your productivity.

This is especially beneficial if you work from home. By limiting the number of distractions in your home, you can have a more productive day, which will make you feel more satisfied, less irritable, and more likely to sleep through the night without thinking of all the work that still needs to be done.

Greater immunity to sickness

Dust and dirt aren’t just unpleasant to look at; they can lead to some quite nasty short- and long-term health problems.

Living in a dusty or mouldy home for an extended period means you’re breathing in pollutants on a daily basis; pollutants which constantly attack your immune system. This will likely lead to symptoms like coughing, a runny nose, a scratchy throat, breathing issues, and rashes, even in an otherwise healthy person. For a person with underlying health conditions, such as asthma, the consequences could be even more serious.

Vacuuming carpets, cleaning surfaces, washing fabrics and upholstery, and airing out damp areas will improve your health, and therefore improve your sleep.

A healthier sleep

It may be that your bedroom is a clean and clutter-free oasis, which regularly sees the vacuum cleaner and the duster. But there’s one area most of us neglect to some degree, one which is vitally important for quality sleep, and that is the bed itself.

Changing your sheets on a regular basis isn’t enough to keep the bed free of dirt, sweat, and bacteria. Swap out pillows, wash the duvet and mattress, and clean the bed cover to really benefit your sleep health.

Looking to improve your sleep quality? Start by getting the sleep surface right. Explore the Mammoth Perks range today here.