“But all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51.10)
As we welcome the arrival of Spring, many are heading outside to enjoy the flowers and warmer weather. Spring is also the perfect time to get our homes back in order, from top to bottom. If Spring cleaning feels like a chore you’d rather postpone, then consider this for added motivation: Having a clean home is a powerful way to strengthen your faith, follow Jesus’s example, and improve your spiritual, emotional as well as physical health.
So how exactly does Spring cleaning help make us better Christians? Those who follow a Christian faith are taught to take personal responsibility for their own actions, decisions and morality. That sense of accountability extends to our homes as well. By being responsible for keeping our house in order, we’re applying Biblical principles to our daily lives and helping develop good habits.
We can also look at Spring cleaning as a way to perform a good deed, following in the footsteps of Jesus. By making our homes clean, welcoming, and safe for our families and guests, we’re sharing a gift of love and gratitude. Our homes become places where we can serve others, and by being of service, we move closer to Jesus’s example. In this way, housecleaning can become an act of worship.
While a good deed for others, house cleaning can also be a good deed for ourselves. Getting our homes organized, decluttered, and thoroughly cleaned can help us feel less stressed, more in control, and more optimistic. By controlling the chaos that can take over our house, we’re also able to control the emotional chaos inside our own heads. The physical act of cleaning can give us a sense of purpose, productivity, and satisfaction. With the chores done, everything in its right place, and the house spic-and-span, we’re able to sit back, relax, and feel good about what we’ve accomplished.
Spring cleaning is good for our physical health as well. The stress and anxiety caused by a cluttered, disorganized, and messy house can cause our bodies to release the potentially harmful hormone cortisol, which weakens the immune system. Having a clean, well-ordered home can reduce stress levels and cortisol production, so our bodies are better prepared to fight off illness and disease.
As we clean every corner and closet in our homes, we’re also removing dust, dirt, allergens, germs, mold, microbes, and other particulates that can contribute to illness or medical conditions. By improving our indoor air quality, we’re promoting a healthier, more hygienic home environment for our family and guests.
If the thought of Spring cleaning still seems daunting, try these few tips to help get you started.
- Get the whole family involved. Delegate tasks or assign each family member a room to be responsible for. With more hands working, the cleaning will go much faster.
- Crank up the tunes and put a soundtrack to your Spring-cleaning activities. Everything’s more fun when you’re listening to music — even dusting and closet organizing.
- Make checklists for each room, and prioritize what needs to be done. As you check off each item on your list, you’ll feel like you’re making progress, which can be a great motivator.
- Start with “dry” cleaning tasks first, such as dusting and picking up the general clutter. Then move to the “wet” cleaning — mopping, sponging, and window cleaning for example. Finish with vacuuming to remove all the dust and dirt that settled on the floor when it was disturbed.
- Start at the top of each room (ceiling fans, high shelves) and work your way down to the baseboards and floors.
- Once your house is clean, spend 10 minutes a day doing “mini-cleanings” to keep the bigger messes and chaos from returning.
Keeping a clean home goes hand-in-hand with keeping a clean mind and body — both important tenants of Christianity. Those who strive to live according to Biblical principles apply those lessons to their lifestyle choices as well.
Christian health sharing rewards this faith-based approach to healthy living with lower monthly costs for healthcare services. Learn more about how Christian health share programs help support your clean and healthy lifestyle with easier access to care, resources, information, and savings here.