Many germs and viruses survive better in the cool, dry conditions that common in fall and winter, according to Healthline. Keep indoor humidity levels at 40% to 60% are optimal to make some viruses less likely to survive in the air and consider a humidifier if your humidity drops below 30%. Also identify your home’s high-touch surfaces — doorknobs, light switches, appliance handles and the like — and clean them often to reduce the chance of spread. And this may go without saying in the post-COVID era, but have everyone in the household practice frequent hand-washing. #WinterCleaning
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
Keep Your Indoor Air Clean
With windows shut against the cold and the heat turned up, indoor air quality can suffer. That’s why it’s important to focus on dust and allergens when performing #winter #cleaning. Be sure to dust blinds, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and electronics; wipe down baseboards and vacuum rugs; and launder all bedding and drapes. Finally — once you’ve eliminated most of the airborne pollutants — change your furnace’s air filter to keep the air you breathe fresher. “Cleaner air reduces the risk of allergies, asthma flare-ups, and cold and flu transmission,” says Men’s Journal. #WinterCleaning
Winter Weather Means Frequent Cleaning
With snow and temperatures falling, you’re likely spending more time indoors — and that means your space is handling a lot more wear and tear. Frequent #cleaning can keep your #home sparkling and allergen-free, says Care.com. Start by #cleansing the floors, which are often subject to tracked-in dirt and moisture. Also shampoo or freshen area rugs and carpeting. Entryways are key to keeping the home clean, so sweep and #organize them. Be sure to clean and disinfect bathrooms regularly to prevent the spread of germs, and change out the filters in your HVAC to help it run efficiently and prevent allergies. #WinterCleaning
Hygge and Wintertime Self-Care
You’ve probably heard a lot about hygge (hyoo-gah) from this blog and others. It’s the Danish concept “of creating cozy and convivial atmospheres that promote well-being,” said the Collins English Dictionary in naming it a Word of the Year in 2016.
At the center of the concept — perhaps not surprisingly, giving the streamlined, no-nonsense lines that have long characterized Scandinavian design — is simplicity. Hygge practitioners are encouraged to relax, light candles and swath themselves in warm blankets.
In a hygge home, everything has its place. Furnishings feature natural woods and fibers. Sightlines are uncluttered. There isn’t a surplus of tchotchkes, but everything one needs to be comfortable is readily available. It’s a space that inspires calm.
Hygge is said to lower stress and improve emotional well-being, or at least many of its tenets do. Warm, dim lighting is more relaxing than bright white lights, for example, and spending time with friends and family supports physical and emotional health.
Researchers found that the hygge lifestyle had significant positive impacts for women in a correctional facility in Denmark. Encouraged to share food and fellowship according to hyyge principles, the women’s moods and perceptions of safety improved.
If you aren’t yet in a hygge space, start by #decluttering. Eliminate any things — or piles of things — that you set aside for a later date and just haven’t needed since. #Schedule a #free #donation #pickup with ClothingDonations.org to get rid of some of that #junk.
Then, reorganize your #space to be a warm, inviting source of calm and contentment. Turn down the lights. Have blankets and slippers ready. Offer guests a warm beverage, bake some cookies or relax with a good book instead of doom-scrolling through the mind-clutter of social media.
“The important thing to remember is that your #environment does influence how you feel,” environmental psychologist Sally Augustin told Everyday Health. “You can take control of your environment and actually make it really good.”
Trick Yourself Into Decluttering Effectively
If you’re eager to #declutter and get #organized in the new year but haven’t been successful in the past, Apartment Therapy offers five tricks you can use to make the process easier: (1) Invite guests over, forcing you to #clean; (2) Pretend you’re #moving and eliminate anything you wouldn’t pack; (3) Take a photo of the room and examine it to find what’s out of place; (4) Ask a Type-A friend to help; and (5) Turn off your phone notifications and set a timer for 15 minutes of power-decluttering. Then, contact ClothingDonations.org for a free #donation #pickup. #NewYearNewlyOrganized.