House cleaning is good for physical, mental and financial health

(ARA) - The annual house cleaning ritual is a great way to kick-start your health in three important areas; physical, mental and financial. Below are some tips that will get you on your way to better health in 2010.

This year, think beyond organizing the garage and donating old clothes to making a difference for you and your family's health.

Physical health

Get things off to a good start by doing some research about what needs to be tackled during a deep house cleaning. This is your chance to get mold, dust and other harmful irritants out of your house. A great resource is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site for healthy homes.

Don't forget that all that cleaning can be a great workout. Take the time to go through every room and tackle every mess. Lifting boxes, vacuuming, scrubbing the bathroom, it's all calories burned and strength earned.

Financial health

Did you know that the average American household has approximately $90 in loose change lying around? While you are cleaning and getting organized, collect loose change around the house. This is found money you can add to your savings, put toward paying off debt or use for immediate purchases. Gather up your change and take it to a Coinstar Center, found in retail locations across the country. You can count your coins for free when you place the value of your change onto gift cards or certificates from national retailers like Amazon.com, Lowe's, iTunes, Starbucks and more. Visit www.coinstar.com to find a location near you and to take a cleaning survey.

While you're adding to your cash stash, take inventory of the other items you've got laying around. Turn clutter into cash by separating items into boxes marked "keep," "donate," "sell" and "throw out." Hold a garage sale to empty your "sell" box, or consider selling items online.

Mental health

Now that your body and your house are in shape, it's time to make sure you are mentally tuned-up. Start by taking time for yourself. Take the night off and relax with a movie you've been wanting to see and maybe an indulgent snack - you deserve it. Available in grocery stores and other popular retail locations throughout the area, redbox DVD rental kiosks feature the latest new movie releases for a low nightly rate. To find a redbox location near you or reserve online visit www.redbox.com.

Also, now that your house is clean, you will start to feel the benefits of a less cluttered life. A study from the National Institute of Mental Health says "visual clutter was found to decrease short-term memory and lower attention span." Take a deep breath and enjoy your new, cleaner life.

Courtesy of ARAcontent