"I've
lost myself", so lamented a recent client of mine. Piled
around us in her suburban home were heaps of laundry, toys,
tools, magazines, sports equipment, pet products and more, all
spun together in vague, collected shapes like some forgotten
Aztec ruin long since reclaimed by the jungle. More importantly,
hidden among the jumble was dust, mold and as with many households,
pet hair and worse, all of it quietly and adversely affecting
her health.
Even
in less cluttered homes I find one or more family member is
afflicted by allergies or worse asthma. As a Professional Organizer
I dip in and out of many lives guiding, giving perspectives
and rescuing homeowners from clutter and sources of health issues.
To have
that healthy 'magazine' home you have to have less stuff. Peace
comes from space. Clear surfaces invite cleaning. Piled objects
repel the mind, overwhelm the spirit. Purge and eliminate. "purge
it!". Organize what you have left effectively, the things
you really want and need. Make due with less and you will live
longer, liberated, healthier lives and have a healthier home.
People
are hurting physically and psychologically by their stuff. If
it doesn't serve who you are now - purge. Older Canadians already
know life is more about services and quality of life and less
about the gathering stuff. With years comes wisdom.
Sometimes
clutter is the result of a life numbing incident - a bad relationship
or the loss of a loved one. Cleaning up loses its meaning and
the hoarding of things becomes a buffer to fill the void.
Sometimes
the race to get things done each day can blind one to the dangers.
Many
women have daily schedules timed to the minute with little personal
time to live or de-clutter. "My house never used to be
this way," is a common apology. The psychological effects
on children of a cluttered home cannot be under-stressed. One
client contacted me because her little daughter asked her if,
"Daddy could move them to a neat house". A sweet but
blunt wakeup call.
One
client's home had water damage to walls and carpets two years
previously that resulted, over time, in a mould and allergen
hazard. Mould, indoor pollutants and dust exposure in many homes
is resulting in an increasing number of bronchial reactions
among children including asthma. The largest growth in emergency
room cases in North America, in children under five, is asthma
related.
The
air in that home had a languid, musty heaviness. In the basement
dark patches of mould covered several walls, an area doubling
as the TV room. To move about one felt breathless and weary.
It was no wonder the woman shuffled and spoke with weariness
beyond her years.
In winter
the effect is compounded by the sealing of windows and doors
with the resulting rise in exposure to indoor pollutants from
furnishings, cleaning products, building materials, mal-functioning
appliances or dehumidifiers, dust mites, formaldehyde from pressed
wood, glues and textiles such as drapes, pollen, mould, hobby
supplies, exhaust from attached garages, back-draft from chimneys
etc.
Indoor
pollution is often two to five times higher than outside. The
air circulating from the basement is the worst offender in almost
every home. With improper air exchange rates, especially during
colder months cumulative pollutants can take their toll.
Eliminate
sources; old couches, carpets, cardboard containers and wood.
Empty standing water sources. Don't smoke. Replace cardboard
with plastics. Switch to natural cleaners such as lemon juice
and vinegar.
Common
reactions to poor indoor air: eye irritation, fatigue, sore
nose, throat, dizziness or recurring headaches - reactions similar
to colds or flu. Everyone has their own level of sensitivity
but children are especially vulnerable. Good web sites to find
more at are; The Canadian Environmental Agency site at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/air/in/index_e.html
or the US Environmental Protection Agency site at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html#Intro1.
Or find my email on my web site at: http://www.decluttering.ca
and I'll send you the link.
The
effect for the cluttered home owner is a distinctly overwhelming.
The word 'lost' neatly defines the feeling and is a common lament.
Finding yourself and home again takes time, time to adjust to
a new normal and let go of old ways and stuff and become someone
new. But starting a little at a time is better than the slippery
slope of never starting at all. An organizer can help.
