10 Steps to a Healthier Home

Read scripture everyday (aloud if you can).  
I try to get my devotionals in in the morning with my cup of coffee.  It makes me feel good and I start my day on a better note. 

Sing hymns or Bible songs while doing a project, cleaning, or cooking.
Sometimes while doing homeschool work with my sons, I sing and they either start singing along with me or always want to come up and cuddle.  This is also good around nap times!
 

Praise God for your many blessings, even on bad days.  
My mother-in-law taught me this one.  She told me how she was having a bad day one afternoon and started cleaning her house and she thanked God for every corner of her home.  She said her bad day soon got better after this so I try to practice this while I clean or when I’m having a bad day!  It’s good to praise God on good days and non-cleaning days also!

Light a candle.  
Candles are amazing.  Whether scented or not, it just makes the room feel so much warmer and cozy.  Can’t go wrong with candles!

White vinegar and Dawn dish soap.
I have seen this on Pinterest everywhere, but basically you mix equal portions of white vinegar with Dawn dish soap.  You can combine the two together in an empty spray bottle and spray on the surface you want to clean.  You can keep it on there and wipe immediately or have it soak for about 15 minutes in hard areas like the bath tub.  It works cleaning wonders on everything like kitchen and bathroom sinks, toilets, and bath tubs.  I don’t know what the combination does but it leaves everything sparkling clean!

Natural cleaners.  
I am a couponer so I know that these natural cleaners like Seventh Generation can be more expensive but I feel better about my home and the environment when I buy them.  The good news is if you see a sale and have good coupons to go with it, you can buy the better stuff for your family and buy it in bulk so it lasts you and your family a while.

Healthy foods.  
Have fresh fruit laying around and chances are because it is in eye sight, it has a better chance of being eaten.  I also put refrigerated snacks like applesauce pouches and string cheese in the cheese drawer so my kids can have easier access to it.  Chips and cookies in my pantry are a little higher on the shelf but I keep a bowl of healthier items like popcorn, granola bars, and fruit snacks on a lower shelf.

Cook in your home a few times a week.
This one sounds like a no brainer for some of us, but I know how hard it is to have two people work in a house and have to rush home to figure out what to eat.  Picking up food or eating out is an easier option but not always the best.  When I was working before I had my sons, my husband and I ate out 4-5 times a week!  Now, we eat out or order in maybe once every 2 weeks.  You get to eat healthier foods and the house always smells amazing after a meal when you cook at home!

Give yourself a timeout!  
I know technology is supposed to make our lives easier, but some days I feel like I can’t keep up with everything!  On days like this it is good to read a book, grab a coffee with a friend, run, swim, bike, do yoga or catch up on a magazine that you want to read.

Help yourself and ask for help.  
You and your family are all geared up for the upcoming family vacation or some fun weekend plans.  If you can, during the week try to get something accomplished every day so you can relax during the weekend.  This has worked wonders for me!  I don’t have a set schedule but if that helps make Mondays clean the wet areas day, Tuesday dust, Wednesdays vacuum, Thursdays clean bathrooms, and Fridays laundry.  If you have children who are old enough for chores, ask them for help!  Even ask your spouse!  I love when my husband does the dishes or folds that last load of laundry.  Do any combination that works best for you.