In the past, researchers worried endlessly about “living conditions” and their effect on people’s health. Professionals in the medical sphere deliberated over the problem of overcrowding in cities, pointing out how it led to more disease and cholera outbreaks.
As homes got bigger and councils demolished old tenements, the immediate issue of overcrowding disappeared. This development lulled some people into a false sense of security, believing that our homes are now generally safe and good for our health. Unfortunately, though, that’s not always true. “Sick houses” are on the rise, and it’s a problem that can affect anyone.
A healthy home equals a healthy life, but achieving one requires a little effort on your part. It won’t just happen automatically. You need to make a conscious effort to reduce the incidence of hazards in your home.
In this post, we’re going to look at some of the things you can do to make your home healthier fast. Check out these ideas.
Use A Stainless Steel Counter In the Kitchen
Marble, granite, and even laminated wood are all popular choices of material for kitchen counters. Unfortunately, none of them perfectly repel bacteria, meaning that there’s always a risk that salmonella or E.coli will survive on your surfaces.
Cleaning them regularly can help, but unfortunately, all these materials contain micro-crevices in their external structures. And these harbor bacteria.
The best way to deal with this problem is to sidestep it entirely and use stainless steel instead. The metal is naturally antibacterial, which is why you so often see it in commercial kitchens. Try installing it in places where you prepare food.
Fit A HEPA Filter To Your Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuum cleaners are a helpful tool for keeping your home healthy. But, unfortunately, regular vacuums tend to leak when you use them and blow particles around your rooms. Some don’t even collect finer dust particles at all, and they pass right through.
HEPA filters are a special kind of screen that captures the vast majority of particles, including viruses. Car manufacturers use them to prevent street pollution from entering the cabin. Therefore, putting them in your vacuum helps you capture more of the nasty particles in your home that could damage your health.
Hire A Chimney Sweep
If you have an open fireplace in your home and use it often, you’ll need to hire a chimney sweep. Their primary purpose is to prevent fires caused by the buildup of creosote - a type of material that sticks to the flue. But they’re also crucial for reducing carbon monoxide emissions in your home. Residues from burning fires can cause the gas to seep back into your rooms, making you feel weak and woozy - not what you want.
Restore Your Wooden Floors
Wooden floors last a long time, but eventually, they degrade. And when they do, microbes and water begin to penetrate. Most of these species are harmless, but some species of bacteria and mold are not, potentially putting your health at risk.
Floor refinishing is a technique to restore the protective barrier that prevents particles from penetrating to wood. The process involves cleaning the floor thoroughly and then adding a layer to keep out dirt and grime, while also making it last longer.
Steam Clean Your Upholstery
You probably can’t see it, but your upholstery on your sofas is filthy and needs a good clean. Your best option here is to use a steam cleaner or hire a professional to clean your furniture for you. Once they’re finished, you’ll notice that it immediately looks much brighter. Plus, it no longer harbors bacteria that might cause you harm.
Remove All BPA Plastic Containers From Your House
BPA is a type of plastic associated with a host of health problems in both children and adults. The synthetic material appears to interfere with the body’s hormonal signaling.
You can determine whether a plastic container by the number written on the packaging. Anything with a 3, 6, or 7, you’ll want to put in the recycling.
Throw Out Your Old Cracked Chopping Boards
Cracked wooden chopping boards are a health hazard for the same reason as damaged floors - they tend to harbor bacteria. In some ways, though, they’re even more dangerous because they’re for preparing food.
If you notice cracks with black streaks in them, replace your boards immediately. Stone boards tend to last longer.
Put Mats Inside And Outside Your Doors
Data suggest that people bring four-fifths of the dirt on the soles of their shoes into the house as they enter, even if there is an outside mat. Pollen, bacteria, and lawn chemicals can all make their way into your home, potentially causing a toxic reaction.
Placing mats both inside and outside your entryways reduces the amount of grime brought into your house by a considerable margin. Insisting on a “no shoes indoors” policy also helps matters considerably. You can also buy particular kinds of rinse-wash mats you hold under the water to remove all the dirt instead of just trapping it in fibers, which might not be the most hygienic.
Caulk Holes Around Your Property
Small holes might seem innocuous, but they are an entry for pests into your property. Even small holes can become a liability. You will be amazed at the gaps that things like mice and roaches can fit through.
Caulk is cheap and widely available, so use it where you can. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and pantry. Vermin only enter your home because they want access to food. Blocking off their access routes can help you keep them pinned back.
Switch On Your Hood Fan While Cooking
If you have a hood fan over your hob, be sure to switch it on while cooking. When you cook (especially with oil), small droplets fill the air and coat surfaces in your environment. These then attract all manner of passing dirt and grime, leading to the buildup of a sticky, furry residue - revolting.
Switching on your hood fan, however, helps to reduce this problem. The appliance slurps up emissions from cooking foods and blasts them outside. You’ll need to clean the fan and replace the filter occasionally. If you don’t, the hood won’t work well.
Sanitize Handheld Devices
Your hands are the most significant vector of disease transmission in your environment. When you touch something, like a TV remote, germs pass from your skin onto the rubber, lurking for the next person to touch. Sanitizing your handheld devices, however, eliminates this problem. Remember, these objects might have more bacteria on them than a toilet seat. Clean them using an alcohol-based product as this won’t interfere with the electronics.
Use An Air Purifier
If you suffer from allergies, then you might want to invest in an air purifier. These work similarly to the HEPA-filter-containing vacuum cleaners we discussed earlier, trapping pollen and other irritants in a fine mesh.
Most purifiers will run all day long, extracting potentially harmful dust from your living spaces - great for grass season.
Clean Your Faucets
Faucets might seem harmless enough, but they're a breeding ground for germs because they control the flow of water. Both flu and cold viruses can live on them, putting you at risk every time you switch them on. Applying bleach solution, however, will immediately annihilate all the bacteria, leaving them fresh and clean.
So, in conclusion, health starts in the home. Making small changes one room at a time can have a profound impact on your wellbeing. Overhaul yours today and see how much better you feel.