5 Tips to Make Your Home Healthier
Never mind Covid, your home could be making you sick and you didn't even know it!
26/09/2021
Recent studies undertaken by Harvard reveal that the home, despite being where the heart is, could be responsible for the state of your health. It is a place where we spend most of our time and it is also the place that has the most influence on the health of our bodies. Research states that heart health, mindfulness and overall health are influenced by the home that we live in. We have grown up knowing what is good for us and what isn't, but that doesn't mean that we follow these practices, and it is even more scary that, despite everything else, we have only recently discovered how our homes can affect our lives.
It is only with ongoing studies involving volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that air quality in a home has been put under the microscope and we have since learnt that many items in a home can affect our bodily and mental health. Read the tips below to see if your home could be responsible for poor health or bad attitude.
1. Vacuum Cleaner
You might not think about health when you are using a vacuum cleaner, in fact, you might think that you are doing good by using the vacuum cleaner regularly. Well, you are right in a sense, but wrong if you think that a vacuum cleaner will clean your home. What many people tend to overlook is how a vacuum cleaner works.
If your vacuum cleaner does not have a built-in filter - and preferably a HEPA filter - all it does is suck up dust and scatter these particulates into the air.
2. Fume Hood or Extractor Hood
I have always thought this one was the most overlooked in a home when looking at air quality. Too many kitchens have a fume hood or extractor installed over the stovetop or hob, but the same fume hood or extractor does not vent outside the kitchen but rather circulates poor air quality into the home environment. Why would you even bother fitting a fume hood or extractor without venting outside the home?
3. Tumble Dryer
This one is a no-brainer! If you have a tumble dryer that is used inside a home rather than in a separate laundry room, there is no doubt that it is contributing to air pollution in your home. Think about it. These machines have a filter that removes particulates that would normally foul the air, but the filters are not designed to trap everything, which means that a fair amount of microscopic dust is being blown around the home. Having a tumble dryer in a separate - well-ventilated room - will cut down on air pollution, as will having a tumble dryer installed with a vent that expels particulates outside the home.
4. Fresh Air is Better than Toxic
Why waste money on scented candles and air fresheners, unless of course, the outdoor air is just as toxic as indoors. Did you know that scented candles and manufactured air fresheners are a waste of money and not only that, but they also add to indoor air pollution? While the former releases harmful particulates, the latter emits a toxic concoction of volatile organic chemicals.
5. Keep Germs Outdoors
Not only is this tip good for your floors, but it is also good for your health. In many countries, it is considered the norm to take your shoes off before entering a home, and for good reason. If you leave the dust, bacteria and germs outdoors they won't be able to foul up indoor air quality. Have an area in the home where you can remove footwear and replace with slippers or slip-ons.