Creating and maintaining a healthy home environment can seem like an overwhelming task. There are so many components that require attention, and even small changes can have a big impact on the quality of air inside your home. That’s why it’s important to understand the risks associated with living in a dirty, cluttered, or otherwise less than ideal space. A home that isn’t clean or free of pests, mold, and other allergens isn’t just unhygienic; it can also be unhealthy for your family’s health. Here are some tips for creating a healthy home environment:
CLEAN AND DECLUTTER REGULARLY
When people think of improving their home, decluttering probably doesn’t come to mind. But a messy home can make it much more difficult to breathe clean air in the same way that polluted air makes it harder to breathe. When you have a lot of stuff in the same space, the air doesn’t move as freely, which means it’s full of dust and dirt. Clean air needs to be able to move freely to be healthy, so dust and dirt can be especially problematic. Beyond just making it easier for you to breathe, keeping your home tidy also makes it easier for others. When your home is clean and organized, it’s easier to find things you need, and it’s much easier for loved ones and guests to move around without bumping into things. Keeping your home tidy also makes it easier to maintain. If you have to spend time cleaning, you’re less likely to procrastinate and put off decluttering or tackling other housework tasks. If you’re not sure where to begin, try tackling the most obvious sources of clutter first. Chances are, you’re already aware of how cluttered your kitchen and living room are, so start there. Once you’ve decluttered your kitchen and living room, tackle the rest of the house in order of how often you use the space. Keep your decluttering process simple. You don’t need to get rid of everything in your home.
ELIMINATE SOURCES OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
The quality of the air inside your home can be affected by a number of sources, including chemicals in cleaning products, indoor smoking, and pet dander. Chemicals in cleaning products are one of the most common sources of indoor air pollution. If you’re using cleaning products, they can release many toxic chemicals, including ammonia, bleach, lye, and formaldehyde. To help avoid inhaling harmful chemicals, choose cleaning products with low or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) content. Ventilation is another important component of a healthy home environment. If you don’t have enough fresh air coming into your home, indoor air quality can quickly deteriorate. It’s important to open windows and let fresh air in during the day to keep indoor air quality high. If you smoke, make sure to smoke outside, and do your best to keep the smell of smoke out of your home.If you have pets, keep them away from living spaces, and use pet-friendly cleaning products to reduce the amount of pet dander in the air. Pets generally don’t stay in one place long enough to be a source of indoor air pollution, but keeping them away from living spaces can help.
INSTALL ADEQUATE INSULATION
If you have an older home, you probably want to avoid running wires through the walls and ceilings. If you don’t, you’re risking the health of your family members (and any guests) who live in the house. If you’re installing new wires, make sure to use an insulated, metal conduit to protect against electric shock and to prevent wires from coming into contact with each other. The best way to increase the efficiency of your home’s air circulation is to insulate your walls and ceilings. This can help reduce the amount of energy your HVAC system needs to run, which can lower your monthly bills and increase your comfort level.
ENSURE YOUR HVAC SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY
Most homes have a central HVAC system. This system controls the temperature and air flow of the house. The HVAC system inside your home can greatly affect the quality of the air inside your home. If your HVAC system isn’t working properly, it can be a major source of indoor air pollution. If your HVAC system is working properly, it should be circulating air throughout the house. If it’s not, it could be causing poor indoor air quality. To be sure your HVAC system is working properly, have a professional HVAC technician come out to your home and test your system. Your technician can test your HVAC system to see if it’s working properly and whether it needs any repairs. If your HVAC system isn’t working properly, it’s important to get it fixed to improve the quality of the air inside your home.
COMMIT TO A SMOKE-FREE HOME
Pets are naturally clean and are often considered part of the family, but they can cause a lot of damage to a home. If your pet is allowed to roam freely around your home, it can cause a lot of damage to floors, walls, and furniture. Pets can also bring in a lot of allergies and dust mites. To help keep your home clean and reduce the amount of dust in your home, keep your pet outside as much as possible. It’s important to clean your home regularly, even if you don’t have a pet. Keeping your home clean can help prevent allergies and improve indoor air quality. Unfortunately, pet allergies are fairly common. If you have pet allergies, you can help prevent damage done by your pet’s fur and dander by staying away from your pet when you can. It might be difficult, but it’s important to do whatever you can to avoid having contact with your pet’s fur and dander.
CONCLUSION
The quality of the air inside your home can be affected by a number of sources, including chemicals in cleaning products, indoor smoking, and pet dander. To help avoid inhaling harmful chemicals, choose cleaning products with low or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) content. Eliminate sources of indoor air pollution, install adequate insulation, and ensure your HVAC system is working properly to improve the quality of the air inside your home.Commit to a smoke-free home, and keep your pet outside as much as possible to reduce the amount of dust in your home and prevent pet allergies.