Here are 5 Secrets To A Healthy Home To Keep You Healthy And Safe
Your home is your sanctuary.
It is a space that fills you with warmth and joy. It is your haven from the outside world, a respite from the hustle and bustle of work and stress.
Yet, what if your home isn’t as safe as you think?
From your furniture to your choice of cleaning agent, every small choice can have massive repercussions on the health of your home and sanctuary.
A healthy and happy home is one that is clean and free from health hazards.
Maintaining a healthy home requires more work than one would assume.
It requires research, careful decision making and simple techniques that must be implemented from the very beginning.
Otherwise, small things can snowball into a massive health hazard that will be difficult to deal with later on.
Here’s a simple guide to help you create a home that isn’t just beautiful but is healthy and safe for you and your entire family.
Choose Your Furniture With Care
A home without furniture is an empty space.
It is the furniture that gives it character and makes it comfortable, which is why when choosing furniture, most of us focus on aesthetics alone.
We forget that furniture is a dust magnet, a hotbed of germs and requires frequent and rigorous cleaning.
Bulky furniture that is difficult to move around will collect dirt and dust in the corners, which can affect the air you breathe.
Instead choose simple and light furniture that can be cleaned around with ease, ensuring that no dirt is trapped in small spaces and corners.
Choose durable materials that can be maintained such as tile, stone, and leather. Avoid fancy carved furniture, large drapes that attract dust and heavy rugs that require constant cleaning.
Additionally, a lot of materials used to make furniture is covered with harmful chemicals.
For example, foam that is used in mattresses and couches is often covered in dangerous flame retardant chemicals.
Combat this by using cotton or wool where possible or ensuring the foam is covered in thick material preventing exposure to the chemicals used.
Take care when choosing paints and varnishes as well to ensure that no toxic chemicals are present.
Waterproofing Solutions
Based on the type of home you have, an apartment or a house, it is important to ensure that you choose the right type of waterproofing solutions.
Inadequate waterproofing can lead to a wide range of health concerns for those living in the home.
Leakage and seepage can cause mold, mildew, and fungus to grow on the walls and ceiling, leading to breathing problems and fungal infections to say the least.
This makes it imperative to tackle the problem right from the root with sound waterproofing on the structure.
While waterproofing begins with smart drainage that diverts all water away from the foundation of your home, you might also need additional waterproofing for extra protection.
Choose bituminous or polyurethane based waterproofing for roofs and cement based waterproofing solutions for kitchens and bathrooms.
Consult with a waterproofing expert to choose the right materials for your home, because there is no one-size-fits-all waterproofing solution.
Each option has its own characteristics and pros and cons which necessitate an informed decision.
Be Careful With Wiring
Wiring and electrics are something we rarely pay attention to unless we run out charging ports for our precious gadgets.
This overlooked aspect of home maintenance is incredibly important especially when moving into a new home or renovating.
Incorrect wiring and sloppy work can lead to a fire hazard in the house.
Which is why you need to ensure that you have certified electrician do all the wiring in the home.
Moreover, once your home is complete, don’t forget to call an electrician for bi-annual checks to ensure that everything is working as it should.
After all, when it comes to wiring and electricity, one small mistake can have dangerous and potentially lethal repercussions.
Simple Ventilation Techniques
Stale air can be a massive concern in today’s day, with indoor air pollution often higher than levels seen outdoors.
It is important to counter this with a few simple measures that will air out your home and keep the air clean and fresh.
The most important thing is to make sure that your windows are easily accessible and can be opened every few days to air out your home.
Make sure you use fans including exhausts in the bathrooms and kitchen to circulate the air effectively.
You might also want to consider an indoor air purifier to ensure that the air inside your home is clean and dust free.
Pair it with a humidifier for air that is easier to breathe.
Lastly, it is important to avoid using aerosol air fresheners. These are full of chemicals that should not be inhaled.
Instead, use natural scented oils and diffusers for a home that is both healthy and aromatic.
Practice Regular Effective Kitchen Care
Your health begins in the kitchen.
But these days kitchen health is more than just choosing organic produce and mercury-free fish.
A toxic material can make its way into your kitchen through the cookware you choose and the cleaning products you use.
For optimal kitchen health, it is important to pay attention to the details.
Cookware is essential to a kitchen and utensils must be chosen with care.
Non-stick cookware is known to release toxic fumes when heated to high temperatures so consider swapping to cast iron, steel, and aluminum.
Similarly heating up plastic in the microwave can be harmful to your health. Use glass or ceramic utensils to store food and for use in the microwave.
When choosing bottles, stick to BPA free plastic or switch to glass where possible.
Likewise, the cleaning products you use are often full of dangerous chemicals that you can do without.
Wherever possible, swap these out for healthy and organic cleaners that incorporate household products like vinegar, lime juice, and baking soda.
You don’t necessarily need an army of products to keep a clean kitchen and home, a few simple all natural products will do the trick with ease.