A healthy home is not only beautiful but also safe for occupants, guests, and pets. It’s also good for the environment as it minimizes energy usage and carbon emissions. While some aspects of a healthy home are obvious (keeping furniture out of the flow of traffic, unplugging appliances when not in use), others may not be so obvious. Here are some tips and tricks for making your home a healthy home:
DUST, DUST, DUST!
Properly cleaning your home’s surfaces is essential to a healthy home. Dust can be made of many things, including pet dander, bacteria, and dead skin cells. All of these things can cause allergies and irritate eyes and noses. To reduce the amount of dust in your home, make sure to clean as often as possible. Vacuum rugs, vacuum floors, dust furniture, and clean countertops with a microfiber cloth. Also, clean windows and glass doors with newspaper or paper towels to reduce lint buildup.
LIGHTING MATTERS
Lighting is important, especially in bedrooms and living rooms. While a soft glow from lamps is perfect for reading, bright lights may overstimulate occupants and make them more likely to commit minor errors, such as dropping a plate or burning something on the stove. Lighting also affects sleep patterns, and too much darkness can make it harder to fall asleep. For the best lighting, use lamps with adjustable brightness and a low-wattage (or daylight-simulating) bulbs. Natural light is best, but if your home doesn’t get much sun, incandescent and fluorescent lights can help simulate it.
GO GREEN
Having a healthy home doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty. Many people use environmentally friendly products for cleaning, decorating, and other household tasks. Some of these products are better for you and the environment than their traditional counterparts. The obvious choice for cleaning products is green cleaning products. They are safer to use and won’t irritate your skin or cause allergies. To decorate your home naturally, use plants, flowers, and other organic materials. Organic paint is another easy way to make your home more environmentally friendly.
WET LOCATIONS
Kitchens and bathrooms are prime areas for bacteria growth. This is due to the amount of moisture they contain, as well as the amount of people that frequently visit them. Keep water- and moisture-resistant materials in high-traffic areas, such as kitchen and bathroom floors, and in areas that come into frequent contact with pets. Kitchen and bathroom surfaces that contain bacteria can be a source of illness for people who visit your home. To help keep bacteria out of your home, clean food preparation areas often, and use a dishwasher whenever possible.
FIRES AND FRIDGES
Fires and refrigerators are two things that can spread bacteria, but only if they are not clean. Keep your fire extinguisher and fridge cleaning checklist handy, and make sure they get cleaned regularly. Fires should be kept to a minimum, and they should be extinguished with a wet, dirt-free, and completely dry fire extinguisher. Fridges should be cleaned on a regular basis (at least once a month), and they should be thoroughly dried before being plugged in again.
ELECTRONIC HAZARDS
Electronic items, such as computers, smart TVs, and tablets, contain many toxic chemicals that can be harmful if they are mishandled or come into contact with skin. To protect yourself from these chemicals, use a keyboard cover, a laptop case, and a cut-resistant mat to protect your floors. These materials can help protect your floors, furniture, and pets from these chemicals.
DANGERS IN THE KITCHEN
Kitchens are often the heart of a healthy home. However, they are also one of the most dangerous areas in the house. Kitchens are home to a large number of mishaps, including fires, food-borne illnesses, and accidents with sharp objects and appliances. To make sure your kitchen is a safe, healthy space, use a cutting board, designated kitchen areas, and kitchen mats. Store knives in a safe place (away from the stove and each other). Place a mat near the sink to protect your floors from splashes and drips. Place an open mat near the fridge so you don’t track food debris throughout the kitchen.
CONCLUSION
A healthy home is not only beautiful but also safe for occupants, guests, and pets. It’s also good for the environment as it minimizes energy usage and carbon emissions. It’s important to make sure your home is up to healthy home standards, and the tips in this article can help you achieve that goal.