A healthy home is very important. And taking some important steps can help lower the risk of health problems and provide a safer space for you and your family. Here are some tips:
- Improve your Indoor Air Quality: The quality of the air inside your home is important for your health, as well as for a pleasant atmosphere. Adequate ventilation is a must, particularly when painting or cleaning. To allow for natural ventilation during mild weather and air exchanges while cleaning, open up the windows. Keep windows operable and unobstructed so it’s easy to do so. If someone in your home used to smoke, or you’re moving into a place formerly inhabited by a smoker, you’ll have to put in some heavy-duty cleaning work to get rid of the lingering smell of tobacco smoke. Be sure to encourage visitors to smoke outside, as well.
- Add Some Green into the Interior: A famous NASA study in the 1980s showed that plants can help filter out air pollutants. Think about placing some attractive, low-maintenance houseplants in your rooms to double as air filters.
- Keep it Clean: Control the source of dust and contaminants, creating smooth and cleanable surfaces, reducing clutter, and using effective wet-cleaning methods.
- Keep it Safe: Store poisons out of the reach of children and properly label. Secure loose rugs and keep children’s play areas free from hard or sharp surfaces. Install smoke, carbon monoxide detectors, and keep fire extinguishers on hand.
- Keep it Well-Ventilated: Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens and use whole house ventilation for supplying fresh air to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the home.
- Keep it Pest-free: All pests look for food, water, and shelter. Seal cracks and openings throughout the home; store food in pest-resistant containers. If needed, use sticky-traps and baits in closed containers, along with least toxic pesticides such as boric acid powder.
Sources: Green Home Guide: 5 Ways to Have a Healthy Home and EZ Breathe: 6 Tips for Keeping a Healthy Home
Deborah Hartranft, MBA
Director of Development and Communications