When it comes to improving one’s health, people usually focus on exercise and nutrition. However, they shouldn’t forget the environmental factors that affect their well-being. Americans spend around 90% of their time at home, particularly after COVID-19, as working from home has become popular. And it might surprise you to learn that over 135 million people live in polluted airspaces and are susceptible to different health conditions. For this reason, cleaning your house and getting rid of pollutants inside and around it is important.
Indoor pollutants have several adverse effects, such as headaches, anxiety, infections, and sometimes chronic respiratory and medical conditions. If you wish to ensure the well-being of your family members and yourself, make your home a healthier place to live.
Cleaning your house is easier when you know how to do it the right way. Here are some amazing tips to make your house a healthier living space for you and your loved ones:
- Reduce asbestos exposure
Even though asbestos is banned now, if you’re living in an old home, it’s likely that you have this mineral lingering around in the walls, ceiling, and flooring. Asbestos exposure leads to different ailments, such as mesothelioma, often diagnosed a few decades after initial exposure. With 20% of American buildings having some traces of asbestos, it’s normal to find asbestos in some corners of your house. So, call professionals to remove asbestos. If you’re unfortunately diagnosed with this fatal disease, you can file a mesothelioma lawsuit and claim compensation for treatment and rehabilitation.
2. Prevent mold growth
Unchecked mold growth is unhealthy for your family’s well-being. Therefore, you should learn how to check for mold and remove it before it becomes a nuisance. But if the problem is severe, it’s best to get professional help since mold can cause respiratory and skin problems if you try to remove it as an amateur. You can find a list of mold removal services by searching online for ‘mold removal in Cleveland, OH‘ (or elsewhere relevant) and reading through the most highly reviewed results. Professionals can carry out an initial assessment, create a removal plan and conduct post-treatment testing for your reassurance. Here’s how you can slow down mold growth:
- After bathing, turn the bathroom fan on
- Seal bathroom grout lines at least once a year
- Use a dehumidifier (as mold sustains on humidity)
3. Declutter the house
Clutter doesn’t just make a house look messy and unorganized, but it also negatively affects the health of its occupants. Excess clutter accumulates dust and harmful microorganisms that cause mold growth and lung infections. That’s why you must remove all that garbage, clean out your attic or basement, and eliminate the clutter. Rent a self-storage facility where you can stash your heirlooms, legacy paintings, worn-out books or documents, and other stuff that takes up too much space at home. Decreasing and controlling clutter will also help to relieve some anxiety and uplift your mental health drastically.
4. Add more greenery
Nothing soothes one’s eyes more than green plants planted inside one’s home. It’s a refreshing sight to behold and also calms your mind. Start adding some indoor plants to make the place healthier. Some well-known benefits of adding more greenery to your home include these:
- Air becomes cleaner and moister
- Stress levels decrease significantly
- Use glass storage
Store leftover food in glass containers instead of using plastic boxes. Keeping leftovers in plastic containers is extremely unhealthy as plastic causes small toxic particles to contaminate your food. Also, plastic isn’t exactly known for being very recyclable. So, use glass containers instead; they are reusable, recyclable, and don’t add toxins to your meals.
5. Use air purifiers
Invest in quality air filters that can help remove fine particulate matter, neutralize nasty odors from the air inside your home, and make it more breathable. Air purifiers are even more important to use in your home if any of your family members have asthma.
6. Burn scented candles
Smelly houses are unbearable and unhealthy, and that’s why many people use non-toxic and natural soy-based candles to make their interiors smell nicer. These candles burn cleaner than most other scented candles and last longer.
7. Use eco-friendly paint
Most commercial paint contains VOCs; these irritants are bad for your health when inhaled in the form of fumes. When you enter a freshly-painted room, VOCs are what you smell, and that’s why medical experts suggest residents avoid stepping into a room for 2 to 3 days after it’s been painted. An alternative to these paints is eco-friendly paints that don’t contain dangerous amounts of VOCs. These are safer and healthier.
8. Get a pet
Adopting a pet can benefit your mental health and also improve your physical well-being. It’s proven by experiments that keeping some animal companions at home reduces stress and anxiety. Also, the pet can be an excuse to exercise more often and socialize with other pet owners. You might also observe a decrease in triglyceride and cholesterol levels since the furry little creature is like to keep you on your toes and moving.
9. Clean your carpets
Get your carpet deep-cleaned at least twice a year to ensure it is dust and germ-free. You can call professional carpet cleaners to clean it for you or clean it yourself by using dish soap or baking soda. Clean carpets lead to fewer dust mites, reduced mold growth, and generally a cleaner living space.
10. Avoid chemical-based products
Like non-organic paints, chemical-based products also release VOCs that can harm your lungs. These VOCs lead to respiratory problems after prolonged exposure and cause headaches along with many other complications. That’s why you should avoid these toxic cleaning products and switch to their organic alternatives.
Conclusion
A clean home leads to happier families and healthier lifestyles. Making your house pollutant-free isn’t difficult at all; you have to declutter, check for problems like mold and asbestos exposure, and use VOC-free products to clean the place regularly. Using scented candles, purchasing quality air purifiers, and storing your stuff in glass instead of a plastic container are also some good tips to follow. Ensuring a clean living space will gradually improve everyone’s mental and physical health.
