The functionality of our homes has increased immensely in the last few years. From being an oasis to an efficient workspace, a home has to be comfortable, functional as well as modern. Most of all, we all need a home that uplifts our mental and physical health.
With modern updates, the materials and components to build a house are a lot healthier and more sustainable than they used to be. However, certain components and practices in your daily lives could be adversely affecting the health of your family and your home. If you suspect any health issues, this list can help you uplift and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What are the Causes of Household Illnesses?
There are certain common yet disregarded components that are hampering our health, such as:
- Mold
It is a type of fungi that releases spores for reproduction. These can spread in the air and cause various issues like sneezing, nasal congestion, burning eyes, and skin rashes. There are also molds that release mycotoxins that have been linked to respiratory problems, even cancer and immune system disorders.
- Germs
Germs is a broad term for fungi, bacteria, and viruses that cause mild or severe issues to our health.
- Chemicals
There are various harmful chemicals in many household products that affect our health adversely when there is long-term exposure.
- Allergens
Allergens include pollen, dust, dirt, pet dander, and different gases that enter the house through windows, doors, or on our clothes and shoes. They cause various respiratory problems and even severe health issues.
5 Things to Consider for a Healthy Lifestyle
Now you know the culprits affecting your health, you have to be vigilant about their presence in your house and take necessary steps to prevent and remove them.
- Leaks, Holes and Damages
The first thing you want to do is check for any leaks or holes in the house. Usually, faulty or damaged plumbing causes water damage to different parts of the house. Similarly, any damage to the roof can cause air leaks and increase the moisture content of the house. Moisture is the breeding ground for most mold, mildew, pests, and allergens. Covering up these holes and leaks in every room of the house is essential to protect the house and prevent various diseases.
You also want to check the entire home for leaks, cracks, and water damage from the basement to the roof. You can use proper ventilation and dehumidifiers to maintain a proper humidity level of 30 – 50% in the house. You should hire professional services for plumbing, roof repair, and mold remediation.
- Bedding, Curtains, and Rugs
We use bedding every single day and night, but it takes us weeks or months to clean it. As we spend most of our time in bed, it is likely to be home to a lot more allergens and germs. Dirt, dead skin cells, bodily fluids, and other allergens are present in the bed. If not cleaned regularly, the bed and its accessories become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.
Most people wash their bedsheets and pillowcases every week to maintain safe and hygienic sleep. However, larger items like duvets, duvet covers, pillows, mattress protectors, curtains, rugs, and other bedroom basics are rarely cleaned up. They should be washed in hot water to cleanse all impurities every few months. If you have kids and pets, this should be done even more frequently to get rid of mites, insects, and other harmful components that are brought into the house.
- Home Appliances
We use different home appliances throughout the day and think little about how they affect our health. You might face different health hazards when you do not use them properly or perform timely repair and maintenance.
- Gas Stoves: These have been found to cause childhood asthma and other respiratory diseases due to the nitrogen dioxide and carcinogenic benzene that they emit. Switching to an electric stove is a safer and eco-friendly alternative to gas stoves.
- Fridge: The fridge can harbor dangerous bacteria if it is not maintained properly. The temperature should be maintained between 32 – 40 degrees and the freezer at 0 degrees. The fridge should not be overfilled as it hinders proper air circulation. Raw meat should not be stored open with other food to avoid contamination of salmonella and E. coli. To prevent the growth of bacteria, the fridge should be cleaned with hot and soapy water.
- Other appliances: The most neglected appliances are coffee makers and microwaves. We use them frequently and forget to clean them. You should clean all appliances regularly to prevent bacteria buildup. The washing machine and dryer should also be cleaned properly to avoid mold, mildew and bacteria buildup that can transfer to the freshly washed clothes.
- Pest Problem
Pests may seem harmless but cause huge problems. Dirty dishes and garbage containers are home to flies, cockroaches, and other insects. Similarly, cracks or holes in the walls and roof can invite pests like mice, spiders, ants, termites, beetles, and more. While affecting the structure of your house, pests can also lead to various health issues. They contaminate surfaces with viruses and bacteria that lead to different respiratory and intestinal diseases.
Food and moisture are two things that welcome and retain pests. It is important to control humidity, properly store food, and clean up the crumbs properly. Even the generally used pest repellants have harmful chemicals so you should try to use homemade natural oil repel ants like peppermint. If this fails as well, you should get professionals to deal with the pest removal and roof repair professionals to fix your roof.
- Chemical Supplies
There are harmful chemicals in daily household items like detergents, cleaning supplies, insecticides, appliance cleaners, and toilet cleaners. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and other respiratory problems. Such products should be stored properly away from children. You can make homemade alternatives or you can check storemasta’s bunding products that have less or no negative effects.
Conclusion
Your house should safeguard and uplift your health rather than cause issues. Certain issues are inevitable at home, like mold, germs, allergens, and chemicals. There are preventive measures to lessen their effects and remediation to get rid of them. You can easily improve your health by identifying leaks, holes, and damages in your home, cleaning bedding, furniture, and household appliances, maintaining proper ventilation, removal of pests, and less usage of chemicals. Be a proactive homeowner and follow these steps to improve the health of your family and home.
