How Healthy is your Home? By Amanda Edney
Our homes can be more polluted than the air outside! We are always being told about the dangers of the nasty chemicals contained in: cleaning products; furniture; fabric finishes; decorating and building materials; air fresheners and so on. Many of these toxins have been linked with childhood asthma and allergies, fatigue, nausea as well as with longer-term health problems. There are lots of other nasties lurking in our homes too – dust mites in carpets; microscopic mould spores, not to mention bed bugs. Oh no…! What can we do?
The good news is that creating a healthier home doesn’t have to be expensive; indeed it can actually save you money! It doesn’t have to difficult either - simple shifts in habits and purchasing decisions can lead to dramatic results, transforming your family’s health and lifestyle.
Here are some things you can do today:
Improve air quality and circulation
Start off by opening windows, even for just a few minutes a day to let in fresh air and get rid of the nasty gases contained in new furniture, furnishings, building/decorating materials etc. Excess moisture and damp areas lead to the growth of harmful moulds, which can cause allergies and asthma. So it is important to use exhaust fans or open windows in kitchens and bathrooms when showering, cooking, or using the dishwasher and to vent clothes dryers to the outside.
Take off your shoes
In many parts of the World it is absolutely forbidden to wear outdoor shoes in the home. And with good reason - we bring in outdoor pollutants, pesticides, and chemicals on our shoes. To encourage members of the household as well as visitors to remove shoes on entering your home, create a shoe storage area and set a good example!
Declutter
Minimize dust build up by eliminating clutter and superfluous window dressings. Invest in some storage boxes – or revamp existing items. Aim to store children’s toys made in plastic in airtight (non-plastic) containers if kept in their bedrooms.
Get cleaning……
Dust mites live in carpets, mattresses, pillows, carpets, fabric-covered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, and stuffed toys. Wash these items frequently in hot water, dry thoroughly and air outside. Cover mattresses and pillows in dust-proof (allergen-impermeable) zippered covers. Fitted carpets attract dust, mould, dust mites and fungus and are best avoided in favour of hard flooring or natural fibre carpeting. If stuck with carpet, at least aim to vacuum frequently (ideally twice a week) using a cleaner with a good filter.
Many common household products contain a cocktail of chemicals harmful both to human health and the environment. These are heavily marketed in terms of ‘power’ and ease of use but in many instances, it is easy to make a simple substitution of an eco product for a chemical one with no appreciable loss of performance. Just as effective, and often cheaper, are home remedies using common and harmless ingredients such as cornstarch, table salt, washing soda, baking soda, vinegar, borax, lemon juice.
…but don’t overdo it!
There is an increased tendency nowadays for people to over-clean, deodorize and bleach their homes, and manufacturers of antibacterial cleaning products have done their part to fuel such anxiety. Exposure to common bacteria has been shown to be an important means of boosting our natural immune systems so a bit of dirt is actually good for the health!
Detox
We all have a choice as to what we bring into our homes. Think carefully about the new items you buy and try to avoid synthetic materials, particularly PVC (and especially in children’s rooms). Aim to avoid putting food in contact with plastic. When the time comes, replace chopping boards with wood, which is naturally antibacterial. Remove pesticides by washing fruit/vegetable and buy organic where possible. Phase out non-stick cookware and aim to eventually replace with clay, stainless steel, ceramic, glass, porcelain or cast iron. Choose not to smoke in your home or car and do not allow others to do so either
Go Vintage or Get Crafty
When things need replacing, make healthy decisions as to what you replace them with. Do you really need to replace with new items? Commercially produced furniture and soft furnishings nowadays contain fire-retardent and stain-resistant coatings –which off-gas nasty toxins in our homes. Perhaps you can revamp some existing furniture or buy interesting items from online auction sites, charity shops or car boot sales etc. Why don’t you take up a craft: make your own soft furnishings; learn re-upholstery; or have a go at furniture restoration – as well as having a new interest, you will have more control over the fabrics (and therefore toxins you bring into the home).
There are some dangers in this World we can do nothing about but we can all choose to make our homes a healthier place to live!
©Amanda Edney 2009