Tips for Making Your Home as Healthy As Possible

You probably pay a lot of attention to the way your home looks and how comfortable it feels. But when is the last time you considered whether or not your home is a healthy environment? Even if you are diligent about cleaning and tidying, there are many tasks people frequently overlook that can have an impact on your family’s health. Read on for some tips on making your home as healthy as possible, since a healthy home is a happy home.

Filter Your Water

The water you drink, cook with, wash dishes with, and bathe in should be clean, safe, and free of contaminants that can make you and your family sick. Unfortunately, about 85 percent of American households have hard water, which is water that’s high in minerals like calcium and magnesium. Hard water leads to discoloration in sinks and bathtubs, mineral deposits on faucets, spots or streaks on dishes, damage to clothes after washing, and dry skin and hair. Additionally, municipal drinking water is treated with chlorine and chloramine to kill bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants, and these chemicals can affect the taste of your drinking water. Installing a water filtration device in your home, such as the Brita under sink filter system, provides you with clean, contaminant-free water that tastes great, is safe to consume, and won’t damage your appliances or clothing.

Change Air Filters Regularly

If your home has a central heating and air conditioning system, it is very important that you change the air filter frequently. Not only will a clogged air filter cause your HVAC system to work harder and eventually fail, but these filters also trap dust, pet dander, pollen, pollutants, and even mold and fungus that you definitely don’t want to circulate through your home! Breathing in these particles from a dirty air filter can contribute to allergies, asthma, and other respiratory issues. It is generally recommended to change your HVAC air filter every one to two months. Other items with air filters that need to be changed include humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and window air conditioning units. While you’re at it, make sure you’re regularly cleaning or replacing vacuum filters and kitchen exhaust grease filters too.

Disinfect Frequently Touched Items

You’d be surprised—or perhaps horrified—to learn that many household items harbor more germs and bacteria than a toilet seat. Some of these shockingly dirty objects include TV remote controls, door and cabinet handles, refrigerator drawers, children’s toys, pet food and water bowls, and faucets. These items tend to be touched frequently by multiple members of your household, and not always with clean hands. As a result, illness-causing germs and bacteria accumulate quickly. To keep yourself and your family healthy, disinfect these items at least once a month with antibacterial wipes or cleaning solution, and always sanitize frequently touched items after someone in your household has been sick to avoid spreading germs to other family members. Some household items may need to be sanitized more often; the worst culprit may be your kitchen sponge, which can be home to over 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat! You should sanitize your sponge at least once a week by microwaving it for 30 seconds, running it through the dishwasher’s heated dry cycle, or soaking it in a vinegar and bleach solution. Even with frequent sanitizing, you should still replace your kitchen sponge every two to three weeks.

Monitor Humidity Levels

Moist, humid environments are breeding grounds for some of the most common allergens, such as mold, mildew, and dust mites. Dark and poorly ventilated areas in your home that are prone to high humidity levels include basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms – especially if you already live in a humid climate. Placing dehumidifiers in rooms like these is a simple way to make your home healthier and reduce your likelihood of experiencing issues like coughing, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, rashes, and more. Plus, mold and mildew also cause property damage and unpleasant odors, so a dehumidifier can prevent these problems as well.

On the other hand, some homes or certain areas of your home might benefit from increased humidity levels. If you live in a dry climate or have a central heating system that pumps out dry air in the winter, a humidifier can be a helpful addition to your home. Breathing in dry air contributes to health issues including dehydration, dry and itchy skin, throat irritation, bloody noses, chapped or cracked lips, and more. A humidifier is also a good item to own if you or someone in your household gets sick, as it can help alleviate symptoms of a cold or respiratory infection.