We spend a great deal of time in our homes so we really need it to be a safe and healthy environment, especially as there are so many links between health issues and housing. A healthy home, or any communal area, should be free of allergens, pests, contaminants and other hazardous concerns to ensure you improve the health of everyone concerned. There are many ways to create a healthy home environment and these include regular maintenance, a few changes and some basic principles to follow.
Clean it up
This may sound the most obvious approach to having a healthy home but more commonly, people do a basic clean up without going deep into the corners and crevices of each room. Plus, as soon as you’ve given your home a thorough clean, it’s much easier to keep it that way. Having dirty areas can attract pests such as mice, bedbugs or cockroaches into your home as they’ll come inside to feed and take shelter. Making sure your home is clean will also limit the exposure to allergens and contaminants that can cause skin and breathing problems.
Keep it ventilated
If you keep your home well ventilated, you’re reducing the risk of encouraging hazards in the air and keeping them there. Regularly open up your windows so that you allow the air to move around to rid your home of air borne threats and dust any air vents so they’re functioning properly. Similarly, make sure there are no wet patches around your home, either from an unnoticed leak or from condensation, as this can cause eczema, athlete’s foot and other skin problems due to mold or damp.
Be safe
Many of us have accidents in the home but some of these can be prevented through ensuring these risks are not present in the first place. For example, potentially dangerous chemicals, from cleaning products to pesticides, are kept in most households and, if not kept safe, can cause a range of health problems. An alternative is to switch to green, natural products when possible so you can reduce the effects from chemical induced accidents as they won’t contain chlorine or ammonia.
These core principles can also be applied to any communal area such as an office or shop environment. It all relies on you to inspect and repair on a regular basis so you can look for safety hazards and prevent health issues simultaneously.