Your home is your oasis. It’s where you entertain friends, make memories and put your feet up after a long day. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your home is as healthy as possible.
How can you create a space that promotes health while allowing you to enjoy your life?
1. Vacuum Frequently
Dust and dirt aggravate allergies, and may contain hazardous chemicals, like fire retardants, pesticides and lead.
If you have pets, dust and dirt can be an even bigger problem.
Vacuuming frequently can help keep dust under control. Aim to vacuum your floors at least twice per week – more if you have pets. Make sure that your vacuum has a strong HEPA filter, and make sure that you clean the bag and filter each time you vacuum.
If your budget allows, you might consider replacing your carpet with hardwood floors, non-vinyl linoleum, cork or tile.
2. Invest in an Air Purifier
The cleaner the air, the healthier the space. Vacuuming can help get rid of dust and dirt, but there may still be contaminants in the air that your vacuum can’t pick up. That’s where an air purifier comes in.
Air purifiers remove airborne pollutants using a HEPA filter. These machines pull air through the filter, which traps particles.
The end result? Cleaner, fresher air – and hopefully, fewer allergy symptoms.
3. Ditch the Scented Candles and Switch to Soy
Scented candles can make your home feel more inviting and comfortable, but the synthetic fragrances used can also harm your health.
Parrafin wax candles, which are petroleum-based, can also emit chemicals that may do more harm than good. These chemicals can lead to health issues, like allergies, asthma and cancer.
Soy and other vegetable-based candles do not produce these harmful chemicals, so make the switch if you enjoy lighting candles in your home.
4. Have Your HVAC System Inspected
A home’s heating and cooling system should be inspected once per year. If your system isn’t working properly or is inefficient, it may negatively affect the quality of the air in your home.
“Keeping your HVAC systems in good working condition can reduce your utility bills and make your home much more comfortable,” says Marv’s Plumbing and Heating.
Along with having your HVAC system inspected, you should also make sure that you change out your system’s filter every 1-3 months. Replacing the filter ensures that your system is circulating clean air back into your home and properly catching dirt, dust and debris.
5. Filter Your Tap Water
Whether you have city or well water, it’s important to filter your drinking water. Filtered water is also more environmentally-friendly than choosing bottled water. In fact, bottled water may be no better than your regular tap water.
The Environmental Working Group tested 10 of the best-selling brands of bottled water and found mixtures of 38 contaminants, including fertilizer, bacteria and industrial chemicals.
A simple pitcher filter should suffice, but you can also invest in a system that attaches to your plumbing system or faucet.