There aren’t many people who wouldn’t give their eyeteeth to be healthy for as long as is possible in life. Everyone has health issues at some time, from the accidental breaking of a limb, to a bout of flu, or to a condition that needs to be managed over a number of years.
Accidents happen, of course, and sometimes it’s tricky to avoid the germs flying around in the workplace or in public spaces, including public transport.
However, there are times when it can be the home environment that is not as healthy as you might think. Luckily, there are plenty of things that you can do to address any potential health issues that your home could cause. Most of these are very simple and can be achieved either at no cost or by spending a little to help you get the right environment to prevent possible issues.
Start with the cleaning
It has been said that if you try to eradicate every single germ in your home, you’ll never do it. Sometimes, exposure to germs can be useful, especially for children, to help build up the immune system. However, as everyone will be exposed to germs in the outside environment, having a completely sterile home won’t help.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t clean. Good basic hygiene removes a lot of potentially harmful bacteria and helps keep the home fresh and a pleasant environment to live in. Get into those little corners where dirt can easily build up and regularly clean down surfaces. You don’t have to use powerful chemicals all the time. Sometimes, just a swift mop with a damp cloth to remove dust will do the job.
Vacuum carpets regularly to prevent bugs from colonizing them, and wash wooden floors regularly, taking up the dirt and giving a pleasing freshness and smell to rooms.
If you find mold anywhere, deal with it immediately, and then find out the reason for it being there. It can often be due to dampness or simple neglect, so it needs to be sorted. If left, spores can be produced and, if they become airborne, can be ingested through breathing without you knowing and possibly cause health problems down the line.
Keep your rooms well aired
Stuffy, cold and damp rooms are unpleasant to live in and increase the presence of mold, bacteria, and pests like silverfish. This means you’ll need to clean the space more regularly and buy silverfish control to limit pest infestation. If you find any water-damaged sections of a wall that could have come through condensation or a malfunctioning part of the damp proof course, get it seen to straight away. Dampness is another potential breeding ground for bacteria, so the problem needs to be resolved quickly.
Air mostly comes in through your windows and other ventilation units, so you should consider the best way of allowing it in. Curtains and blinds may not be the best way of allowing a free flow of air, so you could consider wooden shutters to give you more control of how much air, and also light, you let in.
Shutters give you a lot of control, and when you have ones with slats that can be opened and closed, you get additional control for your rooms. They can be made to fit any shape or size of windows, so you can go for bay window shutters if that’s the type of window you have, or straight up and down shutters for more conventional windows. Cleaning shutters is easy as they just need to be wiped down from time to time with a damp cloth to prevent buildup of dirt and dust.
Add some green touches
Plants are ideal for removing toxins from the air and helping to purify it. As well as looking attractive and giving a real lift and freshness to rooms, they can help to provide a healthier environment for you in the home. Plants give you a connection to nature, and when your air quality is improved, you may find that your stress levels are reduced, you recuperate more quickly from health problems, and your energy levels increase. You may also find that you sleep better when you have a better quality of air, and you also have the added pleasure of looking at and enjoying a range of attractive plants.
Be creative
Your health is too important to be left to chance, so look at creative ways to improve your home so that it can provide a secure and comfortable place to relax in before you once again head back to the hurry-scurry of the outside world.