Do you often wake up in the morning feeling sick? Does it go away if you leave the house, or worsen if you stay home all day? Then there’s a good chance that your home could be making you sick.
Keep reading to learn about household toxins and how to get rid of them.
1. HVAC Systems
Your heating and cooling system might be the biggest problem in your home and could be causing you to feel sick. When your air conditioning is running it will often leave small traces of moisture in the air ducts which allow bacteria and mold to grow. This growth can be the leading cause of your asthma, coughing, allergies, and even headaches.
Your respiratory issues aren’t always linked to your home’s HVAC system. However, if you have been experiencing these issues, it is a great place to start looking and see if your air ducts have been contaminated.
To prevent this from being an issue you should have your air ducts cleaned every few years by a professional service. Not only is it better for your health, but your HVAC system will operate more efficiently as well.
2. Your Furniture
Microscopic bugs known as dust mites love to live in your favorite recliner or the mattress you’ve owned for too long. These dust mites thrive in warm and humid areas that are perfectly provided by your body. If you suffer from allergies or have asthma they can cause a reaction that is not only uncomfortable but can also be debilitating long-term.
In order to reduce the number of dust mites you have, you should wash your sheets weekly in hot water, vacuum your carpets, curtains, and furniture often, and dust weekly. If you are particularly sensitive to these tiny bugs you should use a pillow and mattress cover. These make it easy to protect against the dust mites by allowing you to remove and wash the covers often.
3. Bathrooms
Your bathroom is one of the dampest rooms in the house, especially if it doesn’t have a proper ventilation system. This can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew and other bacterias that are harmful to your health. If you don’t have a ventilation fan then you should consider adding a fan if you can, keeping the door cracked when taking a shower, or opening a window to let some of the steam out.
Your bathmat in front of the toilet and bathtub can also be a hotbed of bacterial growth or dust mite activity if you do not wash it routinely. When you get out of the shower or bath and don’t dry off before stepping out, all the water soaks into the mat.
If you also like to sprinkle corn starch on yourself after drying off, all the powder then sprinkles down into your mat. The corn starch is essentially feeding the dust mites and bacteria and creates a breeding ground for them both.
To avoid this, dry yourself off before exiting the shower or bathtub and if you can’t avoid using the corn starch, stand on a towel before sprinkling it on yourself. You can then throw the towel into the washing machine and avoid creating a problem with your bathmat.
4. Cleaning Products
Sometimes even your best intentions can create a harmful environment for your health. Certain cleaning products might be causing the breathing problems, headaches, and eye irritation you have been experiencing at home.
You may not even realize that the products are causing the problem or you might know they are harmful and continue to use them without taking the proper precautions. If you are using harmful cleaners you should be using protective gloves, wear a mask, open windows, or dilute the product when necessary. If you are not following these recommended tips for proper usage you are only making your health problems worse.
In order to avoid the problem altogether, consider using safer alternatives. For instance, water and distilled white vinegar make a great glass cleaner, baking soda is an effective abrasive scrubbing product or just basic soap and water for common household chores. To learn more about safe and effective household cleaners visit safehomecleaningproducts.ca for more information.
5. Your Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is an essential household chore, especially when tackling dirt and dust. What you may not realize however is your vacuum cleaner might be reintroducing some of these allergens back into the air.
To avoid this problem, make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter. These filters will help capture roughly 99% of the dust particles without reintroducing them back into the air. Some brands will claim they are “HEPA-like” and aren’t actually controlling the dust as they should, so be sure it has the real deal.
If you use a cleaning service to tackle these day to day chores, make sure they are also using vacuums with a HEPA filter. Not only will this protect you from the dust and allergens in your own home, but it also keeps your home from being contaminated from the previous homes that were vacuumed using the same machine.
6. Refrigerator
When cleaning out your refrigerator rarely do you think about cleaning the dust and dirt that collects underneath or on the coils on the back of your machine. This dust might get blown back into the air you breathe every time the air compressor kicks on thanks to the warm air that is produced.
Your best bet is to routinely pull your refrigerator out from its home and clean the floor underneath and dust off the coils in the back. Depending on the style of your refrigerator you may need to wear gloves to protect your hands when doing this.
Learn More Today About How to Avoid Common Household Toxins!
These are the most common reasons why household toxins might be making you sick. With some precautions and specialized cleaning, you can start feeling healthier in no time.
For more household tips and information be sure to visit our website daily!