A tidy, spotless home interior might look Instagram-worthy. But squeaky clean floors, counters, and furniture don’t guarantee you’re living in a healthy space. Fostering home health takes a more holistic approach.
See, there’s a whole hidden ecosystem inside your walls constantly interacting with you and your family. You should peel back the not-so-pretty layers.
Indoor Air Quality Matters
Here’s something you’d likely never think about – the air circulating inside your home can be 5+ times more polluted than outdoors. Yuck! Between trapped allergens, chemicals from products, humid air, and poor ventilation, it’s no wonder many people constantly battle congestion, headaches, fatigue, and sinus infections inside their own 4 walls.
But don’t panic and sell your place just yet! With some diligent maintenance to freshen things up, you can create cleaner indoor air for you and your family to breathe easily.
Control Moisture Buildup
Did you know the EPA highlights moisture control and ventilation as two of the most vital practices for maintaining a healthy home?
Too much humidity lets mold and mildew grow like crazy in unseen attic spaces, inside walls, or under sinks and tubs. Their spores then continually circulate through your home impacting air quality and health.
Here are some simple ways to curb excess moisture:
- Run bathroom fans for 30 minutes after showering and let the area fully dry out.
- Make sure dryer vents lead outside, not just into the attic or garage.
- Use dehumidifiers to regulate moisture, especially in basements or humid climates.
- Ensure bathroom caulking and sink/tub seals are crack-free so water doesn’t sneak into crevices.
- Upgrade to a whole home dehumidification system if humidity is a constant battle.
Maintaining moisture levels under 50% makes it far less hospitable for mold intrusions.
If you ever notice actual mold growth, contact a professional mold remediation company like https://fine-restoration.com/mold-remediation/ to fully handle the issue using EPA guidelines. Don’t try tackling it alone without proper protocols.
Filter Out Allergens
Dust and pet dander are two other big contributors to poor indoor air beyond just mold spores. A quality HEPA air purifier captures a large percentage of airborne allergens and particles circulating 24/7 inside your home.
Place them high traffic areas like the bedroom and family room so they continually filter and refresh the air you breathe most often. This also benefits family members battling allergies and asthma by reducing triggers.
Also remember to change out HVAC filters every 60-90 days depending on type for optimal performance. Dust will accumulate quickly otherwise, then just blast right back through your vents!
Ventilate Properly
Ever notice how stuffy a home feels when all doors and windows stay shut up tight? Proper ventilation helps prevent that “stale air” feeling that leaves you drained.
Make a habit of cracking windows and running fans even during colder months. And upgrade to Energy Star bathroom fans with higher cfm ratings that fully exhaust lingering humidity.
Smart thermostats like Nest now even have auto ventilation reminders to periodically run your HVAC fan for improved circulation.
Test Home Toxins
Harmful gases like radon, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds might lurk unseen. But inexpensive home test kits from hardware stores allow you to easily screen levels yourself.
Radon, an odorless radioactive gas from underground rock, is the #2 cause of lung cancer behind smoking, according to the EPA. It invades through foundations and can accumulate to dangerous levels inside home environments.
Carbon monoxide is released by gas furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, and vehicles. At high concentrations it also poses serious health risks if allowed to linger indoors.
Confirm your home measurements fall within recommended safety ranges, or call for professional mitigation services if needed.
Declutter + Deep Clean
Let’s circle back to straight up cleaning and maintenance best practices. Tackling clutter and cobwebs on a routine basis curbs obvious dirt/dust buildup and keeps your home running smoothly.
- Clear out piles of stuff crowding counters, closets, and storage areas. Clutter just collects more dust! Do regular passes to donate or trash unneeded items.
- Do a yearly deep clean behind and under appliances/furniture that rarely moves. Surfaces we forget about get wicked dusty!
- Freshen carpets and upholstered furniture with periodic deep steam cleans (or at least a good vacuuming!). Pet beds too if applicable. All those fabric fibers trap everything.
- Wash bedding, including mattress covers, every 2 weeks religiously. We shed skin flakes and bodily oils overnight as we sleep.
As for home cleaning products, stick to simple soap/water, vinegar mixes, or essential oil blends whenever possible. No need for intense chemical cleaners in most circumstances. Go the non-toxic route!
Wrap-up
Creating a truly healthy home requires more effort than just weekly dust bunny patrol and running the Swiffer over floors. But putting in work to monitor indoor air quality, humidity, and toxins will serve your family well for years to come.
