How to Make Your Home a Healthier Place to Live
There are many toxins and impurities in the average home. These unwelcome intruders may be leading you to live an unhealthy lifestyle without even being aware of it. Fortunately, it can be fairly easy to transform your home into one that is not only healthier for you, but also the environment.
Make Your Own Cleaners
Making your own cleaners will definitely save you a lot of money. It will also help to lessen the dangerous chemicals you are unknowingly distributing throughout your house. The following all-purpose spray can be used on just about any surface in your home. You will need 2 tablespoons of baking soda, one quart of warm water, and a clean spray bottle. Put all the ingredients in the bottle and mix it up.
Remove the Dust
We all know that dust can aggravate allergies, but are you aware that the dust in your house is full of dangerous chemicals? One extreme way to cut the dust in your house is to remove all your carpeting and replace it with a more eco-friendly floor, like bamboo or cork. If replacing your floor isn't an option, try to vacuum at least every other day. It is also important to remember to vacuum the edges of the carpet and your furniture. You should clean your vacuum and filter at least once a week.
Purify the Air You Breathe
One of the best and cheapest ways to purify the air you breathe is to simply have house plants. If you were to put fifteen plants in your house, they would remove the toxins from the air within 24 hours. So next time you reach for a can of air freshener, put it in the trash and go buy a fern or African violet. These plants are completely non-toxic and not only freshen the air but give your home a little color, too.
Check You Detectors
Everyone has a smoke detector in their house, but have you tested it lately? It is also important to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can be deadly. It can be emitted, through the air, from your furnace, water heater, or stove. You should have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor in your house. You should test your detectors at least twice a year and replace the batteries at least once a year.
Eat Organic
By eating organic foods you are less likely to ingest harmful pesticides. Buying organic foods also helps to protect the environment. The best way to ensure you know what you are putting in your body is to plant your own garden. If you don't have a "green thumb" you can always support your local farmers market.
Wash Your Hands
This is probably the simplest thing you can do to make your home healthy. Washing your hands as soon as you enter your house will greatly reduce the number of toxins that can be brought in from the outside. It is also a great way to reduce the germs on the surfaces around the house. You should wash your hands for at least twenty seconds with hot water and soap.
Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes about insurance and other topics for the Homeowners Insurance Blog.
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