How to Create a Healthy Home
A healthy environment or surroundings is essential to good health. Good health should be a priority for everyone. Keeping a healthy environment or surroundings has to be a part of the plan. There are things that you can do in your home starting right now that will improve the health of the environment that you are living in. Follow these steps to create a healthy environment or surroundings in your home.
Start With Deep Cleaning
A healthy environment or surroundings is a clean environment or surroundings. You may be a top-notch housekeeper. Your home may appear on the surface to be immaculate, but the fact is, there are hidden dangers in your home if you are not deep cleaning your home. For example, professional air ducts cleaning services are not on your annual maintenance list.
Most people will clean what they can see. Your air ducts are the channels that all the heating and cooling in your home travel through and are often neglected. Professional air duct cleaning services remove dirt, debris, animal dander, and other contaminants from your air ducts. It is very important if you have any allergy sufferers in your home that you subscribe to this type of service every year. Air duct cleaning can improve the health of your indoor air and reduce the number of allergens in your home.
Other deep cleaning home maintenance services include septic pumping and cleaning. It is estimated by the EPA, that about 45% of American households depend on a septic system to manage their household waste. If you do then you should have your tank pumped and cleaned every three years. The system will be inspected by the service technician at the same time to ensure that your system is working as it should.
Private sewers are a great waste solution for people that live too far off to tie into municipal sewers, but it is essential that these systems are cleaned and cared for. A failing system can be a huge health hazard.
Have Your Water Tested
A healthy environment or surroundings for your family does not end where the walls of your home end. What happens outside your door can affect the health of your indoor environment. If you have well water, it is important that you have your water tested annually. Contaminants can seep into groundwater from as far as forty miles away.
Typically, a well water service company can test your well water or you can bring a sample to the local health department in your county. Contaminants in drinking water have been associated with everything from causing developmental delays in children to causing cancer. It is important that you know what is in your water.
Better yet, consider having a whole home water filtration system installed. You can do the same for your business and create a healthy environment or surroundings for your employees. Connect with a commercial plumbing company for your business that specializes in water filtration systems. For your home, connect with a residential plumbing company that has water filtration solutions.
Having a water filtration system in place will help you have peace of mind. You can rest assured that your water is clean, fresh, and free of harmful contaminants.
Consider Fire Safety
Reducing risks is another way to create a healthy environment or surroundings. Fire damage and injury are risks that you can control by taking some steps. Commercial properties have to go through a regular fire inspection annually. You can do the same thing for your home.
There are companies that will come out and inspect your property for fire threats, then make suggestions about how you can reduce those fire threats. For example, they may suggest that you move propane tanks that are located near your outdoor fire pit. They may suggest that you invest in fire control equipment like fire extinguishers.
A healthy environment or surroundings sometimes takes a team effort. Partnering with fire prevention services can help you to take the necessary precautions to better protect your family.
Reduce Safety Risks
A healthy environment or surroundings is an environment that is designed to offset safety risks. Slip and fall accidents are common in and around the home. If you can take steps to prevent these types of accidents in your home, you should. For example, the garage can be a dangerous place because most garages have unfinished concrete floors. They can become very slippery when wet. They also can absorb chemicals that may get tracked into the home.
Epoxy floor coating can be a great solution for garage floors and other slick surface floors in your home. Epoxy coating can have additives put in that help to increase floor traction. These types of floors are easier to clean and can help to reduce the amount of dust that gets into your home. Concrete affluent (dust) is a white powdery substance that comes off of concrete during normal use. Epoxy coatings put an end to that problem.
You also should use rug grippers (underlayment) on area rugs to ensure that they stay put. Keep stairs and walkways clear, and install handrails in tubs and showers. It can be easy to avoid injuries in your home if you take the time for some preventive measures.
Chemical Cleaners
Creating a healthy environment or surroundings can mean changing what you use to clean the areas around your home. We now know that chemical cleaners can be dangerous to our health. They leave a residue behind. Some people are hyper-sensitive to chemical cleaners. It is always best to err on the side of caution and use natural methods to clean.
Typically any surface can be cleaned with a simple soap and water solution and a damp rag. Other cleaners that you can create on your own or buy cleaners containing white vinegar, citrus oils, baking soda, and plain soaps.
You may have to use a little more elbow grease when using gentler cleaners, but you will not have to worry about exposing children and pets to harmful chemicals. Cleaners with heavy perfumes can also be an allergy trigger for many people. Keeping the use of chemicals to a minimum is a better way to create a healthy environment or surroundings.
Pest Control is a Must
Insects and rodents are more than an annoyance, they are a threat to your family’s health. Creating a healthy environment or surroundings means working to rid your home of uninvited guests. For some people, it is not just contending with insects and rodents, they have larger animals in their home. Bats and raccoons are some of the most common larger mammals that invade someone’s home. Animal removal services can help you to rid your home of these unwanted animals that have taken up residence in your home.
Pests and other animals that are not supposed to be in your home can be disease carriers. They can carry a wide range of infectious diseases like rabies, salmonella, and other communicable diseases. They can also bring parasites into your home. They carry fleas and ticks which can also infest your home, and pets and even bite humans in the house.
It is important to control pests like mosquitos. They can be vectors for diseases. A good pest control company can help you to rid your home of unwanted animals and other pests. Think of pest control as a necessary protection for your family.
A Healthy Environment Is One That Is Focused On Conservation
Growing your own food is a great way to save money as long as you keep in mind how important it is to make eco-friendly choices. For example, consider having a residential garden irrigation system installed in your garden to keep water use down and ensure the success of your garden. Taking this simple step is a great way to have a guilt-free garden.
Growing your own food is a great way to ensure that your family is getting the nutrition that they need. Making it more convenient to grow your own food will ensure that you stick with the process. The easier it is to garden the more likely you will enjoy it. Investing in the right tools is also strongly suggested.
Focus on growing organically. That means not using pesticides or other chemicals. Organically grown fruits and vegetables are safer for you and your family. Choose vegetables that grow well in your region. Make it easier for yourself to find success with your garden. Gardening is also a great stress reliever.
Create a Stress Free Zone
Whether you are trying to create a healthy environment or surroundings, it is important that you acknowledge that sometimes stress can get the best of anyone. Having an area dedicated as a stress-free zone can help create a healthier environment in your home. Creating this type of zone away from the hub of the house can be a great way to give everyone in your family a place to rest without interruption.
It does not have to be an elaborate space, it can be as simple as a reading nook in a hallway. It should be a screen-free zone where phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronics are not allowed. It is a space where anyone in the house can go and sit and regroup for a while. Make sure everyone knows that if someone is in the stress-free zone then they have to wait to ask questions or address issues.
Studies have indicated having a space to meditate even for five minutes a day can change perspectives and reduce stress. A calm space among the chaos is a great way to improve the health of the environment in your home.
Televisions In The Bedroom
A lot of people enjoy having a television in the bedroom. They also enjoy using their tablet or phone while lounging in bed before bedtime. However, while it may be enjoyable, recent studies have shown that you should limit blue screen exposure to an hour before sleeping.
We live in a world where there is a bombardment of information all day every day. It is best to read something you enjoy before sleeping instead of watching television or getting on a device. The same is true for children. Having a television in a child’s bedroom can be a huge distraction for the child.
You can create a healthier sleeping environment for everyone by banning electronics from the bedroom. It can be hard at first to give up your electronics, but in a week’s time, you will be sleeping much better than ever and be glad you did.
Speaking of sleep, one of the biggest complaints in America is that people feel like they are not getting enough sleep. The fact is, you are likely not getting enough sleep. Creating a healthy environment or surroundings in your bedroom can actually improve the quality of sleep you are getting. Lower your thermostat at night, use a humidifier during the winter, and a dehumidifier in the summer, and see if it improves your sleep. Hang room darkening curtains to keep out the light. Do the same in your children’s bedrooms and test the theory that you can get better sleep if you are in the right environment.
There are a lot of small things you can do to improve the health of the environment in your home. Sometimes we get sidetracked and forget how important it is to be diligent about keeping our home environment and surroundings healthy. It is never too late to reboot and start making changes. Learn more ways to improve the health of your home environment to improve your family’s health.