How To Make Your Home Even Healthier
Many people have resolutions about getting heathier. Whether or not that’s you, here are some tips to make sure your home is as healthy as possible in the new year.
1. Look at your indoor air quality
Did you know there are pollutants in your home that you can’t even see? It’s no wonder that air cleaning and purification is needed to make sure we have the highest quality indoor air.
While an air cleaner filters your air (such as your dust and dander), an air purifier works to sanitize the air in your home. Based on the size of the pollutants, we will also look at whether you need whole-house or partial-house options, and whether or not multi-stage cleaning will help your air quality improve. No house is the same, so it helps to have a professional take a look at your best and most effective options.
2. Make sure there are no sources of lead
Although many are well aware, for homes that were built before 1978, there is a risk of lead paint being present in the home. If you haven’t already, have your home tested for lead paint or signs of lead paint.
3. Get fresh and clean out your pantry
For homes that have a large pantry, stale or old food can easily happen. Take the time to thoroughly clean out your pantry. It’s a great way to make sure you have no stale or spoiled food, and you can make sure you have foot that aligns with what you want your family to be snacking on in the new year (1)!
4. Change your air filters
Recall that filters were built into HVAC systems to keep the moving parts of the furnace free of dust and debris. Today, air filters are primarily used to improve the quality of the air that flows through your home.
Air filters, surprisingly, are the top way to eliminate mold, pollen, spores and other contaminants throughout your home. Good air filters keep your home cleaner and they keep you and your family healthier.
The cleaner your air filters, the more particles they catch—so the better they work to keep your family healthy! Also remember that the cleaner the air filter, the more efficiently the HVAC system runs in your home. That, in turn, saves you energy costs as well as improves your air quality.
5. Build a garden
When the time comes, consider building your very own garden as a family. Gardening itself is great physical activity. It’s also something that the entire family can join in on, and it helps to get kids thinking about the benefits of home-grown, nutritious, all natural vegetables and fruits. Be sure to stay safe by setting up some rules, wearing proper equipment like hats and study shoes and start off slow, if needed (1, 2).
6. Look at the cleaners you’re using
When was the last time you looked at the chemicals in some of the cleaners you have in your home (or even in your garage)? Unfortunately, we now know that many household chemicals can be harmful to your family. When used as intended, the risk is lower, but just be sure that kids don’t have easy access to something that could harm them!
When possible, aim to use good, old fashioned soap and water or essential oils, home-made cleaners or cleaning products that are transparent about using naturally-derived and/or biodegradable, non-toxic ingredients.
7. Wash your hands
Of course you are washing your hands after using the bathroom or other key times like before you cook. But especially during the winter, take the time out of your day to be intentional about washing your hands.
It may sound like something you’re already doing, but many people—especially this time of year—end up touching their eyes, ears and nose more than normal. Those areas are where germs get into our body, and then make us sick (3).
Germs from your unwashed hands can even spread to things like toys, tables, handrails, or other areas in the home that can then make others in the family sick—even if you yourself didn’t get sick from the germs (3).
Keep Your Home as Healthy As Possible
Did you know that as many as three in ten people have some sort of allergic reaction to cats and dogs (2)? If that’s not motivation to follow these recommended steps, they we don’t know what is! Give the HVAC experts at GC Home Services a call today at 859-491-4915 to learn more about the steps you can take to improve your air quality today.
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