If you plan to live a life of fitness, it’s not enough that you only exercise. There’s a major part of your life that you might not realize is affecting your health—your home. If you want to be healthy, you have to ensure that your home is more refreshing. Here’s how:
Have a workout area or gym.
It’s always a good idea to have a specific area in your home where you can work out. A place where it’s okay for you to sweat. If your home is carpeted, you do not want to be working out inside your home. Exercise may result in tons of sweating, and if you get a lot of sweat on your carpets, it can become an excellent breeding ground for germs.
It’s better that you find a place that is concrete, maybe your driveway or your deck. If you do have a concrete deck you should have a waterproof coating on your deck. That’ll protect it from getting damaged easily and also prevent you from slipping when you work out.
Install a HEPA filter in your HVAC system.
Having good indoor air quality (IAQ) is what a healthy home is all about. To get better IAQ, you best install a HEPA filter into your HVAC system. A HEPA filter can remove 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, and even bacteria. Any airborne particle with at least 0.3 microns (µm) will be caught by a HEPA filter. Your vacuum should also have a HEPA filter, and make sure to vacuum at least once a week. That way, your house will be dust, mold, and bacteria-free and have excellent indoor air quality.
Ditch chemical cleaning solutions.
Using too many harsh chemical cleaning solutions can be bad for your health. Instead of using chemical cleaners, go for natural and organic ways of cleaning. Stick with the lemon and baking soda trick. It works just as well and gives your home an even more refreshing smell. You won’t have to experience getting headaches from that strong chemical smell anymore.
Switch out your paint.
How safe do you think your paint is? If your paint has lead in it, this can be a health hazard, especially if it starts to chip. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to lead paint. Absorption of lead into their bodies can lead to learning disabilities and behavioral problems in children. If you want to know whether there’s lead in your paint, you can get it tested. If it does, you should find a pigment that is lead-free or no-VOC.
Ensure proper ventilation.
Is your house properly ventilated? Do you have a vent in your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry area? If you answered no, chances are your home isn’t properly ventilated. These areas must always have proper ventilation. Improper ventilation can lead to indoor air pollution, which is just as bad as outdoor air pollution. If you can’t afford to get vents installed at the moment, make sure to open a window every time you cook, take a bath, or do the laundry.
Place dehumidifiers in areas that need them.
Dehumidifiers have plenty of benefits. It can lessen the allergens in your home and help those with asthma. It also prevents mold from growing in your home. Dehumidifiers should be placed where mold is most likely to increase. That includes your basement, behind your closets or inside your closets, the laundry room, and the kitchen.
Buy plants.
Plants aren’t only aesthetically pleasing and trendy. They also provide plenty of benefits for our physical and mental health. In terms of physical health, NASA conducted a study on how well plants can absorb air pollutants and organic chemicals. It turns out they do an excellent job in giving us better indoor air quality. Health experts have also reported that being surrounded by plants can improve mental health, especially when it comes to easing anxiety.
Increase natural light.
Being at home all the time during the lockdown is keeping us away from the sun. This is bad because we need the sun for vitamin D. And experts say we need to be exposed to the sun for 10 to 15 minutes, around 10 am to 3 pm, to get the most vitamin D. Not only that, but being exposed to the sun can also help increase our levels of serotonin. Also known as one of the chemicals responsible for making us happy.
Get rid of toxic furniture.
Did you know that toxins can be hiding in your furniture? Some furniture, especially sofas, could be made with flame retardants. If you want to make sure that you aren’t buying toxic furniture, search for eco-friendly companies and purchase furniture from them.
If you want to be healthier, make sure your home is healthy too. You could be working out tons, but things in your home may still be affecting your health. If you want to live a healthier and safer life, not just for you but for your family as well, make sure to try out these suggestions.
