Written by: Tommy
Did you know pollutants don’t just exist outside your home? While it may sound surprising, there are many things in your home that can make you sick.
According to Jeffery May, the popular My House is Killing Me, author, “The whole concept of indoor pollution is pretty new.”
“For a long time, our focus was on what was going on in the environment outside our homes. But in the last decade or so, we’ve realized that the indoor environment can be making you sick.”
Sadly, there are many unseen hazards in your home that can make you and your loved ones sick.
If you or anyone in your family is experiencing constant headaches, breathing issues, or digestive disorders, you may want to have a look around and identify things in your home that are making you sick.
To make things easier, we have decided to jot down a comprehensive list of 10 things in your house that are making you sick.
- Mold and Mildew
Almost every house in the world gets affected by mold or mildew at some stage. It usually grows in the warm and humid areas of your home, such as the bathroom, kitchen, etc.
Mold grows at an alarming rate and quickly multiplies to create a colony that can adversely impact your health.
Notably, all types of mold are irritant to respiratory systems and can cause severe breathing issues if left untreated for a long time. To avoid mold-related health issues, make sure you check your home after 2 to 3 months to spot mold growth on surfaces.
The next thing you need to do is to hire a specialist who can come to your home and help you get rid of mold in a professional manner.
- HVAC Systems
HVAC systems are an integral element of almost all types of modern home decor. But did you know these systems can cause numerous illnesses as well?
HVAC systems leave water traces and moisture in the ducts that promote microbial growth. The microbial growth is one of the culprits that give rise to respiratory and other skin-related issues. Also, it can cause allergies, coughing problems, and headaches.
The solution to this problem is to get your ducts checked and cleaned by the experts on a routine basis. You must also get your HVAC system serviced to make it work smoothly and efficiently.
- Leaky Siding
Most of the siding options we currently have aren’t waterproof. Here, it is crucial to find out the sources of leaks in different types of sidings. For this, you can hire a specialist to inspect your house or can also follow online articles to learn ‘how to identify siding leakage in your home’.
Once you know about the exact source of leakage, you can easily fix it using a siding nailer, or can also hire a siding specialist to fix it for you.
- Your Living Area
The living room is one of the high-traffic zones in your home. Most of us snack there, have parties and play with our pets there. Above all, we use (almost every family member) lots of remote controls there to control different entertainment systems installed in that area.
Everyone coming inside with dirty shoes can also cause contamination issues. So what can you do to prevent these issues? Take time to disinfect remote controls and other hard surfaces with a good-quality and chemical-free disinfectant spray.
Also, provide all family members and other house visitors with a pair of shoe covers that they can put on to prevent the tracking of outside germs and bacteria inside your home.
- The Refrigerator
Today, the majority of households have frost-free fridges that also include an electronic coil and a tray under it. If the pan under it is filled with dust, your fridge will blow that dust inside your home.
Present-day refrigerators may not include a tray underneath, so just ensure you brush off the dust from the coils regularly. Check your manufacturer’s instruction manual carefully and follow the cleaning instructions as directed.
- Your Bathroom
If there is one space in your home that is mostly affected by humidity, grease, body soil, and chemicals, it’s your bathroom.
Inadequate cleaning and frequent handwashing leave bacteria that cause different types of viruses, including E.coli. The shared use of towels and soaps also causes cross-contamination.
- The Vacuum Cleaner
Surprisingly, the vacuum cleaner you’re using to clean your home can throw all the dust back to the air.
To avoid this, make sure you invest in a vacuum cleaner that comes with a HEPA filter. What HEPA filters do is it filters out up to 99% of the air particulates and keeps your surroundings pure and safe.
- Cleaning Chemicals
The next thing on our list is chemical cleaners that can be caustic to the skin and may also cause breathing issues. Combining some chemicals together can also diffuse toxic fumes that can significantly impact your mental and physical health.
- Indoor Leaks
Unseen leaks inside your basement, attic, and pipes may also promote the growth of mold and mildew in your home. Mold can be problematic for individuals with respiratory allergies and asthma.
Make sure you check pipes, roof, and basement to ensure all is dry. You may also consult a contractor to identify leaks for you and also propose the best possible solutions.
- Carpet
Gone are the days when carpets were believed to be a home decor item. Today, most interior designers and homeowners consider it a dust and bacteria magnet.
Hardwood or vinyl flooring could be a better solution. Even if you have wall-to-wall carpets in your home, just ensure you vacuum them regularly with a HEPA-filter-supported vacuum cleaner.
There you have them. Try to use more and more organic and natural products to clean your house and carpets. Disinfect surfaces every now and then and get your home’s sidings and attic inspected by a professional contractor every 3 to 4 months.
We hope these tips will help you make your house the healthiest and safest place on the Earth for you and your loved ones.
