Your home is your castle. You decide, possibly together with
family members, what to make of it. Outside our home we have
limited opportunities to improve the environment, but in our
home we can do a lot.
At home we want to feel free, relax and do things that we
like. We want to eat, sleep, exercise, maybe work, and
socialize with friends and family. We spend many hours at
home. Naturally, we want our home to be as comfortable and
healthy as possible.
What surroundings make you happy? What things do you like to
have around you? Feeling good at home is a matter of
physical as well as mental and social well-being. Look
around you and think about what changes can be made in your
home environment. Start with something small, one step at a
time. Make a small change every day, and after a week the
difference will be considerable.
Your home – a place for personal growth and well-being
Your home should be a refuge where you can hide from the
rest of the world and find strength to go on with life. Why
not follow these ten steps:
1. Put away things that you don’t need. Too many things
disturb the eye and make it hard to relax. Only surround
yourself with things that you need or things that will
enrich your life.
2. Stick to a few colours – two or three – for each room,
instead of mixing many different colours. This will help you
create a calm and balanced atmosphere.
3. Make sure you have good ventilation. Leave doors between
rooms open for better air circulation, and open windows when
possible.
4. Don’t smoke in your home. Ask your visitors to smoke
outside.
5. Choose area rugs instead of carpets when possible.
6. Use cleaning products with low-toxic content.
7. Choose furniture and fittings made of non-toxic
materials.
8. Make sure your sleeping place is comfortable and healthy.
The pillow is important. Do you often wake up with a
headache? You might need a new pillow.
9. Make your kitchen table as pleasant and welcoming as
possible. When you sit down to eat you must be able to relax
and enjoy your meal. Are there papers or magazines on the
table? Too many different colours? Keep it simple and
clean.
10. Buy some new flowers for your home. Decorate your home
with candle lights. Small simple things like these will
influence your well-being.
By: Ingela Berger
Posts Tagged ‘Carpets’
A Healthy Home
May 28th, 2010Keeping Your Home Safe and Allergy Free
May 5th, 2010
Dangerous gases can build up in a home, and newer homes, with modern and almost airtight sealing, are even more prone to this danger. Radon is one of these gases.
It is a radioactive gas that is the product of uranium decaying. Uranium exists in small amount in many soils. A small amount of radon is harmless, but too much can be dangerous.
Radon can be measured, especially in the basement with an inexpensive device that is designed for this purpose, to make sure the levels are not too high. If the levels are too high, a professional will have to be consulted. The EPA considers 4 picocuries or over a level where action needs to be taken.
If you are planning a basement remodelling, make sure you have adequate venting to avoid buildup of this gas. If you do have radon, small amounts won’t harm anyone, unless is it over a prolonged period.
Other gases that can be harmful are carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. These are produced when a gas stove is not ventilated well, or when appliances such as gas dryers and water heaters have not been properly installed. Wood stoves are also a source of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.
If you are putting in any such appliances, be sure to carefully follow the directions. Keep all of the ducts clean and make sure the connections are tight.
There are detection devices for NO2 and CO, just as there are for radon.
In addition to gases, some common elements in the home can also be dangerous to our health. Dust is a major culprit.
If you a buying a new vacuum, get one with a HEPA filter. If you are doing a renovation, you will surely kick up a lot of dust if you are replacing cabinets, tearing up carpets or tearing down walls. Vacuum frequently during the project to keep the dust levels down.
Dust mites are responsible for many people’s allergic reactions. You can minimize the impact of dust mites. They live in the dust that naturally builds up on our carpets, curtains and furniture. Vacuuming frequently will keep this problem to a minimum, and make sure you always wash curtains, bedspreads and sheets in very hot water to destroy dust mites. If it is not recommended to wash the material in hot water, you can use a spray designed to kill mites and also stop them from reproducing. A good filtration system will help keep down the level of dust mites in your home.
There are other creatures living in your home with you and your family. Mildew and mold are living organisms that grow best in dark, damp spaces. Ducts in homes are a perfect spot for them, so if your renovation includes replacing duct work, you will be releasing a lot of mold and mildew into the home.
Changing filters frequently and keeping the ducts from your HVAC system clean will help with the mold and mildew problem. If you use these common sense tips, you will be able to keep your home healthier. Yes, we can be healthier, but we have to work at it.
By: Adam Peters