Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, home is understood as the safest place to be in. This is true in the sense that staying put drastically reduces the risk of contracting COVID-19. But what about the factors of home living that could be detrimental to the health of the whole family?
To truly stay safe by staying home, homeowners should take a moment to see the current condition of their home. Is it a place that promotes good hygiene and sanitary practices? If not, what should change to make it a healthier place for a family to live in?
By looking at the problem areas of different rooms in the house, it will be easier to tackle its pain points and make the home a safe and sanitary place.
Too Much Dust in the Living Room
As one of the common areas in your whole home, the living room is introduced to various pollutants every day. Dirt can easily build up, thanks to dead skin cells, pet dander, dirty vents, and more. Even your trusty old vacuum cleaner can contribute to the mess.
Letting dirt accumulate isn’t just uncomfortable. It is also unhealthy. The pollutants in your living areas can cause rashes or other allergic reactions. These allergens may even aggravate asthma and other respiratory issues.
Solution: Clean up regularly, but make sure you are not using faulty tools. Get a licensed professional to repair your Kirby and make sure it isn’t just redistributing dust around your living room. Clean your vents, too, to improve air quality and circulation.
Dirty Sheets in the Bedroom
Bed sheets are often neglected in the daily cleaning routine. When tidying up bedrooms, the sheets are usually only straightened and pillows rearranged. But fabrics, especially bedding, house dead skin, body oils, skin products, and sweat. Without proper care and regular changing, dirty beddings can irritate the skin. It may even be the cause of pesky acne.
Solution: Keep your bed sheets cleaner and fresher for a longer period by taking a shower before going to bed. This rids your skin of allergens that can irritate it. While bed bugs are not caused by filth, meticulous cleaning helps avoid their proliferation.
The Bathroom: Do You Wash Your Bath Mat?
What do you do when the place you go to for personal hygiene is unhygienic?
Think about the last time you replaced your bath mat. You step onto it when drying yourself off after a shower, allowing it to trap moisture and develop mold and fungi the longer it stays on the bathroom floor. Not to mention the rest of the bathroom—toilets and sinks in particular, can host harmful bacteria.
Solution: Wash your bath mats once a week or every three to five days if it is a shared space. It also goes without saying that you should clean the bathroom regularly. Use bleach to get rid of germs on surfaces and fixtures, but keep a window open to avoid inhaling fumes.
Kitchen Germs Make You Sick
The kitchen is where you prepare the daily meals of the family. But handling food in that space every day makes it an area that germs love to visit. Unhygienic kitchen practices can lead to digestive problems and serious illnesses.
For instance, your fridge drawers and kitchen equipment could be hiding salmonella, listeria, and E. coli, which are particularly harmful to immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and children. Spoiled food can lead to food poisoning, too. Raw meats can also leave invisible bacteria that can transfer to your hands or other parts of the kitchen.
Solution: A simple way to avoid these risks is to always clean food items before eating—yes, fruits and vegetables need to be washed before use. Clean out the refrigerator regularly, too, to rid it of spoiled food that can affect the quality of other items in it.
Cleanliness Is Good for Health
Staying home isn’t the only way to keep safe from sickness. During this time when people must spend more of their time at home, cleaning is a simple but bextremely effective measure to promote health in the family. A clean home isn’t just important to maintain physical health! A clutter-free home also supports good mental health.
A messy space contributes to feelings of stress, anxiety, and a lack of concentration. Clutter encourages higher levels of cortisol, the stress or fight-or-flight hormone. On the other hand, a clutter-free space makes it more comfortable and easier to go about your tasks for the day.
By investing in a clean home, you also invest in your health.
