When opting for a healthier lifestyle there is more to it than just increasing your fruit and veg intake and hitting the gym. Your home needs a detox too. In this post we’ll look at 5 Simple ways to create a healthy home. These tips will hopefully help you along your wellness journey.
Create A Healthy Home
Improve Air Quality
There are lots of air pollutants in our home including heating, cooking, cleaning, perfumes and furnishings. Ironically spraying scented air freshener creates indoor air pollution, releasing more potentially harmful chemicals into your home. You may or may not be aware but Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are airborne pollutants found lurking in the air inside our homes. As the word ‘Volatile’ indicates, these airborne pollutants do not contribute to the health of the household, in fact they can play havoc with your health. The Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) stated that there could be up to 900 chemicals lurking inside the air in our homes. In fact, according to the Environment Protection Agency, the air inside our homes could actually be up to 70% more polluted than the air outside!
There are some simple solutions to improve air quality in the home:
- Get some lovely houseplants, houseplants help to naturally clean the air in your home.
- Invest in an air purifier.
- Cut out aerosols
- Opt for non scented paint
Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
It’s ironic to think that the very products we are sold to “clean” our homes are laden with nasty chemicals that are harmful to the health of our bodies. Breathing in the chemical particles from cleaning products and allowing them to absorb through the skin can harmfully effect our neurology, lungs and gut microbiome. Drain and oven cleaners are among the most toxic products out there. Opting for non-toxic cleaning products is both healthier for us and safe to be around children. You can follow my Natural Multi-Purpose Cleaner Recipe that is both cost effective, efficient at cleaning and most importantly healthy.
Natural Materials
For those looking to renovate their kitchen or those hiring house builders for a brand new property. When purchasing a kitchen, you generally have the choice between synthetic materials and natural materials like stone and wood. So, why should you consider the latter?
‘Cabinets can also be one of your home’s most polluting components, because they’re made with plywood, particleboard and MDF, all of which off-gas formaldehyde-laden glue. If your cabinets are at least a couple of years old, these chemicals have likely off-gassed already‘
John Bower, Author of The Healthy House
If your kitchen cabinets are tired and dated then maybe you could opt for a fresh coat of paint instead of replacing them? or if the budget will stretch opt for natural alternatives like real wood. Poor extraction of gas stoves, Teflon-coated pans and MDF cabinetry made with formaldehyde-laden glues can also emit toxic fumes and give off-gas chemicals into a kitchen. Formaldehyde is known to be carcinogen, so opting for natural materials or buying second hand cabinets really is something to consider.
Simplify
Having less clutter around the home will mean you feel less stress. Simplifying your surroundings will help you to feel calm and at ease. It also means you will be able to find things easier. Decluttering will also mean that your home is much easier to clean (with natural cleaning products of course)
Opt for Easy Cleaning
When it comes to decorating your home, opt for easy cleaning surfaces. Go for tiles or wooden flooring instead or carpet. Opt for easy to wipe clean walls with non-toxic paint instead of wallpaper. The easier your home is to clean the simpler it will be to stay on top of cleaning.
It’s easy to get a little neurotic about making your home healthier, however that’s not going to be good for you! Try making small changes to the way you do things, like switching out your cleaning products, then maybe consider getting a few houseplants. Small changes will eventually create a healthy home.
Stay fabulous
Christine
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