We see our homes as a place where we can rest and be safe. What you may not know is that there are things in our home that can compromise our health.
If you are having headaches, breathing difficulties, or digestive issues, take a look at these ten things that may be causing your problems:
1. Mold
Mold thrives in warm, humid environments. Hence, you can often find it in the bathroom, kitchen, and basement. The mold you see with the naked eye is called surface mold. The green and black molds, on the other hand, can penetrate the structure of your home, and this can damage to different parts of your home. Regardless of the type and color, molds can compromise your respiratory health. As such, we advise seeking professional cleaning services.
2. Sheets
Bedrooms are where we retreat to rest and rehabilitate our bodies. Unfortunately, they are packed with dangers that can decrease sleep quality and harm your health. The biggest culprits are your bed sheets. Uncleaned pillows and mattresses are saturated with dead skin cells and dust mites and these elements can have allergic effects. That said, a simple solution is to wash your sheets regularly.
3. Shower Head
The bathroom is where we clean ourselves and do our business. No wonder it is one of the dirtiest places in our house. And other than your toilet, you should also look into your shower head. Taking a shower may not give you a respiratory infection immediately, in fact there is no conclusive evidence that lung diseases are due to mycobacterial exposure in the shower, however knowing where these microorganisms come from can lurking, can be helpful in eliminating them on a regular basis.
4. Toothbrush
Researchers from the University of Manchester revealed an uncovered toothbrush could harbor up to ten million bacteria. This includes E. coli, which can cause diarrhea, and Staphylococci, which can cause skin infections. But don’t panic, your mouth wasn’t exactly sanitary to start with. Sure, there are hundreds of microorganisms in our mouths each day, but our body’s natural defenses can prevent us from developing an infection by brushing our teeth. It’s just a matter of using common sense when cleaning and storing our toothbrushes after use.
5. Air Conditioning
In our search for comfort, most homes use a cooling system. Luckily, there are now energy-efficient air conditioning systems available in the market. While this is perfect for your wallets, it can be dangerous to your health, especially if you have respiratory issues. Instead of bringing fresh air into the house, an air conditioning system filters and recycles indoor air. Thus, it circulates the indoor toxins like cigarette smoke, radon gas, and other chemicals from your cleaning products.
Here’s what to do instead:
- Open your windows and let the fresh air in.
- Use vent fans to draw out indoor air when bathing or cooking.
- Limit your use of toxic cleaning chemicals.
- Prohibit smoking indoors.
- Install an air-to-air heat exchange system in your home.
6. Sponges
According to a 2018 study done on 100 kitchen sponges, they found a range of microorganisms. This includes Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria, yeast and mold, Enterobacteriaceae, and Micrococci. While washing them with warm, soapy water and blasting them in the microwave can help, it will not make your kitchen sponge germ-free. This explains why you should replace your sponge every two weeks.
7. Cutting Boards
Other than your kitchen sponge, you should also look into your cutting board. Your cutting boards can be a petri dish for many coliform bacteria like E. coli. Hence, you should use different boards for produce and meat and clean them thoroughly. This is to avoid cross-contamination.
8. Dishwasher
Thanks to the dishwasher, we have one less chore to worry about. What you may not know is that these kitchen appliances can also cause illness. Apparently being “too clean,” can also wreak havoc on our immune system.
In a 2015 study of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, scientists observed more than 1,000 kids aged 7 to 8. The study reveals that parents who wash their dishes by hand are less likely to develop hay fever, allergic asthma, and eczema.
9. Carpet
A wall-to-wall carpet can give a room a cohesive look, but it can also be a bacteria and dirt magnet. If you have allergies, dust mites and pet dander in the carpet can cause breathing problems and skin ailments. Moreover, new carpets release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which is due to preservatives like formaldehyde present in the manufacturing process. Thus, you should clean your carpet using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. You can also opt for professional carpet cleaning or replace it with hardwood floors altogether.
10. Remote Control
An analysis of surfaces in hotel rooms finds television remotes to be among the most densely contaminated with bacteria. That’s because we often drop it, shove it in-between cushions, cough and sneeze on it, and more. Luckily, we can keep ourselves from contracting and passing these bacteria through frequent handwashing.
Over to You
A clean home makes your home a welcoming and inviting place to live. It also ensures that you are protected from disease-causing bacteria and germs. Thus, keep the list of items mentioned above in mind whenever you are cleaning your home. That way, you can rest assured that your home is as germ-free as possible.