We know you love the outdoors. We do too! There's nothing like taking a giant lung full of fresh air! It's invigorating. Refreshing. Rejuvenating even. Wouldn't it be nice if the air inside your home could be as clean as the air outdoors? Follow these ten tips below and you'll be well on your way:
1) Avoid wood-burning fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces, as charming and romantic as they are, produce small particles that get into your lungs and make it hard to breathe. Wood-burning fireplaces put out soot and carbon, says Len Horovitz, MD, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. There's nothing in there that's a good thing for a persons lungs and there's no inhalant that's worse than smoke. Maybe it's time to consider converting your existing wood-burning fireplace into a clean-burning, gel-fueled fireplace with the Real Flame Convert to Gel Log Set below and never worry about hauling wood, messy ashes, or soot again! You'll keep all the charm and romance without the health dangers!
2) Stay away from cigarettes and smokers
Smoking causes about 85% of COPD cases in the United States. We can't stress this enough: you need to stay away from secondhand (or firsthand) smoke. If you're a smoker, it's time to quit! Its no secret that kicking the habit is really, really hard. But if you have COPD and smoke, the stakes are higher than ever before. Quit and you'll prevent further damage; don't and the disease will progress faster.
3) Stop those nasty dust mites
Dust mites are tiny bugs that are too small to see. Every home has dust mites. They feed on human skin flakes and are found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed toys and fabric and fabric-covered items. Body parts and droppings from dust mites can trigger asthma in individuals with allergies to dust mites. Exposure to dust mites can cause asthma in children who have not previously exhibited asthma symptoms. According to the EPA, there are several actions you can take to stop those nasty dust mites from your home:
- Wash bedding in hot water once a week. Dry completely.
- Use dust proof covers on pillows and mattresses.
- Vacuum carpets and furniture every week.
- Choose stuffed toys that you can wash. Wash stuffed toys in hot water. Dry completely before your child plays with the toy.
4) Avoid chemicals
Today's modern home is loaded with toxic and polluting substances designed to make domestic life easier. The cost of these commercial, chemical-based products can be high -- long term health concerns for the family, and environmental pollution caused by their manufacture and disposal. In the US, for example, 1 in 3 people suffer from allergies, asthma, sinusitis or bronchitis (US National Center for Health Statistics). Treatment for these conditions should include reducing synthetic chemicals in the home environment. There are many non-toxic, homemade solutions you can find online, and there is also a growing number of commercial non-toxic home cleaning products are available, as healthier and environmentally responsible alternatives. Your use of these products helps promote the growth of green businesses which are contributing to a sustainable economy.
5) Control pet dander
According to studies published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, scientific journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAA&I) up to 10% of the general population and 40% of allergic individuals react to cats and dogs. Allergy to cats is twice as common as allergy to dogs. In most areas of the country approximately 50% of homes will have a dog or cat living indoors. Many of the homes where there is no pet living inside still contain enough dander to cause an allergic reaction. Because pet dander, especially cat dander, is small and sticky it adheres to everything - floors and carpets, walls, furniture, lamp shades, even ceilings. In order to remove it, every part of your home should be vacuumed with a true HEPA vacuum cleaner and hard surfaces should be mopped weekly.
6) Filter your air
Air filters can cut down dramatically on the fine particles that irritate the lungs. Its always better to ventilate through a system that has a filter. You want to filter as many particles as you can. Changing filters often will also help keep the air clean. For the dog days of summer, central air-conditioning is best, but even then, filters make it better. The Sunheat Mountainaire Air Purification System (below) sanitizes your home with highly activated oxygen ions that seek and destroy odors, pollutants and other harmful pathogens in your home.
7) Close your window
Ozone and other forms of air pollution, as well as outdoor allergens and dust, can affect your lungs. This can be especially troublesome if its allergy season, if the winds are howling, or if you live in a place (like New York City or New Mexico) prone to dust accumulation. On high air-pollution days keep the windows closed. You can check air quality throughout the U.S. at AirNow.gov. If you're cleaning, though, you may want to open a window to clear the air of cleaning chemicals, according to the American Lung Association.
8) Exercise but don't over do it
Exercise is good for every body. However, too much exertion can trigger breathing difficulties such as asthma or allergies. You know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, exercise boosts your energy level, improves mood and combats health conditions and disease. You do want to exercise. Just be sure you know your limits.
9) Fight mold and mildew
Good ventilation systems in both the bedroom and bathroom can cut down on molds, another potential trigger of lung trouble. And because dust mites like humidity too, you should keep the moisture levels in your home unattractively low, at around 40%. To do so, consider using a dehumidifier like Soleus 45 Pint Energy Star Dehumidifer below and don't run a humidifier or vaporizer.
10) Know the deadly three
Some indoor air pollutants can kill. Among the most dangerous are these three:
- Carbon monoxide: 400 die and thousands are sickened annually
- Secondhand smoke: 7,500-15,000 children are hospitalized or sickened with respiratory tract infections, and older adults with cardiovascular or lung illness are at higher risk of health problems
- Radon gas: It's silent. It's odorless. It's found in many American homes, and it is the second biggest cause of lung cancer, after cigarette smoke
Carbon monoxide poisoning claims the lives of over 400 people each year and thousands of others become ill or seek medical attention after exposure to the odorless gas. Sometimes the early symptoms resemble the flu, but look for these differences: if more than one family member has symptoms -- even your pets -- and you feel better away from home, you may have a carbon monoxide problem. Carbon monoxide levels can rise very quickly in unventilated areas without anyone noticing the colorless, odorless, toxic gas.
Protect yourself by installing a carbon monoxide detector near your sleeping rooms. Also have all fuel burning appliances inspected by a qualified technician once a year to keep the deadly gas away from your home.
We are passionate about all things home! From "Porch to Patio and Everything in Between" includes cleaning tips and ideas too!
I envision myself surrounded by my family and friends on a warm summer afternoon drinking iced tea or lemonade out of frosty glasses, viewing the world from behind the safety of my front porch trellis. The toes of one foot is on the ground, slowly moving the porch swing – just enough to catch an afternoon breeze.
Indulge me please as I imagine just a bit more decorations on my porch. Since it’s snowing, I’ll add just a touch of Christmas, like my favorite: the 3 foot Flocked Alaskan Pine with 100 colorful little lights twinkling merrily as I listen to the bells jingling on the sleighs gliding down our street. (Wait. Is that just a bit too much?)
