My home is my castle.But is this statement always true? What if there are more dangers lurking inside your home than outside? Here are 10 tips on how to find invisible enemies and get rid of them. Got a headache? A hard day at work is to blame. Is your throat sore? The autumn epidemic has crept up on you. Did you find a rash on your neck? You shouldn't have eaten so many sweets yesterday. We are used to blaming external circumstances for all our ailments, but the sad reality is that sometimes the reason for our poor health lies within our own walls. The apartment where we live may contain a fairly large number of harmful and even toxic substances, and all of them negatively affect our health every day. Do you want to protect yourself and your family? We will tell you how.
Destroying mold Dampness and insufficientventilation - these are the most common reasons for the appearance of mold. Most often, it settles in the bathroom or in the corners facing the outside wall (if there is a gap in it, moisture will regularly condense there). What is the danger of mold? Asthma, respiratory diseases, skin problems, headaches and nausea - this is not a complete list of what its presence in your home threatens. How to fight it? Do not leave damp towels and sponges in the bathroom, constantly ventilate the rooms and promptly wipe moisture from the walls.
Got air conditioning? Let it work!Stories about air conditioners containing terrible bacteria that undermine the health of apartment residents on a daily basis are, of course, a myth. Any expert in this field will tell you that the only danger that comes from a working air conditioner is the risk of catching a cold. But if your climate control system is idle for months, harmful bacteria can start to grow in it, which, when first turned on, will be sprayed into the air and end up in someone’s body. To prevent this from happening, do not let the air conditioner stand idle. If you use it very rarely, periodically turn it on for at least half an hour of maintenance.
Throw away plastic dishes And alsocontainers and bottles. Why so categorically, because everyone uses them? Of course, not all plastic products are harmful. Most of these dishes will not harm you, but those made of polystyrene are safe only at room temperature. But when heated (whether in a microwave or simply washed in hot water), such plastic releases several substances harmful to humans. They provoke hormonal imbalances and negatively affect the development of the fetus during pregnancy. We fight this simply: when choosing containers and dishes, carefully read what is written on the label, and avoid products made of melamine, which is harmful to humans in itself.
Cleaning the carpet correctly What notThe modern household chemicals market offers: cleaning agents that remove the most difficult stains in a few seconds, a magical aroma for your carpet, and special compounds that reduce the risk of fire… All this, of course, is wonderful, and you want to wash the carpet and rub everything at once. However, such potent products contain a whole bunch of harmful substances that can provoke headaches, malaise, allergies and even asthma. How to deal with the consequences? After cleaning the carpet using household chemicals, you must dry it thoroughly and ventilate it in the fresh air, and not on a dryer in the hallway.
Our opinion:— To protect yourself 100%, it is best to completely stop using hazardous household chemicals. Of course, eco-friendly products are much more expensive, but this is, in fact, the price of your health. If you don’t have money for expensive eco-products, use folk methods, many of which still work great, or at least buy “light” chemicals, that is, without warnings like “use with open windows.” Getting rid of chipboard Furniture made of chipboard is a very common phenomenon, largely due to affordable prices. However, the adhesive composition of this material quite often contains a carcinogen that is dangerous to humans — formaldehyde. It can cause asthma, lung problems, and burning in the eyes or throat. To protect yourself, do not skimp on health and buy furniture made of natural materials, wood is especially welcome. If you already have chipboard products in your apartment and you will not be able to replace them in the near future, put as many in the room as possible and ventilate it often.
We replace baseboards in such harmless-looking andInconspicuous baseboards can also hide danger. The thing is that some of them (especially decorative ones) can be one of the sources of an extremely harmful substance - styrene. It is toxic, causes nausea and headaches, and also has a negative effect on the liver and the chemical composition of the blood. To avoid getting acquainted with the effects of styrene, make sure that the baseboards in the rooms are made of environmentally friendly materials.
Vinyl Wallpaper - Out Of All Wallpaper Types— one of the most popular after paper. The manufacturers themselves do not recommend gluing in a child's room or bedroom, but an affordable price, ease of care and a large selection of colors are often more important than environmental friendliness. The thing is that this material practically does not allow air to pass through (with the exception of special porous models, but they are outwardly indistinguishable from ordinary vinyl wallpaper), and this, in turn, contributes to the development of allergic reactions and headaches. To be on the safe side, it is best not to use this material for finishing living rooms and give preference to wooden panels, any textile or at least paper wallpaper.
We check the floor Linoleum and low-grade laminatequalities — potential sources of toxic substances. Experts unanimously recommend choosing high-quality tiles or good . If you still prefer linoleum, make sure that it was not bought second-hand and the seller showed a quality certificate. Medical linoleum is also considered safe, which is used even in tuberculosis wards, where the risk of infection is very high. If you buy laminate, let it lie for a couple of months — after that it will definitely be safe for your health.
Ditching the Laser Printer Not soScientists have long proven that using a laser printer is not the best for your health. When working, it releases harmful substances that threaten us with lung problems and exacerbation of chronic diseases. It is best to abandon the laser printer in favor of simpler, but at the same time harmless models. If you cannot do without it, do not keep it too close to people, do not leave it on unnecessarily and ventilate the room where the printer is located well.
We are looking for an enemy in the sofa It will seemSurprisingly, ordinary sofa cushions can pose a health hazard. What is it? Often, decorative cushions, like upholstered furniture in general, are impregnated with a special fire-retardant composition. It sometimes contains various toxic substances that not only have a negative effect on overall well-being, but also increase the risk of developing cancer with constant contact. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you will be able to determine by eye whether the cushions are harmless, so we fight this in the following way: carefully read the product description, ask the seller about the fire-resistant composition, and have the cushions already purchased checked by an expert.
Our opinion:— Toxic substances are not only found in furniture or finishing materials. Sometimes harmful elements literally live in the walls of your home — for example, if hazardous materials such as lead or asbestos were used during the construction of the house. To know this for sure, we recommend contacting specialists from the SES and checking the apartment for “harmfulness”. You can order either a standard examination (water or air sample in a closed room) or a more serious study, such as measuring the radiation level.
Toxic Materials in Your Home: Find and Neutralize – etk-fashion.com
