TIPS FOR CREATING A HEALTHY HOME

Open doors and windows: The easiest way to improve the indoor air is to let more of the outside air in. Keep windows and doors open as much as possible.

Shoes off in the house. Removing your shoes will significantly reduce levels of dust, dirt, germs, pesticides, and many other unwanted things you’ve being walked into your home. Wiping shoes on the door mat, removes dirt and residue.

Invest in a quality HEPA Filter vacuum. Conventional vacuums without a quality HEPA filter will recirculate up to 80% of materials back into the air! HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters will filter particles preventing the smallest of dust, mites, mould spores and dirt from becoming airborne.

Power down at night. Sleep is essential for our bodies to restore, repair and regenerate and our bedrooms should be treated like a sanctuary. Turn off ALL bedroom electrical appliances at night – especially WIFI. Power boards, phones, bed lamps, baby monitors, need to be at least 1.5 meters away from your head and switched OFF at the wall.

Personal care Products. Read the labels. The first third of ingredients (usually the top 5) listed make up over 95% of the product. Be aware of the ingredients, if you wouldn’t eat it, should you be putting it on your body? Reduce your chemical burden. Women put over 500+ chemical on their bodies every day, and it takes less than 25 seconds to be absorbed through the skin. Replace these products with organic and natural alternatives.

Clean Green. Many commercial cleaning products contain toxic chemicals and with dangerous label warnings. How safe can a product labelled ‘POISON’, ‘CORROSIVE’ or ‘TOXIC’ be? Disinfectants, oven cleaners, drain cleaners, mould cleaners, window and floor polishes often contain a potent mix including solvents, bleach, ammonia and chlorine. Replace chemical cleaners with natural, non-toxic alternatives, many ingredients are common household products.

Filter your water. Our drinking water is purified or disinfected before flowing out our taps. Chlorine is universally used to chemically disinfect water and is added to your water to destroy germs, bacteria and living organisms. You are also a living organism, and your body is affected by chlorine internally as well as externally. Inhalation and skin absorption of chloroform and chlorine by-products are greatest in the shower, where these gases are vaporised. Chlorine is known to cause skin irritation, dermatitis, eczema, asthma or breathing difficulties. Only 4% of the world’s drinking water continues to be fluoridated, and 97% of western European countries banned it due to insufficient evidence to prove its safety, and is considered ‘mass medication’. Invest in quality water and shower filters. Reverse ozmosis systems will remove 99.9% of chemicals, including fluoride, bacteria, cysts and heavy metals from tap water.

Indoor plants are amazing air filters and purifiers. They help maintain ideal humidity levels and add colour and life to any room. NASA actually tested a range of plants to determine their ability to remove certain pollutants from the air including common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. The results were impressive. Native Kentia Palm, Mother-In-Law tongue, Peace Lily, English Ivy and Bamboo Palms and are some of the best plants for absorbing these pollutants and suitable for indoors.

• Air you bedding.  Sunny, hot days are perfect to air your mattresses, rugs and doonas. Did you know that an average queen size bed contains over 2 BILLION dust mites. A whole day exposure to full UV sunlight will sterilize and kill dust mites. Airing doonas, rugs and pillows weekly will also kill bacteria and dry out any moisture.

Simple changes to daily habits and purchases can make a big impact on your long term health. Consult a qualified Building Biologist to come assess your home or workplace to ensure the long term health and safely of you and your family.

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