我们的家HomeHome可能是他们有史以来最健康的。毕竟,由于建筑材料的现代标准,我们不再需要担心用来建造房屋的致癌铅和石棉。HomeHome
Plus, an assortment of environmentally friendly alternatives allows us to avoid harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia when cleaning around the house. That said, if you are wondering if your house is making you sick, you should know there may still be some dangers lurking in your home that you might not be aware of that could lead to respiratory, dermatological, or gastrointestinal ailments.
Fortunately, it’s possible to spot and rectify many of these concerns before they become an issue. Read up on the common culprits, find out where problems might exist, and take these steps to remedy the situation for a healthier household.
Common Causes of HouseholdIllnesses
Your home is likely equipped with a system to detect smoke and hazardous carbon monoxide. And it’s a good bet that you’re highly conscientious about the use and storage of products like paints and cleaners that may contain caustic chemicals or VOCs.
但是要注意其他家庭健康风险,这也是明智的。它们可以分为三个一般类别:
- Germs,,,,or microbes, are an umbrella term for bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other infectious agents. TheMayo Clinic解释说,尽管大多数细菌是无害的,但有些细菌可能导致感冒,流感或肠患者以及其他疾病。
- Mold, a form of fungi, reproduces by releasing spores, which can then spread through air, water, or animals. As mold grows, it can produce irritants and allergens, typically resulting in sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy eyes or skin rashes in people sensitive to them, per the环保局(EPA). Some mold can also produce dangerous mycotoxins, which have been linked to serious diseases, including cancer and immune system disorders, according to theCleveland Clinic。
- Airborne allergens可以包括粉尘,花粉,宠物皮屑和环境污染物,例如一氧化碳,氮,二氧化硫和碳氢化合物。他们通过窗户和门进入房屋,并随着我们的到来,可以触发哮喘和常见的呼吸道症状。
What is Your House Could Be Causing Health Problems?
Now that you’re aware of the biggest culprits, the next step is learning how to spot the clues that some of these may be affecting your house and your health. Start by asking yourself the following questions:
Does your home have sneaky leaks?
有故障的管道和屋顶,让水分放在水分中,为霉菌提供了理想的繁殖地。为您的房屋进行上下检查,以证明水分和水损坏的证据,然后修复危险后的任何问题。运行air conditioner and/or dehumidifier can help maintaina healthy indoor humidity level of between 30 and 50 percent.
Visible signs of mold on hard surfaces (typically a cloud-shaped spread of dark rounded spots) should be removed immediately.
Remember that the EPA says damage over10 square feet can be hazardous and is a job best left for a professional mold remediation specialist.
When was the last time you cleaned your bedding?
Most folks make a weekly habit of washing sheets and pillowcases to banish bacteria, dust mites, and dead skin cells. Yet we’re frequently lax when it comes to comforters, duvets and duvet covers, mattress protectors, bed skirts, pillows, and other soft bedroom basics.
As a general rule, these items should be laundered (preferably in hot water, i.e., 130°F) every three months, or more often if you sleep with pets. Failure to do so can cause allergy, asthma flare-ups, and skin issues such as eczema and folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles).
Are your appliances causing a health problem?
For the most part, the machines we depend on to run the house are safe. However, the potential dangers of gas stoves have been garnering attention recently. A 2022 study linked 12.7 percent of childhood asthma cases in the U.S. to the nitrogen dioxide these ranges emit. What’s more, unburned natural gas, which contains the carcinogen benzene, can leak from stoves.
As the消费产品安全委员会considers potentially regulating these popular appliances, folks may wish to weigh the risks, particularly if developing or exacerbating asthma is a concern, and consider switching to an electric stove.
Clean your fridge
The fridge can be a hotbed of dangerous bacteria, from salmonella and E.coli to botulinum toxin, unless certain practices are followed. To keep microbes at bay, the interior temperature of the refrigerator must remain between 32°F and 40°F, and the freezer at 0°F.
避免过度填充冰箱也是一个好主意,这可以防止冷空气充分循环。切勿将生肉放在上层架子上,以免果汁意外泄漏,污染下面的食物。定期使用热的肥皂水清洁冰箱,以去除微生物可以繁衍生息的任何硬皮,crumby,粘性或其他奇异的残留物。
Clean small appliances regularly
当您使用它时,别忘了清洁微波炉and coffeemaker either—both small appliances can easily become bacteria-breeding grounds.
除了厨房之外,清洁洗衣机(制造商建议每月一次)是明智的选择,可以摆脱霉菌,霉菌和细菌,这些细菌可能会进入“新鲜”洗衣服。
How often do you clean rugs and curtains?
尽管这些柔软的表面增添了奢华和舒适感,但它们也对灰尘,花粉,宠物皮屑和霉菌感到好客。地毯和地毯是臭名昭著的,没有执行“无鞋”规则。窗帘可能不会被拖延,但它们覆盖了户外污染物可以进入的窗户;另外,作为垂直表面,它们易于忽略。
So vacuum carpets at least weekly. Simply减少家庭灰尘may go a long way toward staving off sneezy, wheezy, snotty symptoms—and deep-clean them every three months. Machine washable window treatments are an ideal solution for people plagued by allergies, and if pollen is the main problem, toss curtains in the washer even more frequently during your troubling seasons.
Have you been neglecting your HVAC system?
我们相信我们的供暖,通风和空调保持室内空气清洁的系统and comfortable. But if it’s poorly maintained, it can blow allergens and pollutants into every room.
锻炼呼吸道症状始于过滤器,必须正确安装并定期更改 - 每次在容易过敏的家中进行50天(这HomeHomeTOH tutorialshows you how).
每年对系统进行专业维修,可能有助于防止健康问题可能来自潜在危险的制冷剂泄漏和广泛的模具(有关更多信息,请咨询此问题bob体育app苹果下载EPA guide to air duct cleaning).
Do you have a pest problem?
iCk警报!蟑螂和啮齿动物可以用细菌和病毒污染表面salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus。蟑螂粪便也会引发哮喘和allergy attacks. Diseases associated with rodents include murine typhus, the blood infection leptospirosis, and let’s not forget the plague, according to theCenters for Disease Control。
在保护您的位置抵抗害虫时,请谨慎使用农药:有些含有氯菊酯,二氨基,丙糖蛋白,丙氧基和毒性的成分,可能会导致头痛,头晕,抽搐和恶心,暴露于此,Cleveland Clinic。Preventing infestation by keeping properly storing food and promptly cleaning any residue and crumbs after eating is paramount. But should creepy-crawlies breach your abode, first consider safer essential oil-based repellents, like those with peppermint. If these fail, consider hiring a professional exterminator rather than risk using heavy-duty pesticides yourself as a last resort。
When did you last wipe down the light switches, remotes, and doorknobs?
想想每个家庭每天都会触摸房屋周围的所有地方 - 从drawer pullsand faucet handles to the buttons on the microwave or coffee maker—these are the high-contact spots, and that’s what you want to target.
触摸表面bob体育app苹果下载越多,尤其是使用不太原始的手指,收集细菌的脆弱性就越脆弱,这些细菌可以粘合!来自弗吉尼亚大学found that 40 percent of objects handled by cold sufferers tested positive for cold germs some 18 hours later. Yet many of the items we grab, pull, twist, and flick—remote controls, light switches, cabinet hardware, doorknobs, and fridge and freezer handles—tend to get the short shrift in our cleaning and sanitizing routine.
Sure, you can try to remember to hit up all these areas during regular housekeeping, but it may be better to set aside five minutes a week for a quick cleaning using disinfecting wipes to give these hot spots their due diligence. With all its nooks and crannies, the TV clicker can be a particular cleaning challenge.
To get the job done, remove the batteries before wiping down the unit with a clean cotton rag dipped in rubbing alcohol. Then travel around the buttons with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, and dry with a lint-free cloth.