The home is where we spend most of our lives. It is where we raise a family, socialise, and relax. A home is our sanctuary away from the crazy world. It is somewhere we can be ourselves and really let our hair down. However, did you know that the house has a major influence in many different ways on our health and wellbeing? If it is not properly looked after it can have a detrimental effect on our mental and physical health in a number of different ways. These can be from aesthetics to hidden dangers that you may not even be aware of. And if you are looking to raise a family, there are many things you should become aware of as some of these hidden dangers can have a devastating effect on the development of your children. Creating a safe and healthy home, suitable for all family members is a top priority, and with these tips, you will feel a lot better, safe in the knowledge that you have tackled all the main dangers.
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Become a dust buster
Dust is not just an irritating thing that feels nothing at accumulating on your mirrors and clean shelves. It can be an allergy-causing particle. Not only that but dust is not just harmless thing. It can be extremely health-damaging as some of the particles may well be toxic, containing harmless chemicals including lead, fire retardants, pesticides, etc. Anything that may have been used in that house at one time could now be lurking as a house dust particle. These harmful chemicals are especially dangerous to young children and babies as they are still growing and developing. If your house does have a bit of a dust problem, you may be wise to remove old carpets as they are accumulators of dust. You could replace them with a non-carpeted floor, lino, tiles, or wood, perhaps. Your other bet is to invest in a high strength, extra-dust busting vacuum cleaner, and ensure that you vacuum every inch of the carpet a couple of times a week. Also, keep windows open when possible to allow as much dust build-up to disappear out of the window and fly away.
Be safe and test your home
Due to the fact that there may be many different chemicals and toxins lying about, it may be a good idea to purchase a few test kits. You can usually pick them at a hardware store, or online. The main things to be concerned about are lead and radon. Both can cause many health conditions, and leas may be abundant in old paint in your home, as before 1978, it was used in paint. The problem is that as paint gets old and worn, it begins to flake off, and this flake, some of which are tiny, basically become part of the dust in the house. So, potentially you may have lead floating about in the air. This can be a particular problem if anyone is pregnant in the house, as lead poisoning can lead to brain damage in the unborn child. If you have young children, lead is an issue and should definitely be removed. If you have any flaking paint that is particularly thick, get is tested asap. As for radon gas, this could happen to any house of any age. It is colorless and odorless and can cause cancer, especially lung cancer. It comes out of the soil and rock under the ground as part of a natural geological process. If you are worried, you should invest in a radon gas test. It may also be in your best interest to test the water coming into the home, too, as that may contain some particles from old pipes. You could invest in a water filter, or purchase bottled water in the event you discover something.
Safety and security
Can you imagine waking in the middle of the night to the sound of an intruder? There is nothing more terrifying. It is definitely a good investment to purchase security lights and a burglar alarm. Think about your doors and windows. Do you have bolts on the door to slide shut while you are sleeping? Getting a decent front door is a must too, such as the Provia front door. They can also provide you with safe and secure patio doors and windows too. You cannot put too much emphasis on safety, and with burglaries on the rise, you should prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Use less chemical-based products
Many household products are filled with harmful chemicals, which in small doses may not cause too much of an issue, but as these things accumulate, they become more of a problem and can cause damage to you and your family. Inside the home, you should try and buy non-toxic cleaning products. There are so many alternatives to chemicals on the market now that there is no need to fill your home up with something that could be potentially harmful and dangerous. Also, outside in the garden, are you one for using pesticides to protect your beautiful flowers? Or if you have a rat and mouse issue, do you use poison? Both of these contain dangerous chemicals where overexposure can be particularly bad. Children are especially vulnerable to chemicals and toxins due to the fact they are still growing to toxins that can disrupt this process. Unfortunately, it happens all the time where children develop asthma from this sort of behavior. If a woman is pregnant, her unborn child may suffer even more as the fetus may develop learning disabilities or some other kind of brain impairment. This is a frightening thing, but true, It is far better to look for natural products, think organic. Alternatively, think of new ways to cope with some of these issues. For example, the aroma of beer is very attractive to slugs and snails, so you can use this to lure them away from your radishes and catch them in some sort of humane trap.