10 Tips On How To Create A Healthy Home Environment

When it comes to your health, your home environment is just as important as your diet and lifestyle choices. This is especially true today, considering the ever increasing supply of toxic chemicals and pollutants that exist in our outdoor environment (air, soil and water).

The range of diseases that have been linked to such toxins and pollutants is both extensive and growing, so you certainly don’t want to be exposed to them in your home, as well.

Is your home conducive to your health?

Even if you think the answer to that question is yes, here are some things to look for in order to make sure:

1. Indoor Air Quality

Nothing is more important to your health than the air you breathe. This includes the indoor air in your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air in the United States can be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outdoors.

To better determine the quality of the air in your home, notice whether it seems fresh to you or not. Also be aware of whether it seems to dry. The healthiest indoor air is not only fresh, but also moist and slightly warm.

You can improve your indoor air with a few simple steps. First, make sure that air circulates freely from room to room. This will help prevent it from becoming stagnant and stale. 

Also get in the habit of leaving your windows open when you are at home, ideally even when you sleep. This will ensure an ongoing supply of fresh air into your home and also prevent the buildup of offending odors.

To help maintain the clean quality of indoor air, consider placing indoor plants throughout your home. Houseplants provide a number of benefits. 

Not only do they add more oxygen to indoor environments, they also create more moisture and can also filter out any harmful or irritating organic chemicals that might be circulating through your home.

In addition, the beauty they add can enhance your mood.

Related Article: 10 Plants for Your Bedroom To Help You Sleep Better

So clean your indoor air and "green" your living space by filling your home with spider plants, Boston ferns, rubber plants, and palm trees.

However, when shopping for plants be aware that there are over 700 plants that are toxic for cats and dogs.

If you notice that your air is too dry, consider the use of a humidifier, especially in winter months when you typically run your furnace more. Spraying your plants once a week is good for the plants and good for you.

You should also make sure that the furnace you use is energy efficient and has clean filters.

2. Ban smoking
The number one way to combat indoor air pollution is to never let anyone smoke in your home.

"It's like inviting a diesel bus into your living room," says Gina Solomon, MD, PhD, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council and an associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

"Cigarettes are full of toxic chemicals, and secondhand smoke exposure can cause cancer. It's a no-brainer...... No smoking at home."

Finally, if your home has a basement, make sure that it stays dry, because damp basements act as a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms, including mold. You might even consider having your basement inspected, to protect against leaks and water damage, etc.

3. Household Materials and Products 


One of the biggest sources of harmful chemicals and toxins in your home are the household materials and products you use.

These include not only many cleaning and other household products, but also carpets, rugs, and furniture, and even building materials. All such items, if they are made from synthetic materials, can expose you to potentially dangerous chemicals on a daily basis.

For this reason, building materials made out of natural materials such as wood and metals are superior home choices than unnatural products such as fiber and particle boards, plastics, and polyester.

This is true of your furniture, as well, and also of your flooring, wiring, and sealants, depending on what they are synthetic in mature.

Rugs and carpets made from synthetic materials can also be a problem for the same reasons. Additionally, if you don’t regularly clean rugs and carpet, they too can become a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms, including bacteria and mold. (When you clean your rugs and carpets, make sure you use natural, nontoxic cleansing agents.)

4. Choose non-toxic cleaners

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