When people are trying to focus on improving their health, they often take the time to consider their nutrition, exercise and lifestyle habits outside of the home but forget how important the home environment is to their wellbeing. Your home is where you spend a large majority of your time, so the materials and products which you introduce into your space should be carefully considered. Whether that means using more natural cleaning products to reduce the number of toxins in the air, or using hypoallergenic materials to reduce harmful allergens, here are four simple ways to create a healthier environment in your home.
Use An Air Purifier
You might be surprised if you were to learn how many dangerous particles, toxins, and gases can accumulate in your home. While opening windows and letting clean air into the house can help to reduce this, in most houses there are areas where dead air will accumulate without being noticed, such as the upper-most corners of the room. Even then, fresh air from outside often contains fine particles that go unnoticed in the air. These, however, can have disastrous impacts on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems over time. Thankfully, air purifiers can help filter some of these dangerous substances out of the home environment.
Avoid Too Many Chemical-Based Products
There are many common household materials and products which are much worse for your health than a lot of people realize. For one thing, mattresses can be a breeding ground for all types of bacteria, fungi, and dust mites, and exposure to these allergens can cause health problems over time, especially to those with more sensitive or weakened immune systems; thankfully, this can be combated by the use of an organic memory foam mattress.
Another thing to be wary of is the use of certain paraffin wax candles. While they can make the home smell nice, candles can contain hazardous chemicals. Vegetable-based options such as 100% soy candles provide a healthier alternative to standard wax candles, so you may find it beneficial to switch to these candles instead.
Clean Regularly
Cleaning the home regularly is an important step to avoiding the build-up of harmful bacteria, dust, and other household dirt and grime. In particular, surfaces that you come into contact with regularly should be cleaned with antibacterial products to reduce the spread of germs. While there is a range of cleaning products available for household chores, try to find natural alternatives to standard cleaning products and pesticides, in order to keep the air clean of toxins and carcinogens, and also to protect your skin.
Bring More Plants Indoors
Plants act as natural air-filters, taking small amounts of carbon dioxide from the air and producing oxygen in its place. Adding plants to your home is a great way to encourage cleaner air space without having to have lots of air filtering products around the home. More than that, plants are also great for bringing natural color and freshness to the home and are also considered wonderful stress-relievers.