Could your house be making you sick?
There’s something delicious about falling into a cozy bed after a long day, but the icky details about dust mites dwelling in your bed sheets may leave you opting for the couch instead. The average person sheds roughly half an ounce of dead skin every week, which stays in your sheets and becomes prime feeding material for dust mites. The fecal matter and other debris they leave behind can lead to some scary effects, exacerbating eczema, seasonal allergies, skin irritations, and more. To keep these critters out of your snooze space, be sure to wash your bed sheets in 60-degree water at least once a week.
Furry friends can be as loved and valued as human family members, but unfortunately, the dander they leave behind has the potential to make you sick. Made up of microscopic bits of dead skin, pet dander is notorious for causing people to sneeze and sniffle, especially people with pet allergies. The best way to prevent your allergies from flaring up around your pet is to keep it off of your furniture, fabrics, and carpets as much as possible. You should also be sure to dust and clean your home often.
The majority of household cleaning products are packed with loads of potentially harmful chemicals that can cause a slew of different problems to your health. The most concerning products are those that contain cancer-causing carcinogens, such as certain laundry detergents that contain formaldehyde, and jewelry cleaners, which often carry the toxic chemical perchloroethylene. Fortunately, there are plenty of natural, harm-free ways to keep your home clean and shiny. Natural ingredients like lemon, cooking oil, vinegar, and baking soda will all get the job done, while keeping your health in check.
Even if the fruit and vegetable drawers in your refrigerator appear to be clean and sterile, they could be hiding a mass of dangerous microorganisms, including E. coli, salmonella, and more. To reduce your chances of developing any kind of foodborne illness, be sure to wash your fruits and vegetables carefully before eating them, and disinfect the fridge drawers and shelves at least once a month.
Rarely do we ever give our bath and shower mats a second thought, but as it turns out, they’re often breeding grounds for loads of hazardous bacteria, mould, and dust mites. When you step out of the showering dripping wet, your bath mat traps the moisture, allowing mould and harmful bacteria to thrive. To keep your bath mat germ-free, try drying off in the shower rather than on the mat to avoid getting it all wet. Additionally, be sure to wash it in hot water at least a couple of times a month. (Reader’s Digest)