5 ways to ensure your home keeps you healthy
Banish bacteria, mould, viruses and dust with these tips to help keep germs at bay this winter
It’s that time of year again: Cold and flu season has arrived, spreading sniffles and sore throats throughout school hallways and office boardrooms. You can’t keep your kid out of class, but there are ways to dispel sickness in your home. Use these five upgrades to keep your space a healthy one, 365 days a year.
1. Banish bacteria
If you frequently cook with raw meat, eggs or other products that facilitate bacteria growth, consider installing engineered quartz countertops in your kitchen. Engineered quartz is a non-porous, man-made material that doesn’t allow for mould and mildew growth and doesn’t absorb bacteria. Curious about cost? Homeowners report paying an average of nearly $4,000 for countertop installation.
2. Upgrade your HVAC
The air quality and temperature in your home can contribute to illness. Stagnant air, dirty filters and frigid cold spots can make it easier to catch communicative diseases — and all of these problems can be fixed with the help of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professional. Prices range up to $700 for HVAC work, homeowners report via HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide.
3. Keep things clean
How often do you soak your fridge drawers? Scrub your tub? Regular maid service may seem expensive, ut it might cost less than you think — especially if your whole-house deep-cleans don’t happen as often as you’d like. Calling in the cavalry to hit those hard-to-reach places might be your best course of action. Nationally, homeowners report paying between $66 and $120 per hour for house-cleaning services, according to HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide.
4. Level up your tech
Updated technology allows you greater control of your life and health. Selfcleaning toilets keep your bathroom spick and span. Smart refrigerators and ovens allow you to plan and cook healthy meals while reducing food waste. To get a good night’s rest, consider a smart bed that can adjust temperature and position to make you as comfortable as possible throughout the night. Homeowners report paying an average range of $500 to $2,300 for this type of work, according to HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide.
5. Check pipes and plumbing
Take a peek at the damp, dark parts of your home: under sinks, through crawl spaces, inside your AC vent. These are places that can harbour mould, according to Jim Schuelke, co-founder of Twin Home Experts. Especially if there’s been a leak — even a small one. Most importantly, mould can make you sick for months before you realize the cause.
“If you’re not feeling well — maybe itchy eyes, respiratory issues — things of that sort are indicators and symptoms of mould toxicity in the home,” says Schuelke. And if you do spot mould, it’s important to call a plumbing professional to remove it, because trying to do it yourself can make the problem worse. When you disturb mould without proper chemicals and precautions, the spores can travel to another location in your house — known as “secondary damage.” Homeowners report paying an average of $3,000 for mould remediation.