How to have a healthier home

Make your house healthy again as you retreat inside

Autumn’s here and with it plummeting temperatures and dark evenings – it’s no wonder we’re happier snuggling down inside. In fact, we spend an incredible 90% of our time indoors, but what you may not realise is that it could it be doing you more harm than good.

‘Indoor air can be more hazardous than outdoor air, particularly for young children and the elderly,’ says Peter Howarth, professor of allergy and respiratory medicine at the University of Southampton. ‘Some families are being exposed to a potent mix of airborne pollutants within the home because of poor ventilation, causing more frequent respiratory and skin problems.’

The past two decades have seen what experts have dubbed an ‘allergy explosion’. In fact, when it comes to comparing the highest rates of allergies, the UK is in the top three countries in the world. A staggering 44% of British adults now suffer from at least one allergy, according to Allergy UK, and the numbers are rising annually.