IS YOUR HOUSE MAKING YOU SICK?
Mold
- Its spores that can cause a stuffy nose, cough, sore throat & itching.
- If you have mold allergies, lung problems or a weak immune system, these spores can
lead to a serious lung infection. - Mold grows where there’s moisture, so watch for leaks in plumbing, walls & the roof.
- Use air conditioning or a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels under 50%.
- Clean up mold with soap & water, or use 1 C of household bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Radon
- Rock & soil release this gas.
- There’s a little in the air around us, but it’s dangerous if too much is trapped in your home.
- Its radioactive particles cause damage when breathed in or swallowed.
- It gets into buildings through cracks & holes in floors & walls & around plumbing and wiring.
- You can’t smell or see radon, but a simple test can tell you if your home has too much.
- If you do, hire a certified contractor to make fixes.
Carpet
- It can trap dust, mold, dust mites, dirt & other irritants.
- When you clean it or walk on it, those particles can get into the air.
- The chemicals used to make & install some carpeting could be bad for you, too.
- Consider hard flooring instead or use throw rugs you can clean outside your home.
- If you can’t get rid of your carpet, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter on it at least three times
a week & steam clean it every year.
Gas Appliances
- Natural gas powers some ovens, stoves & water heaters.
- As it burns, it puts nitrogen dioxide into the air.
- Too much of it can inflame your lungs & trigger coughing, wheezing, & asthma.
- Get professionals to install & repair your gas appliances & make sure waste gases are
vented outside. - Wood, oil, coal & kerosene also make nitrogen dioxide, so be careful when you use them
in fireplaces, wood stoves & space heaters.
Cockroaches
- Their poop & parts of their bodies can settle in the dust on your floors, bedding & furniture.
- When you breathe those irritants in, it can trigger allergies & breathing problems, including asthma.
- It helps to keep your house as clean and dry as possible, especially fabrics & carpet.
Carbon Monoxide
- Furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters, dryers & cars can make this gas you can’t smell or see.
- It can be deadly if it isn’t vented out & it builds up in your home.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors inside & use appliances properly.
- The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are a headache, shortness of breath, blurry
vision & feeling dizzy, confused, weak & nauseated. - If you have them, get fresh air right away, then call 911.
Humidifier
- It adds moisture to the air.
- But don’t just set it & forget it.
- Humidity above 50% may invite bacteria, fungi & other germs.
- And water starts to condense on windows & other home surfaces around 60%.
- Plus, the humidifier itself can grow mold & bacteria that blow into the air unless you clean
& dry it daily. - You can measure humidity levels with a tool called a hygrometer from the hardware store.
Curtains
- They can hold dust mites, pet dander, mold & other allergens.
- The same goes for blankets, clothes, rugs, sheets & other fabrics around your house, but curtains are often harder to clean.
- Use blinds instead & dust them regularly.
- Or you can get curtains that are safe to wash in 130-degree water to keep the dirt &
allergens to a minimum.
Household Cleaning Products
- Ingredients in them can irritate your throat & eyes, causing headaches, breathing problems
& other ailments. - Some might even raise your risk of cancer.
- Aerosols have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) -- chemicals that can cause damage.
- Also ammonia & bleach can be harmful if you don’t handle them properly.
- Use products that have fewer or no VOCs, fragrances & flammable ingredients.
- When you use them, keep doors or windows open.
Air Conditioning and Heating
- These systems change the level of moisture, dust & germs in your home.
- Make sure yours is properly installed & serviced & change filters regularly.
- You can even try a special HEPA filter that removes smaller particles from the air in your
house. - You may want to consider professional cleaning if mold builds up inside the air ducts, if
dust & debris clog them up, or pests like mice or other rodents make them their home.
Lead Paint
- If your home was built before 1978, it’s likely there’s lead-based paint on the inside or
outside. - If it’s in great shape, it may not be a problem.
- But when it starts to chip, peel, crack, or wear away, it can form dust, which can damage
your brain & other organs if your body absorbs it. - In kids, it can cause behavior & learning problems.
- A professional can test your home for lead & tell you what to do to address any issues.
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