Guest Blogger: How to Rid your Home of Harmful Toxins

Guest Blogger #769, Entry #1820, November 13, 2012

You’ve heard of spring cleaning, but it’s actually better to overhaul your house when the seasons get colder. As we start to shut the windows to keep ourselves warm during the winter months, we shut off the ventilation to our house. This means potentially toxic particles build up in our homes.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is between 2-5 times worse than outdoor air pollution. Anyone with asthma or allergies will experience stronger reactions. Detox your house with our guide.

Ensure your home is rid of toxins for your family’s health

Kitchen

If you have a gas stove at home, you could have potentially dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide building up in the house. Although home cooking is a nurturing force for good, lots of nasties could be putting your health at risk. Normal levels of carbon monoxide are between 5-15 parts per million (ppm), however, if your gas stove isn’t set correctly, levels of CO can reach danger point.

Even low levels of carbon monoxide can cause fatigue, headaches, disorientation, dizziness, and nausea – high levels are fatal. Installing a detector can put your worries at rest.

Check your burners. If the flames are yellow-tipped, there is too much CO present. Invest in an exhaust fan, and if you already have one, make sure that it is cleaned properly.

Bedroom and Living Room

A build-up of dust and dander can cause respiratory problems, especially if you have allergies. This is natural, but you should stay on top of it. Replace old bed frames for something new: find adjustable beds online with fresh mattresses. Vacuum all upholstery and wash your pillows if you can.

Clean out the filters in your air conditioning system so you are not churning out allergens into your house. Remove the grill and wipe it with a wet cloth. Submerge the filter in soapy water then, rinse and leave to drip-dry. Before replacing the components, clean the inside of your air conditioning system with a damp rag.

Helpful tips to rid your home of toxins in your bedroom

Bathroom

Mold is your biggest concern when it comes to the bathroom – here you have to bring out the big guns to prevent health problems and structural damage. Mold loves moist areas so give your bathroom a thorough once-over, making sure there are no signs of water damage or mold.

Control moisture levels by using a dehumidifier. Humidity in your home should be between 30-50%, and you can test this with a hygrometer

Wash all your bathroom accessories, such as towels and bath mats. Put plastic shower curtains in the wash for 5 minutes on a delicate setting, however, if mold has already taken hold, add ¾ cup of liquid chlorine to the load.

Check everywhere for mold, and if you find any instances, scrub it away with a hard brush and a bucket of 1 cup liquid chlorine diluted with a gallon of water. You’ll have to do this to painted walls too, unfortunately, so buy a tub of mildew-resistant paint and coat the problem area, after you’ve removed the mold, to prevent further occurrences.

This article was contributed by Lloyd, a freelance writer and blogger, on behalf of Archers Sleep Centre.

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