|

3 Smart Tricks for a Healthier Home

*This is a sponsored post.

Smart Tricks for a Healthier Home

Keeping everyone in your home healthy can be tricky, especially if you all lead busy lives. While you can’t prevent stress and germs, you can reduce their effects on your loved ones with a few preventative measures. Take the following steps to create a healthier home environment for improved well-being.

Improve Your Natural Lighting

Natural light is far more important for health than most people realize. Not only does light regulate your circadian rhythm (which contributes to better sleeping habits), but it also plays a huge role in your mental and emotional health. Various studies show that bright light heightens emotions, provides extra energy, and even makes you happier overall by reducing depression symptoms.

To add more natural light in your home, ditch the blackout curtains for something sheer and light. Additionally, hang mirrors opposite of windows to reflect light throughout the room. Don’t have a lot of natural light? Try maximizing the light you do get by painting your rooms light colors and moving furniture so it’s not blocking windows or doors.

Add a Whole Home Water Filter

If you’re one of the 286 million people in the United States that gets their water from a community system, you’re putting yourself in the hands of the Environmental Protection Agency. They are responsible for testing and regulating all water used for consumption. Currently, they test for over 90 different contaminants, including Cryptosporidium, Salmonella, and E.coli. However, as the recent water quality issues in Flint, Michigan, show, their standards are not always set very high.

Some of the symptoms of drinking low-quality water include reproductive problems, gastrointestinal illnesses, and even neurological disorders. With a whole home water filter, you’ll have an extra line of protection against these ailments in case any contaminants make their way into your supply. Your water might even taste purer than before.

Boost Indoor Air Quality

The air we breathe plays a huge role in our health. If you don’t have any sort of filtration system in your home, there are probably myriad particles flying through the air and into your lungs. These include dirt and dust, pet dander, mold spores, and more. This debris can contribute to a number of conditions, including allergies, dryness of the skin and eyes, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and even asthma attacks.

Your number one defense against bad indoor air quality should be replacing the air filter on your HVAC system every six months. This filters treated air to ensure it’s pure and safe to breathe, and as it collects more particles from the air, it becomes less and less effective. Additionally, limit the use of sprays and chemicals in the home by switching to all-natural cleaning products. Finally, never let anyone smoke in the home, and vacuum regularly.

Keeping your family healthy is a top priority. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do that if your home isn’t a safe place to be. Add more natural lighting, install a water filter, and improve your indoor air quality to make your home a comfortable oasis.

Image via Flickr by Oyvind Solstad

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *