Your home is your castle and safe space but be aware that enemies within might be compromising your health. Especially in winter when the house is closed up against the cold outside. You may suffer some of these symptoms if your house is making you sick. Depending on how sensitive or health-compromised a person is, they can be minor annoyances or signs of serious health problems.
- Runny Nose.
- Itchy Watering Eyes.
- Sneezing.
- Sore Throat.
- Skin Rash.
- Bacterial Infections.
Mold
Mold can grow anywhere in the house where conditions are right. All it needs is an organic food source and moisture. You may not even be able to smell the musky earthy odor it gives off until the mold is well established. You may find mold growing in obvious places or unlikely locations.
- Shower Head. Spraying mold spores on your face is not healthy.
- Tubs and Showers. Get rid of pink mold or black mold as soon as you see it.
- Countertops. Anywhere, but especially behind faucets and appliances.
- Appliances. Clothes washers. Coffee makers. Anything that gets wet and is not cleaned and dried after use.
- Attics. Leaks or high humidity.
- Basements. Whenever the humidity is over 60% or there are leaks and condensation.
- Window Sills. Condensation on the glass and dust on the sills grow mold quickly.
- Many More.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colorless odorless gas produced by combustion–furnaces, wood stoves, fireplaces, etc. Too much of it in your house will kill you. It usually collects at lower levels so keep carbon monoxide out of your basement and make sure you have a working CO detector.
Radon
Radon is a naturally occurring colorless, odorless radioactive gas. It is everywhere on Earth in various concentrations. Radon is released when uranium in rock breaks down. It is also found in groundwater. The gas seeps into basements from the surrounding soil or groundwater seepage. Radon builds up gradually over time. Long-term exposure can lead to lung cancer. The EPA recommends testing your home for radon every year or two. One in fifteen US homes has levels higher than the recommended safety levels.
VOC Off-Gassing
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are present in paint, carpets, curtains, furniture, framing materials, finishing materials, and a host of other things in your home. Breathing them can cause headaches, nausea, and in some cases, long-term illness.
Remote Controls and Computers
Think about how many hands touch your remote controls, computers, and game controllers every day–and where they may have been before. A TV remote may have as many as 70 bacteria per square inch. Germs and dirt spread easily from these surfaces to your hands–then to your mouth and eyes.
Bed Sheets, Towels, and Reusable Bags
Dust mites thrive in your bedding and pillows. The heat and humidity of human bodies provide perfect living conditions and flakes of skin provide food. The allergen in their feces causes chronic sinus problems, eczema, and asthma-like symptoms. After two years of use, 10% of the weight of your pillow consists of dust mite bodies and feces.
Germs and bacteria can survive for hours on hand towels and bathmats that everyone in the house uses. Towels in the bathroom are used after using the toilet. Kitchen hand towels are used after cleaning and cutting meat and vegetables. Both can spread germs to the next user.
Only 3% of US shoppers wash their reusable grocery bags. 99% of the tested bags contained bacteria. Food thrown into the bags finds its way into refrigerators, onto countertops, and into meals.
Tooth Brush
Your mouth contains more bacteria than any other part of your body. Toothbrushes take care of some of them but bacteria stick to the brush. Toothbrushes should be cleaned and replaced regularly to prevent reinfection every time you brush your teeth.
Carpet
In addition to off-gassing VOCs, your carpet is a bank account for dirt, dust, mold, and dust mites. Just walking across carpet stirs up allergens that are breathed in by all members of the household. Regardless of the amount of vacuuming and steam cleaning, carpets always retain some dirt and dust mites.
Filters
Mold, dust, and dirt can build up in HVAC ducting. Cheap filters do not prevent dirt in the ducting from entering the home’s living area. Filters with tighter fabric weave or HEPA filters stop more dust from passing through but they have to be changed regularly. Cleaning ducting yearly helps reduce allergens.
Pets
Allergic reactions to pets are caused by pet allergens carried on the skin, hair, and in urine and saliva. About 30% of the US population is allergic to cats and dogs. (Twice as many are allergic to cats than dogs.) It is difficult to avoid pet dander inside a house–especially in winter when the house is closed up.
Cleaning Products
Household cleaning products are full of chemicals and VOCs that cause harmful reactions. Some chemicals have been linked to cancer. Mixing vinegar and bleach creates toxic chlorine gas that can be fatal. Some cleaning products are flammable. Some laundry detergents contain formaldehyde and some jewelry cleaners contain toxic chemicals. Read the labels carefully.
