It is fair to say that most of us don't put a lot of thought into the air we breathe. After all, if we don’t feel physically sick, we assume that everything is just fine. However, not all air is created equal. In fact, the part of the country where you live, the house you reside in, and the products you use regularly could all be negatively affecting the air around you and your overall health.

To live your best life, you should understand the negative factors of your environment so you can make the proper adjustments. Let’s talk about common chemical and airborne threats outside and inside of your own home and how to make the proper changes for a healthier life.

Your Home Could Be Causing You Harm

They say that home is where your heart is, but your house could also be causing you harm. Before you even leave for the day, you could be waking up in a toxic environment and the culprit could be inside your walls. One of the most dangerous chemicals that you could have in your home is asbestos, and if your house was built before the 1980s, it is a smart idea to have an inspector come out to determine if you are at risk. Asbestos used to be a component of building materials like roofing shingles, tile, and the insulation behind the drywall of your rooms.

Asbestos is particularly dangerous because it is made up of small fibers which can be easily inhaled, and when they connect to the lungs, the impairment could lead to serious diseases, including cancer and mesothelioma. If an inspector finds that you do have asbestos in your home, remove your family immediately and renovate the infected rooms so you can return to a clean environment.

If you find that you are coming down with particularly distressing symptoms like a persistent cough, asthma attacks, skin rashes, or digestive problems, then you may have another dangerous environmental factor in your home in the form of mold. Often hidden out of sight, mold is typically found in damp rooms or areas with limited sunlight. Mold is incredibly common so it is a smart idea to be proactive about cleaning any instances you find right away. There are multiple ways to get rid of mold, all of which involve scrubbing the dangerous substance away, and that can be done safely by using a mixture of water and distilled vinegar, lemon juice, or essential oils like tree oil.

If you feel the negative health effects of mold but you’re unable to locate the source, consider that it may be growing inside of your walls. If that is the case, it is a good idea to hire a professional to open the walls and clean what they find inside. Mold can often also be found in the kitchen, often behind the refrigerator or under the sink.

How You Clean Your Home

The irony of using typical chemical cleaners to cleanse the germs from your home is that, often, the very mixture you are using can be just as dangerous for you as it is for the germs. A good number of household cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause you serious harm if inhaled or exposed to your skin. For instance, many heavy-duty cleansers contain traces of formaldehyde, which can lead to damage to the nervous system and most glass cleaners contain ammonia, which can cause lung or breathing problems.

To stay healthy and maintain a clean home, look to more natural and environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions. For instance, vinegar can be used to clean just about anything, from soap scum in bathrooms and stains from carpeting to being an effective weed killer. As for prepackaged cleaners, you can find products that are environmentally friendly by looking at the label. Look for key markings like the recyclable symbol and the Safer Choice label, which is a product approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

When it comes to cleaning the home, an emphasis should be put on keeping your surfaces dust-free. When dust accumulates, it can cause breathing issues like asthma and cause agony for those with allergies. A good way to limit dust is to get rid of excess clutter in your home so there are fewer places for it to accumulate. Not only will this help you to breathe better, but a build-up of clutter can cause people to feel bogged down and unorganized, which can lead to a lack of sleep and hamper your mental wellbeing.

Creating the Healthiest Environment at Home

Sometimes the negative effects of the environment are simply out of your control and you need to do what you can to either move to a safer place or create the healthiest bubble possible for you and your family. Several areas of the United States, including parts of California, Texas, and Pennsylvania, are known for their polluted skies, and although dealing with pollution may seem inevitable, there are actually methods you can try at home to get the clean environment and fresh air that you desire.

Create the cleanest air possible by using air purifiers which are effective in pulling toxic particles out of the air and sanitizing the oxygen around you. Another option is to use essential oils like eucalyptus and lavender, which have been found to remove dust mites in the air. If you have pets, it is a smart idea to have them groomed regularly as the dander they produce can get stuck on everything around the house and cause problems for those who suffer from asthma.

Another great solution is putting plants around the inside of the home. Many species, including Boston ferns, pothos, and spider plants, are known for their ability to purify the air around them. Chrysanthemums are particularly helpful, as they are capable of eliminating the most dangerous toxins and can clean ammonia from the air. In addition to helping you breathe easier, having indoor plants in a room has also been found to reduce stress, increase productivity, and help those who are sick recover from their illness faster due to their therapeutic appearance.

As you can see, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to dangers found within our environment. By understanding the risks, you can make changes inside your home to provide the healthiest life for you and your family.

About the author:

Frankie Wallace is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. She writes about a variety of topics, and spends most of her free time in her garden. 

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