We have little or no control over how good the air is outside that we breathe in, but we can control the quality of the air we breathe in our own homes. Check the hotspots in your home and make your home healthier.
Front door and front door: We bring a lot of dirt and bacteria from outside into the home through the front door. To drastically reduce the amount of dirt, a robust doormat should be placed in front of the door to wipe the most dirt off your shoes. To ensure that everyone who enters the house has to wipe their feet several times, you can either turn the doormat 90 degrees or place two doormats one behind the other. You also need to knock out the doormat regularly to prevent dirt from accumulating.
Lead-based paint: Years of inhaling dust and gases from lead-based paint can damage the brain. If there is already lead-based paint in the house, you should not remove it yourself but call in a specialist. Alternatively, you can cover walls painted with lead-based paint with wallpaper or wall panels.
Windows: The home should not be hermetically sealed with permanently closed windows. It is better to leave at least one window open a crack all year round so that gases from cleaning products and materials can escape. Mould growth is also reduced by always having fresh air. To make the air even cleaner, you can buy an air purifier with activated carbon.
Plywood: Furniture made of plywood can contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Instead of plywood, buy hardwood furniture or metal shelves instead of plywood panels. After buying new furniture, open the window wide for a few hours to allow the material to outgas.
Air conditioning: Air conditioning systems can become hotbeds for mould, especially when they are not in use. Clean the water tank and filter frequently.
Closets and built-in wardrobes: If there are clothes in the closet that are regularly taken to the dry cleaner, you should make sure that the dry cleaner uses as little perchloroethylene as possible, a solvent that is found in many chemical stain removers. You should also remove the protective cover in the shop so that the clothes are aired out on the way home. Do not use mothballs, which can release toxic gases. Use cedar shavings and aromatic herbs such as lavender and eucalyptus to freshen the air in the wardrobe.
Carpeting: Carpeting can become a hotbed of bacteria over time, as dust mites and dangerous gases are trapped in it. Mould and mildew can also form under carpets. Synthetic carpets can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Healthier alternatives to carpeting are parquet, linoleum, ceramic tiles or other hard surface flooring.
Gas hob: Install an extractor bonnet above the gas hob to reduce the combustion residues of the gas in the air. Check the gas flame regularly, it should be blue with very little yellow. If there is too much yellow or orange in the flame, there may be too much carbon monoxide. You can install a carbon monoxide detector to be on the safe side.
Washbasin and toilet: Slightly leaking fittings increase the humidity in the room and form a good basis for black mould (Stachybotrys chartarum). Black mould can spread on walls, in carpets and in joints. Black mould can cause fatigue, skin and eye diseases and disorders of the central nervous system. Wet rooms should be ventilated frequently and leaking fittings repaired.
Washing machine and dishwasher: Dishwashers should only be opened once they have cooled down to prevent chemicals from spreading in the air with the escaping water vapour. Faecal bacteria and viruses can survive the washing cycle in the washing machine and spread with the damp laundry. To sterilise the laundry, you can add a little bleach to the first wash cycle. Underwear should be washed separately from other clothing in hot water.
