Spring Cleaning and Your Health

We are finally done with winter and are officially starting the spring season!  Around this time, many of us go through a ritual called “Spring Cleaning” of our homes and closets.  Your home environment can certainly affect your health.  Here are some ideas that you may want to consider while doing your spring cleaning.

• Let your home “breathe”.  Many pollutants inside the house can accumulate during the winter because we have the windows shut for those months.  I recommend opening up your windows for a day to allow for fresh air to circulate.  I would do this before the flowers start to bloom outdoors, as pollen can get into the house.
• Buy environmentally friendly, non-allergenic cleaning products.  Many cleaning products can emit toxic fumes or contain strong fragrances which can irritate your nasal passages.
• If you have allergies, I would advise removing any scented reed diffusers or “plug-in” type air refreshers.  These can worsen allergies and can contain irritating chemicals.
• Check for mold on your shower curtains, liners, tiled walls or shower doors.  Mold is one of the most common reasons for indoor allergy symptoms.  I would recommend replacing shower curtain liners whenever there is any visible mold growing.
• Make sure all smoke/carbon monoxide detectors are working and have fresh batteries. Also check to make sure that your fire extinguisher is not expired.  Everyone should have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen or near a fireplace.
• Do a thorough cleaning of your refrigerator and freezer.  Mold or spoiled food can result in food poisoning.  Remove all items from the fridge, do a thorough cleaning, and examine each item’s expiration date before putting it back in.  If it smells odd or the color is off, throw it out.
• If you have an air filter or air purifier, now is the time to change or clean the unit.  I’m always amazed at how much dirt and pollutants are removed by these devices.  However, they require regular replacement and cleaning to effectively continue to do their job.
• Inspect your sneakers.  Is it time to change them?  Have your feet been hurting lately?  Maybe your sneakers are not providing enough support because they are worn out.  I recommend replacing sneakers at least every 6 months.
• Check your emergency kit.  Make sure everything is in good working order and no supplies are expired.
• Wash sheets and comforters.  Dust mites are in everyone’s bed.  For most people, they are harmless, but if you suffer from allergies they can make you wake up with a stuffed nose or itchy eyes.  You can remove dust mites by washing your sheets and pillow cases in hot water.  I also recommend buying new pillows at least every year because dust mites end up living inside them.  You can also buy specialized dust mite covers for your pillows so they won’t get inside.
• Allow your shoe closet to breathe.  Foot fungus loves to live in shoes that do not have good ventilation.  Allow your shoes to dry out in between uses.
• Remove clutter from hallways.  Trips and falls in the home are something we don’t always think will happen to us but they are actually quite common no matter what age you are.  Keep hallways clear. If you have rugs, make sure they are secured to the floor with a rug pad or special tape designed to anchor them to the floor.  Make sure your walkways are well-lit.  You may want to buy a small LED nightlights or install motion sensing lights for dark hallways or stairways.  These are inexpensive and can save you a trip to the hospital!
• Re-childproof your home.  If you have a young child at home particularly one that has started walking, you need to make sure your home is safe.  A simple exercise that you can do is walk around your house and bring yourself down to the eye level of your child.  Do you see sharp table corners, electrical outlets that are accessible, cabinets with cleaning supplies that could be opened, houseplants that could be poisonous if eaten, or small items that could be swallowed?  If so, you can probably find child safety devices at your nearest home improvement store.