Winter can be tough on our immune systems, with freezing temps and cold and flu season in full swing. While it may seem to make sense to bunker down indoors, did you know your home may be the source of the problem?
There’s a lot you can’t control during cold and flu season, but there are some things you can do to keep your home a healthy space.
There’s no place like home.
Our homes are our safe havens – our sanctuary away from the germs and people we’re in contact with daily. And as the temperature outside drops, we tend to hibernate indoors by sealing up windows and cranking the heat. But we may not realize that we’re also trapping all sorts of things inside, like dust mites and mould – and that can mean an increased risk of allergies and sickness.
According to research, there may be two to five times more air pollution inside our homes than outside. These in-home pollutants are always there – the winter magnifies them. When windows are closed for months at a time, with heat recycling the same air over and over, allergens never leave home. They thrive.
So, what can we do to set up our best defence and get through it all with our health intact?
Crack the windows. At least twice a day, open windows for 5-10 minutes. This should let just enough fresh air in without impacting the indoor temperature.
Improve ventilation. Keep the clean air moving in your home:
Leave interior doors open
Use bathroom and kitchen fans
Where possible, keep bedding and furniture away from outside walls to allow enough air and heat to circulate.
Replace or clean the filter of your heating system.
Use a humidifier. This is tricky since dust mites, mould, and other organisms grow better in high humidity. So, ditch the dry air and keep your humidifier at about 50% to add some moisture back into your home.
Keep your home clean. This is a no-brainer and is something we should stay on top of all year round, but especially in the winter:
Vacuuming is critical if you have wall-to-wall carpeting in your home or apartment (dust mites love it), and clean hardwood or tile floors with a damp mop or cloth.
Wash your sheets in hot water once a week to help remove contaminants.
Use a mattress and pillow protector.
Clean the lint tray every time you use the clothes dryer and check for lint build-up on the outside vent.
Fix leaks. This will help prevent mould growth, which thrives if water from a leak isn’t dried as quickly as possible.
Check washing machine and dishwasher hoses and connections for leaks, and repair or replace cracked or damaged tiles and grout around baths, sinks and showers.
Surround your home with plants. It’s true; plants can help keep the air you breathe filtered – Plus, they boost our mood, too.
Check the temperature. An excellent indoor temperature range is between 18 and 22 degrees. Not too hot, not too cold.
Staying one step ahead of winter may sound near impossible, but with a few minor tweaks to your daily routine, you can hibernate and stay healthy all season long.
Donna Etchells - McGrath Estate Agents 