Whether you have a sensitive individual in your home, you’re constantly fighting the Battle of germs with your school children, or you simply want to get a little healthier this season, there are some surprising ways that you can keep your home and your family healthier.
While the basics, such as hand washing and taking your vitamins, are always a great place to start, specific home upgrades offer helpful benefits when you want to focus on a healthier home.
Swap for Brass or Copper Door Handles
We all know surfaces can be an easy culprit for spreading germs during cold seasons. If you’re tired of one person bringing home a cold and sharing it with everyone else, consider swapping your door handles for brass or copper options. Brass and copper have natural antimicrobial properties that can kill germs on contact which can help reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses throughout your home.
HEPA Air Filters
HEPA air filters, (AKA High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are designed to trap not only dust and pollen, but things like pet dander, and even airborne germs, which can greatly improve the air quality in your home and even reduce the spread of colds and viruses. This is an excellent option if you have young children who often spread their colds or you simply want to improve your indoor air quality. A HEPA filter can be a great choice for someone living in an older home with a lot of dust or who owns pets and wants to mitigate the pet smell and potential allergens that can come with living with animals.
Hardwood Flooring
Natural flooring like hardwood bamboo or cork is often lower in VOCs that can release harmful chemicals into the air, and hardwood is less likely to trap allergens compared to carpets and other synthetic materials. Carpeting can contain chemicals that are emitted from the carpet fibers, adhesives and backing materials. The release of VOCs is known as “off-gassing,” and it can contribute to indoor air pollution. While there are greener carpet options, since hardwood is easy to clean and doesn’t trap dust or dander, it is easy to understand why hardwood would be a preferred upgrade for any household hoping to limit general allergen exposure.
