For many of us, winter means closing our windows for five to six months, creating the perfect condition for toxins to accumulate in our home. According to the EPA ‘indoor air pollution is two to five times worse than outdoor air pollution’ which can exacerbate asthma and allergy symptoms. As spring approaches, now is a great time to clear the indoor air. Good Housekeeping takes the mystery out of a home detox, breaking the task down into individual rooms/areas and concentrating on eradicating the problem toxins that plague them.
Eliminating toxic gas and fumes from the kitchen:
- Check your stove’s burners.
- Install an exhaust hood if you don’t have one.
- If you do have an exhaust hood, clean its fan’s filter
- Cut back on cleaning products that have irritating fumes.
Conquering mold in the bathroom and basement:
- Scrub grout with a solution of 1/4 cup liquid chlorine bleach and 6 cups of water, using rubber gloves while keeping the room(s) well-ventilated, of course.
- Clean rubber mats with the solution above, or machine wash them if you can.
- Wash plastic shower curtains in the washing machine for 5 minutes on ‘gentle’ with 3/4 cup liquid chlorine bleach added.
- Consider installing an exhaust fan that vents to the outdoors. (If you do have an exhaust that vents outdoors, free it from any blockage that may have accumulated.)
- Check cement walls for mold; if you spot any, scrub it clean it with 1 cup chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of water and a stiff brush.
Vanquishing dust and dander in the living room and bedrooms:
- Get your air-conditioner ready for hot weather by giving it a good cleaning.
- Clean humidifiers and de-humidifiers.
- Vacuum upholstery, including the backs of couches and chairs. Wash washable pillows and dust others by tossing them into the dryer on an air-dry, no-heat setting.
- Vacuum your mattress, flip it and vacuum the other side.
Check out the entire tutorial at GH for more detailed home detox information. For super toxic stuff like radon and lead, call a professional. A good place to start is the EPA.
Image courtesy of hometips.com, where you can find even more info on home toxins.
