A Healthier Household

I read an interesting article in the March 2008 edition of Better Homes and Gardens about how to have a healthier household. Here are a few points they discussed:

• Get rid of dishrags and use microfiber sponges
• Leave your bathroom exhaust fan running for 20 minutes after a shower to remove heat and humidity, which created mold
• "Manufacturers of cleaning products aren't required to list the contents on the bottles. When you don't know what's in the container, you have no idea what kind of fumes you're spreading around your house as you clean. Reward companies that offer full ingredient disclosures..." (198).
• Start a no-shoe policy in the house. Shoes track in all kinds of germs, pet droppings, herbicides, and who knows what else.
• Buy a vacuum that is certified by the Carpet & Rug Institute (carpet-rug.org lists the approved vacuums).
• Have your air ducts checked by an HVAC contractor (nadca.com has a state-by-state listing of contractors).
• Change your air filters frequently. Try to look for filters that can remove pollen, dander, and mold spores.
• Clean your dryer hose every 6 months to remove debris, which could create blockage-this will help your dryer run more efficiently, as well as, prevent backups and mold.

These are a few of the great ideas they provided. I know I will certainly change several things around my house! I Hope you will too!