Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed it’s time for prayer and a deep breath or two. It helps me calm down and think more soberly. Around the holidays, there is plenty of stress to go around. Some of us obsess about decorations and cleaning until we lose our ability to sleep. It’s great if our homes look clean and welcoming, but it is far more important that they provide a truly healthful environment for us to eat, sleep and breathe in.
Speaking of breathing…when’s the last time you checked the parts of your home that directly affect your ability to breathe freely? I’m talking about your ceiling fans, your air vents (for those of us with central air), baseboard heaters, and even your radiator heaters. After several years of professional cleaning I couldn’t help but notice that these are often some of the most neglected areas in the home and office.
So what’s the big deal? Well, the EPA felt it necessary to dedicate a significant amount of cyberspace to the importance of Indoor Air Quality, discussing everything from asthma to asbestos on their site. Since we spend so much time in our homes, we should be taking care to make sure we’re getting the best out of the experience. While there are many things you can do to improve air quality, I’m going to recommend 2 easy things you can do for FREE that will significantly help you and your family breathe easier.
Number 1: schedule a minimum of 30 minutes monthly to focusing on removing dust from ceiling fans, air vents, and heating source elements in your home. Dust is one of the most common allergens in homes, and it just keeps growing. Depending on the size of your home, you may not need 30 minutes, so just enjoy the extra time to do something else. I promise you that as you settle into the routine, you’ll find that there is less dust overall in your home, and hardly any dust where you are dedicating your efforts. It’s totally worth the time investment. Little attentions often repeated make for light work.
Number 2: Open up for some fresh air. Unless there is a specific problem with smog or other pollutants in your area immediate neighborhood (or a dust storm), make sure to let your home “breathe” for at least 15 minutes a day. Crack at least 2 windows in your home that create a slight cross-breeze. The fresh air helps to keep your home smelling fresher, as well as giving your family better air quality in the home. In the warmer months this is easy. It’s even more critical in the winter because we spend even more time inside when it’s colder. Personally, I like to crack the window while I’m sleeping at night, so that all of the toxins I exhale get mixed with some fresh air. Maybe the morning will work better for your home. It might be even better to open the windows while you’re vacuuming or dusting. At all costs, just give it a try.
I’d love to hear from you if you’ve tried these things in your home. Tell me about your results, and leave some tips of you own if you like. Until the next post, breathe deep, and keep it simple!