If you’re a clean freak, then doubtless there is little dirt in your home, and hence little threat to your health. But, if you’re not so enthusiastic about cleaning and often let your home get grubby and grimy, then there’s a strong chance that it could be bad for your health; here’s how:
Dirty floors and carpets and their potential effect on your health:
Floors and carpets are easily left out of cleaning schedules, especially if you live in a busy household where keeping feet off a wet floor can be tricky, or when vacuuming often seems like too much effort. However, tiled flooring can play host to harmful bacteria, particularly in the grouting, with some bacteria being especially harmful to those with respiratory issues such as Asthma. The only solution to eliminating this problem is to clean it thoroughly at least once a month. This can be quite hard work, so many folks opt to have a professional cleaning company come in and get their tiled areas hygienically cleaned for them.
As for your carpets, if you’re not vacuuming them regularly enough (and it should be once a week at a minimum) then tons of gross detritus and bacteria could be growing there. If you have pets then you’ll probably need to vacuum even more often, since dander is most likely to accumulate there. Shampooing your carpets every 6 months can help to preserve them and eliminate dirt and grime, too.
The harmful effects of dust:
Very few homes will have no dust, and if you or other members of your household suffer from asthma or other allergies, then it could become a real problem. Vacuuming is one great way of eliminating dust and ensuring that it doesn’t get spread about from one area of your home to another, but when doing so, you must move furniture and vacuum underneath it, too.
Mold, more than a minor nuisance:
Just as with dust, mold can be a health problem in the home, too, and black mold is especially harmful. Bleach is the perfect solution for getting rid of mold and making sure the area is hygienically clean, but there may of course be areas in the home where such harmful mold may be lurking undetected. Be sure to check under sinks and even under your home itself, to see if any leaks might be causing mold. If you do have leaks, then naturally you’ll want to get these fixed to prevent the mold from simply reappearing once you’ve cleaned it. If you have a big problem with mold, it might be wise to call in the professionals and have them clean it to the highest standard.
How having pets in the home can affect your health:
Over time, pets shed a lot of dander, and even if you’re not allergic to this, if you let it build up within your home, you could soon start feeling as if you’re allergic to it. Vacuum regularly, brush your pets outside to get rid of as much loose hair as possible, and if your carpets are beginning to look dirty and smell bad due to your pets, then a good carpet cleaning powder should help. If the problem is more severe, then you might want to think about having your carpets cleaned professionally or hiring the equipment to do it yourself.
If you value your health and relish the thought of a clean home that won’t trigger allergic reactions in you or guests, then you really should keep it as clean as possible. If it’s too much effort or you don’t have the time to do it yourself, then simply use the services of a professional cleaning company.
