Are you guilty of leaving your home in a mess and of not cleaning up after yourself? If your home is often in a mess and looks and feels unclean, then it could be that it’s making you sick. Here are some common messy areas of your home which when left uncleaned, can make you feel unwell:
Unclean bedsheets:
Many of us feel that provided we ourselves are clean when we climb into bed, then surely our sheets must be clean, too? But no matter how often you shower, dust mites from your own dead skin will doubtless be thriving in your bed, and there can be some serious side effects from the debris they leave behind. For example, if you have eczema, allergies or problems with your skin, then all these may be exacerbated by dust mites. Wash your sheets at 60 degrees at least once a week to keep the little critters at bay.
Vents for cooling and heating that have become contaminated:
A small amount of dust in the pipes of your heating or cooling vents is perfectly normal and no risk to your health, but if debris and harmful bacteria have begun to gather and grow in them, then they can cause your allergies to flare up or make you generally feel unwell. Getting a maintenance company in to clean the pipes and vents thoroughly and regularly, should put pay to this potential hazard to your health.
Vacuum cleaners without filters:
If you have an old vacuum cleaner that doesn’t have any kind of filter attached, then the chances are it will be releasing some dust, bacteria and allergen irritating debris into the air in your home. To prevent this from happening, it’s best to upgrade your vacuum cleaner to one that has a HEPA filter (high-efficiency particulate air) and try to clean the filter out as often as you can.
Pet dander:
Our pets continually shed their dead skin which can be the trigger for allergies, sneezes and sniffles. Not allowing your pets to sleep on your furniture and carpets is one of the most effective ways of reducing the amount of dander in your home, but you should also clean and dust more regularly if you have pets to prevent the dander from piling up.
Mold:
Mold can often be found near damp areas in the home such as bathrooms and basements, and has the potential to lead to nausea, headaches, nasal congestion and more serious ailments if you are exposed to it regularly. Scrubbing the affected areas with water and detergent should help to eliminate the damp patches and bacteria growing there and ventilating your home as much as possible, helps to prevent any further contamination.
If you think that your home might be making you sick, it could be time to seek professional help and engage with a cleaning company who will help to ensure that your home is hygienically safe and clean. This could be money well spent, especially where the health of you and your family is concerned.