8 Living Room Items That Might Be Making You Sick
August 21, 2020When we think of common everyday items that can make us sick, we think of bus handles, subway railings, door handles, and everything else that is handled by the general public. It makes us all the more conscious of what we touch outside our homes especially nowadays with a virus raging around. Unfortunately, there are also some things to worry about in our very own homes especially in our living rooms.
Living rooms are the second heart of the home next to the kitchen. It’s where we relax at the end of the day. It’s where we gather around for movie nights and parties. And it’s also where we spill things, sneeze on things, and generally take in all the dirt from outside. As much as we don’t want it to, our living rooms can just be as dirty as the outside. Here are some items in our living rooms that are a little dirtier than the rest of the space which could make us sick.
1. Vacuum
It’s pretty ironic since we use this to clean our homes of the very things which can cause us to get sick. But unfortunately, this cleaning tool can produce even more hazards to our health. Every time we use the vacuum, small particles, bacteria, and allergens are released back into the air. This is especially true with older vacuums that have no replaceable or cleanable filters. Also, studies have shown that bacteria can live in vacuum cleaner bags for up to two months.
When purchasing your vacuum, choose one with a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA). And don’t forget to clean out your filter regularly to lessen the contaminants in your home.
2. Remote Controls
Remote controls of various things in your home are touched by all the people you live with every day. And we can all admit that we don’t always wash our hands before picking up our remotes to turn on the tv or whatnot. Even if you live alone, you’re transferring all the bacteria from other things you’ve touched to your remotes. And if someone sick touches it, there are more harmful bacteria waiting for the next handler.
Make it a habit to wipe down your remotes and other things that are frequently handled with a disinfectant wipe every day. If someone’s sick, wipe these down more often to prevent the transmission of the illness.
3. Air Fresheners
We use air fresheners to cover up any unpleasant scents in our home but as much as we take care of our noses, these can actually contribute to indoor pollution. Home fragrance products like candles, air sprays, and some oils for diffusers can contain harmful chemicals like limonene, formaldehyde, esters, alcohols, and petroleum distillates. These can often cause headaches, eye irritation, and respiratory distress.
Instead of using these, it’s better to open up our windows to let fresh air in or make our very own air fresheners. A bowl of baking soda or activated charcoal can do just as good a job as the commercial options.
4. Shoes
Just think back on all the places you’ve stepped on before entering your home and you’ll probably think twice before stepping foot on your carpet or kicking up your feet on the table. To avoid peppering your living room with all that dirt and bacteria, remove your shoes at the front or back door. And make sure to brush or wipe them clean a little before taking them inside. Also, wash your entry mats rugs often.
5. Carpets
Carpets are dirt and bacteria traps. Food particles can get stuck in them and they can harbor mold and breed bacteria which are dangerous for our health. That’s why it’s important to clean your carpets regularly. Try to avoid eating and drinking around them too and take off your shoes before stepping on to them.
6. Curtains
They might seem less harmful since we don’t often touch them but like carpets, they’re dust and mold traps. All the accumulated dust and dirt on them could cause allergies and other respiratory irritations. Schedule regular laundry times for your curtains and don’t forget to wipe down the curtain railings and fixtures.
7. Upholstery
Upholstered furniture suffers so much wear and tear that it’s safe to assume that with all that traffic also comes a trail of bacteria, dirt, and dust from all over the places we’ve been to. So make sure to vacuum your upholstery every week. And don’t forget to get underneath the cushions and couch for all the wayward dirt, dust, and food crumbs that get stuck under there for so long.
8. Heating and Air Conditioning Vents
While these keep us nice and comfortable all year round, these can also pose some health risks. And it depends mainly on the proper care and maintenance of the filters where all those germs, bacteria, mold, dust, and other allergens get stuck on. To avoid getting sick because of this, change your filters regularly. Also, dust your vents weekly.
