The world outside your door is teeming with pathogens — bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites — that are ready to make you sick. However, inside your home, are you sure you are safe from microscopic organisms? Here are some ways you can prevent illnesses at home:
Proper Maintenance of Your HVAC
Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is responsible for keeping your warm during winter and cool during summer. It may also distribute harmful substances, like allergens, throughout your home.
That is why it is essential for you to pay attention to your HVAC. As recommended by health experts, filters should be replaced at least once a month. You should also schedule an annual inspection by a professional who may be able to identify damaged and malfunctioning parts that you, otherwise, will not notice until it is too later. For example, your HVAC might need a hydraulic separator to weed out dirt.
Sanitize Every Surface
To stop the spread of germs, you need to disinfect surfaces inside your home, especially in areas that everyone in your family uses like the kitchen and dining table. Wiping with a wet washcloth is not enough to kill bacteria and viruses. In fact, some pathogens can survive without a host for up to 24 hours. By merely touching a contaminated object, you or a family member may fall ill.
Create a solution for sanitization by mixing a quarter-cup of bleach with a gallon of water. Use a rag to wipe the solution on commonly-used items and surfaces. Do not forget to wear a pair of gloves during the process.
In addition, make sure that your cleaning tools are properly maintained. A map may be spreading more bacteria than it removes after a single use. Throw rags into the washer after a couple of wipes.
Open Your Windows
Spring has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. That means the sun is finally out and the weather outside if warmer. After being cooped up inside the house for winter, you can open the windows to enjoy the fresh air.
However, opening the window may also halt the spread of illnesses inside your home. Infections occur more often in rooms that are poorly ventilated. If someone has the flu, for example, it will not hurt to let the fresh air come into the room for a few hours during the day to prevent the illness from spreading.
Observe Proper Handling of Food
Food should always be thoroughly cleaned and cooked before it is prepared. Have separate storage and chopping board for meats and vegetables or fruits to avoid cross-contamination. Most of all, wash your hands before and after food preparation. Disinfect your kitchen counters and properly wash your dishes.
Keep Your Immune System Fighting
Your body is equipped with its own army that is ready to fight any pathogen that dared to infect you. You can ward off diseases by boosting your immune system through eating a balanced diet (with a generous serving of fruits and vegetables), drinking eight glasses of water, and regular exercise. You should also limit or outright avoid vices such as consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking.
By getting sick, you have to take some time off work and pay for a visit to the clinic. No one chooses to be infected with a disease. By taking precautions, you can keep yourself healthy.