Home is Where Your Health Is

It's that time of year again. Dust the drapes, sweep under the rugs, wash the windows and flip the mattresses. (Truth be told, I’ve never flipped a mattress in my life. It's a good time to start, I suppose.)

In any event, when spring rolls around, it's time to clean house and get ready for warmer weather. In this column, I’ll give you some tips for improving the “health” your home.

In an ever more chaotic and stressful world, our homes as physical and mental sanctuaries become more important. Home is where we go to shake off the stress of life and to recharge our bodies and minds. Since we spend roughly two-thirds of our lives at home, the health of our homes largely determines the quality of our lives.

“Many people simply are not aware of how unhealthy their living environments might be,” says Debra Dadd-Redalia, author of five home health books including Home Safe Home (Putnam, 1997). “Individually, things such as toxic cleaners and reduced air circulation may have only a small impact, but collectively, they can have devastating effects on one’s long-term health,” she says.

Here are six simple steps to boost the “health” of your home:

STEP ONE: INCREASE AIR QUALITY AND CIRCULATION

I drive my wife crazy for many, many reasons. Here’s one: I am constantly flinging open all the windows in our home to bring in fresh air. It's a literal wind-tunnel at our house. Ok, perhaps I go a little overboard, but the quality of air inside your home is of paramount importance. Your body depends on a rich, clean supply of oxygen to function properly. But, in an effort to conserve energy, many homes are equipped with airtight windows, heavily insulated walls -- even gaskets that seal up doors and windows. While these advances are effective at keeping in heat and keeping out cold, they also trap contaminated, stale air inside your home. And that’s not healthy to breathe.

Open your windows to increase cross-ventilation. Also consider installing a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your home, which removes particles in the air by forcing it through screens with microscopic pores. These devices work well and aren't too expensive. An item like this is especially important if you live in a big city where fresh air harder to come by. But do some research first; some experts believe HEPA filters don't do everything manufacturers say that they do. Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org) is a great place to research air filters for your home.

STEP TWO: STORE STRONG CHEMICALS AND CLEANING SUPPLIES OUTSIDE

We are all subjected to varying levels of air pollution each day. It’s unavoidable. But did you know that air pollution in your home can be up to five times worse than air pollution outside? This is due to two things: the products that we use to clean our homes and the fact that the fumes those products release cannot easily escape. This is known as “off-gassing.” Our bodies are not equipped to neutralize the chemicals used in many household items, and that may suppress our immune systems, leading to higher incidences of illness and fatigue.

Shelley Cartwright a home-health expert for Dreamlife.com, identifies three common household products that have a deleterious effect on the health of our homes and makes suggestions for nontoxic replacements:

- Bleach and other chemical cleansers. Many cleansers contain nasty ingredients (despite their upbeat names and cute mascots). Try to substitute natural cleansers whenever possible. Or at the very least, go through your home and place all cleaning supplies in a box. Then exile that box to the garage or away from your primary living spaces.

- Cooking hardware. Gas stoves and appliances release fumes into the air. If you insist on using gas -- as many people do -- make sure that rooms containing gas appliances are well ventilated.

- Candles. I’m a bit of a candle guy: I love candlelit dinners with my wife, stuff like that. (Yea, Harr is a honeydripper!) But, many candles release soot and other pollutants into the air. Those made with metal wicks are especially toxic, since they release lead into the air as well. Paraffin itself (a petroleum-based ingredient used to make candles) is known to be a pollutant. If you're concerned about air quality, try natural paraffin-free candles instead.

STEP THREE: GIVE EXTRA ATTENTION TO YOUR SLEEPING ENVIRONMENT

You spend roughly one-third of your life in bed. During sleep, your body goes to work -- repairing and restoring your body like an Indy-500 car mechanic. That is why it’s particularly important to create a healthy and soothing bedroom. Simple changes such as new pillows, an air filter, a small water fountain or lots of plants can transform your bedroom into an oasis of relaxation and recovery.

STEP FOUR: GO GREEN

Health expert and best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil says: “Houseplants, especially spider plants and Boston Ferns, can help reduce formaldehyde and other airborne pollutants in your home.” Remember, plants use carbon dioxide (CO2) as fuel and release oxygen -- which is the opposite of human metabolism (we breathe oxygen and release CO2). That’s why plants make perfect additions to your home. Pick up a couple Boston ferns and spider plants and spread them liberally throughout the house. You will breathe noticeably fresher air in a matter of days.

STEP FIVE: GET AN IONIZER

Do you ever notice how the air outside feels especially clean and fresh after a storm? One reason is that the air is filled with negative ions. Unfortunately, by sealing off our homes to the environment, the ion content inside can become unhealthful. A good deal of scientific research has shown that both the type and the quantity of ions in our air can have significant effects on our health. An ionizer will help to re-establish a healthy balance of ions in your home. There are countless models out there. Again, I advise you to hit Consumer Reports.

STEP SIX: LEAVE YOUR SHOES, AND YOUR WORRIES, AT THE DOOR

I learned this ritual while competing in a triathlon in Japan. Removing your shoes before entering the home may seem like a relatively small detail, but its benefits go deep. The Japanese place high importance on this, which is seen a show of reverence for their living spaces -- a way of keeping the chaos of the world outside of the peace of the home.

Next week: spring cleaning for your body!