Environmentally Friendly Home Sanitation
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
I know exactly what you’re all doing right now- stocking up on the most intensive disinfectants/bleaches on the market.
Insert record scratch sound here
Stop. We can keep our homes healthy and clean, without causing skin reactions, asthma, reproductive harm, and even cancer.
Interior Air Quality
One of the best things we can do for our homes and our health is to improve interior air quality. As a mom of two young boys, when I heard our schools were closed for at least six weeks, my first thought was to send them to my sister. My second thought was that we would all need more social interaction than exclusively with each other. It was time to amp up my cleaning and ventilation game!
Interior Architectural Designers are trained in product selections down to the composition of those products and the adhesives used to attach them to the structure to ensure that these materials are not offgassing to an unacceptable level. Now, I know what you’re thinking- it’s the same thing I though- what IS acceptable?
Yes, I wrote a whole separate blog post as a side tangent.
We can’t always start with a fresh new home, or even a remodel to update the outdated and toxin-harboring finishes. Fortunately, they’ve likely been stagnant if they are super old and super toxic.
What we can do, is take care of what we currently have.
Open the windows! The absolute best thing we can do for our interior air quality is to allow it to circulate and for fresh air to enter.
Have the existing HVAC system serviced.
Clean out all the air ducts, registers. These registers can be sanitized, but consider using a gentler product if possible. Sanitizers are ALWAYS harsh chemicals, regardless of greenwashing statements, and while having those chemicals in the air may kill bacteria and germs, it also means potential for intruding on our healthy bodies! Instead, try a UV air sanitizer.
Consider a UV Light Sanitizer rather than a disinfectant or harsh chemical product. (not that these should NOT be used on our bodies!)
Next, seal all your ducts to prevent that nasty stagnant air space to seep in from attics and crawl spaces.
Open the windows. Yeah, I know I said it already. I’m saying it again. Proper home ventilation is one of the best ways to keep a healthy home! I know it’s not summer yet, but even cracking a window here and there can create that much-needed air movement.
Great, we have fresh air… but this disease spreads by touch
I’m personally a fan of good old vinegar and baking soda to clean a home. Good news- Coronavirus is not a difficult disease to clean/kill. Simply using soap and water will do the trick. Looking for something a bit stronger? Witch hazel and hydrogen peroxide will do the trick!
If a disinfectant is desired, try something a bit safer, like Seventh Generation products (no, I’m not getting paid for clicks to that site- I wish!). But hang on, just because it is a more environmentally-friendly product.that doesn’t mean we can gargle with it. This is still a disinfectant and should be treated as a toxic substance.
Reusable gloves should be used exclusively for disinfecting purposes. When these gloves are removed, immediately wash hands.
If surfaces are dirty, they should be washed with a mild cleaner or soap before disinfecting.
When cleaning soft surfaces (fabric, carpets, and rugs, wash with the warmest recommended setting then allow them to dry completely.
Soft goods that can go in the wash should not be shaken to avoid the spread of contaminants. Instead, wash on the warmest recommended setting, then allow to dry completely. After handling dirty laundry, wash your hands, and disinfect the hamper the laundry was stored in.
