Your home is your castle. Sadly, millions of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms share your so-called castle with you. This is not true only for homes that are located in exceptionally dirty areas. No matter how immaculately clean your house looks, these health risks are present in every corner.
Unfortunately, the existence of such housemates is a reality that you just have to accept as a homeowner.
That does not mean that you should just let them make you sick, though. There are plenty of measures you can take to minimize the potentially harmful effects of these tiny organisms. A good example is investing in the best vacuum for stairs or hard floors. You should also see to it that your arsenal of cleaning agents is complete.
More importantly, you should have a regular cleaning schedule that covers general and deep cleaning. General cleaning involves the usual tasks: dusting and vacuuming, wiping, brushing, and the like. Deep cleaning is cleaning each nook and cranny, down to the finest lines and creases, and disinfecting what needs to be disinfected.
If that sounds like a lot of work, that is because it is indeed a lot. However, it is very fulfilling to see a clean house and to know that you are effectively avoiding the following diseases caused by dirty homes:
1. Respiratory Issues
The most common health problems caused by dirty homes are related to the respiratory system. There is asthma, for one. Closely related health issues include allergies and coughing. These can be caused by many factors. The usual suspect, though, is your HVAC system. The traces of water an air conditioner leaves often become home to millions of bacteria.
There may also be concealed leaks here and there that may be encouraging mold growth, which is your mortal enemy if you have asthma or allergies. Dust mites, which are microscopic bugs that love the warmth and humidity of our bodies and our things, may also trigger asthma and allergy attacks and coughing fits.
This can happen in your car too. Keep your car mat clean on regular basis.
One of the reasons that these things go unnoticed most of the time is because they are often hidden and take a lot of effort to clean. So do not be lazy, and have a professional come over to clean your air conditioner regularly, for example. Always check for leaks, and take those sheets to the laundry!
2. Cancer
A lot of things have turned out to be carcinogenic in the past few decades. Sadly, those things include objects that you find in every home. They are everywhere: cosmetics, food products, toiletries, drinks, and more. Even cleaning agents are not spared!
Yes, the very things you use to clean your home may be secretly and slowly trying to kill you.
Bleach, cleansers, deodorizer sprays, weed killers, and laundry detergents are just a few of the items that are being labeled as carcinogenic. Some of the ingredients in question include crystalline silica, ortho phenylphenol, sodium 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D), linear alkyl sodium sulfonates, petroleum distillates, phenols, and sodium hypochlorite.
The upside to this is that there are many companies who are striving to produce healthy and environment-friendly products for the home. You are well aware that cancer treatment is costly. So, if you are serious about minimizing the presence of hidden killers in your house, find out more about these brands.
3. Gas-related Poisoning
Poisonous gases are much more common than you think. They are not restricted to abandoned factories and chemical factories. They can be lurking in your home right now, and you still do not have a single clue.
Radon is a highly toxic gas that can give you lung cancer. It is scary because it is really proven toxic, but what makes it really formidable is the fact that you literally will not see it coming. It is colorless and odorless. You can be breathing it in right now without you knowing it. Also, it can come from the building materials used to construct your home and/or the soil and rock that your house stands on.
Another extremely deadly gas is carbon monoxide. It is also odorless and colorless, but it can kill much faster than radon can. Aside from keeping your home clean and spotless, you can protect yourself from these gases by buying detectors. These are very affordable and are quite easy to install. There is no excuse for having high levels of toxic gases in your home!
4. E. coli
E. coli is a naturally occurring bacteria found in the intestines and feces of animals and humans. You can contact it directly or be affected indirectly by, say, the way your restaurant-bought food was prepared.
E.coli can get to your food through utensils, containers, handlers, and everything else that comes into contact with the food. Ground meat is almost always the culprit because it offers a lot of area and means for the bacteria to cling to it. This does not mean that veggies and fruits are spared. They can be contaminated too if, for example, washed with contaminated water.
5. Salmonella Poisoning
You can get salmonella poisoning when you eat contaminated food. The sad thing about it is that salmonella infection is much more common in kids than in adults primarily because they have weaker immune systems than us.
Like in E. coli poisoning, salmonella can be transmitted mostly during food processing or handling. If you do not wash your hands or your kitchenware before handling food, you are unknowingly increasing your risk of contracting salmonella.
You are at a much higher risk for this infection if you have pet reptiles, rodents, and similar animals in the home. The feces of these animals are known carriers of salmonella.
Conclusion
These are not the only diseases you can contract by having a dirty home. There is a long list of potential health risks depending on where you live, how big your home is, and what kind of furniture, appliances, and other furniture you have in it.
Although it truly is helpful to read up on how to keep your house free and safe from potentially disease-causing germs and other substances, the best thing to do is to act. Start cleaning your home today, and live a more comfortable and health-friendly daily life by stopping what can be stopped.
