Tips to Get a Greener Home
One should really stop a moment to think about how one could improve one’s living space. I have come upon some good tips on how you can do that.
Single family home image F. Muhammad
There are many health hazards
We live in a tough time. I say this every day. They warn us about radiation, toxins, pesticides, pollution, and many more of those harmful things. All this affects our health, and one starts feeling helpless. One does not know what to do anymore. Is that really true? Can we, on a personal level, not bring in additional sand corns, as a good deal of sand corns make a beach?
I subscribe to many newsletters of doctors and health organizations. Like that, I try to keep up to date. One of these newsletters comes from EWG. They are a dot-org and offer interesting news and valuable tips.
The home guide of EWG
From EWG, I have received a Home Guide to 13 areas where you can make improvements in your own home. Your house should be as “clean” and therefore as healthy as possible. I will tell you a few of their suggestions.
Clean air in your house
Air Filters: When your air filters are not clean and they have absorbed a lot of pollutants from the indoor air, their reentry into the indoor air can be a cause of asthma, breathing difficulties, and even can cause cancer in the long run. What to look for when choosing an Air Filter.
If your house has a central system, take care to use a filter that is rated MERV10 or even higher.
Be on time with the cleaning and also replacing your air filters.
In case you have a portable air filter, choose one with high efficiency or a HEPA filter.
If you want a trustworthy list of certified air cleaners, check with the California Air Resources Board.
Babies and elderly people spent more time at home as an adult so they are more affected by unhealthy air. Take care of the air you breathe in your own home. It is the only place under your direct control.
Mother Nature comes to our aid with some very helpful plants that clean the air. You might like to read about it here.
Mattress image Ebowalker
How is the mattress you sleep on?
Mattresses: We spend at least one-third of our life in bed. There is no question that a good night’s sleep is needed to wake up refreshed and be able to tackle the day. However, there is a problem most people do not realize. Most mattresses on the market are full of chemicals that pollute the air and therefore are harmful to your body. What can one do about this? Chose a healthy mattress.
It should at least have 95% certified organic content.
No polyurethane foam
No added chemical flame retardants
Low-VOC certification.
Polyurethane foam can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are harmful chemicals that can cause respiratory problems. They have linked flame retardant chemicals to cancer, hormone disruption, and neither are they good for our immune system. They have linked vinyl covers to a negative influence on reproductive systems.
If you wish to purchase a latex-based mattress, buy one that is 100% natural latex. They make latex from the rubber tree sap. The material is very resistant to mold and dust mites. It also lasts longer than petroleum-based foam. It is easier to find this kind of mattress and have a reasonable price.
It is advisable to use a zippered dust-proof pillowcase and a cover for your mattress, both of which should be made of cotton. We should launder often to avoid dust mites.
Clean lake water image S.Hermann and F. Richter
Some important thoughts on water
Water. To have clean water is the right of all people. We have to learn not to waste it. There are simple and sensible rules to not forget. To get clean water requires energy to pump, treat and heat it. This again increases air pollution, which then contributes to Climate Change. I live in the south of Spain and the water reserves are at a minimum because of the lack of rain.
Here is a clever little YouTube video that gives you some good cleaning tips.
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There are many options to save water
Water-efficient toilets. They use some 20% less water than normal ones. This applies also to faucets and showerheads, which should have a WaterSense label. A family with 4 members can save 16,600 gallons of water each year.
You should also choose a water-efficient dishwasher and washing machine. Look for the Energy Star label. These machines are between 15 to 40% more efficient. Then only use them when they are full. No need to say this, I think.
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Dishwasher image Krystieyeo Yeo
Do not have the water running when brushing your teeth or shaving. Cut the water use considerably when taking a shower. Have the water on all the time, but only for rinsing. Some new shower systems allow an instant shut off so you do not have to shut the cold and hot water off, losing your ideal mix for a warm shower.
Do not have the water running when doing a couple of dishes, soap, and then rinse them. The best thing is to fill the dishwasher completely.
Use these same principles when you wash your car.
Living Organic is a helpful book
This is a so-called all-around book. The writers Helen Porter and Helen Quested will explain what you can do to start living organically. This applies not only to eating organic. It explains what you can do in your house to create an all-organic atmosphere benefitting all members living there.
Conclusion
Because of the coronavirus, many things have changed in our world. People are staying home now most of the time and work from home if they can. The more reason to make your home a clean, safe, and well-aired environment.
These are only 3 areas of the list of 13 tips I got from EWG. It is in your hands to make your living space more healthy for yourself and your family and let me not forget your fur friends.
If you want to have the total list, you can click the EWG link below.
EWG’s Healthy Living: Home Guide
I have made a special place for my visitors with some interesting things. Please have a look at Recommendations, I hope you will find something useful.
Source: EWG
Photo Source: Pixabay
How well are you informed about the water quality you drink? You might really be in for a surprise. If you are interested, you can read my post on your right to clean water here.
Comments
Life Hack Guide
This is a very interesting and informative article. It has never occur to me that I should really stop and think of how I can make my home greener so that it’s better for the kids. I will follow your tips and start by saving water consumption for a change. We used to use water naturally without thinking of the consequences. Your article is an eye opener for me and I will also share this to my friends and family so that we can all make our home green from today onwards. Thanks!
Taetske
Good afternoon,
Thank you for visiting my website and your comment. I hope you have downloaded the guide where you have all the information together. In my post I only highlighted on a few things you can do to make your home greener. If all people would do a little bit the total outcome would have such positive results for our planet. Not to forget the benefit for our health.
Regards, Taetske
pmbaluka2016
When I’m considering comfort-ability at home, I must think about availability of clean water first more than anything else. Secondly, good and tidy environment because this is the determinant factor when it comes to clean air.
Thirdly, food, and I would like to find out how and where to get supply of anything to do with fresh food. Fourthly, bedroom. Sleep is very important and I value rest so much. If the bed isn’t good and the mattress, then I can’t find good sleep and I won’t be productive at all.
In your post you mentioned that you will present 13 cool tips and I can only see 3, where are the rest?
Taetske
Good Evening,
Thank you for visiting my website and leaving a comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF?
Thankfully we can do a lot ourselves to make our home greener. A little here and there will make a difference.
As I said I only offered 3 of the total cool tips. You can click on the link of EWG at the bottom of the post. Then you go to the top right and click on Explore Home Guides, there you will find them all.
Regards, Taetske
Kevin
Hearing about radiation, toxins, pesticides, pollution and more makes me think that, with so many things to be concerned about, one could easily become paranoid or just nervous about the world in which we live. Though, I don’t think that is your intent; I think you’re just trying to help use reasonable caution, wherever possible, without us becoming neurotic about our environment, and considering how we can control the environment in which we most immediately live: our homes. One thing that I learned from your post is what you had pictured: what appears to be countertop dishwasher. That’s given me pause to think; you’ve made me want to look for one of them. Hadn’t heard of that, before; I think I want one of those. Thanks for the post. I appreciate the ideas.
Taetske
Good evening Kevin,
Ofcourse not, I hope my readers will think of how they can improve their homes, not become neurotic. To be informed is the best we can do to stay as healthy as we can, not too easy these days.
Did you look at the EWG link at the bottom of my post? You will find more ideas there.
Thank you for your comment, I hope to see you again.
Regards, Taetske
Dale
This is a great article because so many people including myself take so much for granted in life. I think the biggest one in this article is water. We just assume the water will never run out. However studies show that in some places in the world water is quickly running out and in not so long into the future could be a bigger commodity then oil and gas. I really enjoyed reading this.
Taetske
Good Morning Dale,
Nice to see you again. Thank you for leaving a comment.
Did you click on the link of EWG at the bottom of my post? You then click on Explore Home Guides top right. You will find a lot more practical and useful tips to stay as healthy as possible making your home green.
You are right, water is becoming more precious every day and we should not waste it. Worldwide there are 2000 million people who have trouble getting their daily ration of drinkable water. That makes one think.
Regards, Taetske
Karim
You’re right, In general clear surrounding is primordial for our health especially air and water.
Do not forget also the radiation emanating from mobile and WiFi terminals, it’s preferable to shut down WiFi when not using it, and our smartphone when sleeping.
Also for our plastic or silicon utensils they must be BPA Free.
Taetske
Good Morning Karim,
Thank you for visiting my website and leaving a comment. I hope you have downloaded your free PDF?
You are right about the radiation, it surrounds us and is far from healthy. I have written also a post on radiation but luckily one can do a couple of things to minimize the bad effects. Do not have a Smart Meter and especially never have a tv, computer, and mobile in your bedroom. The microwave oven should also be thrown out of the door.
As for plastic, we are polluting our world and waters harming birds and marine life. Then one should never drink water out of plastic bottles and the list goes on. If we all contribute even if it is small it would have a positive impact on the world.
Regards, Taetske
Amjad
Thank you Taetske for this nice article on how to get a greener house!
Unfortunately, as you mentioned, we live in an era where it became really hard to live a clean and healthy life.
With all the pollution in the air and water, all the radiating material we use in our daily life, all the processed food that is probably the main reason of many diseases, we forgot how to live a healthy life anymore!
I’m glad that you are spreading the awareness about this issue.
I’m probably more concerned about the mattress, since as you mentioned, we spend lots of time on our beds with direct contact with them. I’m a bit confused when trying to deal with the scientific names of the materials used for such items and find it difficult to find out which mattress should I use. Do you have any recommendation about a good mattress that is made of 95% organic content?
Thank you in advance!
Amjad
Taetske
Good afternoon Amjad,
Thank you for visiting my website and leaving a comment, I hope you downloaded your free PDF?
It is not so easy to stay alive as we are surrounded by so many harmful things. We can contribute with doing positive things on a small scale and if everybody would do that it definitely will make a difference in our world.
As to your question on which mattress one should choose, a good 95% organic one, it depends on where you live. I checked and found the following website and hope it is of some help to you.
Regards, Taetske
https://www.consumerreports.org/mattresses/organic-mattress-labels-you-can-trust/
John
I am really pleased to come across your article. There are so many chemicals inside our homes,I’ve always been curious about what value indoor plants do to our air quality? In your experience are they any comparison to the air filters you mention?The mattress section is a real wake-up call, we spend 1/3 of our lives in bed so that is so important!I’ve read a great book from a Ph.D scientist Dr Myron Wentz: The Healthy Home: Simple Truths to Protect Your Family from Hidden Household Dangers. That has a ton of all the chemicals and risks and great ideas too.Thank you for sharing about healthy homes!
Taetske
Good Morning John,
To have plants in the house is a good idea. It is said that especially orchids are good for cleaning the air. This is meant for taking negativity out of the house and that is of course on a different level then what my post talks about. I have experienced something unusual myself with orchids. Good friends of mine have been both sick for many years. They go to all kind of doctors but it does not help much. Personally, I try to avoid doctors and keep close to nature. My friend often gets orchids as gifts but in a week a once beautiful plant starts dying. They will give me the plant and in my house it recuperates and lives, giving flowers, for many years.
I have been wondering about this and have come to the conclusion that the house of my friends is not healthy and even an orchid cannot live there. I live in an old farmhouse in the south of Spain and do not have a need for air filters so I cannot answer that question for you. Did you click on the link of EWG at the bottom of my post? You might find some tips there.
Thank you for your comment. I hope you have downloaded your free PDF?
Regards, Taetske
Lizzychris
This is a good article you got there!
The tips you gave are really helpful to me. I now know that it is in my hands to make my living space more healthy for me and my family and also my friends! The tips on “ways to save my water” are really good and I will definitely take some steps to reduce my water use. I can make my home greener and healthy and it will benefit all the people living there.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Taetske
Good Morning Elizabeth,
Thank you for stopping by and for your comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.
I hope you have also downloaded the great guide of EWG, it holds so many good ideas that are easy to implement. Our home is the only place left in our modern society where we still have the last word.
Regards, Taetske
Steve
My family is always trying to find ways to make our lives as healthy as possible. While we don’t have a central air system with a filter, we do have plants in our home. Additionally, we also try to cut down on the amount of water we are using. We’ve taught our kids from a young age not to keep the water running while they brush their teeth.
The only thing on your list I haven’t had a great experience with is the low-flow toilets. I don’t know whether we just don’t have a quality one (we live in an apartment and thus, didn’t have a choice in the matter), or what, but it often takes more than one flush to get everything to go down. I almost feel like it uses more water than a normal toilet.
Do you think it is just a cheap toilet or do you find that this happens with a lot of low flow toilets?
Taetske
Good Morning Steve,
When young children are taught to be thoughtful with the amount of water they use there is no doubt they will become responsible people. Mother Nature provides for all our needs but we have a tendency to misuse and abuse. Now with the virus Mother Nature being free of her virus=humans is recuperating. It is quite amazing to see what is happening and hopefully it is a lesson to us all.
There are toilets on the market that have a dual water flush system depending on what you have used the toilet for. Now in case, you think your toilet uses too much water you could try with putting a bottle filled with water inside the reservoir, see how that goes. This trick helps with saving water.
Thank you for your comment. I hope you have downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.
Regards, Taetske
Adyns68
My mattress is one of those things I do not think to clean often. Once in a blue moon, I could remember to put it under the sun. But with the lockdown, I even cleaned it totally. So, yes, staying at home with little to nothing to do made me imagine cleaning every corner of my house. I think I can still learn some new things with the EWG’s healthy living home guide.
Thanks
Taetske
Good Morning Nana,
Thank you for your comment on my website. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.
I used the time of the lockdown for some big jobs in the house. As I live in a nearly 200 years old farm, some inside work needed to be done. There were certain areas on some walls that needed renovation. Hacking, scraping, new white cement layer, and then white washing a couple of times. That took 1 month in total.
Afterwards checked, repaired, and did all the furniture with a special liquid. The smaller pieces we took out to the patio and even turned them upside down. The wood worm is a nasty little critter that can destroy different types of wood. This job also took a month. Some extra work in the garden and the summer passed rather quickly.
In the home guide of EWG you will find a lot of handy tips.
Regards, Taetske
Energy Kadango
I believe you live longer if you live healthy. A clean home is a healthy home. Thank you for the tips on air filters for the home. We need to breathe clean air in the house. After all, the house is our sanctuary. The tip on type of mattresses that are healthy was equally good. I took note of the best type of mattress to buy. Saving water is paramount. The tips are all just excellent. Thanks
Taetske
Good Morning Energy,
My post only mentioned 3 of the 13 tips you will find in the EWG guide. I hope you downloaded it. We can do a lot to make our environment more healthy. Especially now in these troublesome times it is of utmost importance to do these things. I live in the south of Spain and I air the house every day. In the hot summer, I open all the windows early in the morning. In the winter when it is cooler I do the same, but at midday.
Thank you for your visit and for your comment.Did you download the free PDF? Tulip widget.
Regards, Taetske
Makhsud
Great post, Taetske, reminding one more time, what we can do to make our homes greener and our lives healthier. Unfortunately, we start to really value these natural treasures, you mentioned in your post, only when we have lost them. The same with health. Not so many notes we are reading every day, push us doing something, changing something. It’s not only about changing the filter in the air conditioner or buying some specific mattress or saving water in your everyday life. I think it means something more important related to a different lifestyle and different mindset and I’m sure that the ideas touched here will chase me everywhere in the home for some time.
I read the post and found only 3 tips instead of 13. I know that all the rest of the tips I can find in the “Living Organic” book, but you could at least mention them at the end of the post. Otherwise, it sounds a little bit misleading.
Anyway, thank you for sharing these useful tips for a healthy home.
Taetske
Good Morning Makhsud,
Thank you for your visit and for your comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.
In Conclusion I did say that these were only 3 of the 13 things recommended in the EWG guide. I also put the link to their website where you can find everything. Here is the link, https://www.ewg.org/healthyhomeguide/water-efficiency/
For each post I normally put a book that fits the subject. This might inspire people to investigate some more.
You are right. It is not only the air filter, your mattress, and reducing your water usage. One needs to take a critical look at the total. Does my lifestyle harm me and my loved ones? And does is harm our planet? It is the careless attitude a lot of people have nowadays, thinking that one plastic bottle I throw out in nature does not make a difference. Worse still, not realizing that we are misusing the resources of Mother Earth. There is enough for everybody. We do not own the planet, we are living our earthly life here. And we have the obligation to preserve the environment so future generations can also enjoy the beauty of this world.
Regards, Taetske