There are many ways to make your home a healthier and happier place to live in – which is very important at the moment, considering many of us are spending a lot more time looking at the same four walls! Even though the coronavirus lockdown in the UK is gradually being relaxed, people are still not able to go out as much as they would like.
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After weeks of staying in, it can get tough having to remain in the same environment all the time. One great way of improving your living space is to detox your home to create a healing atmosphere. Read on for some useful tips…
Why should we detox our home?
We’re surrounded by toxins on a daily basis, whether we realise it or not. Whether you have disinfectants under your sink, sprays to clean your interior windows, or plug-in air fresheners that spray at regular intervals, all are contributing to toxins in the home.
We inhale and absorb everything in our home, leaving our body working overtime to keep us healthy by processing synthetic chemicals. Working out how to make your home “greener” can be challenging, so we’ve put together some handy hints on how to make this happen.
House plants
Certain house plants clean the indoor air naturally, working as an air purifier, so buying a few houseplants can work wonders. The species best known for their air-cleaning abilities include the peace lily, English ivy, gerbera daisy, spider plants, Chinese evergreen, the weeping fig and bamboo plants.
Other plants have lovely scents that will make your home smell good.
Nature indoors
Make the most of natural aromatherapy in your home. Scientists are examining the positive effects that different plant oils have on various health conditions.
Research shows lavender oil calms us down and peppermint oil reduces physical and mental fatigue and enhances our attention span.
If you want to enhance your mood, try diffusing a few drops of natural oils throughout your home.
Cleaning products
Natural health practitioners say many everyday cleaning products are packed with chemicals and suggest using natural ingredients instead. They would like to see products such as bleach, dishwasher detergent, carpet cleaner, floor-mopping detergent, glass cleaner, oven cleaner, silver polish, etc., removed from the marketplace.
Instead, use natural products such as the all-purpose, non-toxic cleaner, Castile soap – vegetable based, it’s free from animal fats and synthetic ingredients. You could also try baking soda, distilled white vinegar and non-toxic dishwashing liquid and dishwasher detergent.
How to use natural products
It’s easy to use natural cleaning products, such as the distilled vinegar, which has in-built antibacterial properties. It cuts through grease and is suitable for cleaning baths, toilets, table tops, kitchen countertops and more. Just use it as you would any other cleaning product.
Baking soda cleans, deodorises and scours. It can be used daily, in conjunction with soap. It absorbs odours and softens the water in hard water areas, improving the way the soap works.
Castile soap is an unscented soap which every home should have. It comes in liquid form, powder, flakes and bars. Biodegradable, it cleans just about anything!
Try not to use soaps that contain sodium lauryl sulfate, as it is known to cause reactions, such as dryness and itching for those with sensitive skin.
Is there anything else we can do?
Some health experts recommend using water filters that remove any fluoride, heavy metals or chemicals from your water. They say it makes the water taste much nicer too. This is down to individual preference, as water providers in the UK say there’s no need to filter tap water because it’s already of a very high quality.
Air filters can also be used to filter out toxins such as dust, pet hairs, chemicals from aerosol sprays and anything else that contributes to a deterioration in air quality.
Check your home for mould, which is common in any damp areas, including bathrooms. Keep the rooms as dry as possible – have a tiled floor in the bathroom with washable rugs, rather than a carpet that will be wet all the time. Check continually for mould – a major cause of many health issues. Nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem.
When decorating your home, don’t choose a paint that is high in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals have a strong smell and emit a gas that can affect people’s health and the environment. Although the contents are monitored by the government, check the label before buying paint and choose a low or no-VOC option.
When doing the laundry, you might like the scented smell of fabric conditioners, but the stronger the smell, the more detergent it contains. This means chemicals are being deposited on to your skin when you wear the clothes.
Look for healthier alternatives containing natural ingredients.
How will these changes affect you?
If you want to feel healthier, happier and more relaxed, start to detox your home as soon as possible. Now would be a great time if you’re working from home, or staying in most of the time, due to COVID-19.
As you reduce your contact with chemicals, you should start to experience fewer allergies and fewer symptoms of asthma. People have also reported suffering fewer headaches and skin irritations. You should also start feeling less physical and mental fatigue, as you surround yourself with nature’s natural healing properties, rather than harsh chemicals.
When you need high-quality furniture to enhance your home and make life more comfortable, contact Let Us Furnish on 0800 7819 427 or email sales@letusfurnish.co.uk. We deliver across the UK.