Toxic Bedrooms: 8 Things Making You Sick Every Day
There are health risks outdoors; but what about the dangers lurking where you sleep each night?
Have you spent half your lifetime on the same mattress? Has your favourite pillow been hanging in there on your bed for a few years now? Well, you may be residing in a toxic environment. We all know that dust mites and microscopic bugs live in all homes but the news is that they breed and multiply in the warmth and humidity provided by our bodies, too. Let’s see how to make our bedrooms a safe zone.
2. Your pillow
We do change pillow covers and bed sheets regularly, but seldom do we feel the need to change the pillows themselves. After a long, hard day we look forward to finally laying our head on the pillow but some of us are not particular about the comfort and safety it should lend us. Pillows have a tendency to sag and lose shape over a period of time. This can cause headaches and back, neck and shoulder pains. Make sure your pillow has retained its shape and support.
Pillow covers should be washed at least once a week. Fibre-fill pillows can be washed to avoid dirt and bacterial buildup which could lead to acne, skin breakouts and respiratory allergies. For foam pillows that cannot be washed, vacuum both sides or tumble dry the pillow in the heat (air only) cycle of your washing machine for 20 minutes.
We do change pillow covers and bed sheets regularly, but seldom do we feel the need to change the pillows themselves. After a long, hard day we look forward to finally laying our head on the pillow but some of us are not particular about the comfort and safety it should lend us. Pillows have a tendency to sag and lose shape over a period of time. This can cause headaches and back, neck and shoulder pains. Make sure your pillow has retained its shape and support.
Pillow covers should be washed at least once a week. Fibre-fill pillows can be washed to avoid dirt and bacterial buildup which could lead to acne, skin breakouts and respiratory allergies. For foam pillows that cannot be washed, vacuum both sides or tumble dry the pillow in the heat (air only) cycle of your washing machine for 20 minutes.
3. The plant in your bedroom
Is a green thumb your thing? Do you like to have plants in your bedroom, just like in your garden? You need to be a little more cautious, then. It’s true that some plants help improve the overall indoor air quality but over-watering them can cause them to rot and accumulate mould. These can possibly precipitate airborne allergies, especially those related to respiration.
It does not mean you have to make do without your precious plants. Make sure to water them in the right amounts – and only when the top of the soil is dry.
Is a green thumb your thing? Do you like to have plants in your bedroom, just like in your garden? You need to be a little more cautious, then. It’s true that some plants help improve the overall indoor air quality but over-watering them can cause them to rot and accumulate mould. These can possibly precipitate airborne allergies, especially those related to respiration.
It does not mean you have to make do without your precious plants. Make sure to water them in the right amounts – and only when the top of the soil is dry.
4. The not-so-magical carpet
Carpets are the hub of dirt, dust and allergies. Dust trapped in carpets can send some into fits of sneezing. So do vacuum the carpets on a regular basis. Much as we love carpets, dust mites love them too. Try getting your carpet professionally cleaned twice a year to ensure that all the dust and pollen is removed.
For temporary cleaning, you can sprinkle baking soda or powdered carpet cleaner all over the carpet. Leave the powder for at least 30 minutes, but if you can leave it overnight, it’s a bonus. This gives the cleaner time to work, softening the stains and eradicating the odours. Vacuum up the powder after a period.
Tip: You should consider hiring professional steam cleaners to help get the job done. Alternatively, if you have respiratory troubles, you can always opt for tiled floors, which are super easy to clean.
Carpets are the hub of dirt, dust and allergies. Dust trapped in carpets can send some into fits of sneezing. So do vacuum the carpets on a regular basis. Much as we love carpets, dust mites love them too. Try getting your carpet professionally cleaned twice a year to ensure that all the dust and pollen is removed.
For temporary cleaning, you can sprinkle baking soda or powdered carpet cleaner all over the carpet. Leave the powder for at least 30 minutes, but if you can leave it overnight, it’s a bonus. This gives the cleaner time to work, softening the stains and eradicating the odours. Vacuum up the powder after a period.
Tip: You should consider hiring professional steam cleaners to help get the job done. Alternatively, if you have respiratory troubles, you can always opt for tiled floors, which are super easy to clean.
5. Open windows
We go through a plethora of seasonal changes – humid and hot, dry and cold, cold and humid … the combinations of conditions in the Indian climate are numerous. Sometimes our bodies are unable to cope with the fluctuations. Then there are dust storms, and polluted air from the streets. In order to avoid allergens, try to keep the windows closed when conditions outside are bad. If you must have them open, light and breezy curtains drawn across them will help keep irritants at bay as they filter out some of the pollen and dust.
We go through a plethora of seasonal changes – humid and hot, dry and cold, cold and humid … the combinations of conditions in the Indian climate are numerous. Sometimes our bodies are unable to cope with the fluctuations. Then there are dust storms, and polluted air from the streets. In order to avoid allergens, try to keep the windows closed when conditions outside are bad. If you must have them open, light and breezy curtains drawn across them will help keep irritants at bay as they filter out some of the pollen and dust.
6. Cleaning agents
I’m confident that anyone who is a cleaning freak like me takes extra care while choosing their cleaning products. Most folks buy off-the-shelf floor and bathroom cleaners that may not be safe for health or toxin free. One must opt for more ecofriendly products, that are biodegradable and toxin-free.
Tip: Nothing beats homemade concoctions for me. My favourites: washing soda, lemon, vinegar, citric acid. To make an all-purpose cleaner, mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda in 2 litres water. Store; use to clean.
I’m confident that anyone who is a cleaning freak like me takes extra care while choosing their cleaning products. Most folks buy off-the-shelf floor and bathroom cleaners that may not be safe for health or toxin free. One must opt for more ecofriendly products, that are biodegradable and toxin-free.
Tip: Nothing beats homemade concoctions for me. My favourites: washing soda, lemon, vinegar, citric acid. To make an all-purpose cleaner, mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda in 2 litres water. Store; use to clean.
7. Your furry friends
We usually love the sight of our cute pets rolling on the bed, waking us up each morning, getting a share of our pillow and ending up snoozing till late on our sheets. As much as we love them, we need to know that animal fur is full of dust, pollen and bacteria. The microscopic organisms on your pet’s coat can give you a hard time with allergies.
Tip: Provide a separate super-comfy bed for your dog so that she resists the urge to climb on your bed and sofas. Train her so that she knows that furniture is inaccessible to her, right from the very beginning. In addition, regularly vacuuming your mattress and sofa seats would go a long way in keeping the area free of pet hair.
We usually love the sight of our cute pets rolling on the bed, waking us up each morning, getting a share of our pillow and ending up snoozing till late on our sheets. As much as we love them, we need to know that animal fur is full of dust, pollen and bacteria. The microscopic organisms on your pet’s coat can give you a hard time with allergies.
Tip: Provide a separate super-comfy bed for your dog so that she resists the urge to climb on your bed and sofas. Train her so that she knows that furniture is inaccessible to her, right from the very beginning. In addition, regularly vacuuming your mattress and sofa seats would go a long way in keeping the area free of pet hair.
8. C-L-U-T-T-E-R
Sometimes less is more in so many ways. Believe me, keep things sorted and clean, and you will breathe better. I know it might be tempting to do up the bedroom, layer it with cushions, fabrics and knick-knacks; but the less stuff you keep in there, the less dirt gets trapped. Move the books, magazines and other paraphernalia to another room so the space is easy to dust and clean.
Make sure the hard-to-get-at corners – like the tracks of the windows, narrow blinds, the area under the bed – and the easily overlooked bits like the walls around the door and so on – are cleaned routinely.
Read more:
Are You a Cleanliness Freak?
7 Tricks to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
7 Ways to a Dust-Free Home
Tell us:
How do you plan to make your bedroom an allergy-free zone? Let us know in Comments below.
Sometimes less is more in so many ways. Believe me, keep things sorted and clean, and you will breathe better. I know it might be tempting to do up the bedroom, layer it with cushions, fabrics and knick-knacks; but the less stuff you keep in there, the less dirt gets trapped. Move the books, magazines and other paraphernalia to another room so the space is easy to dust and clean.
Make sure the hard-to-get-at corners – like the tracks of the windows, narrow blinds, the area under the bed – and the easily overlooked bits like the walls around the door and so on – are cleaned routinely.
Read more:
Are You a Cleanliness Freak?
7 Tricks to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh
7 Ways to a Dust-Free Home
Tell us:
How do you plan to make your bedroom an allergy-free zone? Let us know in Comments below.
Did you say you got out on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Well, it is probably because you’re not paying attention to your place of rest. After a span of five to ten years, the mattress is at the end of its life and needs to be replaced because of the compromised support it provides. Mattresses also accumulate dirt over a period of time and can get infested with dust mites and bacteria. This can be controlled by exposing your mattress to the sun for a couple of hours once a month. Also, make sure to vacuum the mattress periodically, and foam clean if possible.
Tip: Sprinkle some baking soda over the mattress; allow it to sit for an hour to get rid of the odours. Then vacuum.