Cleaning good for health
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 06/01) - Spring cleaning makes your home look good and is good for your health too.
After a long winter cooped up in our homes, behind closed doors and windows, now is the time for a breath of fresh air.
Tobacco smoke, dust, mites, mould and more have accumulated during the winter. It can make us feel ill and aggravate allergies and asthma.
Cleaning the air is as simple as opening a window, and can involve a lot of elbow grease and bringing in experts who have the tools to reach the nooks and crannies where contaminants hide.
The Movement for Clean Air Now (CAN-Do) says the quality of air we breathe in our homes is closely connected to personal health.
CAN-Do is a partnership between Health Canada and the Lung Association.
"Most of us spend about 90 per cent of our time indoors, but unfortunately most of us do not realize that the air in our homes may contain a lot of harmful contaminants," said CAN-Do.
"The good news is that we can control and improve the quality of air we breathe indoors."
That means cleaning walls, ceiling and floor, taking care of bedding and furnishings, humidifiers, chimney, furnace and heat ducts.
One of the most harmful indoor contaminants is tobacco smoke.
It contains about 4,700 compounds, including some, like benzene and vinyl chloride, that are known to cause cancer.
Even restricting smoking to one room doesn't mean all the contaminants remain in that room.
According to CAN-Do, one of the most important ways to keep air clean is to understand the variety of potentially harmful substances and ensuring the home is kept clean and moisture free.
Other indoor air pollutants include certain glues, stain protectors and dyes.
Places to clean:
- Humidifier: Clean water reservoir thoroughly and often. Follow the manufacturer's instructions or use soap and water. Clean places where condensation occurs, like the pans or coils. Don't let the water sit; fill the humidifiers with clean or distilled water just before you use them.
- Chimney, furnace, water heater: Combustion pollutants are produced any time something is burned, such as oil, gas or wood. They can seriously affect your health. These should be cleaned and checked by a certified service person.
- Carpets: They tend to trap a lot of allergens and irritants, including dust mites. A central vacuum with outside exhaust can reduce exposure to asthma triggers. A good vacuum with a true "HEPA" filter will trap very fine particles. Again, a professional cleaning at least once a year is a good idea.
- Damp areas: This is where mould, also called mildew, can grow. It's usually an area with pool circulation such as basements or closets, around toilets, under sinks and dishwashers, inadequately ventilated bathrooms, refrigerator drip pans and even in stuffed furniture.
