4 tips for a healthier home

MONDAY, August 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) - Take simple steps to protect your home from small and large health risks.

Here are four tips for getting started:

We do not say it often enough: Proactively replace the batteries by detecting smoke and carbon monoxide. Do not wait until you hear the whistle. Set an annual reminder, as on your birthday. Also, test the devices every month as they can wear out over time.

Dirt and neglect can affect the efficiency of your HVAC system (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and cause failures. A required filter change prevents dirt from accumulating. Check them monthly, especially in the summer and winter months, and change them each time they look dirty or at least every three months. This is especially important if someone in the house has allergies or asthma.

Now go to the kitchen. Although sponges are cheaper and more environmentally friendly than paper towels, bacteria can quickly attack them. The most common way to remove germs is to remove the sponge in the microwave, add it to the dishwasher with a high-temperature drying cycle, or disinfect it with a water solution. Concentrated bleach. However, a study published in Scientific Reports showed that this could aggravate the problem: weaker strains of dead bacteria allowed for the proliferation of stronger strains. If your sponge (or other tea towel) smells bad, replace it.

Although you have set chopping boards for meat, fruit and vegetables, they still need to be taken care of. You should wash the cutting boards after each use, put them in the dishwasher or disinfect them with a bleach solution. However, once they have developed deep grooves that are difficult to clean, especially with plastic plates, bacteria can grow. At this time, a thorough cleaning may not be enough. You have to replace the card. When you buy new boards, think of bamboo, which is harder and less porous than the hardwoods most commonly used for these important kitchen items.

additional Information

The Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture gives more tips on safety sliced panels.

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