A room-by-room guide to keeping your living space salubrious and risk free
So you’re home free – or that’s what you fondly imagine – from noxious auto fumes, nasty bugs, broken limbs. But did you know that your four walls can contain a witches brew of particles, smoke, gases, chemicals, pesticides, germs, which can trigger serious illnesses, chronic diseases. accidents and allergies?
Consider these:
• One in five people suffer from watery eyes, runny noses, itchy throats, skin rashes, hacking coughs even if they are house bound .
• Pollutants released indoors (where you spend two thirds of your day) are 1000 times more virulent than those outdoors.
• More people die of accidents at home than in air crashes or road accidents.
• One in six children are rushed to hospital following a domestic accident and 90% are under five.
The good news is that with a little forethought you can make your home as safe as the proverbial house. Here’s a D+Y plan for every room.
The Front Door – And More
Keep a fire extinguisher in your landing.
Install a security viewing system …
an intruder alarm … with a double lock.
Your peep hole should have a 1800 fish eye lens.
.Home security systems, like Argus, provide emergency smoke, heat and fire alarms that are tamper free .
Use doormats to trap muck before it gets into the house. A shoe removal area at the entrance is a good idea.
To keep small fry in, fix a bolt or lock that is out of their reach.
STAY IN THE LOOP
Check your wiring do not overload power points.
Treat your electrical appliances with TLC and keep them in working order.
Replace high power-draining electrical outlet switches with circuit breakers. By automatically cutting power to appliances these plugs prevent electrical fires due to overload .
Use extension cords that are three pronged and heavy gauge or have built in circuit breakers. They shouldn’t be frayed or lurk under carpets.
Replace glass doors with tough laminates or fix stickers at eye level so that nobody walks into them.
Make sure that your child can’t clamber over anything and then lean over a window or a balcony .
Fit grills or clear acrylic barriers on low windows.
Keep plants which collect dirt and fungus in balconies and don’t allow water to accumulate. Net corners to prevent roosting pigeons. Their droppings and feathers are responsible for asthma.
The Living Room
Change water in vases, fortune plants, lotus ponds daily to prevent malaria and dengue carrying mosquitoes from they thrive in clean stagnant water .
Use CFL bulbs, designed to suit all requirements, to save anywhere between 50% to 80% on electricity bills . Put books behind glass shelves.
Dust frequently to prevent paper mites Wipe with a dampish cloth .
Watch out for flaky wall paint. Grooved wall paper collects dust.
After sweeping/vacuuming, open the door and switch on the fan to allow dust to escape. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) filter. To save your back while hosing, bend your knees and move your legs slowly, rather than jerking the feet back and forth. The ‘Dust-bag Full’ indicator in Eureka Forbes makes vacuuming mess free and a cinch.
Clean ACs regularly. Fungus lingers in the filters and permeates into the room through air vents and then insidiously sweeps over the house.
Watch out for mould in ceiling fans which are a major cause of allergies.
Scatter rugs are more hygienic than wall-to-wall carpeting.
Germ proof phones and door handles with liquid disinfectant.
To reduce formaldehyde present in insulation material, chip boards, plywood and glues used in partitions, furniture and carpets, air out the room daily. Or else you can be hit with dry eyes, sore throat, headache, nausea, fatigue.
Use rexine or leather on sofas to ward off dust Cane chairs collect the most dust and grime. Ergonomic sofas are kind to the back.
Check secondhand furniture for bugs which can infiltrate your bed.
In the monsoons protect furniture and cupboards from dampness by placing camphor balls, neem leaves or silica gel sachets inside to absorb moisture.
Turn down the volume of TVs and music systems. Over 85 dB can cause hearing loss.
Cats and dogs shed dander, which are responsible for rashes and asthma. Keep dogs flea-free with herbal powers.
Change bedding frequently and use a little box.
The Bedroom
Declutter. Newspaper, mags, books are dirt traps; old shoes and belts collect mould.
Sleep on a firm anti-allergenic mattress. Air and flip it over once a month to distribute the sag evenly. Vacuum weekly to remove dust. The Hush Sleep Studio showcases a range of dust mite repelling pillows and spring mattresses that promises firm support for your entire frame.
A pillow should be thick enough to align your head to your shoulders and spine in the same position as when you are standing. Polyester fibre fill pillows are non-allergenic.
MICROSCOPIC MONSTERS
Dust mites or skin eaters proliferate in mattresses, pillows, carpets, stuffed toys, sofas, curtains. You know you have them when you wake up in the night itching between the fingers, inside the wrist and around the penis. Wash soft toys frequently and sun dry. Vacuum suspect areas at least twice a week and open up the room to allow dust to escape. Shake out sheets and quilts vigorously .
Specks of blood on sheets, tiny bites are tell-tale sign of bugs which can cause sores and fever. If you suspect an infestation get rid of the mattress or spray with bug killers, bearing in mind that they are powerful poisons. Or call in a Pest Control expert. $weep walls, fans and ceilings weekly, before mopping the floor.
Hide perfumes, medicines; cosmetics, plastic bag and such from children.
Install a wall or wardrobe safe for your precious things.
Keep medicines in their original containers and throwaway leftovers and expired specimens. Never leave by the bedside~ it is easy to pop a wrong pill by mistake.
The Bathroom
The smallest room in your home often houses the most toxic chemicals and virulent germs. Leaks from t he walls and • ceilings create mould, which is one of this planets most lethal micro organism. They can kill, provide food for bacteria and viruses, emit horrible chemicals which can push up allergies and asthma. Attend to damp patches on a war footing.
Dry frequently. Exhaust fans get rid of damp air.
Shower curtains are the worst offenders. What’s more, robust bacteria stay put in soapy scum. Wash with warm water and detergent. Extend so that they dry out completely. Open doors and windows to encourage circulation of air. Better still,
shed them for a laminated partition.
Shower cubicles not only provide a spa like effect at home, but also come with
built-in safety functions to ward off any leakage or power-circuit emergencies.
Use non-skid tiles and suction backed rubber mats to prevent falls.
Grab bars in the shower and next to the toilet are a help for all and a must for the elderly.
Never use portable appliances in the bathroom with wet feet or hands to avoid
an electric shock.
Never leave your toddler alone in a bathroom. They have been known to drown in a few inches of water in a bathtub or bucket .
Air fresheners, scented candles, incense only mask odours and actually pollute the air with allergy causing fumes, not to mention potential carcinogens.
Check that your geyser is not an power guzzler and will not blow up in your face.
Consider solar heating for your building/cottage .
Wash taps, the outside of the toilet, the seat, the rim with liquid disinfectant daily. Consider ant i-microbial seat covers and stain free faucets.
Clear drains of gunk with 2 tbsp. baking soda in boiling water. Naphthalene balls discourage cockroaches from clambering up drains at night, but are known to cause allergies in some people .
Use fluorescent lighting for better visibility.
The Kitchen
A great many accidents occur in kitchens because of cuts, burns and slippery floors. Keep a mop handy. A first aid kit with Band-aid, small bandages, Silverex (for burns), Povidine (for cuts and wounds) and Dettol is a sensible idea . Cooking is the second largest source of domestic pollution (after smoking). Gas stoves produce evil nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases. To keep them at lowest levels ventilate or use an exhaust fan or range hood, which also reduces mould producing dirt. Fit into a wall which has access to the outside air and see that t here is free flowing air from the opposite side. Clean every six months following the manufacture’s instruction. You also need a ceiling fan if there is no outside air.
NO THE HEMLICH MOVE?
Choking on food is a common cause of suffocation. Learn how to dislodge a chunk by giving 3 to 5 sharp blows (with the heel of your hand) between the shoulder blades .. Or stand behind the victim, wrap your arms around the body and place one fist against the stomach above the navel. Grip with the other hand and press the stomach with rapid inward-upward thrusts. For a child, place your hands on either side of the chest, just below the armpits, and squeeze several times.
Don’t position a cooker under a window as the heat may shatter the glass.
See that the gas cylinder is sufficiently ventilated with an uncovered flexible pipe, which should be changed when it looks crumbly.
If you smell heavy gas odour, turn off the valves, open windows and call the gas company.
Set fluorescent lighting over work stat ions.
Make sure that there are at least 40 cm wide work surfaces on at least one side of t he oven, cooking range or microwave, preferably both, for transferring food to and fro. Vary workstation height according to the task and your height. Increase the depth of the work surface for more headroom when leaning forward.
Make sure t hat you don’t have to bend too much or reach up while working. Raise the sink so that you don’t have to bend t o reach t he bottom. The cooking range ca n be set lower to make it easier to stir.
A built in microwave must not be above eye level. If it is, you run the risk of tipping hot food on yourself . If a fire flares up in the microwave keep t he door closed and unplug the unit. Let the fire douse itself before opening the door
TIP
Rest one foot on a small stool when while working at the counter, washing vessels or ironing to align your spine and avoid back pain.
A child ~ lock device, such as the one in LG’s Intelloacook, will prove useful if you have a curious kid at home.
Store heavy, regularly used articles within a foot either way of waist level to avoid them falling over you. Keep other frequently used items between knee level and no more than a foot above your head.
. An induction cooking range which is glass topped and easy to clean is not only safer but speedier .
Use only dry pot holders. A damp one transmits heat s. Dish towels are not thick enough to protect you.
Turn pot and pan handles so that they are over the centre or sides of the range. Don’t let them hang over an adjacent burner where they can get hot and burn you. People can bump into them if they’re over the front.
Unplug toasters and such after each use. This will decrease the odds that somebody may accidentally leave a switch on, causing the appliance to overheat or start a fire.
Do not let a metal pan touch a top heating element in a toaster which can create a shorts and burn out the element.
Cool very hot liquids before putting them in a blender, or trapped steam and moisture may erupt in your face when you open it .
If a fat fire starts in your frying pan, keep cool … turn off the heat, stand back and toss large handfuls of dry baking soda at the base of the flam es. For deep fat, cover the pan with a large metal lid .
Clean everything thoroughly at night. Sterilize dusters, clothes, sponges weekly by boiling in hot soapy water. Dry in sunlight. Keep two sets and alternate .
Don’t set a fridge next to a cooker as it may affect the former’ s efficiency. Wipe insides of the refrigerator regularly. Dry ice trays before filling. Bung out mouldy food. Thaw foods in the fridge, not on the counter which will spur bacterial growth. Refrigerate leftovers within an hour .
Separate wet and dry garbage. Keep bin area clean and wash out the bins regularly.
Herbal gels are the safest pest busters. Other insecticide E sprays are toxic, specially if they get into your food, your clothes or your body .
Set water filters over the sink. Look for an appliance which (1) removes solid impurities to clear the water (2) gets rid of bad taste and odour (3) kills arid removes bacteria and virus .
A home-water purificatior system that appears to accomplish all these tasks, without requiring electricity or continuous flow of water, is Pureit with its unique
‘GermKill Battery kit’ .
Although it is not easy to prophetize this, do not store items that may attract child’s fancy over the cooking range. Keep all breakables, pesticides, detergents, matches, lighters, knives and forks. crockery out of the reach of small curious hands .
Wear dose fitting clothes and an apron when you cook. A loose sleeve a dangling tie or dupatta can 100 onto a pot or brush into a burner .
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