In part one of our feature on healthy homes we looked at how the design and construction of your house can affect your health — but did you know there are loads of things you can do around the home every day to maintain a healthy environment? Here are five top tips to ensure that your home will look after you every day.

Reduce chemicals when cleaning

Have you ever taken a lungful of air after a spring cleaning spree and realised your home smells far worse than it did than when you started? Cleaning products loaded with powerful chemicals can be damaging for your lungs and skin, and have also been linked to many more serious health problems. From using damp microfibre cloths to ingredients like white vinegar and bicarb soda when cleaning, you can still get your home sparkling without impacting your health.

Use a HEPA filter

A good vacuum cleaner can go a long way to minimising your exposure to dust and other allergens in the home. A quality vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arrestance) filter traps in much finer dust and dirt particles than a traditional vacuum cleaner, preventing them ending up in your lungs.

Take off your shoes

This is an incredibly easy change to make but you’ll be amazed by how much less dust there is in the home if everyone takes their shoes off before going inside.

Fresh air is your friend

Unless you live beside a major highway or some sort of chemical plant, opening a few windows to air out your home can make a huge difference to the air quality in your home. Fresh air circulating throughout the home and through your lungs can work wonders for your overall health and wellbeing.

Harness the sun

From mattresses and bedding, to the kids’ toys and much more, airing your household items out in the direct sunlight is an important weapon in your household cleaning arsenal. Not only will it kill dust mites, but it will also get everything smelling fresh and new again.

Finally, don’t forget you need to relax and stop worrying from time to time. We all know stress is a killer, and your home is the one place where you should be able to unwind, de-stress and feel completely at ease. Spending too much time worrying about your health can lead to a whole host of other medical problems. Sometimes, taking a few minutes to just stop, smile and smell the roses is just what the doctor ordered.